I was able to lose weight eating mostly raw fruits and veggies without staying as low-fat as recommended. Because I feel low-fat is healthier for me, I'm now happily McDougalling (and still eating fruits and veggies!). The weight loss isn't quite as quick for me, but I feel calm and grounded and healthy--and like this is a sustainable path for me. I'm also learning to drink more water consistently.
![smile :)](./images/smilies/smile.gif)
I eat less calories this way than I did on raw fruits & veggies, but I feel more full (and uninterested in bingeing).
I think calories do ultimately matter, and while someone may not gain weight eating mostly carbs (fruits or starches), that doesn't mean they will
lose it if they are eating exactly what they are burning. And so many other factors go into
how we lose weight, in my opinion, that they can cloud the issue. For example, if I kick my exercise up into high gear and give the starches all the credit, is that really the whole story?
I think each of us has to find what works, just as the Star McDougallers themselves have varied approaches to losing weight and maintaining their weight. I've been doing the MWL program for 17 days and have lost 3.5 pounds. Not bad, but I was hoping for something more dramatic. (On the other hand, if I keep going at this rate, that could be around 7 pounds in a month: that sounds great!
![Very Happy :-D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
) I'm now ramping up my exercise and am focused on feeling good. I'm being patient because I'm seeing other positive benefits, but if weight loss slows or stops--something's gotta give, right? And if I start to find that I'm disappearing and have to eat more to keep weight on, well, that would be amazing. Bring on the (fat-free) tater tots*, stat!
![big grin :D](./images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
*I can eat a couple of large potatoes at one time usually, but cut them into tater tots and bake them, and I can eat several!
![embarrassment :o](./images/smilies/redface.gif)