For the program details visit the MWL Guidelines thread in this forum. Please check out as many of the links as you have time for, there is so much here to discover!
A couple of other great resources, for those just starting out, are from Jeff Novick the staff dietician for the program: The Ultimate Guide to Free Calorie Density (MWL) Resources and his 1 hour video explanation on Calorie Density: How to Eat More, Weigh Less and Live Longer.
Hi All!
Many of us are quite good at keeping our home-front free of tempting foods that will divert us off track. What we need are some strategies to get us through the times and places where we lack the same control.
With Halloween temptations just barely behind us and Thanksgiving still 3 weeks away (for Americans), it's time to fortify our dietary defences and strategize a good offence for the increasing frequency of office candy bowls, cookie exchanges, and pumpkin spiced treats about to parade themselves in front of us as winter holidays draw nearer.
Today's post was inspired by a member of a McDougall Program group that I belong to on Facebook. This lovely lady has been an example of exceptional adherence for the past 7 years due to diagnosis of a heart condition. She recently changed jobs and was suddenly finding her resolve and adherence slipping in reaction to the sheer amount of junk on offer at her workplace - during meetings, left out in the lunch room and on co-workers’ desks. She has been posting for extra support and letting us know what strategies she is having success with. Many of these are, hopefully, quite familiar to you:
Getting Through the Day: Strategies for your Workplace: (In no particular order)
1) Eat breakfast; don't go into work over-hungry.
2) Pack MWL adherent food to take with you for lunch and snacks.
3) Avoid the office lunchroom if it's filled with temptations.
4) If eating out - request a suitable venue.
5) If ordering in - request to place the order (that way you have more control).
6) This one depends on the social dynamics of your workplace: Let others know that you are doing a 1 month challenge to avoid all junk food (they don't need the complete details). This may have those well-meaning food pushers less likely to offer you any tempting treats while trying to support you. It can also backfire however, so be warned.
Things you can do to support your goals and inspire others:
1) Keep a bowl of apples or bananas on your desk at work.
2) Start a lunchtime walking club.
3) Anytime a conversation turns to the kind of permissive moderation that pervades holiday-time feasting try to subtly change the subject to something you know the other person enjoys discussing. Ask them about their plans for the holidays, compliment something they are wearing and ask where they got it. Mention a good-news story that you heard on the drive into work. Memorize a few corny jokes!
Here are some additional strategies to inspire and motivate you from experienced McDougallers:
From Star McDougaller Nicole: Navigating the Holidays - Let's Share Our Strategies.
From CTV: Totally blew it...how do you eat at family reunions???.
MikeyG and JeffN discussing Compliance on a Healthy diet.
Star McDougaller ETeSelle's Top Ten Lists for Compliance to this WOE.
How do you make it through the day while away from home? Work, travelling and socializing suggestions are welcome! Would any of you like to share a recent situation where you successfully stayed MWL adherent in the face of a challenging situation?
Best wishes for the next couple of days...I look forward to hearing from you on Friday for the weigh-in!
Amy XO
PS. Ooooh, this just had me remember a great thread from The Lounge, that I read a month or so back. Strategies, ideas and support all in one, with comments from Dr. McDougall, himself. My DRASTIC "All In" moving cure. McDougall or Nothing.
Here are the standard monthly instructions for participating in this thread:
Our weigh in's are on Fridays and you have until 12 PM PST on Saturday to report.
This weekly weigh in group is for those wanting to follow the Maximum Weight Loss (MWL) program or Mary's Mini's. There is a sticky at the top of this forum on the guidelines for the MWL program..
In order to tally the results please submit your results by posting the total pounds you have lost or gained that week. You don't have to share your total weight if you'd rather keep that to yourself. This is an honor system so we take the gain, loss or maintain you give us in order to tally. (Please make a new post each week)
If you are a new member and would like to join but don't have a weight to be counted for the week then you will be counted either as a body with a zero starting weight, or when you check in for the weekly weigh in the following week. Large amounts of weight lost over a period of months or weeks, prior to joining the weekly weigh in group, will not be counted towards the weekly total.
If you measure your weight in something other than pounds please convert the measurement to pounds.
All gains will be counted towards the total to encourage weekly participation. Posting is encouraged whether it's a gain, a loss, or a maintain.
You are welcome to share as little or as much as you want on your weight loss journey here in this thread. We encourage members of the group to talk to each other, cheer each other on and set goals together.
This thread is for the mutual support of all who wish to participate.
I'm on the mend. No more in the house!
