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

[johde]

I survived the Christmas holiday as well. We were without Electricity for 3 hours last Wednesday Morning. We were the lucky ones though. Some areas are still without power. This will be a Christmas to remember for alot of the area. We were at -12 degrees overnight Wednesday Night, had 7 inches of snow mixed with 2 inches of ice. The areas that didn't get the ice got 18 inches of snow.
My sister in law and her two kids were stuck here from Tuesday until Friday the rest of the family came Friday evening or Saturday morning. We had 11 people spend the night Friday and Saturday Night. It was a big house full. We had 20 people in our house at one time or another Christmas day.

After all was said and done when I weighted myself today I weighed the same as I did Friday morning, 1/2 a lb from a new clippie. Everyone knew several of us were on SBD so the volume of sweets was down this year. I made sugar free no bake cookies and low carb snicker doodles which also helped. I still induled a little on sugar cookies, fudge, gingerbread, and candy. But only in moderation.

I've lost almost 10lb between Thanksgiving and Christmas but I still have 1 or 2 parties left to go. I have a lock-in to chaperone the Friday after New Years, I don't think I am going to much of a New Years party, but might goto a superbowl party. I will be a little late in the mini goal I had set for myself. I won't quite hit 299lb before the first of the year. I still have over 5 lb to go. At my current pace I will be about 1 1/2 weeks late. I can't complain though. The SBD so far for my has been wonderful for me. I can stay on the program 90%+ of the time, not feel deprived, and still lose weight. As a side benefit, my blood pressure has come down from borderline high to normal. I have more energy than I did before.

Sheree' good for you for staying on program for the most part through the holiday.

Lisa, you looked wonderful in that dress. I'm sure you had a wonderful time at the wedding.

Jerry, glad to hear you survived the holiday and the only casualty was your exercise machine. I'm sure that lb or 2 will drop off soon enough.

Thotful spot, isn't that the beauty of the SBD even when you "relax the rules" a little you can go back on phase 1 to get yourself back on track. While I didn't go completely back to phase 1 I cut back on my carbs (oatmeal in the morning, whole wheat bread for my sandwich) to makeup for some of the bad carbs I ended up eating.

 

[TXBelle]

May I pull up a chair on the Beach? I read the book on Sunday and am motivated to start. I will be walking the 1/2 marathon at WDW on January 9th. Because Phase I of SBD can make you weak, I have decided to wait until after the marathon to start. However, I have already started limiting my carb intake and switched to non-fat Starbucks lattes with splenda. I am working on my grocery list and printing out recipes. My biggest weakness is bread. I have successfully lost weight on WW before, but I got tired of counting points and being hungry. I know that if I commit myself to SBD I can do it! I do not want to be overweight the rest of my life. Because I am at high-risk for diabetes, I think SBD will be a great choice for me.

Heather

 

[thotfulspot]

Heather, welcome!! There's always plenty of room at the Beach!

Don't worry about the bread cravings -- the fabulous thing about South Beach is that once you clean the carbs out of your system, about two to four days into Phase 1, you honestly stop wanting them. I used to eat pasta about 10 meals per week (at least it seemed like it), and I only just started to add whole grain pasta back in as a bi-monthly item, because I just couldn't be bothered about it.

And hunger is simply never an issue -- if you're hungry, have an on-plan snack. It's just that basic.

Have fun at the 1/2 marathon! And be sure to take your starting weight and measurements -- Phase 1 is full of enormous excitement, watching the numbers whizz down on the scale and the tape measure!

Jeremy, I hear you! It's so marvelous that how to deal with indulgence is built into the Beach -- I love how real-world this way of eating is! I realized that my 1-year anniversary is coming up, and in that time, my weight has never gone up by more than 2 pounds, and that was after Thanksgiving. Mostly, the weight has melted off or I've maintained my weight, which is extremely encouraging.

And by the way, good on you for staying the course in a month filled with indulgence landmines! Ten pounds lost between Thanksgiving and Christmas is outstanding!! That new clippie is going to be making its appearance any minute at this rate!

