Dr. McDougall's Online Discussion Board

smudgemom wrote:Like many of the posters, I can relate to your story. I'm about the same age/before size & BP. I, too, found McDougall many years ago & gotten success, but was sidelined by Life & regained plus more...never again. It almost brought tears to my eyes reading your testimonial.....it's like looking at a mirror. "COULD I lose that much in a year?" "COULD I look like that?" ..............H*LL YEAH! Thank you for sharing.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!

What an inspiring thread. Thank you! I have a question ET. How much weight did you feel you were losing in the beginning? Did it seem slow to you? Looks like you lost about 50 pounds your first year or so. Thats like a pound/week. Is that how it worked out? I'm doing this but it seems slow (have 20-25 pounds to lose). I'm willing to be patient though. Being healthy is worth it even w/o losing weight. Thank you!

I kept a spreadsheet so I can tell you precisely. It came off quickly at first then slowed down (this is normal).

2010
Jan-May (not McDougalling--just being a "better" junk food vegan): 8.5 lbs
June: 7.9 lbs
July: 15.2 lbs
Aug: 6.0 lbs
Sept: 8.2 lbs
Oct: 7.8 lbs
Nov: 3.8 lbs
Dec: 6.6 lbs

2011
Jan: 6.6 lbs
Feb: 4.4 lbs
Mar: 3.0 lbs
Apr: 4.0 lbs
May: 1.6 lbs
June: 3.4 lbs

I lost another 3 pounds in the next 6 mos but have since gained that back--it was too low for me to maintain.

Hi ETeSelle!

Your story really resonates with me, thank you so much for sharing it. Do you have any particular tips for success? What helped you stick with it the second time around?

Thank you ETeSelle for sharing your story. I was an obese vegetarian for 15 years, then an overweight vegan for the past 3 years. I tried McDougall's MWL program for at least as long, but could never last more than a few days. I then followed the Engine 2 plan recipes, which are quite indulgent and delicious, for the past 2.5 years (this brought me from 240 to 195; I'm 5'8"). This helped me forget about cheese and other dairy products, so that was a necessary step in my goal of health. I actually am healthy and fit now, but am still 35 lbs overweight, so I know my health is not perfect. So, on Jan 8 I decided to do MWL plan for real for 1 month as an experiment. It has been 12 days and I have lost 6 lbs doing this experiment so far. I am still missing my chocolate brownies for dessert, my snack muffins, and daily pancake breakfast, but the weight loss is inspiring me. I actually often hope it does not work, so I can return to Engine 2 with justification, knowing that the MWL program just doesn't work for me because I eat portions that are too large. Anyhow, I think about sweet, sugary foods a lot, and reading your post is motivating. I hope to be able to post a story similar to yours by summer.

jill234 wrote:Your story really resonates with me, thank you so much for sharing it. Do you have any particular tips for success? What helped you stick with it the second time around?

Fear? LOL! Just don't want to be fat again. It keeps me pretty much on the straight and narrow.

I try not to get too creative. Fancier recipes usually contain fattier foods (even McDougall fancier recipes). I keep things as simple as possible and find that eating simply is the best plan.

Congratulations, my friend! May you thrive for a long, long time! And enjoy that trip, skinny!

Congratulations, my friend! May you thrive for a long, long time! And enjoy that trip, skinny!

Awesome to hear you are doing great. Thanks for all that you do to help teach others about this WOE.

Congrats! Thanks for all you taught me in your honest posts! Enjoy your well deserved trip!

Every anniversary should be a celebration of the progress your health has made. You should be commended with the continued pursuit of better health. You should be commended for helping to lead those in need of a way out of their deteriorating health.
Here's to many more years of celebration.
f1jim

Holy crap! You look amazing ! Wow!

Thanks! I feel pretty amazing. Here's a recent one of me and my horse, Destiny.

You are looking so good and healthy! Thanks for the inspiration!