South Beach Dieters......... Unite

[decaff38]

Love that feeling!! I'm also going from a 16 to a 14 (slowly) . I'm wearing 16s that were snug after Xmas and are now pretty loose around the waist and legs. I've lost 8 pounds and 10 inches. I did try on a pair of Gap Long and Lean 16s that I bought over Thanksgiving (without trying them on) . They didn't fit then but I think they will in 2 weeks. Oprah says they are her favorite jeans so I had to try them. They were 1/2 price and they looked good on the girls that were trying them on. They are my first goal pants. When I get to a 14, I will have an entire new wardrobe that I only wore for 6 mo. on my way to bigggg. So excited for you and anticipating the same for me. If it happens I think I will scream from the fitting room( Just for giggles!!)

 

[WeirdEyes]

When I went from a size 18 plus to a size 16 misses, I cried in the dressing room! And then when I went from a 16 to a 12, I did a "happy dance."

When I went from a plus size to a misses size, that was the best feeling the world for me. I hated shopping in the plus size dept of a store. Not because the clothes were bigger, but because I could never find anything I liked.

 

[sueg]

I'm happily maintaining in Phase 3, but as I work out 6 out of 7 days per wk., I'm stll improving my shape. On Sunday, I went to the Eileen Fisher outlet, where they were having sales. I've always loved her plus sized clothes---alot of flow & some elastic in the waist. Anyway, I see a $19 pants rack (regularly $158) & I grab a pair of large (not XL) and head to the dressing room. THEY WERE TOO BIG. I grab a medium & just for a laugh, I grab a small. Medium fit great & I bought them. I got the small on & the zipper closed, but it wasn't pretty. I know it's Eileen Fisher & her forgiving cuts, but I haven't fit into a medium "anything" since college (& I'm turning 50 in May). I wouldn't trade the way I felt when I bought those pants for all the white bread, white rice & white sugar in the world. Thanks, Dr.A!

 

[JulieK]

Dodie, that's wonderful!!!

I can't wait until I'll get to buy a smaller size. My clothes were too tight to begin with, but now they are starting to fit a little looser. It feels so good to know that the diet and exercising are starting to pay off.

 

[sm4987]

I just went shopping today to. I tell ya what, I was into a size 12 and even the 12's were feeling a little loose. I haven't worn anything but a 14W for years. Now I'm on my down. The last time I was a 9./10 was 7 years ago before I had my children. Well, I'm so close I can smell it.

 

[MarthaB]

Wow. Congratulations to all of you who have had such luck with South Beach!! I'm a 38-year old mother of two. My husband and I started South Beach 2/16/04. I weighed 152; I'm 5'7"; size 10, but tight. My husband has lost 20 pounds. I've lost 4!!! Yes, only 4. I'm still on Phase 1 and have not re-introduced any bread, pasta, fruit, etc. and have followed the book TO THE LETTER. NO CHEATING WHATSOEVER. I work out at Curves 2-3 times per week and have even increased the length of my workouts. I do 100 sit-ups 3-4 times per week and lift 5-10 lb. free weights. I even bought a kelp supplement at a health food store to help with my metabolism. Am I doing something wrong???

 

[sm4987]

From what I understand, the closer you are to your goal, the slower the weight loss. Those of us who you see with a lot of weight loss, probably have a lot to lose. Plus, with youdoing curves, you are adding muscle which weighs more than fat, but I bet your body is becoming more toned and slim looking. Don't give up. We all lose at different rates.

 

[JCJRSmith]

Originally posted by MarthaB
Wow. Congratulations to all of you who have had such luck with South Beach!! I'm a 38-year old mother of two. My husband and I started South Beach 2/16/04. I weighed 152; I'm 5'7"; size 10, but tight. My husband has lost 20 pounds. I've lost 4!!! Yes, only 4. I'm still on Phase 1 and have not re-introduced any bread, pasta, fruit, etc. and have followed the book TO THE LETTER. NO CHEATING WHATSOEVER. I work out at Curves 2-3 times per week and have even increased the length of my workouts. I do 100 sit-ups 3-4 times per week and lift 5-10 lb. free weights. I even bought a kelp supplement at a health food store to help with my metabolism. Am I doing something wrong???

The following is from "The Daily Dish" available on the South Beach Diet web site:

"When you begin to do resistance training on a regular basis, your rate of weight loss may slow down. It's a well-observed fact that muscle burns more calories than fat, so why aren't you losing more weight by exercising?

The answer is simple—you're adding muscle, not just losing fat. This is great. Because muscle burns more calories than fat, building muscle mass will help to increase your metabolism. Since muscle continues to burn calories long after you've stopped exercising, you're burning more calories during the hours when you're not at the gym. That means you will be losing weight while you work at your desk, watch TV, and even while you sleep.

