South Beach Diet Investigated
I purchased the latest edition of the South Beach Diet and read it anew. The most recent edition has updates to the foods, and a number of other fixes.
South Beach Diet Basics
The South Beach Diet is written by cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston. In essence, it's a reduced carbohydrate diet, that emphasizes the value of whole carbohydrates and the glycemic index. Some people have mis-interpreted the diet has being another "low-carb" diet or another version of Atkins. I believe this is incorrect.The South Beach Diet has also been derided as just another fad diet. Only time will reveal whether this is true. It may appear to some as being a fad diet, but I think the South Beach has more value than that. Apart from all our opinions, probably no other book has educated as many people in responsible nutrition. It emphasizes the values of healthy fats, and the blood sugar / insulin response of many of the processed carbohydrate foods that we eat.
The book itself is half filled with recipes and 14 day meal plans for each of the phases. The text is interspersed with testimonies and stories from various people who have used the South Beach Diet.
South Beach Diet On-line
The South Beach Diet has it's own on-line program with all the tools you would expect (meal/menu planners, forums, weight trackers). The only real advantage of signing up to the on-line program is that you get access to about 800 recipes, AND access to a complete vegetarian version of the diet. Quite frankly the extra recipes provide a lot more variation to the diet. You can see the on-line version here.The 3 Phases
The South Beach Diet is broken up into 3 phases: Phase 1 - An induction phase - no longer than 2-3 weeks. Phase 2 - A weight loss phase where Phase 3 - A life-long maintenance phase.Phase 1 - Induction
Phase 1 is most definitely a low-carb phase where most carbohydrates (and all starchy carbs) are completely eliminated. Agatston emphasizes that this phase should never go beyond 2-3 weeks. This phase causes the most weight loss (Agatston claims 8-13 pounds).To be honest, out of all aspects of the South Beach Diet, phase 1 is the only thing that I question. Agatston claims this phase is required in order to "break sugar addiction". I really wonder whether this is necessary. Many people find this phase quite hard, and I wonder whether it is a nod to instant gratification. Dropping carbs out of your diet often results in rapid weight loss for a short period, some will be fat, some may be muscle, and a lot will be loss of water.
Phase 2 - Weight Loss
The second phase of the South Beach Diet is excellent. It reintroduces whole carbohydrates along with good fats and lean proteins. It teaches you how to make good food choices, and how to satisfy your hunger.Phase 3 - Maintenance
I'm really not quite sure of the need of this phase. The foods appear no different than Phase 2. I'm obviously missing something.Vegetarians
The South Beach Diet book has very little about vegetarian options, however, the online version of the diet has a complete vegetarian version with meal plans and recipes.Exercise and Fitness
Agatston devotes a few pages to this, recommending at least 20 minutes per day of cardio activity. He also recommends weight training - particularly for women - not only for it's metabolism-boosting assistance, but also for building strong bones. But make no mistake - this is a diet book, and the emphasis on exercise is small.Criticisms
The South Beach Diet is not about calorie-counting - it emphasizes appropriate levels of fiber and fats in order to feel properly satiated. The opposite effect is eating empty calories (such as sugars) that do not satisfy our hunger but will ultimately convert to fat.Many people argue that to lose weight you must count calories. I believe that calories most definitely count, but not everyone need count them. I for one could not spend the rest of my life monitoring food intake - however calorie counting may be necessary for a short time. It's a personal thing.
Conclusion
The South Beach Diet has it's detractors, and no one diet is appropriate for everyone by any means. However the South Beach Diet has brought about a rebalancing in nutrition. We've come to realize the not all fats are bad, and not all carbs are good.The alliance between the South Beach Diet and food manufacturer Kraft brings Agatston's credibility into question. Considering Agatston criticizes processed food - it seems odd that he would partner with Kraft Foods. However one could also look at is as if Agatston is trying to bring change from the inside - by helping to improve the offerings the food company.
I think the South Beach Diet is worthwhile, but I question Phase 1, and don't necessarily see the need for it.
