Hi Everyone,
Thank you for checking-in. Depending on how you're feeling, give yourself a hug or a pat on the back...or both. This first week of December sounds like it has contained challenges for many of us. I'm so glad we're all open to discussing them and supporting each other through them.
I was saving this thread for a New Year's post, but maybe it's something we could use right now.
JeffN wrote:***
If you are looking to fine tune your program or wondering why you may be struggling or not seeing the results you would like to as quickly as you would like, you may want to review these points.
I have updated them and added in a few new ones.
1) Poor Adherence/compliance. Sometimes from lack of application and sometimes from lack of understanding of the principles.
2) Misdirection of focus/priorities. Focusing on matters that don't really effect your health while not focusing on the ones that do.
3) Minimizing/Rationalizing the effect of certain behaviors and/or personal preferences, **especially in regard to certain foods**.
4) Too many processed/refined and/or calorie dense foods, especially those that are marketing as being "healthy."
5) Not understanding the difference between something that is "allowed" on occasion in small quantities, and something that is "recommended."
6) Inadequate exercise/activity
7) Not planning ahead. If you do not plan ahead for success, you will most likely not find it.
8 ) Time. Healing and results take time and for some of us, it may take a little longer than we hope.
9) Mcdougall "Plus" - This is where you mix the principles taught here with other principles you have read or learned somewhere else that are in conflict with the principles recommended here. While there are some program that are very much inline with these principles (ie, Esselstyn, etc) most are not.
***
In Health
Jeff
Top 10 Reasons for FailureMany fellow McDougallers chimed in and listed things that they found helpful for keeping their efforts focused and their motivation high, in addition to listing things that tripped them up.
It's the comment below that resonated with me most, in light of many of your comments on struggling to stay on plan recently.
Purdy's top reason for not succeeding is:
Purdy wrote:#1. Inability to realize you have 5 or 10 years to get it right and thus become discouraged because you are human and didn't do it perfectly overnight.
Learn how to deal with that conflict and you'll never again have to worry about progressing.
That sentiment, that we can just keep working at it, no matter long it takes, is what keeps me going in the face of my own disappointments on any given week.
I understand anyone's desire to take a step back and reassess why they are trying to follow the MWL plan. Ensure the effort is worth it. Is there another way that you can improve your health and/or lose weight? Do you need to take this particular path? Would attempting the regular program be more helpful during a particularly challenging time? Think this through. It's important. Some may need to loosen their program to keep themselves out of
The Ego Trap, while others will do best getting much more rigorous. Experiment if you're not sure which may work better for you. Please though, don't give up on yourself,
try everything..
I believe in you!
Amy XO
Here are the results for the 1st week in December:Next Weigh-In is on Friday, December 14th, 2018Total group loss reported in 2018: 506.18 pounds
December 2018 Weight Loss Group :: Monthly Weigh-In Results
Total group loss in January 2018: 54.7 pounds
Total group loss in February 2018: 49.3 pounds
Total group loss in March 2018: 52.5 pounds
Total group loss in April 2018: 26.9 pounds
Total group loss in May 2018: 50.8 pounds
Total group loss in June 2018: 54.3 pounds
Total group loss in July 2018: 50.3 pounds
Total group loss in August 2018: 73.85 pounds
Total group loss in September 2018: 44.06 pounds
Total group loss in October 2018: 30.9 pounds
Total group loss in November 2018: 18.47 pounds
Total group loss in December 2018: 0.1 poundsWeek ending 12/07/2018: 13 participants reported a total loss of 0.1 pounds
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Arewethereyet - 0.4
Rosey - 5.4
Lyndzie - 0.1
Idgie - 0.4
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Total gains: 6.3
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Yomom - 1.0
Moonlight - 0.0
Starbright831 - 1.0
Moonspirit - 3.0
ForestGoddess - 0.8
Lakeeriemom - 0.5
Svenja - 0.0 (Hiatus)
Mark Cooper - 0.0 (Hiatus)
Amandamechele - 0.1
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Total losses: 6.4
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Total group loss in December 2018: 0.1 pounds
Week ending 12/07/2018: 13 participants reported a total loss of 0.1 pounds