South Beach Dieters Thread ??? Anyone???

[bicker]

Ground sirloin is basically ground beef with less fat in it. There is little difference between cooking ground sirloin and cooking ground beef and draining the fat out.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

I just started P1 of the SBD and was hoping to find some fellow DISers just starting out.

 

[bicker]

We're coming close to the end of week 2.

 

[Imzadi]

I started SB about 11 days ago. I haven't weighed myself since I began, but I have lost about 1"-2" in places so far!

I fell off the diet a little in the last few days. I didn't bring snacks with me or plan out eating well, so sugar & carbs snuck into some of the things I ended up eating. I'm a bit peeved with myself over that. I was doing so well. I don't want to stop the weight loss now.

But, I'm so tired of eating lettuce cups. When I make hummus, I want a nice crunchy whole wheat pita chip to eat it with, NOT scooped up in lettuce.

 

[bicker]

I started a little more than two weeks ago. I don't think I've lost much; maybe 3 pounds max.

 

[Imzadi]

Are you drinking enough water? It really does make a difference. Water lubricates the system and allows for fat to burn more efficiently.

I thought it was hogwash the first time I heard it. It seems counter intuitive, as you think you'll have waterweight gain. But I keep seeing people mention it on other SB forums. And sure enough, when my weight loss slows down, it's been because I haven't been drinking enough water.

 

[bicker]

I think I'm drinking enough. I do have limits though: If I drink any significant amount after dinner then I don't make it through the night. I've read up on how sleep is essential to good health and lack of sleep leads to weight gain. So for me, it means, drink less, gain weight, drink more, gain weight.

 

[Imzadi]

I hear you! I can't drink so much water that I feel I'm floating away. Or that I'm running to the bathroom every 20 minutes.

Another question for you: Are you eating vegetables with practically everything you eat?

While doing SBD research, I basically came across this description that kind of abbreviated Phase 1 of SBD in a nutshell. While cutting out all carbs, starches and fruits. Basically you have to eat a veggie every time you eat a protein.

1/2 cup of veggies with breakfast.
A minimum of 2 cups of veggies at lunch and dinner. If you are still hungry and can eat more veggies, great!
And a veggie at each snack.

That has been a major change for me, since I wasn't used to eating so many veggies or as part of snacks. That means if I'm having the approved 2 Tbs of peanut butter, I have to spread them out on celery sticks. Same, if I'm having a wedge of Laughing Cow Lite cheese. I cut one wedge up into small pats and they either go on 3 celery sticks, cucumber slices, or strips of bib lettuce. It's amazing how far one can spread a protein out.

A slice of Oscar Meyer shaved chicken gets wrapped in lettuce with mayo & cracked pepper.

Hummus has become my new best friend. So much so, that I got a tag for it last week! I have to have hummus also scooped up in lettuce. Basically I either have equal amounts of veggies to protein while snacking or more.

I think this and drinking enough water are what has been helping me lose the inch here and there. (That may change when Aunt Flo comes and I get bloated. ) I wasn't used to snacks before and I'd be so hungry by dinner, I'd overeat. Now the snacks really tide me over. I never knew I could get full on veggies, of all things.

 

[bicker]

Yup; vegetables at every meal.

 

[Amirah95]

Hi everyone! I'm currently in Phase 3...lost 50lbs as of January 10, 2009. It took 26 weeks of pain and hard work to make it through SBD. I still have to revert back to P2 and P2.5 sometimes.

I'll try to keep up with this thread, but I can't get an email notifciation from this board to save my life.

Good luck to all!

 

[Imzadi]

Congrats Amirah!


Try unsubscribing then subscribing again.

Also, check your spam folder, in case your notifications have been going there.


Well, I gained an inch back as I got my period.

I also think my weight loss has stalled and I haven't even gotten through Phase 1 yet.

I'm tired of no carbs. It's not cravings, but I miss pita bread and pasta. And the pasta I was eating was Barilla Plus, which is very high protein pasta.

