September 2018 McDougall Weigh In Thread

[squealcat]

Amy: I read that you are working on giving up caffeine. I gave it up maybe 5 years ago. It was SO hard to do as I really love black, strong coffee. I have found many good things about not having caffeine in my system but I still miss it. I sleep really well every night and I don't suffer from any "urgency" where my bladder is concerned ( coffee is a bladder irritant ). This makes traveling a lot more comfortable and since i sleep so much better I always wake up feeling just great !

I DO treat myself to one cup of coffee every Thursday morning. (I started my weekly treat only a year ago to make sure I was off caffeine for a long enough time. ) It is such a treat for me that I look forward to it each week. I cannot drink any more than that because I now get embarrassingly talkative and loud. That stops me from increasing my intake. I also get jittery and don't feel well. I wonder now how it was REALLY affecting me before when I drank coffee and other caffienated drinks regularly !

Anyway, it is a tough thing to do but it is doable ! Sorry if I was giving you TMI . I am a nurse and my daughter says I embarrass her when I talk about things like this.

[jlowe]

Hi. I'm jumping in a couple of days late.
My start is 223.2 and today it's 213.4. Looking forward to a good September. Any hints would be well appreciated! I'm on a couple of McDougall FB groups.

[VegSeekingFit]

Hi All!

Amy, your potato waffles look amazing!!! Wow, I am impressed (and mouth is watering!)… I did this get rid of coffee thing about 2 months ago and so far - it's ok. I only replaced with water, but will do a warm tea as it is getting colder outside. Wishing you the best, as you go forward!!

Moonlight, Always look on the bright side!! I love how you are looking forward. The past is the past and we can't control it. Learn what you can and move on. Thank you for always being supportive to all!!

Moonspirit, So cool that you are doing this with you daughter. Your dessert sounds good … Loved your bean salad recipe and have been playing with it...

Rosey, cool to see that you are keeping on!!

Idgie, totally agree that symbols can have motivational power. You go girl!!!

Reni, Wow!! Awesome loss!! I love your kitty avatar! Have 2 spoiled rotten cats here...

Hi and welcome to AuntieLindy and Jlowe!

[amandamechele]

Moonlight - XO. You have courage and the will to keep at this, there will be a time when it comes together well for a nice long period. Keep looking forward to that as you work towards it. How did the batch cooking go yesterday?

Becca - Your dessert sounds fantastic, but not as fantastic as the news about your daughter's higher spirits. That is music to this mom's ears.

Rosey - Some beautiful inspiration for the week from Buchart Gardens:


(This hybrid tea rose is called the Rosa Royal Kate; I took this picture to send to my sister, but thought you may like it too)

Idgie - Symbols do have power. I'm glad you're finding motivation from the evidence of your success. You have worked hard and this is a little cheer from your self esteem saying Keep it up!!

Thanks Jay!

Lindsey - Thanks for the suggestion and encouragement, I will try hot lemon water this week in my swell bottle for the morning beverage. Still feeling a desire to caffeinate myself but have stuck to it.

Mark - Awesome, it will be nice to have an equally drowsy and irritable buddy along for the withdrawal...LOL. I'm kidding, I can't imagine you being irritable.

Lin - I am super happy to have you here. Let's lower that A1C, BP and weight...and let's show your family how this is done!

Marilyn - That's a great point that I hadn't considered about the urgency...that could have gone in my pro list too, as I'm experiencing the same thing. I have many nurse friends and love that you all share it all, LOVE IT; I've learned a lot about how people deal with physical pain and treat others in a crisis from them. Today I had lunch with a friend who is an ICU nurse and we discussed how her impression of death changed since becoming a nurse. It went from being something scary, painful and full of emotional turmoil to her seeing the most grace, acceptance and peace that she has ever witnessed between people coming together in grief. I realize her impressions are based on somewhat narrow situational experience but it was a very interesting conversation.

JLowe - Hi and Welcome! You are off to a good start. If you haven't already, take a peak at the MWL Guidelines. I also highly recommend watching Jeff Novick's Calorie Density lecture and a few Dr. Doug Lisle's talks: The Pleasure Trap, Losing Weight Without Losing Your Mind, and The Slow Fast Way.

Stephanie - Thanks! You make giving up caffeine sound easy. That's awesome.

[moonlight]

Hi Amy, thanks for the encouraging words!! I feel I'm back in the groove! Batch cooking is under way. I made barley mushroom soup, coleslaw, and chopped raw veggies for a quick snack. My DH did grocery shopping for me so I have all the ingredients for a couple more dishes. Hoping to get the Stuffed Peppers recipe done today. These recipes are in the MWL book. A couple of my favorites. I add a little salt to them, otherwise they are too bland for me! Last two days were 100% MWL

[GlennR]

Amy, I hear you about not having things in the house that are detrimental to this way of eating but I don't live alone and others here will bring things in. I know it would be better if that would stop or if I could get it put in one cupboard but that's not going to happen either.

