veggies4me wrote:I just started the Maximum Weight Loss plan a week ago after reading "The Starch Solution".
You'll find a lot more info on the MWLP version of the plan in the actual McDougall Diet for Maximum Weight Loss book. It goes into a lot more detail of the hows and why's than the 2 pages in the Starch Solution book. Dr. McD sells it right here on his web site:
https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/shopping/books/maximum-weight-loss/or you can get it any most any on-line book store, both new and used.
I have been eating ff vegan (a la Dr. Barnard) for the past 2 years and have eliminated my pre-diabetes and brought my weight from 203 to 165.
Congrats! That's a fantastic weight loss!
The scale has dropped only 1.2 pounds in a bit more than a week
Again, that's pretty good weight loss for someone nearing her goal.
and I see Dr. McDougall said the average should be about 3.5!
If you look closely at the articles where that's mentioned, he bases that number on people who have attended his live-in programs for the 5 day Maximum Weight Loss live-in program in Santa Rosa (He no longer holds the MWLP version, only the 10 day regular program ones). Remember, most of these people were at their heaviest weights, most likely ate a "Last Supper" the night before they arrived and had their first weigh-in, so were bulked up, and ate maybe the unhealthiest version of the SAD diet at home. Now, come into Santa Rosa and get put on a food plan that's not only very low calorie, compared to what was eaten at home, but also low fat, low salt. The first few pounds lost was water weight, and some people could have lost as much as 10 pounds to that alone! How much weight did those people lose in the 5 days of attendance?
Now, imagine a person who was already following a perfectly healthy WFPB, SOS-free food plan prior to attending this program. And compared to what's already being eaten at home, foods served at the MWLP program came out to more than 1000 calories per day, probably closer to 1800. Do you think *that* person lost much weight in the 5 days she stayed there?
So, between the people who ate crap at home and started eating healthy, who may have lost up to 10 or more pounds in the 5 days, and the people who ate an already healthy McDougall diet but very low in calories who then attended the 5 day program and ate the same foods as the unhealthy group and may have even gained weight while there, it all averaged out to a 3.5 pound loss for the 5 days.
Why am I losing so little
For a post-menopausal woman who already lost a lot of weight to lose a pound or more a week, I'd say you're losing pretty darn fast! There are a lot of women here who are happy if they lost even a quarter of a pound at that stage of their weight loss!
Can anyone shed some light on this? (So much info not sure where to turn to next).
Well, men lose a whole lot faster than women, so maybe a sex change operation?
Just kidding. One of the sayings that you'll see a lot around here is "time and perseverance". Don't be in such a rush. Know that you're eating the healthiest diet on the planet. Be happy for all the weight you already lost, for the medical issues you already reversed. A lot of women, especially post-menopausal ones, have a hard time losing weight. And the closer you get to your goal, the harder it's going to be. You'll see that a lot of the Star McDougaller women had to really tighten up their diet to lose the last 20-40 pounds, especially those who lost 100 or more. Dr. McDougall has a whole section in the MWLP book explaining why women, especially post-menopausal ones, have such a hard time losing weight. But so far, you're not having a hard time, you're just a bit impatient. Just relax - it'll happen.