 

[Wbgirl]

I just got the south beach diet book from the library today and plan to start the 1st of the year. I was just wondering if you all struggled with the first phase at all? I'm thinking I'll have trouble cause I can't live without my breads. But I've known people who have done this diet and it's done a wonder for them and I want to lose some weight. Also if you have any good receipes for the first stage besides the ones in the book or which ones in the book are the best.Thanks for all your help!!!

 

[thotfulspot]

Hello, Wbgirl! Phase 1 is definitely a time of change -- many people have a problem in the first few days of it with feeling headaches, crankiness, and lack of energy, which is called 'Induction Flu' in Atkins. It's a sign of your body changing from burning carbs to burning protein and fat for energy. Once you get through the first 2 to 4 days, it's over. Lots of people never have a problem with it at all -- for example, I never did.

It takes a bit more time to break your mental habits, like wanting a particular food at a particular time of day, but that's just a question of giving it time.


It's important to have a clean Phase 1, especially because that's the time of most dramatic results, and why undermine that? Just remember that it's only 2 weeks long, and you can do anything for 2 weeks, right?

Absolutely every recipe I tried from the book was a keeper. I really rediscovered my enthusiasm for cooking through this way of eating.

I'm looking forward to seeing you on the Beach!

 

[sm4987]

Yes, I struggled, but after about the third day, it got really easy. I didn't miss the stuff at all. I just ate the allowed things and the cravings went away. Don't cheat when you feel like you are missing those foods. It will cause you not to lose anything and it will also make you stay on phase 1 longer.

Welcome to the Beach and I wish you great success. Come back anytime you have questions or just want to talk. Someone here will always help you out!

 

[johde]

Hi Wbgirl

Welcome to the beach. Yes I struggled for a couple of days during phase 1 with "induction flu". I just felt off those nothing to terrible. Remember your only going "cold turkey" from bread for 2 weeks. Then you can start adding back in good breads slowly. Hopefully you won't feel you need bread. For me, I thought it was going to be potatoes mashed, baked, french fries, potato chips you name it I loved it. Now, I don't miss it at all. 2 weeks ago I had a small spoonful (about a tablespoon full at our sunday school christmas party) and thought it was nothing special definately not worth craving over. My other weekness was Chocolate, really all candy. I stayed away from all of it during phase 1 and I still like candy but instead of eating a whole bag of M&M's I am now satisfied with 6 or 7 M&M's or 2 kisses. I don't do the sugar free candy because the sugar alcohols mess with my system. I can only handle small quantities under 10 grams. If I start stalling I may need to go to making my own candy (unsweetened chocolate mixed with splenda) but until then moderation is the key.

Some of my favorite tips include:

1. finding something you like and is very low calorie to snack on and get you over the cravings. For my that included sugar free Jello only 10 calories per serving you can eat a whole box and not go over your desert calories. Sugar Free Fudge pops 40 calories and satisified my chocolate craving. String Cheese is also good.

2. Take time sometime to read through this thread. You will see a multitude of tips and read stories of how people are really making this work day by day and week by week.

3. If you are hungry you are doing it wrong.

4. Measure yourself. Several of us use www.mybodycomp.com to keep track of body fat % and inches lost. Sometimes when the scale doesn't move the inches move instead.

5. If you have a big goal break it up into smaller managable sizes. My ultimate goal is to lose about 150lbs. I've been breaking it up into 25 lbs increments. That is one thing nice about going the clippies sometimes even just getting the next clippie can be a goal. I just claimed my 60lb today. That 1/2 lb went away yesterday plus 2 of it's friend by today.

 

[sm4987]

Happy New Years Everyone

 

[JCJRSmith]

Happy New Year everyone. May 2005 bring you all that you hope for.

