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Conference rocks::weight_control

Title:	Weight Loss and Maintenance
Notice:	PLEASE enter notes in mixed case (CAPS ARE SHOUTING)!
Moderator:	ASICS::LESLIE

Created:	Tue Jul 10 1990
Last Modified:	Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	933
Total number of notes:	9931

822.0. "A success story -- the MacDougall Program" by TPSYS::WEST () Fri Aug 27 1993 17:24

     


     I would like to mention a success story about diets -- my
     success and the MacDougall Program

     	     cholesterol:  	183 --> 131
     	     weight	:  	197 --> 177
     	     rest pulse :   	 68 -->  58     
     
     			(in just 8 weeks)     

     I am 42, male, 5-10, and was 197 lbs.  Not too bad, but getting
     the American paunch, working a lot at a desk, no exercise,
     tired in the afternoons, no energy at home, 5 cups of 
     coffee a day, donuts in the morning, desserts, not a lot
     a red meat, but still a fair amount of fat in the form of
     lots of milk, eggs, cheese, and desserts......

     Chol. was 183 for about 20 years, so no big problem there, but
     I have always suspected that there were bad links to sugar and
     coffee and my health -- but no way to break the dependency.

     My wife and I read the MacDougall Program book, and decided to
     try it for 12 days as he suggests.  OK, it IS severe by
     American standards -- 
     	
     	No meat				No fish
     	No dairy 			No oil
     	No sugar			5% max fat intake
        Low sodium

     And it almost seemed un-American to give up meat, dairy, coffee, etc. 
     and become "One of those kinds of people", a.k.a, wierd.

     But the results in 12 days do make one want to continue --- 

     In the 12 days I lost 7 pounds.  I gave up all coffee and sugar, 
     and found my energy level at work and at home dramatically increased 
     (and it still is that  way).  No more morning fixes, no afternoon
     candy bars required.  Those 12 days began training my body for a new 
     way of eating.....now my body reacts badly to fats, sugar, etc. so I 
     dont eat them as a normal thing ( I still cheat a little at times),
     but in very small amounts and very seldom.

     The extra energy has helped me at work, and prompted me to begin 
     working out 3 times a week (we bought a NordicFlex Gold). The working
     out (I love the Gold) has allowed me to strengthen my quads very
     quickly to begin running again after 15 years of both knees
     being injured. And I'm climbing Mt Washington Labor Day weekend.

     Also, can't say enough about my wife who has been a big supporter, and
     has done the bulk of the cooking and preparation and health food shopping
     for this new diet.

     I am excited about the 131 chol. count.  -- the Framingham study
     of 5000 people over 40 years says that with a count under 150, 
     one has virtually no chance of heart disease.  MacDougall says
     cutting out caffeine alone will drop it 10%, so it's not that hard.

     The starting point -- getting knowledgeable enough and serious enough 
     to make a major  commitment to my health.  

     Not cutting out some fat or minimizing the dangerous foods -- cut 
     them out almost totally.  

     Not figuring out how much fat is in a slice of pizza to know if I
     can have it--- just dont have it.

     Don't spend the money on the TV offer -- not required.  Just buy
     the book at the bookstore -- he has a few of them, including cookbooks.
     Get the latest book -- The MacDougall Program - I think it is very well 
     written and is convincing in facts.

     Anyway, I'm not going to preach anymore.  If anyone had told me 3 months
     ago I'd be on this kind of diet, I would have said they were crazy.
     This is a guy who as a bachelor would buy a pound of Oreos after work;
     eat half a pound and a quart of milk for dinner, and then have the
     rest for breakfast the next day with another quart of milk. Or dinners
     might be a quart of milk, 3 instant breakfasts, chocolate ice cream,
     and choc syrup in a blender.  Hooked on chocolate, coffee, sugar, milk...

     And last week, after a 11 hour day at work, I worked out at home, finished
     at 945 pm, and my wife found me in the kitchen eating cold brown rice
     out of the refrigerator (it tasted great!).  We both had a laugh -- what
     a change.

     It is possible to change your taste and your diet....and your lifestyle.
     