No one is urging me to stray but some things just have to be lived with. It would be worse if I had to constantly debate what I'm doing so I really have to look at the bright side, if they're not completely onside, at least they aren't actively opposed.

[belcimo]

Take me back!! Please!

[amandamechele]

Moonlight - How have you been doing since your last post here? I hope the stuffed peppers turned out well.

Glenn - I completely understand as things are similar in my home. I tend to relay the optimal circumstance here in order for us to attempt to get as close to that as is reasonable in whatever our particular living situation is. It absolutely could be worse, and I have found that periodically reminding myself of all of the fortunate circumstances I have in my life has created gratitude for the things working in my favour, even while facing other challenges. It sounds like you have the same great attitude!

Belcimo - Bellissima! Wonderful to have you back, you are always welcome.

[moonlight]

Moonlight - How have you been doing since your last post here? I hope the stuffed peppers turned out well.

Thank you, Amy, for checking on me! I am hanging in there! Good days and a couple of poorly executed evenings!! I'm not giving up, though. The other day I looked up inspirational quotes to help get me through the day. My favorite corny one is "The difference between TRY and TRIUMPH is a little Umph." I love that one. It makes me laugh. Stephanie chimed in with a few good ones. My favorite: "All great achievements require time" - Maya Angelou. So true, right?!

I haven't made the stuffed peppers yet. I have been enjoying sweet potatoes every night with spicy hot greens. I benefitted from making cabbage slaw and barley soup but that's been the extent of my batch cooking. I have food in the refridgerator that my DH bought for me. Maybe tomorrow I'll get the rest of the food made that was on my Sunday list. Last night and tonight I decided not to eat at least an hour or so before bed and only have one snack after dinner. I realized I need to be uncomfortable for a few nights as I go through the Pleasure Trap withdrawals.... such is my life.... Thanks for asking about my week. I hope you are having a good week.

[Mark Cooper]

I'm down 3.3 lbs this week, and I successfully abstained from coffee for the whole week, as well - definitely feels like a successful week.

I had my appointment with the Heme / Onc specialist on Thursday, and it seems that I am very mildly anemic, so more blood tests to find out why and an ultra sound to check my spleen are scheduled. I see this specialist again in 2 weeks, so hopefully the diagnosis will start to be narrowed down by then. My never-ending ankle pain still continues, so it would definitely be nice to have some path to improvement! I felt pretty rundown this week, but I'm chalking that up to quitting caffeine and still being really sore from the auto collision.

Cheers to all group members - wishing everyone the best for a successful and health-promoting week!

[Idgie]

Mark and Moonlight, hope this week is a lot better for both of you!

I'm down 4.8 pounds this week. I was sick the whole past week -- missed a couple days of work -- but I"m feeling better for the first time this morning, thank goodness. I did pretty well on MWL this week except for a couple slip-ups. One was because my mom bought me snacks and I accepted them. Usually I take them and if they're off-plan, I toss them or give them to my partner, but yesterday, I ate them. Well, some of them. Ate crackers and hummus until I was full, then put them away for later. An hour later, I came to my senses and tossed them (partner didn't want them).

It's been really helping me to have cooked starches on hand. This past week, it was sweet potatoes and brown rice. Yesterday, I made a big pot of lentils. I like lentils just by themselves, but I'll also make some stuff with them. I'll also go buy more sweet potatoes today. I love the things, and if I had to, I could happily live on them. If I ever decided to do an elimination diet, I would just eat those for a couple weeks, then introduce other stuff.

[Mark Cooper]

I'm so glad you are feeling better, Idgie!
Congrats on a good loss during a challenging week!

I second your love of sweet potatoes, I could definitely live off of the purple sweet potatoes alone pretty happily.

[VegSeekingFit]

Hi to the Group!

Hope that everyone is having an excellent week!

I've been trying to focus more on 50 / 50 visual volume of veggie / starch. Made 2 SNAP meals this week - Mexican Fiesta and Longevity Soup. Both were good --- and will be making many more times.

Had a few off MWL (but on regular McD plan) items this week. Striving to keep non-MWL compliant foods to a minimum.

I'm down .6 lbs. from last week's weigh in.

Mark and Idgie - Congrats on your awesome losses!

Moonlight - Love your inspirational quotes. Tri-umph!

Amy - Didn't mean to make it sound easy with the giving up caffeine thing. I have to admit that I love the smell of coffee and I have to remember not to just reach for it automatically (so far, so good...). I had stopped drinking it at work a few years ago and was down to a cup or two at home first thing in the AM. How's it going for you???

Have a great weekend!

Stephanie

[Mark Cooper]

Thanks, Stephanie!

The Mexican Fiesta SNAP meal is one of my family's favorites, really delicious.
for the loss this week.

[medamoso]

This is my first time posting in the MWL Weigh in, so no loss or gain, but my current weight is 223 lbs.