| I must begin this story by admitting that I was formerly a failed McDougaller. I succeeded my first time around in losing the 70 pounds I had gained in my 30s, but then I gradually slipped off the McDougall wagon, gaining back every pound I had lost (and a few more as well). I did that not by eating the Standard American Diet (SAD) as so many have, since I have been vegetarian since 1986 and vegan since 1992. I was vegan for primarily ethical reasons, however, and often used oil in cooking, as well as other calorie-dense foods. With two jobs and a farm to run, too often I fell back on frozen vegan “fast food” (marketed to appear healthy, but processed and high in fat) and picked up burritos on my way home. In my worst moments, I ate French fries, potato chips, and other junk food (and a surprising amount of junk food is vegan!). All too soon, eating that way eroded the progress I had made McDougalling.
From a low of 128 pounds in 1999, I eventually reached a high of 207 in October 2009. Although an avid rider, I stopped riding my horse for more than two years because the additional weight made me feel insecure and ineffective.
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