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if you eat together, talk her into ordering something that isnt salad and make it seem like you're getting that too, then make sure she orders first, then go ahead and order your salad! thats what i do with my friends, especially if we go to like waggamamas (dont know if theres such thing as that in us) but there this option thats like rice, and breaded chicken with sauce, which is horrifically calorific but unbelievably yummy, its like the REASON for wagamamas, so when we went the other day, i KNEW my friend wouldnt want to order it, but i made it seem like i was going to and in the end she decided to, so i let her order first, then ordered something different, she complained that i didnt get it, but ended up clearing her plate, i think it was probably the first carbs shes eaten in forever and once she started she couldnt stop!
and Rosemarie, i also put all my weight back on! what is HAPPENING, i've decided to incorporate the 3 day diet in with phase 2, as i too cannot face anymore egg! I know its probably really unhealthy, but i figure if the 4 days off are on SB phase 2, then i shouldnt gain the weight, if i lose any that is. anyway hopefully it will work! have a good day everyone. x
ReplyThats a fabulous idea.Im going to do that.
Rosemarie dont worry!!!
ReplyThanks all for your encouragement. I started Phase II today, despite having gained all my weight back. And my belly is a little bigger, which think is from the sodium in Chinese food. I think we are not aware of how much we set ourselves back eating restaurant food. Even if it appears to be "on plan", we can't control what is in it, like we can with home prepared foods.
Anyway, started the day with a bowl of oatmeal and a cup of strawberries. I was so much more full than with eggs. But, the snack for morning on the plan was guess what -- a hard boiled egg. I had an apple for afternoon snack. The rest of the meals were just like Phase I. So, I would say Phase II is like Phase I, except you can have a carb in the AM and fruit as a snack. But, I still had no carbs for lunch or dinner. I don't mind. It's in the morning when really miss the carbs. By snack time, I'm starving, but with the carbs for breakfast, I could even skip the AM snack.
Although I never had extreme carb cravings, I notice that the fruit and oatmeal both tasted satisfyingly sweet to me. I was satisfied and didn't want something sweeter like cookies or candy.
Here's my new question. I have had terrible muscle cramps in my calves, especially the right one. I was awakened in the middle of the night with them, like a "charleyhorse," but the pain in my right calf has persisted. Is this a side effect of the high protein diet because I have read about this happening with Atkins? I have not been doing any different exercises, just my mile and a half walking program; I have good supportive shoes -- Merrills, so it's not the shoes. I took extra calcium supplements this morning because someone told me calcium deficiency can cause this.
ReplyJust caught the fact that we are on pg 13. Missed some blogs.
Rosemarie, Calcium is good. Also try Magneseium. Lot of H2o too.
Replyif your cutting very low on salt, this can also cause cramps because youre body needs a certain amount of salt for the muscles to work properly, and if there isnt enough then they go into anerobic activity, which builds lactic acid and then you're muscles go into cramp yardi yardi yarda...and the effect of it will be worsened by exercise, particularly in you're calfs if you're walking, and if its hot cause you lose a lot of salt if you're sweating.. haha i am the fountain of all knowledge recently! x
ReplyYeah what Sophie said lol.Are you stretching and drinking enough water??Cos when I dont my right calf cramps too and it hurrrrrts.
ReplyGood Morning Hotties,
Have done terrible the last two days. Not eating junk. Just not eating much. My husband has been out of town and I have been painting our master bedroom while he is gone. Ate bacon and eggs for breakfast, but got so busy that I only ate a couple hand fulls of almonds and a few bites of steak. Not a good thing to do.
Didn't get on the scale, but I am starting to feel sexy again. Thought I might try wearing just a trench coat and heels to go pick up my hubby from the airport. Only problem is it going to be 96 degrees today. Might be a little obvious.lol
Rosemarie, try not to be discouraged. The scale will go up and down. Could just be water weight. MSG from the chinese food??? You should be so proud of yourself for sticking with it!!!
Have a great day
ReplyI already take 1200 mg of calcium supplements. It has not been that hot, so I was surprised, since last week it was humid and miserable and I didn't have these symptoms. I ate Chinese food on Sunday and had the cramps on Monday night, so I don't think it's lack of salt because the salt made me heavier! I did take one extra 600 mg of calcium Tuesday morning and today to see if that works.