     Bob West

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
822.1		DPDMAI::HUDDLESTON		`Fri Aug 27 1993 21:47`	4
	Sounds good. What kind of foods do you eat? Donna
822.2	great - check back in in 6 months!	GOLLY::CARROLL	something inside so strong	`Fri Aug 27 1993 22:38`	5
	Happy to hear that the program is working for you, Bob, but...I don't call a diet a success story until, say, 6 months later when the weight is still off... D!
822.3		HDLITE::ZARLENGA	Michael Zarlenga, MRO AXP BPDA	`Fri Aug 27 1993 23:34`	1
	How do you guard against vitamin B-12 deficiency?
822.4		TPSYS::WEST		`Mon Aug 30 1993 16:30`	49
	Re: .1 breakfast oatmeal / oat bran / oil-free granola / toast / hash brown potatoes oil free / natural all-fruit jelly / bananas / fat free bagels / juices / herbal tea (pick some) (we've also had oil free waffles and pancakes) lunch lots of leftovers from dinner (see below) / plus salad bar / pita bread / baked potatos (I normally bring my lunch now, instead of buying -- also I am saving about $20/week in cafeteria/coffee costs) dinner bean buritos (our favorite) / whole grain pastas with a light oil free tomato or primavera sauce / rices / baked potatos / oven roasted potatos / corn on the cob / all kinds of vegetables/ tabouleh / barbequed tofu / tofu based "meatloaf" or sloppy joes / baked beans / mmany kinds of vegetable salads / salads in general / fruit salads / soups / stir fry veg / etc etc etc re. .3 according to the book, this is a myth. B-12 is produced by bacteria right in our mouths and intestines, and very few vegetarians ever have to worry about it (he says only 12 cases ever reported from diet -- others do get it from an actual body problem, no matter what they eat). He suggests that most Americans have a few years of storage of B-12 in their body from previous diets, and that a true vegetarian, if worried, might get a b-12 shot every 3 years. the way i occasionaly might have meat, i dont expect the problem. annual checkups and blood tests can confirm the level of b-12 in your blood if there is doubt. Bob
822.5	not a myth!	GOLLY::CARROLL	something inside so strong	`Mon Aug 30 1993 19:28`	17
	Vitamin B-12 deficiency is not a myth. I have a friend who was first macrobiotic and then become anorexic. Her mental and physical functioning deteriorated to the point where she couldn't hold a job or manage her life. She had a son born during this time who was nursing, but wasn't gaining weight, couldn't talk or function like normal babies do. After she went to a doctor (finally) she discovered that both of their problems were due to a B-12 deficiency due to her eating problems. Once she started to eat a normal diet (still vegetarian, and paying close attention to nutrition) the problems went away for both of them. The problems from a more normal vegetarian diet wouldn't be so extreme, but the dangers of B-12 deficiency are hardly a "myth". Tell that to a 4 year old whose development is delayed a year. D!
822.6	good advice...	TPSYS::WEST		`Mon Aug 30 1993 21:29`	23
	Re .5 good advice -- I'll check into this some more. My wife was a vegetarian for years before we met, and she is quite knowledgeable on the subject, also. Re .2 If it were a diet, I think you would be right. But to us it is not a diet, but a change in life-style, totally -- more awareness of what we eat, how we exercise, what we are doing to our bodies. Both being over 40, it is a time of awareness as to what kind of lives we want to have for the next 40 ..... So I am fairly optimistic on a good report come December 31. Bob
822.7	ALSO GIVING MCDOUGALL A TRY	MEMIT::C_KNIGHT		`Mon Sep 13 1993 22:13`	8
	Today is the 1st day that I'm also following the McDougall Program. I read through his book and liked what I saw, so I'm embarking on the program. I would like to lose the weight but more importantly get off some of the medication for high blood pressure that I'm currently taking. My LDL is also something I need to improve upon. Fortunately, the cholesterol is pretty good. So, we'll see how it goes... Clint
822.8	Curious	DPDMAI::HUDDLESTON	If it is to be, it's up to me	`Thu Oct 21 1993 18:30`	5
	Well, how are you all doing? My sister went on this program for a year and still has the weight off. And also, how hard is it to follow? Donna
822.9	Could I get this program in CH as well?	FLYWAY::KAEGI		`Mon Oct 25 1993 14:27`	24
	Hi Bob, I am from Switzerland and I am one of these chronical diaters. I do eat a lot of suggar stuff, certainly when i feel tired. I do like your success story, certainly the part of the colesterol and blood pressure. Also I am very impressed about the fact that you feel so fit. I have been looking for the MACDougall Program book, but not yet succedded. Could you berhaps give me the name of the publisher. Do you think one can also do this diat in Switzerland. Are there not any special marks and brands used which I never can get. Or do you know by any chance if there could be a German version? Thanks and regards, Karin Did you find yet any information regarding the B12 problem? I know a couple here in Switzerland which are not eating any meat and also their one year old daughter but so far there has nothing happend as mention in one of the answers to your mail like being depressed or tyred at all. And it seem not to affect you either. not happend to you either.