OK Now I'm getting Worried.

[tlgoblue]

I have not managed to stick to my exercise regime, and it is affecting every aspect of my life. I haven't been sleeping well, I am lacking energy and I haven't lost a pound. (haven't gained any either, since the holidays, which did put me up 3 pounds.) I resolved Monday to get back on track, then the snow came and the Kids stayed home and the Y is packed with people, and getting a machine is impossible, the pool is gross and I'm about over it!

So, today, on the way to lunch with DH, I was listening to The Diane Ream Show, and Dr. Agatston was on. Sounded like some good common sense, and I ran over to Sam's club and bought his book. (Along with 2 bottles of wine and a bag of hoagie rolls! )

I have read the book already and I'm not sure about it. I feel like a sap. I totally agree with the science, but I just can't get over how restrictive it is. I have no cravings for sweets, but I love bread. Homemade only. Some other things I know will be trouble for me are tortilla chips, and of course, wine, and the like. I keep thinking this shouldn't be hard, but I have a feeling I indulge in more carbs than this plan allows, and I'm afraid I won't do it.

I love to cook gourmet meals. For instance, tonight I'm making a beef roast slow cooked in wine and veggies and (no, this isn't your grandma's pot roast ala yuppie) it's dredged in flour. Totally off the list of OK things because of the wine and flour. I can't get my mind around the fact that that little flour and (OK. It is 3 cups of wine ) wine could cause a sugar craving. I guess I will just have to give this a try and see how it goes. I've been on DH a lot lately about his weight, and he said he would try SB, but I don't think he'll do it when he sees how prescribed it is. He is type II and really needs to cut out carbs and be more careful. For the most part, we have made some very positive lifestyle changes, and the off limits things are not something we eat much anyway, but it is giving me some concern.

One quick question. I may have glossed over it and missed this, but what is up with the De-caf? What is the reasoning behind it? I wonder if that is where all the Phase one headaches are coming from. I am going back to look for it, but if anyone has an answer, I would appreciate it. Thanks!

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

 

[JCJRSmith]

South Beach is not that difficult, and you will find, if you follow the program, that you aren't hungry. I love bread and pasta and pizza and cereal and chips and I have been on this diet for just over three weeks and I don't miss them. Most of the recipes are VERY good and very filling. Don't forget the snacks - it is important to eat the snacks to keep one's blood sugar at a constant level.

As for the de-caf - caffiene has been known to cause a glycemic spike and serious carb cravings in some people (it never bothered me) so the general consensus is to limit yourself to no more than two a day, whether it be two cups of coffee, two diet sodas, whatever. Decaf stuff is unlimited

BTW - in just over three weeks, I have dropped 20 pounds, and so has my wife.

 

[tlgoblue]

Thanks Jerry. That hungry thing is another concern. I'm never hungry anyway, so that isn't really the sell for me. I actually am hoping to jumpstart my metabolism with this diet. Hopefully, I won't go overboard. I haven't been hungry in a while.

Oh! Thanks for the updates too. Life without tomatos and onions would be more than I could bare. And congrats on your loss. I'd like to lose 25 pounds, and am hoping this will be the ticket, but I'm also afraid that it will be too fast, and I will not have time to adjust to this new way of eating, and gain it all back. But maybe I'll be so happy with my new found vanity, like the good DR. says, and keep with it. At the very least, I hope to drop the weight and keep it off mostly with exercise, and dietary modifications, when necessary. Gosh, sounds like I'm making excuses already.

Keep the Faith!

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Tracy, you need to figure out what will work for your family. I KNOW I can't cut all carbs from my diet, and really I am not willing to. People have lost weight before all this low carb stuff. I admit, I have started watching HOW many carbs I eat, and I have started making some better choices, but if I want some garlic bread then I am having some garlic bread in moderation.

Good luck and {{{HUGS}}}

 

[tlgoblue]

MissJasmine,
This is my concern. I agree we have become a carb happy society, but I would like to just replace most of my high glycemic, carbs with more whole foods, and be done with it. I was kind of hoping that that was what this was going to be, but it is looking pretty faddish to me. I'm still going to give it a try. Like I said, it may jumpstart my metablolism, and I can take it from there with exercise. I really don't expect any of my family to do this with me. DS13 is just growing too fast for words, and this is way too restrictive for him. (though he is a carb addict if you believe in that. Totally off kilter with blood sugar. Once he gets refined carbs, he goes on a binge and won't eat anything else!) DD10 is already making some good lifestyle changes, and I can't heap any more on her, and DH is going to have to figure it out himself. Like I said, we have made drastic improvements in our eating habits, but it just isn't working for us at the moment.


Thanks, as always for the positive encouragement! You're an

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

 

[DoeWDW]

Tracy, here's a - I can "hear" the frustration in your posts. You don't have to do any specific plan. This is your body, your metabolism, and your experiment. Try changing your carbs over to lower glycemic choices in moderate amounts and maybe that will be enough for you.