 

[Imzadi]

How completely odd. I posted early this morning. When I went to check my thread subscriptions, I couldn't find this thread near the top. I finally found it under Feb 18th, at Amirah95's last post. I even editted and updated my last post, to see if it would update the subscription setting. Nothing.

There is definitely something wrong with this thread.

 

[mackeyapp]

Hi Everyone!!

I did SB a few years back and loss 25+ lbs and was starting to feel good about myself although I was still a distance from my ideal weight. Fast forward............all the weight plus more is back on and I am desperate to get back on track. I have decided to start SB as of tomorrow morning and I Have To Do It. We are going on a Disney Cruise the end of June and I need to get motivated. All my clothes are tight and I feel terrible. I came back in search of fellow south beachers and hope to get the positive vibes from all your success stories.

 

[Amirah95]

Not too sure what's going on with this thread, but I'm used to the Disboards being a mess so it's fine. I'll just look for this thread every time I come back.

And for those who are coming back from a SBD hibernation...you'll find support here!

What days are you guys starting P1?

 

[bicker]

I'm in second week of P2, and I dunno if I'm actually losing weight. I'm up 0.8 for the week. I'm doing everything right; my wife is watching like a hawk. Very disheartening.

 

[Imzadi]

I started Ph 2 yesterday. I added in a small bowl of the Barilla Plus pasta I love so much. I really hope my weight loss hasn't stalled already.


Welcome to the thread, mackeyapp! Since the last time you did SBD, the author/Dr. has changed a few things, so you might want to read up on the various changes on different boards. Some more foods are allowed in Ph 1 and others got taken off.

In starting Ph 2, I was just reading how it is so much better to move into Ph 2 soooo much slower that what was originally advised in the book, creating a Ph 1.25, then a Ph 1.5, then 1.75 until one gets to a full Ph 2.

I found this online from the Yahoo.com group: Newbies2SouthBeachDiet files:

Advice on Transitioning to P2

What's P1.25, P1.5?
Phase 1.5 is not an "official" phase. It's a term we created to indicate to get into P2 very slow, slower than what's described in the book. For sure this is a "trial and error" phase. You need to find out what works for you.

The idea is to reintroduce 1 item per week, whatever you're missing the most, either some low GI Fruit daily, like strawberries or blueberries you add to your P1 menu, once a day, OR you reintroduce 1 starchy carb such as old fashion oatmeal or some high fiber cereal, or brown rice, again once a day. You see how it works for you.

If you still lose weight at least 1 or 2 lbs. for that week, then you add another item to your previous item a day, so you might have now some cereal with the fruit, or you might choose to change your fruit for another with a higher GI such as an apple with some peanut butter or cheese. You continue this way until you reach your goal and move to P3.
______________________________

I figure a lot of people might be getting ready for P2. Rather than answering each question individually, I have copy here advice directly from the Daily Dish, the official SBD site and people in other forums.

For those of you transitioning soon into P2, please read and print this message so you can understand how P2 works.

1. Don't follow the menu plans for P2 in the blue book! It adds too many grains and carbs in too quickly and is a prescription for blowing up whatever progress you have had to date. Those menus are really more like a full Phase 2 implementation after 6-8 weeks into P2.

2. Pay attention to what you are eating and how you react to things along the way. This is the LEARNING phase of how you will structure the general guidelines to fit YOUR specific metabolism and food sensibilities. We are all different, so what works for one, will likely not work for another. This is not a cookie-cutter way of eating. My belief is that the guidelines were intentionally left vague to force us to go through this process for ourselves. Also many people seem to uncover food sensitivities and allergies that they may not have known they had, particularly to wheat. Don't ask me why, just an empirical, unscientific observation.

3. Expect mistakes. The good news is that this is often how we learn the best. The first month or two of P2 is largely a trial and error process with yourself as the lab rat! It is not called a trial and success process! Don't beat yourself up if you stall or even gain some weight back. If you are in it for the long haul as a lifestyle change it will work over the long term. But expect some speed bumps along the way. Weight loss is NOT a linear process!! (Although Audrey suggests charting your progress so you can see longer term general trend lines even when you are in the middle of zig or the dreaded zags!)

