Looking for encouragement & tips. Going to start phase I of S.B. on Sunday! :)

[OceanAnnie]

Hi,

DH and I decided we should start eating healthier and we both could stand to lose some weight.

So after we take the kiddos to Chuckie Cheeses we're starting the South Beach diet. (The last hurrah for awhile.) I've read about the phase I and it looks like a challenge for us! We love a coke now and then. And fruit juices. A lot of the things we love will be gone.

What did you guys drink?! Water? We like water, but sometimes we want something with a little taste! We love sweet tea. Splenda doesn't taste good to us and artificial sweetners give us a headache. So there's the rub.

Snacks? I probably will rely heavily on low fat cheeses and nuts. Any snack tips?

The hardest part for me will probably be giving up my fancy flavored sweet creamers for coffee. I can probably pick them back up in moderation in a few weeks. Right?

Any tips you could provide to help us make it through those first two weeks would be great.

Thanks in advance! :) :flower:

[TammyNC]

I can't give you any tips regarding SB but you have come to the right place. I am sure that someone will be able to help you out.

Way to go on committing to a healthier lifestyle. You both can do it!

You also might want to check-out this thread. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=500859

[OceanAnnie]

Thanks, Tammy!

We are both sugar addicts! It's amazing how much sugar is in all the things we buy. With young children we decided it's time for a change. (Ofcourse we aren't going to restrict their carbs, just add more of a variety of veggies and meals.)

[teachingmykids]

Congrats on your healthy decision. It will be great for the kids. They will learn healthy eating and hopefully won't have to 'correct' anything when they start making their own food choices. Check in everyday and join some challenges! Welcome :flower:

[OceanAnnie]

Thanks, teachingmykids! We have homeschooling in common too. :)

Just got back from the grocery store. It's expensive to eat right! But well worth it.

[taeja71]

Hi,

DH and I decided we should start eating healthier and we both could stand to lose some weight.

So after we take the kiddos to Chuckie Cheeses we're starting the South Beach diet. (The last hurrah for awhile.) I've read about the phase I and it looks like a challenge for us! We love a coke now and then. And fruit juices. A lot of the things we love will be gone.

What did you guys drink?! Water? We like water, but sometimes we want something with a little taste! We love sweet tea. Splenda doesn't taste good to us and artificial sweetners give us a headache. So there's the rub.

Snacks? I probably will rely heavily on low fat cheeses and nuts. Any snack tips?

The hardest part for me will probably be giving up my fancy flavored sweet creamers for coffee. I can probably pick them back up in moderation in a few weeks. Right?

Any tips you could provide to help us make it through those first two weeks would be great.

Thanks in advance! :) :flower:

I'm not familiar with the SB Diet. Sounds like the first phase is pretty intense. My suggestion is not to let your blood sugar get too low. Eat your snacks or eat earlier. If you are taking vitamins, be sure to have a full stomach for most of the day. W/o food you may get nausiated or get a stomach ache.

You can do it! You've committed yourself this far. I know it will be a struggle with the tea, but try and wean yourself off it (temporarily). Go heavy on the water intake. I know, more trips to the potty, but water really fills you up.

Keep us all posted on how you are doing, let us know the good, bad, and the ugly. That's what I love about this board we've all got similar goals. :love:

:cheer2: :cheer2: You're already off to a great start OceanAnnie!

[TammyNC]

Thanks, teachingmykids! We have homeschooling in common too. :)

Just got back from the grocery store. It's expensive to eat right! But well worth it.

Good job on getting to the store to stock up on healthy foods. You know, I said the same thing to DH this past weekend that eating healthy is expensive, but that is one thing I don't mind spending my money on.

Just had to add that we also homeschool our children. Hope you are having a wonderful year so far!

[OceanAnnie]

Good job on getting to the store to stock up on healthy foods. You know, I said the same thing to DH this past weekend that eating healthy is expensive, but that is one thing I don't mind spending my money on.

Just had to add that we also homeschool our children. Hope you are having a wonderful year so far!

I got things for the first week of phase I and some things for the kids (plenty of fruit and juice). That's going to be a toughy watching the kids eat stuff I like too. But I can do it for 2 weeks. :) I think it was doubly expensive because I was buying for two sets! I'm sure things will level out and be a little less expensive after phase I and II. We'll all be eating about the same things by then.

