It is indeed,
bunsofaluminum! And it's great you experience the same with your yoga routine. There is something like a mix of both? I didn't even know! But I will check out.
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Wow...Time flies!
When I started this experiment I thought "Whew! Did I overtax myself by saying I will do this for a whole month?" and now I am sitting here and cannot believe the month is already over. During the whole time I imagined how I will compare both ways of eating to each other at the end. Right at the beginning I noted some points which I thought I should consider with special attention. Interestingly my own opinion towards these points changed during this experiment. It changed like a lot of things did within the past four weeks.
What did not change was my idea how to exactly structure the comparison.
- 1. An unprejudiced comparison of personal important points in both ways of eating
- 2. Can and will I continue and why
- 3. Comparison of the blood level test
I cannot have my blood levels checked before Tuesday. So I think without actually knowing what the McDougall plan did for my body I am able to compare objectively. Since I followed this WOE only for a month I want to be fair and will only compare it to my early Keto experiences.
1) Comparison of PIP - Keto vs The Starch SolutionWas it easy to find enough information?Short answer for both - yes! I live in Germany but was able to find enough books, web information and documentaries in my language. The general low carb idea was also supervised by my doctor. I was curious and checked if there would be some kind of dietary adviser for the Starch Solution as well, but I couldn't find one in
my area. But I found out we actually do have nutrionists in Germany who are inspired by Dr McDougall and can be consulted - which I think is quite great. In my own area I found experts for a vegan way of eating in general and - that was the most surprising to me - a vegan or vegetarian way of eating for children. Especially raising a child vegan is still somehow despised in this country. We all know a lot of people do this but every pediatrician will actually try to dissuade parents from doing so. But that's a different matter.
Was it easy to start?Advantage for Dr McDougall. When I decided to start I just needed to stop eating the wrong foods. From fancy to simple meals I could go shopping in almost every supermarket here. When I started Keto it wasn't that easy. Day by day I had to learn which foods I have to avoid so I could meet my calorie goals.I remember how frustrated I was in the beginning because my husband could always eat more than me. I also remember I felt so restricted. During the past four weeks I did not even miss dairy or meat. Seems I can keep them out easier than my beloved potatoes, lol.
Which WOE was more expensive?Keto! Although we kept it simple we have spent a lot of money for everything. Tons of butter, organic meat only from a butcher and not packaged, organic eggs...and later also supplements, protein powder, nut flours, sugar replacement, and lot of more stuff which created the illusion of being able to eat anything you want if you just use "the right ingredients". In my opinion the McDougall plan saved me a lot of money. The foods you are allowed to eat are usually inexpensive in general and I was able to get them everywhere. Except for dairy, meat and vegetables I needed to buy my Keto stuff online.
Which WOE was easier to follow?This one is difficult to answer, because I tend to say: Both in their way. Before I started Keto I tried some diets from time to time but usually failed because I never felt satiated and then got cravings which ruined everything for me. When I say cravings I don't mean "Oh, it would be so nice to have some [insert any candy here]". Actually I was more the "When I don't get this immediatly I will kill everyone in this room"-craver.
I just knew two conditions: Being hungry or being nauseous. Keto was such a relief from this. I suddenly felt no hunger anymore and started to eat when it was time for food. At first I thought this is the key! But tracking all my food, weighing myself every morning + evening, checking my ketones in my blood and my urine on a daily basis created another extreme behaviour - I got afraid of food. A very dangerous competition between my husband and me started. Who needs less food and will lose weight faster. You don't need to be a graduate of biology to know that men can grow muscles or lose weight easier than a woman. The more succesful he was the less I actually ate ...until I just drank a buttered coffee twice a day in the end without eating anything anymore.
When I started the McDougall plan I was somehow afraid my cravings will return. At first I was very insecure if I should eat more. Maybe you remember I tracked my food in the beginning as well. I was impressed how low in calories my daily foods actually were and I had to get used to eat again in general. I tried not to stress myself about this and this was just the right decision. When I moved more I ate more - not because I planned it like this but because I was hungrier then. Then at one point I thought about portion sizing. I realized I don't eat so much food anymore - except for when I want to. To be honest: I have those days. Days on which everything is frustrating or days when my son reminds me he is in his phase of defiance. Days I just want to enjoy a big bowl of anything with a blanket on my couch to be able to go on the next morning. I know it's not okay to use food as consolation - at least I used to think so. I always felt ashamed when I did so in the past. But now I can accept such days because potatoes became my consolation, lol. Baked, boiled, mashed, steamed - give me 3 to 4 medium potatoes and the world is great again. So I found my inner peace and my personal balance between "just eating" and still choosing the right foods. Except for this, I learned to eat again. I learned I can feel hunger and I experienced the feeling of satiation without tons of fat in my food. My fear of food is gone.
Which WOE worked better for the family?The Starch Solution! This one is difficult for me as well, because I still feel ashamed for this. When my husband and I started Keto we didn't even consider to feed our son this way. Ironically we both were one that he still needs a variety of food. But my son became suddenly a picky eater. I always had a presentiment something is wrong, but a lot of people told me "It's just a phase." In the end he just ate pasta and bread with chocolate spread. When we had our family meals he always looked at my plate then on his own and said "I don't like this." In the end we gave up and he were happy when he accepted some spinach on his pasta from time to time.
When I started the McDougall plan I often let him help to prep the meals. On the first days he looked at my plate and me with an very close eye. I usually asked him if he wanted to taste but he declined and prefered his pasta. Then one day, he helped me to get the cut potatoes in a cooking pot, he asked if he could eat with mommy and if mommy could take care of him. I asked why I need to take care when we eat together and then he replied "Because the food is so evil."
I had a flashback to one family meal when my husband and I were joking around and I said "Food is the pure evil". One day later I started Keto. So the "evil foods" were just on his plate and not on ours anymore. I felt to ashamed as I suddenly realized I affected his eating behaviour with this. From then on he started to accept more and more foods again and now eats almost the same like I do.
My husband is still a toughie. He accepts some of my meals but "waits" for me so that we can do Keto together again.
Which WOE was better for the skin?I had some breakouts in the beginning of both. But my skin got actually better with the McDougall plan.
Bloating and ConstipationThis was an issue in the beginning of Keto, but then not anymore. No bloating or constipation at all at the The Starch Solution.
EnergyDifficult to compare because I cannot forget how weak I felt at the end of Keto and how sick I got. It was a nightmare. But to be fair I just compare the beginnings: I needed two weeks on Keto to actually feel some kind of energy. With the McDougall plan I already felt a change after three days. My sleep improved at both WOEs (at first!), I felt very focused on Keto but more calm and more relaxed on the McDougall plan.
Lady issuesImproved on the McDougall plan. I wrote about it in the journal and will not get into details again here, lol.
Weight lossFirst I have to mention that I started Keto to actually lose weight but that weight loss wasn't my aim at the McDougall plan. Else I would have tried MWL. I lost more weight on Keto than on The Starch Solution, but I lost more body fat in 4 weeks than on Keto. I tend to think a slow weight loss is more effective because actually I didn't think my body and skin couldn't get firmer but they did. And for the ladies: My stretch marks fade away.
Since it's already 1:07 am over here, I will continue with part two after some hours of sleep.