So be patient. Even though it may take you more time to drop the weight, you're on the road to more sustainable weight loss and a better body composition. "

Here is another one:

Attention women: Don't be discouraged if your husband loses weight faster than you on The South Beach Diet. While most men have an easier time dropping the pounds than their female counterparts, a little patience and perseverance will eventually help you reach your goals. Why do men have all the weight-loss luck?

1. Men have less body fat and more muscle. This higher muscle-to-fat ratio means that men also have the benefit of a higher metabolic rate. Because of this, men have to put less effort into losing weight. Most women, on the other hand, have a lower muscle-to-fat ratio and, therefore, have to work harder to lose the same amount of weight.
2. Men don't have to deal with the hormonal changes of pregnancy or menopause. While it's true that both men and women have the tendency to gain weight as they age, women have the added challenge of dealing with hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy and menopause. Hormones wreak havoc on a woman's weight-control mechanisms, adding another weight-loss hurdle.
So what does this mean for a woman struggling with weight loss? First, don't compare your progress with that of your husband, and second, don't worry. You may have to work a little harder to get to your goal, but you will get there

I hope this helps.

 

[JCJRSmith]

If you are just starting on The Beach or thinking about it, here is some good info from southbeachdiet.com:

Seven things to remember when starting The South Beach Diet
If you're in Phase 1 or getting ready to begin, print out the following and hang it on your refrigerator next to the list of Foods to Avoid and Enjoy. When you feel like you've gotten a little off track, or you've forgotten the key elements and goals of the South Beach Diet, take a quick glance to refresh your memory.


1. The South Beach Diet is not a low-carb or low-fat diet. The focus is on selecting the right carbs and fats.
2. The South Beach Diet does not require you to limit portion size, count calories, or count grams of carbohydrates. You can eat until your hunger is satisfied.
3. The South Beach Diet is flexible. You don't have to follow the meal plans to the letter—feel free to swap meals and ingredients to suit your tastes and needs.
4. You can't lose in a day what it took years to put on. Permanent weight loss is a slow process. Eliminating the carbs that cause cravings makes weight loss easier.
5. The South Beach Diet allows for the inevitable slipups—that is why there are three phases. It's okay to fall off the wagon as long as you get right back on.
6. The South Beach Diet is a lifestyle change, not just another diet. Because it allows you to eat the way you actually like to eat, you can sustain it for the rest of your life.
7. Weight loss is only one of the benefits of the South Beach Diet. It will also improve blood chemistry—and lead to a healthier you.

 

[MarthaB]

Thanks, Jerry. Everything you've mentioned is true. I also read the Daily Dish. It's just frustrating, but I'm gonna stick to it - faux cauliflower mashed potatoes and all!!!

 

[sm4987]

Giving this a bump up. I did great this weekend. I tasted a subway wrap for the first time and I must admit it was great. I had plenty of veggies in it. Nice to know there are some good low-carb foods out there.

 

[ZerasPride]

Hi all you South Beachers out there!

I'm reporting in with a 1 pound weight loss for the week. I'm just 1/2 pound away from losing 40 pounds and grabbing a 40 pound clippie. I'm very excited. I've never lost this much weight before.

I hope everyone is doing well! It's kind of quiet around here, where are all you guys?

 

[sm4987]

ZerasPride
Congratulations!!!!!!!!!
I haven't weighed in yet. Keeping my fingers crossed

 

[TinkOhio]

Wow!! Congrats, ZerasPride! 40 pounds is quite an achievement!

Silly as it sounds, I'm still unsure about eating all the good fats in the program! I don't weigh myself, so I can't say just how much I've lost. I started at a size 14 three weeks ago and am down to a snug size 10. 12's are baggy, so I'm hoping that the 10's will fit nicely before we leave for our big Disney trip in 23 days. Here's the kicker, though; when I've lost weight in the past, ( by restricting calories and fat,) I've lost in different places than this time. Do any of you think that this is because the SBD includes healthy fats?

I still am doing stage 1 foods but am considering cutting back on the fats in general. Any opinions?

Hope you all have a happy and successful week!
Tink

 

[sm4987]

I have no idea if it's eating the good fats that is causing you to lose weight in different places. I've noticed that too. However, the places that I am losing it in are really making a difference in my clothes, soo......

Good luck on your goal. Disney in 23 days, wish it was me


How is everyone else doing? It has been quiet around here lately. We haven't given up have we?

 

[ZerasPride]

I was wondering the same thing. Come on Beachgoers!!! We need to build up some excitement and encouragement on our thread!

I would love to hear how everyone is doing. Good, bad or indifferent. Support is so imporant to success.