By the way, I thought the problem with wine was the alcohol that made your blood sugar spike. If you're cooking with it, isn't all the alcohol burned off, leaving only the flavor? That shouldn't be a problem.

I also think the SBD has been modified recently to add in some things. There was a post about that on this board very recently - look for it or check the South Beach website. I do remember tomatoes and onions being mentioned.

Tracy, good luck on finding what works for you. It may not be anyone's "plan" in a book - maybe you can create your own "Tracy plan"!

 

[tw1nsmom]

Yes, there was a post that said that tomatoes and onions are now not limited in any phase. I'm following SB with the book. Apparently if you pay for the website there are updates to the diet. I actually don't think SB is very restrictive at all (except for first two weeks). In phase two you can start adding in whole grains, and whole wheat bread is allowed in . You could even occasionally have garlic bread using whole wheat bread, olive oil, and lowfat parm. cheese. After two weeks you can also add in many different kinds of fruit, additional slightly sweeter vegetables and an occasional glass of red wine. It certainly isn't any more restrictive than any other weight loss plan I've been on (I've tried them all ) . The only supposedly forever banned foods are sugar, white flour, some tropical fruit and white potatoes. However some of the recipes for phase three include small amounts of these items. Additionally, Dr. A. even says that a good eating plan will include chances to occasionally indulge in forbidden foods. Just go right back on the plan, repeating a few days at phase 1. You aren't supposed to count carbs on this woe. Your supposed to enjoy good carbs, nonsaturated/good fats, and moderate amounts of lean protein. It definately emphasizes a whole foods, low glycemic index way of eating. Not every plan works for every person (I can really attest to that). I would just hate for you to dismiss this woe because of possible misconceptions. Good luck in finding a plan that works best for you.

Dawn

 

[catherine]

I don't follow any type of plan. I've just started making better choices and I changed my lifestyle. There are no foods that I don't allow myself, I just keep an eye on what I am eating and make sure that I don't overeat. Before I changed my lifestyle I used to eat whenever I was bored, lonely, you name it, I would eat for it!! Now I eat when I am hungry. I now do some type of exercise every day and it is working for me. Todate I have lost 89lbs (I lost 21lbs before WISH). Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

[JCJRSmith]

Originally posted by tw1nsmom
Yes, there was a post that said that tomatoes and onions are now not limited in any phase. I'm following SB with the book. Apparently if you pay for the website there are updates to the diet. <snippage>

I joined the website, and there is a lot of good information there. Much of the canned content is just a repeat of the book, but they have two full time nutritionists there answering folks questions about different foods on diet and whether they are "leagal" for certain phases. They also have a VERY active message board with LOTS of support. If I come across any more updates, I will post them. The stuff I put up about the tomatoes, onions, milk, etc was a direct cut and paste from the site.

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Ahh, the "Tracy Plan" that sounds fabulous!

Whatever works for you and makes you feel good, then that is your plan!

 

[tlgoblue]

Good Morning!
I dreamt all night about dieting! UGH! Talked with DH and he said no way he would join me, but he would support me and my little experiment. We discussed what has and has not been working and have concluded that I have been maintaining, and that is great. Even without exercise, I seem to have my eating at a comfortable, sustainable place. That is also great. My only problem is I still need to lose about 25 pounds. And I want to do it before I go to Europe (End of March). So here's the official "Tracy Plan":

I am going to do SB. I am sure it is not sustainable for me in the long run, but I think I will see where it takes me. Doreen, I was hoping to cut out more refined carbs, and I think this may be a place to start. However, there is NO WAY I will never touch regfined carbs again (unless after SB they become revolting). As I have said, I have already cut most out, and have no problem with whole grains, in fact I prefer them. However, I think I know myself well enough to know that I will have a slice of cake on birthdays, (Yes I can stop at a few bites) and may have a burger with the bun. That is not the type of eating that slammed the weight on me. (constant snacking and 6 months of sampling the local fare did that) And I do not plan on doing Phase one more than once. I figure, I will jumpstart my weight loss and metabolism, and then maintain like I have been. I'm not that far off SB anyway, the way I currently eat. I think I can do this.

One thing I will have a hard time with is red meat. Not a big fan, but I am a huge fan of poultry and seafood and veggies. That pretty much makes up most of my diet anyway. But the truth is, when I have my breakdowns, it usually takes the form of too many carby foods like tortillas, and homemade bread made with white flour. I am going to my Co-op today to get some great recipes for whole grain breads, and will start buying all my carb products from them. (They are so expensive, that it may be further incentive not to eat too many. I already use olive oil instead of butter, splenda in my coffee, and refuse to eat cereal. I will not switch to de-caf, and already use lowfat coffee creamers. I may cut those out altogether.
So that is it for now. Official weight today, 150. Now off to the market for egg substitute, spectra and all the other aids in my WISH for the WHOOSH!

Thanks everybody for your support!

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Hang in there Tracy!

I know how difficult it can be to find just the *right* program for your needs. Every person is *unique*, and because of that, what works for YOU may not for ME, and I'm likely to end up disappointed and frustrated.

