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!
It’s another new month and time to reaffirm your pledge to yourself to work towards your goals of better health, fitness and weight loss.
I will make this month the one in which I will follow the MWL plan very closely.
Sometimes, when just getting started or during a period of less motivation it can be difficult to set your mind to making a long-lasting life change. Dr. Lisle, the staff psychologist of the McDougall Wellness Program, suggests this may be the time to consider doing an experiment. It is much easier - or more palatable if you will permit the analogy LOL - to seriously consider a short term change. There is no trickery involved here; you are just giving yourself an out at the end of the month if you decide this level of the program isn’t for you. The catch is, it’s really important to truly give the plan a chance for the month. This means very good adherence levels to the MWL guidelines.
What do this mean? How am I going to do this?
There are many different ways to get started. It’s important to choose a strategy that you are most likely to follow consistently. You can start an online journal and write about how you are doing there. You can wing it, and just jump right it. You can read through the How to Begin threads and gather information.
Here’s a quick way to get started for the month*:
1) Print up a calendar for the month of August. Write START on the 1st and END on the 31st Write it in your favourite bright colour (I choose pink!).
2) Print up Jeff Novick’s 10-Point Checklist for Maximum Weight Loss (MWL), and put it up beside the calendar you have printed. Preferably on your fridge or pantry door.
3) For each day that you meet 8 out of 10 points on the checklist, put a big X on that calendar date.
4) At the end of the month tally up the number of days that you met the requirements from point (3). If you score under 24, not to worry, you are now ready to do quite well in September. If you score 24/30 be very proud of yourself. If you score 27/30 you get a prize!!!
What’s the prize, you ask?
The best prize will be how good you feel about what you have accomplished; that’s your self-esteem rising. But if you are looking for a little extra reward to incentivize yourself, it should be something that you think will add to your motivation to do well. Examples range from carrots to sticks. A new kitchen gadget. A concert. An agreement to donate to your favourite cause. An agreement to donate to your least favourite cause should you not succeed. So many choices...
So, let’s get started, the month is already underway!
Best wishes and I look forward to hearing from you all on Thursday.
Amy
Our weigh-ins are on Thursdays and you have until 12 PM PST on Friday 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.
*This is merely an example of one strategy, versus an endorsed part of the MWL program.
(Edited to correct for the fact that I did the knuckle counting method wrong and thought there were only 30 days in August!! LOL Yikes you’d think after almost 45 Augusts I’d have this one down pat!)
This week will be another tough one. But, I am determined to show a loss next week! Have a great week, everyone! 