 

[JCJRSmith]

Well, the parts arrived to fix the workout equipment - a new console and a new wiring harness. We have the Weider Crossbow 800 (now called the Crossbar 800). It is like the one on the TV infomercials, except this one is available at Sears and does not come with the Preacher Curl station. When they first released these, it turns out they had some QA problems with the wiring. So the tech shows up on Christmas Eve, determines that the wiring is the problem and orders a new console and new wiring harness. The second tech shows up on New Years Eve morning, takes the old harness out and removes the console and discovers that the wiring harness they sent has different plugs on the bottom of the harness than what my system has. The original (mine) has 7 different plugs at the bottom of the harness - the new ones have ONE. He can't order the old one anymore. So, he repaired the broken wire with a splice (temporary) and ordered a new bottom machine unit for my system. Get this: We bought this thing on sale for $800. The parts he ordered cost OVER $800, and his labor cost was around $200, and he has to come back next week to do the install. Here is the good news: The machine comes with a 10 year warranty, so my cost for all this is $0.00. Right now it works, and I will be able to start my workouts again.

 

[sm4987]

Great for you Jerry. We didn't like our machine when we had it. So, we sold it.

Happy New Year everyone. Hope you are all safe and had a wonderful day.

 

[Wbgirl]

Thanks everyone for welcoming me! I start the SBD on Monday since I find it easiest starting at the begining of the week and now with all the holidays over it should be easier not to cheat. But I have 2 questions since the book never mentioned it.

I was wondering during phase one: can you use mayo or is that in the next phase (like in chicken salad). Secondly can you use any kinds of other forms of dressing on salads besides the ones they give in the book or are your restricted to olive oil or vinagrette. I was just wondering because I wanted to use Italian dressing from olive gardin.Thanks everyone for all your help!!!

 

[sm4987]

Yes you can use mayo, but I'm sure that he wants the lower fat version. Salad dressings aren't restricted. However if you are thinking about the one from olive garden, check the sugar content because that could really mess you up.

Again welcome

 

[Wbgirl]

Yes you can use mayo, but I'm sure that he wants the lower fat version. Salad dressings aren't restricted. However if you are thinking about the one from olive garden, check the sugar content because that could really mess you up.

Again welcome

Thanks for your response. I ended up buying a bottle of the dressing today and it has 2 grams of sugar and carbs but is killer in fat calories!!! 70 fat calories when there is only 80 calories in each serving. So would this be exceptable during the first phase. I want to get some meals planned out before I start so I don't cheat.

 

[sm4987]

The one thing you should remember about the SBD is that he promotes lower fat calories. If you want to, I say go for it. I tend to do a SBD/Atkins mix which Atkins allows some higher fat products. The carbs nor the fat will hurt you, it just depends on how closely you listen to the author in keeping your fat calories low.

 

[sm4987]

Hello all you SBD. Just wanted to know how everything is going for you all. Are you on the right track for the New Year? What are your SBD goals for the year? I think that if we posted those things, we would do a great job at helping each other on our journey

 

[Wbgirl]

Well for myself my goal is to lose 60 lbs so I'll be at 160. I just started the SBD yesterday. The first day I felt horrible like I had the flu. But today the second day is a lot better and I'm not craving the bread as much as yesterday. My goal for the year besides losing 60 lbs is to complete the SBD and become overall in a better physical condition then now. Since Heart disease runs in my family getting in shape is a priority!

 

[sm4987]

wbgirl, how great for you. Your goals seem reasonable and doable. Just set small goals and you'll be there in no time.

My goal is to maintain. I know that the first months after you reach goal is the hardest. I feel like I have a harder time now than when I was trying to lose it. I don't want to fall back into my old habits and have to constantly go back to phase 1 to save me. I also have exercise goals that I believe will help me to keep it off for good.

 

[JCJRSmith]

I just realized that I started the South Beach Diet one year ago today. At one point I was down 40 pounds from my starting weight. Then I put some back on - and am losing again. Gotta keep going and hit goal this year.

Happy New Year everyone.

 

[sm4987]

WTG Jerry. We all have setbacks, but it's when we keep going that we succeed. Congrats on your one year anniversary