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MWL Works!

PostPosted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 8:49 pm
by wildgoose
Back in July, I posted my progress after 90 days of really compliant MWL eating. https://www.drmcdougall.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=59859&start=15#p603065

Here it is almost October, and I’m still at it. I blew past one goal weight, then another. I am now a pound lower than my "ultimate" goal, the one I never thought I would make. The one I’ve never seen since high school.

I thought I was doomed to be more or less fat forever. I thought I would always be somewhere on a weight-loss continuum. I thought every new year's resolution would be headlined with "lose xx pounds by xx date."

My fattest — and I mean stuffed-Goose-for-foie-gras fat — was 237. That was 15 years ago. I managed to do strict portion control and measured food for a year and get down to 160. But a year later, I was back up to 200. I went up and down 20 pounds from 180 to 200 for several years after that.

I started eating vegetarian 7 years ago. I knew Dr. McDougall had the right idea. I knew Jeff Novick's calorie density lecture made sense. But I couldn’t get out of the Pleasure Trap. So I stayed a fattened-up-for-Christmas-dinner Goose for all those years. Never went all the way back up to 237, but never got anywhere near 160 again either.

And I was a sicker, pain-filled, older Goose too. Arthritis, high blood pressure, collagen-vascular issues (doctors never quite said lupus, but several of the markers were there), rosacea, kidney stones, constant UTIs, anxiety, depression, anger — the list got pretty long.

The end of March, I made a consultation appointment with Dr. Doug Lisle. I weighed 190 at the time I booked the appointment. And I was a little more motivated, just knowing I was going to talk to him. By the time we had our consultation in mid-April, I had lost 6 pounds. But after that, I got serious. Maybe I just didn’t want to fail in front of Dr. Lisle, maybe what he said finally got through to me, maybe I was just sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I had tried Dr. Lisle's "slow fast way" before — aiming for 80% compliance on 6 "starch targets," focusing on the process rather than the outcome. This is a great idea, and it works for a lot of people, but that flexibility wasn’t good for me. I had to be close to or at 100% to stay on track. Dr. Lisle suggested I go all-in, eating very simple, minimally processed food: steamed vegetables and starches, some fruit, no salt, sugar, oil, or gluten. This is a suggestion he tailored for me (based on my symptoms and history), and it’s not necessarily for everyone.

Essentially, I've been doing — and am still doing— strict MWL. It worked. I now weigh 144.4 pounds. At 5’ 10.5”, that makes me a BMI of 20.4. I have lost 45 pounds since the 26th of March. I’m never hungry. I have no cravings. I have a simple, basic eating plan that I can stay with forever. I eat out very rarely, and my introverted self isn’t bothered at all by that. I can travel and stay compliant. My only issue now is to figure out what to do so I don’t lose a lot more weight and still stay well away from the Pleasure Trap. Nice problem to have.

My blood pressure is still low: 97 to 105 over 68 to 72. My joint pain is 75% improved and getting better. No rosacea. No kidney or urinary problems. I haven’t done a lipid profile yet, because I know what dumping all that fat will do to my numbers until I stabilize for a while. I’m actually contemplating moving my tail feathers, something I haven’t done for years (exercise was not part of my success, but I’m wanting movement to be part of my future). I’m mentally more stable too — not perfect, but much improved.

Thank you, Dr. McDougall. You've had it right all along. Thank you, Jeff Novick. Keep on preaching calorie density. Thank you, Dr. Lisle. You helped me break out of the Pleasure Trap and convinced me my problem was physical (i.e. what I was stuffing down my gullet), not psychological.

And thank you to a lot of people on these boards whose posts and journals helped me, a Goose who mostly just lurked at the side of the pond and didn’t say much but read a lot. Your stories kept me from giving up.

Goose

Re: MWL Works!

PostPosted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 9:42 pm
by sirdle
Well done, Goose!

That's a HUGE accomplishment.

Cheers, :-P

Re: MWL Works!

PostPosted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 11:52 pm
by Daydream
Bravo, Goose! I'm so happy for you. :)

Re: MWL Works!

PostPosted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 1:23 am
by Suey51
Well done Wildgoose! Fantastic achievement :-)

Re: MWL Works!

PostPosted: Sat Sep 21, 2019 3:37 am
by Mark Cooper
Kudos! Thank you so much for sharing your well deserved success story!

Re: MWL Works!

PostPosted: Sun Sep 22, 2019 6:26 pm
by Lyndzie
Your story sounds like a Star McDougaller! It’s never to late to give it a try. Congrats I your success.

Re: MWL Works!

PostPosted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 8:23 am
by deweyswakms
Congrats!! Thanks for the update. Inspiring. "Dr. Lisle's "slow fast way" before — aiming for 80% compliance on 6 "starch targets," focusing on the process rather than the outcome..." I want to read about that.

Re: MWL Works!

PostPosted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 3:45 pm
by wildgoose
deweyswakms wrote:Congrats!! Thanks for the update. Inspiring. "Dr. Lisle's "slow fast way" before — aiming for 80% compliance on 6 "starch targets," focusing on the process rather than the outcome..." I want to read about that.


Dr. Lisle did a webinar on the topic where he explains it all. https://www.drmcdougall.com/health/education/webinars/webinar-01-14-16/

Goose

Re: MWL Works!

PostPosted: Thu Sep 26, 2019 9:48 pm
by Starchyme
Fabulous inspirational post. Many thanks. Wishing you continued success. Keep us apprised.

Re: MWL Works!

PostPosted: Sat Sep 28, 2019 8:10 am
by Yomom
Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

Re: MWL Works!

PostPosted: Mon Sep 30, 2019 9:26 am
by geo
Congrats WildGoose!, you done did good :nod: For many of us, there is no just putting your toes in the waters, it's all or nothing...just get it done. Welcome to the club!

Now for the activity, just try walking more to start...doesnt have to be exercise, just general movement is fine, especially if you've been relatively inactive for a long time...expect a few aches and pains as you build up, they will go away fast enough...and soon you'll find yourself just nturally itching to get up and move...sitting will be boring...

Oh and stop worrying about your weight loss. You've already reached the healthiest BMI range, so you've made it. Now its just about continueing to feed yourself right and getting a little activity in....Aerobic, Stretching, and Strength (yes that forms another acronym easy to remember, as in get your butt in gear :lol: ) As you move, you will probably eat a bit more, but also burn a bit more calories. You may find yourself losing more weight as well...no worries, its all good...your body will naturally adjust and find its natural weight...and you will start seeing some muscle definition and start doing things you didnt know you could do before or haven't done since you were way younger...Just remember the one main rule here...eat till your confortably full, rinse, repeat...and you will be fine...for a lifetime!

Congrats again. You've done it!

Re: MWL Works!

PostPosted: Tue Dec 31, 2019 7:27 am
by DianeT
Your success is very encouraging! I joined today with a goal of a 20# weight loss.