The McDougall Advanced Study Weekend just wrapped and without blogging even bits about this extraordinary event every day on The Truth About Fat Loss Blog after the festivities on Friday and Saturday, there's no way one could keep up with content and sure-to-follow rapid onset of inspiration from this phenomenal nutrition extravaganza. John and Mary McDougall never fail at creating an event to remember. (Pics? Be sure to catch the slide show at the end of this article). The event was held at the classy and comfortable Flamingo Resort and Spa in Santa Rosa, California.
Dr. John McDougall launched the welcoming address with an invitation to sink our teeth into conflicting opinions, differing viewpoints, all with the intention to seek out the kernels of commonality and consistency. Because that's where the nuggets of truth about diet and health lie.
Minutes after arrival I ran smack dab into the progressive and nutritionally enlightened Jeff Novick, MS, RD, LD, LN who I am fortunate to also call my Better Bodies for Busy Women Nutrition Consultant. Novick was on the weekend's agenda with two presentations. First, interpreting the findings from his recent research and paper on "Nuts and Health: What The Science Really Says". And later, with his ever popular "Calorie Density" presentation, which makes planning your plates for the day so simple you wonder why you didn't think of it.
An A-list of speakers continued and didn't quit. Hans Diehl, DrHSC, creator of the life-changing, national CHIP - Coronary Health Improvement Program - detailed this powerful program, emphasizing the power of community coupled with education to make substantial healthy life changes.
Diehl's benevolent, quiet and calm presence was followed by the effervescent Michael Greger, M.D., Director of Public Health and Animal Agrigulture Farm Animal Welfare with The U.S. Humane Society, You may recognize Greger's name as an expert witness in defense of Oprah Winfrey at the infamous "meat defamation" trial. Greger reported in on the latest in Clinical Nutrition on dozens of topics, all delivered in over-the-top game show style. With prizes. Everyone played along.
San Francsico's Daphne Miller, M.D., then graced the stage with a ticket to her fascinating photo adventure to points around the globe that gave birth to her book The Jungle Effect. As a community health worker and then as a physician, Dr. Miller took assignments in Asia, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. In each place she collected recipes and developed her interest in the health effects of local foods. Simple, local, whole foods fare resulted in her observation of such things as machete wounds and malaria treatment filling her practice, and a remarkable absence of the diseases of modern civiliation, such as cancer and advanced heart disease. A testimony to local, whole foods, and traditional starches at the center of the diet.
Millenium Restaurant's chef extraordinaire Stephanie Roston delighted the packed room with a LIVE Savory South Indian Breakfast Food demonstration. As if attendees weren't already totally satisfied with the amazing buffet provided at each meal for this event, Stephanie delivered even more goodies, passing around samples of soup and chai. Millenium's reputation as a world class vegan restaurant is no surprise.
UCSF's Dean Ornish delivered big time as always with a message of holistic health care and disease prevention - and filled us in on the NEW Medicare coverage of the Ornish program for reversing heart disease. This is a huge treatment and preventative health care breakthrough, and it was elevating to take part in the excitement.
You never get tired of hearing Diet for a New America's John Robbins speak and his presence on the stage, always welcome, provided the perfect and appropriate close to the weekend studies. His message for living a life of integrity with use of our wealth, simple living, animal welfare, planetary respect, and personal and community health inspire to refine our choices and remember what's important. This perspective is reflected and outlined in his new book The New Good Life.
The weekend was full of education, debate, excellent food, hope, and humor galore. Dr. McDougall even brought in Bizarro's Dan Piraro who brought the house down with his "life story", cartoon images and the stories behind them, along with his message of environmental responsibility and humanitarian necessity when it comes to the treatment - and eating of - animals and their products.
Clinical psychologist and author of the enlightening The Pleasure Trap , Doug Lisle, PhD held the crowd with "The Perfect Personality", giving everyone a glimpse into the relative challenges of change we experience. Lisle knows how to create entertainment and an optimal learning environment around what otherwise may seem like dry material. This presentation was plenty juicy.
What's the concensus and upshot when a solid gold panel such as this one assembles? Though they have their differences, which makes for lively debated and spirited discussion, bottom line it comes down to this; if all of your food were to join forces on your platter by days end, you would:
- Pile whole grains or starchy vegetables on your plate.
- Add some big scoops of colorful vegetables.
- Some beans and fruits on the side.
- Sprinkle it with a few nuts or seeds.
- Everything else for decoration or condiment or feast day, as your health and weight allow.
Add to that environmental consideration and humanitarian benevolence, and you've got it. Pretty simple.
If you didn't get to make it to this amazing weekend experience, it's not to late to be a part of it. Go to Advanced Study Weekend Video Package to download flash video of every single speaker's event.
And watch for February's Advanced Study Weekend registration. Evidently T. Colin Campbell has already signed on. Keep an eye on the McDougall Health and Medical Center for developing details.
P.S. Be sure to scroll down to the slide show from the Advanced Study Weekend Below. Click on the large photo and then you will be able to click through the slides and captions.
© Lani Muelrath, 2010
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