For those of you who didn't know, over in my private, non-Facebook, BNV Community we have been reading Dr. McDougall's The Starch Solution in our Book Club.
And one thing that caught my eye was a study by the University of Michigan where they gave 16 overweight college guys 12 slices of bread to eat in addition to their normal diet - and they all lost weight!
So we tried it ourselves by doing an Eat More Starch Challenge.
So How Did It Go?
I'll be the first to admit, this was harder to do than I thought, as the first few weeks that I intentionally tried to eat more - I gained weight. Probably because I already eat a lot of starch.
And well, getting this nasty flu bug really put a damper on things too.
I think if you are a SAD-eating person, who has some considerable weight to lose, this approach would be a good place to start, as you will eventually crowd out the meat & dairy with all the extra starches.
But for me - considering I already eat a mostly starch-based diet - it was a fail.
Looking back though, to what HAS worked ....
My 2021 Challenge
I purposely cut back on the fattier whole foods, I exercised every day, and I vlogged about it on YouTube every single day.....and I dropped some major weight,
Of course, this was all based on the steps I took after my stroke to get off the medications. So I KNOW it works. I've done it. Twice!
And I remember some of the comments from my readers who were doing it with me,
Another lady totally reversed her Diabetic Retinopathy!
So I think I am going to get back on THIS wagon for 2023.
Because I would really like to see my weight get back to the 180s again, and have blood pressure numbers that are normal.
I think the only reason I stopped last time was that it became such a pain to upload to YouTube every day. But now I don't upload at all - so....yeah - I NEED to do this again.
Too early for a New Year's Resolution?
What do you all think.......anyone care to join me?
Sheryl
Hi Chuck and community, I have 37 pounds to lose to get to my goal weight. I would like to join you in 2023 also.
Suzette
I would also like to join you in 2023, I am new to this and would love to learn as much as I can!!
eejdwhite
I got the Starch book from the library. I was amazed to think about the number of calories from the amount of starch to eat: as a 105-lb person, that would be like half our my daily calories. No wonder you would lose weight: you'd be stuffed to the gills already! I think the same is true of restricted eating times plans: you have only so many hours to eat, so you eat less. Or keto etc: if you have a restricted variety of foods, you eat less (until you learn how to game the system).
But my problem with potatoes (let's not even go to white bread) is that I've been playing with the continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) programs (Levels, January AI, Nutrisense: i am truly dabbling!). I am not diabetic or prediabetic, just nutrition curious. Simple carbs like potatoes and bread spike my blood sugar, not good because that is proinflammatory, and inflammation ain't good for your health. Even if I eat in meals with fats and proteins. So I tend to avoid them mostly. Goodness knows, I miss sweet potatoes except as a treat.
Let me add a PS: thanks, Chuck, for getting me over my fear of nutritional yeast! I love it now. Especially on air-popped popcorn and tofu scramble instead of tumeric (although I still add that for heart-healthy effects (Dr Greger) not so much the taste influence--yet I am still cowardly to try golden milk, but that may be because I have never liked milk, from childhood onward).
Sharon
I will join you! I have 80 lbs to lose. I’ve been basically wfpb for a couple of years, but tend to cheat on the weekend.
Katherine
I want to join you Chuck in 2023!! I have 25lbs to release....never to see them again I hope!
Douglas Dmitri Mosier
I think the above chart should have a small change: INstead of saying "eat whatever you want" say, "eat whatever low fat fruit and veg you want and no more than an ounce of nuts, seeds, avocadoes, and olives".
Chuck Underwood
But that's not the way the original challenge went. These college guys were eating whatever they wanted, hamburgers, fries, pizza, fried chicken, AND the 12 slices of bread.
Dee
My thought is that those college boys were a lot younger and more active than those of us following you and craving the lifestyle that results in vibrant health and an energetic body. I'm IN for the challenge too.
Dee