I read elsewhere that low potassium can cause this, and the cramps happened the last 2 days on Phase I. I started Phase II the day after the cramps started and have been eating plenty of strawberries, a good source of potassium. Maybe it was God's way of saying that it is time for Phase II, regardless of what the numbers on the scale say, and I need that fruit.
ReplyWow page 13.We're keeping this blog alive!
I feel terrible today.My head is pounding and im so super tired.I think its lack of sleep.I woke up a million times in the middle of the night last night.And in a couple weeks Im going to have to work 12 days in a row.Im sure my diet will be terrible then.I will be so out of it,I'll forget to eat.My eyes burn.Boo!
Hows everyone else doin??
ReplyI am just started on Phase One of the SBD. I am currently on day 4 and just found out I am allergic to eggs. Does anyone have any suggestions for substitute for the morning meals. Or any recipe that calls for egg yolks or whites. I love the diet but just having a small problem with the egg allergy. Any help or advise is greatly appreciated....thx in advance
ReplyYou can always eat "non-breakfast" foods for breakfast. That was something I had to get over. It seemed so strange to be eating leftover steak & pepper strips or whatever for breakfast. I just no longer care what other people think of what I eat. The other morning I was running late, so didn't eat before I left the house. Then, on my first break at work, I went to our cafeteria and got some SBD friendly stuff off the salad bar. I never dreamed I'd think tuna salad sounded good for breakfast, but it was.
ReplyOooh - and I forgot - I found this food blog site where the lady who runs it is on the SBD. It's Kalyn's Kitchen.
kalynskitchen.blogspot.com
She's got some kick-butt recipes and they're all pretty SBD friendly.
ReplyHey Everyone,
Welcome Mindy!!!
Finally cheated bigtime yesterday. My husband and I went flyfishing. Walked against the current of a river for 5 hours. Pretty good work out.
On the way home we stopped at our favorite Mexican place. I didn't even try to go SBD friendly. I am OK with it now. I'll let ya know how I feel when I weigh in on mon. I do have to say that my hands are very swollen today. Has to be what I ate.
Have a great day.
ReplyHey everyone!!How you doin???lol
Im feeling better.Much better.I dont think I lost any wieght.But I didnt gain either lol so thats great.That seems to be the trend with me.I lose every week and then one I lose like a pound or 2 which is OK.That wedding is in 4 weeks. Ive been up for a while and already almost had 8 glasses of water.Wow.Im thirtsy lol.I had a wrap with eggs and turkey bacon and cheese.Yummy!!Im going to lunch in an hour.Im not hungry so I will have a cup of fruit.I planned this out lol.This diner I go to has no healthy options so I figured it would eat before.Safer that way!!!
Jodi its all good.I totally had mexican this week and it was fabulous!!Scales are evil anyway darling.Dont fret!!
ReplyThanks kiddo,
I do have to say that it tasted better than ever!! I quess I will just have to work out a little harder. After all, we still live in the real world.
ReplyNo prob :)
ReplyHi Everyone, & welcome Mindy! My stepdaughter hates eggs too, so I agree with Crystal, you can always eat lunch or dinner food for breakfast. Once you get to Phase 2 it gets a lot easier. If I am in a mad rush I just do the ham & cheese or turkey & cheese roll ups, or a mozzarella cheese stick (or two) and a sliced plum tomato. A handful of nuts can be pretty good too, or my stepdaughters favorite, a cup of cottage cheese, plain, or with cherry tomatoes or sliced cucumber.
I also made up a SB friendly salad the other night, and it goes like this:
Tomato, Avocado & Red Onion Salad
1 fresh red tomato
1 fresh yellow tomato
1 ripe avocado
1/4 cup coarsely chopped red onion
2 tbsp olive oil
juice of whole or half lemon
chopped, fresh cilantro to taste
salt & pepper to taste
Dice everything, add to bowl. Dress with olive oil, lemon juice, & salt & pepper. Fresh and yummy & totally SB friendly salad to enjoy! We had it night before last with grilled chicken & brown basmati rice, everybody (husband, stepdaughter, me) liked it. Have a great weekend everyone!
ReplyWell, I guess my weight has settled at around 4 lbs. total loss after 2 1/2 weeks on the program. I must admit that I feel better on Phase II than on Phase I, but haven't experienced any of the expected gain. I have been keeping a food journal on Everyday Health, which also tracks calories, and both programs have the same amount of calories -- around 1200.
