Like pretty much everyone else, I was quite skeptical that a diet based on starches would really work. I mean, really, our whole diet culture in the US has told us repeatedly that starches are fattening. Eating lots of potatoes, brown rice, tons of beans and sweet potatoes really was no ones’ idea of a weight loss panacea. Quite the opposite—they were all maligned for putting on weight; not taking it off!
After reading a few of his best selling books and watching several of Dr. John McDougall’s You Tube videos, I decided to try his 12 day intensive program (https://www.drmcdougall.com/12-day-program). What really impressed me about the program was that you didn’t need to count calories, nor did you have to watch portion control. This was a big thing for me since typically, I was always accustomed to having big meals (read: “eating a lot of food at each meal:!!). Virtually all of the other diets that I had come across typically either limited quite strictly the types of foods that you could eat, or they provided such eager portions of food at each meal that I would always be hungry. All of the them pretty much eliminated junk and highly processed foods and the Dr. McDougall program was no different in this area. What distinguished his program was the complete elimination of all meat, chicken, dairy, fish, and oil. Highly recommended were foods such as potatoes and sweet potatoes (of course, not fried as oils of any sort are highly discouraged) all sorts of vegetables, all fresh or frozen fruits (as opposed to dried fruits) and legumes of all sorts. Although technically allowed on the program, raw nuts, seeds and avocados are limited because of their very high caloric content (and very high calorie density—much on this on a later post). As a junk food addict (I can devour a whole family size bag of barbecue potato chips all by myself and I can’t stop at just one slice of chocolate cake or Hagen Dana’s peanut butter and chocolate ice cream), I knew that I might have a major adjustment to make, but I was willing to try.
So, just about a year ago, I started the program and from the very beginning, it was clear that I had made the right decision. First off, the on line course was so well run and so incredibly well staffed with doctors, nutritionists, and therapists that I couldn’t help but be impressed with the quality and overall content of the program. Our concerns about weight loss with potatoes and starches in general, were addressed at the very beginning of the course as he personally lectured about how all societies in the world historically based their diets on starches. This was something in the world that I certainly did not know, nor do I think anyone in the course knew either. Via Zoom, we had amazing question and answer sessions with Dr. McDougall himself and we had break out sessions with several of the nutritionists and specialists in his program. Not only did we learn about the health benefits of eating the types of foods he recommends, but we also learned all about the diseases brought on by the typical Western diet (commonly referred to as SAD—sad American diet). The program made it clear that typical chronic diseases here in the US (such as hypertension, cancer, arthritis, and heart disease) are brought on by our consumption (really over-consumption) of meat, dairy, fish, oils, and that avoiding these foods altogether can help in reducing either the severity of the disease or eliminating it altogether.
The pounds came off quickly! And easily! I have to admit that I am always one who wants to excel and anything I do, so I made it a point to follow the program perfectly. Breakfast consisted of a big portion of oatmeal with either a banana or blueberries. Lunch was either a very large (really huge!) salad with a whole can of kidney beans or a couple of baked potatoes and then fruit for dessert. Sometimes I would add half a bag of frozen peas with either horseradish or mustard on the side. And then my mid day snack was either another baked potato or sweet potato, or a large portion of brown rice. I’d put ketchup on the potato and if it was brown rice, I would generally put a little bit of oil free salsa (Trader Joes has a great one! Here’s my typical lunch:
It truly was delicious and filled me up. Dinners were not so different—I always started with either a large soup or some great oil and salt free soups that my wife make and then I followed up with a very large salad and as a main dish either a three bean chili, or homemade veggie burger, or a casserole made of Idaho potatoes, sweet potatoes and root vegetables. Generally, if I wasn’t too full, I would have an apple, or grapes or watermelon for dessert. I have to admit—watching TV in the evening was my Achilles heal and I knew it, so our kitchen was always well stocked with all types of fresh fruits and so instead of my “normal” binge eating on chips, or cookies or ice cream, I had another apple, or orange, or strawberries, etc. And maybe I would even have two fruits while in the middle of a movie or a great show.
And so, a year later, I’ve lost 33 pounds and have kept them off. The greatest thing about the program is that I no longer reach for junk foods like a used to. Even if I am stressed out, I no longer have the urge to run to 7-11 for that pint of Hagen Das and a huge bag of chips. I’m totally okay with some fruit or when I am really upset or stressed, I’ll reach for roasted in the shell, salt and oil free peanuts (better than eating Planters because it takes a long time to shell them—you can gobble those down mindlessly and unwittingly and wind up eating well over 400 calories. Not the best thing in the world to eat, but certainly beats what I previously chose. My old diet is a thing of the past and I’m going to keep it that way!!!
