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For the past two and a half years I've struggled with following this plan. I've had some successes and some failures, but today is a new day. I was very successful in 2008 before I had my daughter. I lost 25lbs. by mostly following Mary's Mini. (I put the link to the information below.) I kept the weight off until I got pregnant, and I lost my motivation to eat right and exercise.

So, I'm going back to what worked in the past. Just like before, I'm following a modified version of Mary's Mini (brown rice is my starch of choice) and exercising 4 times a week. I'm also going to post in this discussion board more. I've found that the more I participate in this board, the better I do.

I will post my starting weight and my goals either later tomorrow or tomorrow.

Here's what my daily eating plan will look like for the most part:

B - oatmeal and/or fruit
S - fruit and baby carrots
L - brown rice and veggies
S - fruit and baby carrots
D - brown rice and veggies

I also plan to eat no more than 1 cup of beans a day.

Here's a link to my 2008 journal: viewtopic.php?t=7763

Here are the links to info on Mary's Mini:
http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2006nl/june/marys.htm
http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2006nl/july/marys2.htm

Welcome back!!! You can do this. HUGS!!!

I love the tone of determination I can "hear" in your post! Your plan looks great! You got this!

You got this!!!

Thanks everyone! The encouragement REALLY means a lot to me. I'm pushing forward and not turning back! Tomorrow is the big day! I will begin following the program and exercising on tomorrow.

I will post my weight, waist measurement, body fat percentage, and my goals tomorrow. I should be able to reach my ultimate goal of weight between 137 lbs. by October 13th, which was the date when I reached my goal of losing 25lbs. in 2008.

I stayed on plan today although I was tempted a few times. The hardest part right now is adjusting to eating regularly and telling my body "No" when it wants to eat whatever my eyes can see. I know that as I progress in my mind, my actions will follow, and it will become so much easier. I'll let you know when I reach that point.

I didn't go to the gym today. I'll probably start that on Monday. My focus is on eating right for now. Today I mostly ate brown rice with beans. I also had raw baby carrots and grapes.

I need to go to the grocery store to stock up on more food, but I don't have the money to do that now, so I'll have to make due with what I have and not give up no matter what.

Although I went eat at a restaurant where I know the meal wasn't completely McDougall-approved, I still have to count this as a good day for me. Eating out is something that my family and I love to do together, and we try to go to places where we've bought a Groupon in order to save money, so not all of them are vegetarian friendly, but I try to order food that is the closest to McDougall friendly. Today I had butterbeans, mashed potatoes, turnip greens, black eyed peas, and a roll. The food was amazingly good although I know that there was probably some non-McDougall-legal additions to the foods.

All in all, I had a great time with my family, and while everyone else ate their meat-centered meals, I had my starches, beans, and veggies.

I still haven't made it to the gym yet, but today was a great day on plan. I ate oatmeal for breakfast and potatoes, broccoli, and baked beans throughout the day.

I want to return to the gym. Actually, I need to go since I'm paying for it every month. I will probably return on Friday. I will more than likely go to the BodyWorks class on MWF and a spin class on either Tuesday or Thursday.

I'm also considering working out on my own, but I get bored with that. It is very difficult going back and having to show my face after being away for a few months and gaining back some of the weight I lost. I hate feeling ashamed about it, but I know I have to face that shame and just go if I want to progress.

I feel very good about the program right now. Each day it gets better. While the rest of the family had some spaghetti that my husband cooked last night, I had potatoes, baked beans and broccoli. I had the same thing again today. I've been eating most of the same thing every day. I'm trying to follow the principles of the Mary's Mini for the most part.

I wanted to weigh myself this morning, but I must wait until Saturday. I already feel like I've made some progress.

Last night we went eat out again, and I had turnip greens, pinto beans, mashed potatoes, and mashed sweet potatoes. I did have a slice of white bread and a little macaroni and cheese, which was of course off plan.

I realize that I will need to be more careful when eating out. I've lost weight in the past while eating out and trying to eat as close to the McDougall principles as I can, but I don't want it to become a habit.

Restaurants like Flat Top Grill (where you can make your own stir fry) are good because I know what's in the meal, and I can eat as much as I want to. Moe's is also good place where I can easily eat on plan.

I'm eager to see what the scale says about this week. I feel like I have more energy. Tomorrow I'll be going to the gym.

Your story sounds exactly like mine! I remember you from 2008, that is when I lost too. I kept on plan until I got pregnant with my daughter in 2010, and returned to this board and way of eating at the beginning of April when I weaned her. I'm very excited about returning to optimum health and am now wondering why it took me so long to get serious.

Thanks for posting in my journal, Topview!

I weighed myself this morning, and I've lost 1.6 lbs. i wanted to lose more, but I haven't followed the MWL completely. This coming week, I plan to try to eat more green and yellow veggies. Although I may eat some foods from the regular plan as well, I hope that with including more of the MWL principles and exercising, I'll lose more weight.

I'll take the 1.6 lbs. thought. I'm happy that I'm losing weight!

I thought I had posted my goals, but I didn't. So, here they are.

In order to continue down this path, I plan to exercise at least five times a week, up my intake of raw veggies, and up my intake of cooked veggies. I will try to make my meals mostly green and yellow veggies. Also, I plan to eat at least 6 small meals a day.

Hopefully, I'll lose another two or three pounds this week and break through the 160 pound mark.

Here are my goals:

1) Reach 163 lbs. before conference at the end of June.
2) Reach 160 lbs. before the Fourth of July.
3) Reach 155 lbs. before August 1st.
4) Reach 150 lbs. before school starts. (August 15th)
5) Reach 140 lbs. before October 13th, the date when I first met my goal in 2008.

Ultimate Goal: Weigh between 140 - 142 pounds, have a waist of 25 - 27 in., have no more than 24% body fat. Once I reach my weight loss goal, I plan to work on reaching my waist and body fat percentage goals.

Slow and steady wins the race You are doing great we all have "bumps" in the plan....just keep going..

Potatoehead,

Thanks for the encouraging words. I really need to be reminded of that. The last few days have been okay. I've been eating on plan for the most part, but I have had some slip ups that I'd rather not elaborate on. Nothing to get me completely off plan. I was tempted just a minute ago to eat something off plan, but I decided it wasn't worth it. It's so difficult staying on plan when you live with people who are not following the plan. I know that once I get accustomed to refusing to eat off plan, it'll become easier. If I keep compromising it'll only make it more difficult, and I won't get the results I'm looking for.

I think if I find some McDougall-friendly meals that I really like, it'll make eating this way so much easier. I wish I could have the salad that I like to eat from Moe's every day. I don't think I could get tired of eating it.

I will keep pressing forward though. I refuse to give up this time. This is for life.

Today was a good day on plan. I ate a lot of potatoes. I also had baked beans, broccoli, raw carrots, and grapes along with it. I ate about 95 % MWL. The 5% came from the baked tortillia chips.

I realize that I need to plan my meals for the weeks or at least a few days in order to make sure that I stay on plan. I also thought that meal planning was too rigid, but I'm willing to try it, and right now, it seems like it will be something that'll make me successful on my journey.

I'm really procrastinating about starting to work out. I keep putting it off for so many reasons.