I find the diet is much stricter about portion sizes on Phase II, probably because of carbs. While in Phase I, if you're a meat and protein junkie like my spouse, you could basically eat until you are full, the carbs are rationed. For instance, 4 oz. of yogurt for a snack, when normally if I bring a cup of yogurt to work, it's a 6 or 8 oz cup, so I should only eat half. And only one or two pieces of fruit a day. I could eat fruit at every meal and then some if I had my druthers. Sandwiches on only one slice of bread ...although I have discovered light bread, which has half the calories, so two slices of that could count as one.
Eating at restaurants is challenging. Mexican is the worst, even if you're Phase II, with the chips, tortillas, and rice. Even Phase II should be picking only one of those items. "American" basic isn't bad. We went to 99 last night and had steak tips and vegetables, and hub had a new salad they serve with barely seared tuna, really yummy. We share each other's meals and had plenty.
ReplyHey everyone,
Happy weekend!! Had oatmeal for breakfast. The real stuff. Didn't have any splenda so I put just a little honey on it. Yuck!! But at least it gave me the energy to do my Tae Bo. I live in Denver and it is really hot today. Didn't feel like working out, but did it anyway. Feels good.
I fixed whole wheat, organic spaghetti for dinner last night. Used lean ground beef and heart smart Prego sauce. Was very tasty!! Added fresh mushrooms. Hubby didn't even notice the diff. Just a side note...If you make spaghetti, be carefull of how many noddles you cook. Way to easy to over do it. If you underestimate, you are less likely to want to go back and cook more.
Does anyone have a good idea for chicken?
ReplyHey Jodi,
At what point can we add pasta back into the diet. I am Phase II now, and hub is just finishing Phase I and going to Phase II. He, too, is getting the leg cramps, so I guess it's time for him to switch. The cramps are the first side effect he's noticed, and he has some vascular and neurological issues in the lower legs due to injuries and diabetes.
He lost about 17 lbs. in 2 1/2 weeks! Men ... Yeah, don't you just hate the bastards! But, he had a lot more to lose and it's all in the belly. He says he hasn't felt this good since he lost 85 lbs. on Weight Watchers' 12 years ago. He has way more energy, despite the cramps, but it's time for the change over.
Anyway, about the pasta...we had been eating whole wheat pasta for over a year before SBD because of hub's diabetes. I don't see it in the SBD book, even whole wheat, although I see coucous, which is made with refined flour, by the way. What portion size would you recommend? And clearly, there would have to be some protein served with it, or we could get back on the old carb binge bandwagon. But for the kids, too, it would be great to have a meal with some pasta once in a while.
ReplyHey Rosemarie,
My husband has done the same thing!!! Just gets my goat. I am proud of him though. It's kinda of funny. He will stand in the mirror like a woman and crab at his tummy. He never said a word about being unhappy with his physical appearance, but I could tell. He wore a shirt today that I bought him several weeks ago. Couldn't wear it then. It feels pretty good to know that I have helped him get there. Even if I haven't seen the same results.
As for the pasta. On pg198 of my book. "Foods you can reintroduce to your diet" It does say you can have whole wheat pasta. I did put lean ground beef in the sauce. I ended up cooking about 1 cup per person, but it was just luck. Very hard to measure spaghetti before you cook it. I specifically underestimated what we would normally cook. I figured I could cook more it needed, but knew if there was more in the pot we would be tempted to go back for seconds.
Hope this helps. Have a great day.
ReplyOh, it starts with phase 2.
ReplyI have been on SBD for 5 days and have lost 3 lbs! I never feel hungry and i am so thankful for all the good food i am allowed to eat. I hate starving to death with little to no results and a week later gaining more weight.
ReplyWelcome jetski,
Wow, good for you. 3 lbs is awesome. Keep up the good work.
ReplyJodi,
I am very proud of my husband, too, for sticking to this plan. For him, it is not merely cosmetic, but a matter of his health and survival. His dad died at 66 of heart disease and cancer and his mom was unhealthy from age 38 onward due to diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. She died at 73, but spent the last 10 years in and out of nursing homes. Over the past 2 years, hub has had severe bouts of cellulitis, a side effect of diabetes, once while traveling, where he ended up in the hospital. His legs are always ultrasounded for clots. I want him healthy, so whatever it takes, we'll do.