The challenge is not to give up! I lost 45 pounds several years ago doing the WW "points" system.......right now that doesn't fit my lifestyle as well as it did before. I won't do Atkins, or even South Beach for that matter, as limiting my carbs to that degree isn't right for me either (I run a lot and NEED some of that energy) and I know that if I do attempt one of those "eating plans" I won't be able to make it a whole "life sytle change". I need to make changes that I can live with for the LONG RUN - and for me, that's not it. However I do know that I feel better when I cut back a bit on carbs.....especially the refined ones.

SO - my current plan is what I call "The Way God Made It"! As I see it, God created potatoes, man made french fries. God created chicken, man made deep fried chicken nuggets. God made corn, man made it into Fritos. I worked with the nutrition counselor at the gym and came up with a set number of selections from protein/carb/milk/veg/fruit/fats &sweets that I can eat every day (similar to the old weight watchers or even deal-a-meal)...and I really try to make quality choices. And for me, it works.

Keep trying new things, and soon you'll find what works for you (AND just as important, for your FAMILY - because it's something you ALL must live with!)

 

[maryliz]

Tracy, you go girl ! I like the way you have logically considered what will work for you, now and in the future. Most importantly, you are being honest with yourself about what you will/won't give up. That's the secret to success sweetie ... if you deprive yourself too much, you'll only want it that much more. Kind of like my being in withdrawl already about the fact that I swore to DH that we won't go to WDW this year Thank goodness that 1/2 marathon is in January 'cause I don't think I'd survive if it was later in the year. See ... deprivation isn't good for mental health either

Mary Liz

 

[tlgoblue]

Just got back from the market with $110 worth of SB pantry items. I think I did that on the cheap, too. The great thing is, my basket didn't look too different from what it usually does! With the addition of some cheese, of which I am no fan, and no tropical fruits and other "sweet fruits", it was pretty much good green veggies and fish. Fairly normal for me. One thing I did notice was how many times I was drawn to restricted foods like crackers, fruit, rice and other things which I usually consider to be otherwise healthy. Definately off limits (for now).

I was just reading a post of a WISHer who has lost 4 pounds in 5 days. Wow! I hope that's me, but somehow I doubt it. I don't really have any water to lose, and again, I'm not eating that differently. But we'll see. Keeping my fingers crossed, but won't weigh in until next Thursday. I have a very bad relationship with my scale, and it often takes over my best intentions, so I will wait and be good.

So far, the day has gone well, but I wonder what will happen tonight with dinner, when I have to watch DH drink his wine without me. Needless to say, that will be one of my first re-introductions, as I have ZERO intention of giving that up. (My mom always cut out alcohol to lose weight and gained right back when she started drinking it again. I'm not going to give my body the chance to get used to not having it! )

One Question:
Do most of you SBers stick to the meal plan outlined in the book for Phase One, ore have you managed to change a few things here and there. What happens if you skip a snack or dessert? Does this affect your loss, or does it just leave you hungry. Remember, I am no fan of cheese or sweet stuff, unless it's fruit, so I really don't want to eat that stuff. And, so far, I'm not hungry. What say you? (OK. So it was more than one question.)

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Originally posted by tlgoblue
So far, the day has gone well, but I wonder what will happen tonight with dinner, when I have to watch DH drink his wine without me.

I sometimes drink diet gingerale in a wine glass - and *pretend* it's chardonay..... ...sometimes it *works* sometimes it doesn't, but it won't hurt to try!

 

[tlgoblue]

Thanks for the suggestion SW! Actually, I've gotten so accustomed to having a glass of wine or two with dinner that it takes quite a bit more for it to *work* Does that make me an alchie? No? How about this? Yesterday, while waiting in line at Sam's Club, the lady in front of me had 4 huge vats of Marchino Cherries, 2 vats of pimento stuffed queen olives, gallons of O.J. Cranberry and Pineapple juices. All I say was Martinis, Manhattans, and Screwdrivers, just to name a few. I mentioned this to DH and asked if that made me an alchie, and he said "yup!" OK, now for the funny part. They paid for that stuff seperate from the rest. I'll bet they own a Bar! Anyway, I may have some sparkling water, so DH doesn't feel like an alchie!

Keep the Faith!
Tracy

 

[sm4987]

tlgoblue-welcome to the beach. I felt the same way you did. I wasn't sure about watching the carbs thing. I love to eat the way I want to, but noticed that it doesn't work anymore. I must change something. I have started a thread for us SBD. So many expressed a desire, so come join. I grew up in San Antonio, and I know what it's like to want all that is not good for you

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Originally posted by tlgoblue
Thanks for the suggestion SW! Actually, I've gotten so accustomed to having a glass of wine or two with dinner that it takes quite a bit more for it to *work*

After being *off* wine while we were training for this years 1/2 marathon, I was quite surprised at the effect 1 glass of wine had on me especially on an empty stomach! DH said that now I'm a CHEAP DATE!