4. Don't be afraid to move into Phase 2. In fact we had a very good multi-page discussion on how common this fear is and why we have to overcome it to be healthy and successful. Try to avoid what I call the "spin cycle" where you find reasons to keep starting over on P1, to avoid going into P2. It is not healthy for you and P1 was never intended by Dr. A to be a sustainable dietary program. That is what P2 is for!

OK dude, so what should I do? Here are excerpts from the official SBD website that were publicly available, so I don't think I'm violating any trade secrets, copyrights, or paid site info that isn't freely available.

This from a Daily Dish on starting P2:

Day One of Phase 2

So you've made it successfully through Phase 1-now what? Proceed with caution as you begin Phase 2. Moving too quickly can cause cravings to return or weight loss to stall. Here are some tips on how to reintroduce carbs.

Start Small. Choose one carbohydrate-like a piece of fruit or a slice of whole-grain bread-and add it to one daily meal for one week. If after one week you're still losing weight and are free of cravings, then you can move on and begin adding more carbs. If your progress stalls, try a new carb until you find one that works.

Start With Something You've Missed. Dieters typically complain about missing their breakfast cereals the most when beginning The South Beach Diet(tm). If your cereal means a lot to you, try reintroducing that first, but make sure it's made with whole grains.

Expect Changes. The rapid weight loss associated with Phase 1 will not and should not continue into Phase 2. One to two pounds of weight loss per week is a healthy and achievable goal once you begin adding carbs back into your diet.

5. I view the transition as a continuum, not a demarcation line. You move to P1.25, then P1.5, then P1.75 and eventually into a full fledged P2 at whatever level of added grains and carbs in whatever source and configuration and at whatever times of day WORKS FOR YOU! All of these things will vary by person and need to be discovered and revealed by each person about themselves along the way. We'll be here to support you, but realize that advice that worked for anyone of us might not work for you. You need to "own" your own program. We can't figure it out for you. You are the greatest resource you have in being successful. You may also be your own greatest detriment.

6. Here is a post in its entirety made by berkgal33 that was also in that thread. It is basically a Q&A with Dr. A from one of his online chats where this was the topic of several questions. I am not sure if the quote at the end was added by berkgal or was part of the chat. I tend to think it was added by her, but it is appropo and worth including here.


This is from the official site, Ask Dr. A:

(Published June 4, 2003) Many people are reluctant to leave the safety of Phase 1 and begin eating the kinds of foods that made them overweight in the first place. Still, there are several good reasons for adding more carbohydrates to your diet.

First, many are good for you, especially those in fruit. Even bread, if you choose a whole-grain type, brings nutritional benefits. Second, many people who decide to stay in Phase 1 indefinitely end up failing. Here's why: Phase 1 isn't meant to be a long-term eating plan. You're limited to a fairly small palette of foods-grilled or broiled lean meats and fish, vegetables, low-fat cheeses, and salads.

From a culinary point of view, it's a perfectly acceptable diet-for two or three weeks. After that, it gets a little dull, and that's where the trouble starts. Dieters who get bored begin to improvise; only they do so improperly. They mix in their old bad habits-adding a cookie or two after dinner, or snacking on corn chips in the afternoon. Before long, they're cheating more than dieting.

It's important for people to like the food they eat, which is why we strongly urge all the people we counsel to switch to Phase 2 after the second week, no matter how tempting it is to remain on Phase 1. This is a long-term diet, and the three-phase approach is an important part of its success. It may take longer to lose the weight this way, but your chances of losing it and keeping it off are better.

And this:
Q: How should I go about adding fruits and grains back into my diet during Phase 2?
-Linda H.