There isn't much we can do about the scale moving. Goodness knows I'd like to move my scale 1/2 pound down so I can claim my 40 pound clippie, but there are other things I concentrate on that I do have control over. Like how much water I drink and my exercise routine.

What do you do to move your body on a daily or weekly basis? Or if you don't like that question, try this one. What do you do to stay motivated with this way of eating that doesn't involve jumping on the scale?

Me first!

Exercise: I do the FIRM work outs. Monday, Wednesday and Friday it's cardio sculpt, Tuesday and Saturday it's body sculpt (upper body), Sunday it's ab sculpt and Thursday is a rest day.

Some of the things that keep me motivated: coming to a site like this one for encouragement; trying on smaller sized clothes in my closet; keeping a journal and my new one taking monthly measurements.

Okay, who's next?

 

[Cyndiu]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post in the WISH board. My family has been on the SBD for 12 days now. (Modified for the children as they don't really need to diet)

I have been overweight my whole life and although I thought I was huge and unattractive in High School at size 10, I'd give a lot to be that now! I weigh 246 lbs. today, down from a 259 lb. starting weight. (I can't believe I just admitted that to all you readers, I don't even tell DH what I weigh cause its 40 pounds more than him!)

So far I don't really mind the SBD, although breakfast is a little hard to make interesting. The easiest and best things we've done in my house is give up soda and sweets. A little harder to give up was bread, pasta and potatoes, but we're surviving.

I'm going to spend more time in this board. It seems like everyone is really supportive and I need all the support I can get!

Thanks for listening!

 

[WeirdEyes]

Hi everybody! I added the 3 Mile Walk Away the Pounds DVD to my daily routine and boy did it make a difference! I lost 3 lbs last week and can now fit into some of my smaller clothes. I have 12 lbs to go to reach my goal. I might even lower my goal if I get there and I still don't like what I see. (You know how us women can never make our minds up.) When I get to goal, I am going to start incorporating some more weight training. The 3 Mile WATP includes both weight training and cardio, but will concentrate more on toning & sculpting at goal.

All of you sound like you are doing so well. Isn't this WOE wonderful??!!

 

[ZerasPride]

Cyndiu! Welcome to the Beach! It sounds like you are doing very very well!

I started out at 282.5 pounds and am down to 243. I've never lost weight like this before on any other program so I think it's very exciting!

WISH is a great place to get encouragement and support so you are in very good company here. I know I owe part of my success to the comraderie that exists on this board. I've found it helpful to keep a WISH journal and join a challenge. It makes it fun and exciting. Join right in with us! Once you get past Phase 1, and you're almost there, you can add so much back to your eating program and it will make sticking with SBD that much easier. If you have any questions or are just looking for someone to talk to about the program, please post! Take care and welcome again!!!

Weirdeyes - you are doing so good. Keep up the great work. I can see the difference an exercise program makes when you're trying to lose weight. It really really does help. I totally agree that this woe is wonderful! I just wish I would have found it sooner.

 

[MarthaB]

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK EVERYONE!! Good for all of you!! You should take a moment and sincerely be proud of yourselves!!

I'm still trudging away, but not giving up!!! My upcoming trip to Disney is my incentive. I must admit, I'm going to go off SB while at Disney, although I may not eat the bun with hamburgers or hotdogs. I guess upcoming summer and swimsuit season will be my incentive after my return.

About breakfasts becoming boring, I'd like to share a low carb recipe with you:

Quick Italian Spinach Pie

Prep time: 10 min
Total Time: 50 min
Makes: 8+ servings

1 container (16 oz.) low fat cottage cheese
1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed, well drained
1 cup low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese
4 eggs, beaten (or egg substitute)
1 jar (7 oz.) roasted red peppers, well drained, chopped
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. dried oregano leaves

Mix all ingredients. Pour into greased 9-inch pie plate (I used a 9x9 casserole dish). Bake at 350 for 40 minutes or until center is set.

Calories: 150
Sodium: 450 mg
Protein: 15 g
Iron: 6% DV
Total fat: 8 g
Carb: 6 g
Saturated fat: 4 g
Cholesterol: 125 mg

Now before you wrinkle up your nose at the cottage cheese, spinach, or roasted peppers (like I did), I was AMAZED at how good this was!! All put together, you really don't taste any one ingredient, they blend so well together. Don't skip the roasted peppers - I think they really made this recipe. I made this one Sunday night and refrigerated it and my DH and I heated our portions in the microwave for breakfast ALL WEEK. It's great for those rushed mornings when I'm trying to get the kids dressed, fed, and off to school. And let's face it, eggs do get boring.

I found this recipe on www.kraftfoods.com - they now have a low carb section. Check it out - lots of great recipes, even desserts!!

Hope this helps!! LET'S STAY MOTIVATED!!!!

Martha