I did buy a case of Propel (sports drink) water for either Phase II or beyond. It's made by Gatorade I think. It has something like 2 g carbs and 3 g sugar and comes in different flavors. I had to try it 'cause silly me had high hopes and bought a case without trying it! It's not bad! I have to get used to no carbonation, but it had flavor and that's what I was looking for. I'll hold onto it until we can offically use it.

I don't know if you've seen the homeschooling threads, Tammy. There are some on homeschooling on the "Disney for families" board. I picked up some good information over there. I had never heard of the series, "Five in a Row" , for reading. I've tried the "Before Five in a Row", and I love it!

These boards are great for all kinds of information! I'm so glad I found this site. :) :love:

[OceanAnnie]

Officially started S.B. today. It's been one tough day!!!

I didn't drink my coffee (bad move) 'cause I couldn't have my special creamer and 1 tsp. sugar. I had some hot tea mandrian orange). It tasted blah. No sugar. Broke down and had a decaf coffee w/ non-dairy no taste creamer. Blah.

No sugar. No carbs = headache, lethargy & grouchy, grumpy me. :chewy:

Daggone. I told DH I'd rather have my sunny disposition :sunny: and a few extra pounds than feeling like this! He knew I was j/k. Sort of.

How long does this last? I miss bread, cereal, candy, soda. Wah! And it's only been one day!

Ok. On to day two.

[OceanAnnie]

Day 2: Not too bad. I broke down and tried Splenda (for the first time in ages) again. I don't know if it was doing without anything sweet or not, but it was ok! And I got a non-dairy, low carb creamer (hazelnut). So coffee (sticking with decaf) with the splenda and hazelnut creamer was goood. Yeah.

Made a dessert for after dinner- phase I and it was tasty. Did the trick for wanting something sweet. (used splenda again)

And got some diet drinks. Feeling much better today. I think some of the way I was feeling yesterday was due to caffine w/d.

So glad to have had a better day! :cheer2:

[sm4987]

Oceanannie, hang in there. We have a wonderful support group here with lots of successes, failures, then successes again and lots of encouragement. I've lost 60 pounds on this and have been on for 2 years. I lost 60 in 9 months and have maintained ever since!

[OceanAnnie]

:surfweb:

Thanks, Sheree'! :)

Well, it's been 1 week (as of today) on S.B.. I've stuck to the plan. For some reason I've only lost 3 lbs.! At least it's stayed off.
Hopefully more will follow this week.

For the most part, I'm used to the plan. Usually I feel pretty good! One challenge is going to any store and passing the Valentine's candy. I have visions of raiding the candy with wild abandon. :teeth: Luckily, you can't gain weight because of straying thoughts!

It's been a challenging week. One more to go till phase 2, which looks to be more my style! I'm so looking forward to the next phase!

[sm4987]

oceanannie, 3 pounds is great! Are you exercising? That really does help alot. Drink plenty of water and hang in there. Don't go to fast in phase 2 with to many grains, you will notice a stall!!!! Keep up the good work!!!!!!!

[tammyandtommy]

WTG I know the SB diet is difficult, and I encourage you to keep up the good work. Do you have a reward planned? After so many pounds I am going to ............ Note to self, not go out to eat to celebrate. Ever wonder why we eat to celebrate everything?

[OceanAnnie]

Thanks for the tip, Sheree'! :) I will try to avoid grains except for a small bowl the recommended cereal (if it's allowed on phase 2-- I think it is). I miss cereal the most.

I do need to exercise more. I'm running around and behind two little ones, ( -- not the exercise a person really needs to be physically fit). So I'll have to be creative. I've been thinking of some ways to work in some exercise for all of us.

Day 8, lost another pound! Yippee! 4 total. Not bad. It's encouraging to see the weight steadily go.

Dinners can still be sometwhat of a challenge. Tonight though, I was proud of myself. I made Sloppy Joe Zucchini Boats. LOL. :rotfl2: It had less carbs, sugars, and such than many of the recipes in the S.B. cookbook. So I just modified a family favorite. We didn't even miss the bread!

Tammy, I do have a reward in mind. :) I'm going to look for a couple great bathing suits for vacation once the weight is gone. And buy some great summer clothes. That will be fun! :)