A: Moving from Phase 1 to Phase 2 involves reintroducing carbohydrates into the diet, and each person will respond in a different way. Here's how to transition to Phase 2:

Instead of immediately adding a variety of carbohydrates to your weekly menu, choose a single carbohydrate-like a piece of fruit or a slice of whole-grain bread-and add it to one daily meal for one week. Pay close attention to how your body responds over the next few days. Do you find yourself craving other carbohydrates or sweets? Has your weight loss stalled?

If the answer to either of these questions is yes, try a different type of carbohydrate and see if anything changes. When you find a carbohydrate that doesn't produce cravings, add a second choice and again monitor your reaction. Continue this process until you're able to eat two to three servings of good carbohydrates a day. If you remember to take it slowly, you should be able to achieve this goal without reintroducing cravings or reversing weight loss.

Keep in mind that weight loss slows during Phase 2. This gradual weight loss is not only expected, it is healthy. If you continue to lose weight at a rapid rate in Phase 2, you may be losing lean muscle mass, which can ultimately lower your metabolism. (Weight-bearing exercise is another good way to protect against this.) Plus, weight lost gradually is more likely to stay off over the long term.

What's the take home message about transitioning to Phase 2? In the words of a beloved children's story about a hare and a tortoise: "Slow and steady wins the race."
_________________
Often we can achieve an even better result when we stumble yet are willing to start over, when we don't give up after a mistake, when something doesn't come easily but we throw ourselves into trying.
Sharon Salzberg
__________________


7. Expect some stalls, sometimes quite lengthy (6-8 weeks is not uncommon) along the way, maybe even fairly early on as your body adapts to yet another change in your dietary intake. You may in fact "be doing everything right", but just not seeing any results. These are the really dark days of the SB program in my experience. Find other sources of what qualifies as "success" and remember how far you have already come, and maybe not stress how far you still might have to go. You may just have to have some faith and trust in the whole thing that it will work out in the long term. Focus on your overall health instead of just the scale or whatever you can do to keep moving forward. Stay involved in the forum. There have been numerous people who felt that when they strayed from the forum, they strayed from the program.

8. Enjoy life! Eating a SB way of life isn't a death sentence, it is a LIFE sentence! Embrace it and find a way to make it work for you! You CAN do this!!

Good luck to all as you undertake the transition!

 

[jordansmomma]

Hi everyone! I'm currently in Phase 3...lost 50lbs as of January 10, 2009. It took 26 weeks of pain and hard work to make it through SBD. I still have to revert back to P2 and P2.5 sometimes.

I'll try to keep up with this thread, but I can't get an email notifciation from this board to save my life.

Good luck to all!

When did you start SBD?
That is really good.

 

[mackeyapp]

Thanks Imzadi for the information and "Welcome". I beleive my book is current based on what I have been reading. I purchased it about two years ago. I am into day 2 of Phase 1 and I haven't been minding it other than a headache last night at bedtime. My DH is very supportive and following along with me (somewhat) as he wants to loose about 10lbs before our cruise. I am fighting a terrible cold so I haven't started on the threadmill or elliptical machine yet. Maybe tomorrow!!

Good luck everyone!!
Joan

 

[junebugTN]

Wow, that weight loss sure is an inspiration! My doctor asked me to start SB a little over 2 weeks ago, but I haven't gotten the hang of it yet. I've sorta doing a modified low carb/SB thing, but since I've been seeing results, I'm ready to commit to the real thing.

Good luck to everyone currently learning the ins and outs of SB. I'm a little overwhelmed at the moment, but it sure is reassuring to know that we have some "experts" on here.

Hee hee...what did I ever DO without the DIS???
June

 

[Amirah95]

When did you start SBD?
That is really good.

July 12, 2008 and I reached my goal on January 10, 2009. I probably would have been done in early December 2008 but I had some water retention problems from my HBP...after losing all of this weight and I workout 6 times a week, I still have HBP. Doc says it must be hereditary. That really blows! It was my reason to lose weight and to become healthy.

If you want to see my progress I can PM you the link to it.