Although it is annoying not to lose as much weight, my extra 20 (now only 15 thanks to SBD) affects my appearance more than my health. Yeah, I'd like to be a size 6 again, who doesn't, but I won't die from the amount I'm overweight. All the women in my family live past 90, my own grandmother living to be 102! She got a little plumpish at 50, too, but never really heavy.
Thanks for the pasta advice. I was curious, since it's not in any of Dr. A's Phase II meal plans. Since we have 5 people at my house, 2 of them boys who are not SBD, a pound of pasta will disappear. Hub, daughter, and I can just measure a cup each for ourselves after it's cooked and let the boys eat the rest. Having teen-age boys is sort of like having a food incinerator in the house.
ReplyRosemarie,
Forgot you had teenagers in the house to cook for too.
Wow!!! You must be a rock if you can avoid eating kid food. I am so impressed. Keep it up girl!!
ReplyHey chicas!!I see everyone is doing great!!I was SO happy to eat pasta again but you know what?I stopped eating it lol.I guess im not a pasta fiend after all.
Im stuck at 27 pounds lost right now.Stuck!!Its mildy annoying but it hasnt been 2 months yet.It was so terribly hot yesterday.I worked out but i was more exhausted than usual afterwards.My pants are HUGE.I have nothing to wear.I look like a mess but thats okay with me
ReplyGood Morning All,
Well weighed in this AM. Very dissapointed!!! Gained 1/2 lb.
I know I cheated with the Mexican food. One meal Big whoop!!. I also have played tennis everday. Done Tae Bo and gone for 8 miles of bike ride. My husband is down another 2 lbs.
I did measure and have lost a little more off the tape measure, but it is so hard to get over the scale. But I will trudge on. Just want to get rid of some of my ka-dunk-a-dunk.lol
Also, has anyone tried Blue Bunny, Health Smart, fudge bars??? Made with Splenda, only 60 calories and 14g of carbs. Pretty yummy!!
ReplyI love blue bunny ice cream!Its great!1/2 a pound is nothing.And its way harder to lose inches!!I know I said this a million times but I started phase 2 and gained like 5 or 6 pounds and im still almost 30 pounds lighter.And wow I never thought that would happen.You're doing great.And big booties take forever to go away.Its annoying but true.You're still fabulous anyway
ReplyThanks again Kiddo,
It's all good. I am sure you(all) understand the frustation. 30 lbs is amazing. Keep it up !!!
Isn't great that we can come here to get that extra encouragement??
Thanks everyone.
ReplyTotally!!Im glad you guys are here!!And thank you too!!
Oh and ive been seeing commercials for the new SBD Supercharged book.Has anyone had a look at it?Whats the difference??
ReplyI have looked at it a bit - online only. It seems like the supercharged version has workouts in it for faster results.
I don't know - I'm inclined to stick with what I'm doing until it doesn't work anymore.
I've been off the radar a bit this past week. My home internet is down and I went camping.
I injured my back (I think) over the weekend. Took today off work. I'm about to drive to the Emergency Room. The Vicodin I got at the urgent care yesterday are barely helping with the pain.
ReplyCrystal,
My husband is a physician and I am a nurse. I have a bad neck and back. If you need any advise, let me know. I would be glad to hit up my husband with any questions.
Ice in the first 48 hours after injury. Heat after that.
Hope your OK. Keep us posted.
ReplyThanks, Jodi!
I just got discharged from the ER with a prescription for more Vicodin. They seem to think I've injured my back, although I don't remember doing anything traumatic, just a gradual onset of pain. Today is much better than yesterday. I will just have to be careful and space out the Vicodin so that I won't be impaired while driving to & from work, as I'm planning to return tomorrow.
Camping was good! There was much music & dancing (no dancing by me, with the bad back!) I looked up low-carb cocktails before departing and discovered that Mango Melon SoBe Leans are amazing as a mixer. Yeah, I cheated a bit with the alcohol, but I did it carefully, so I am sure I didn't do too much damage. I have not weighed myself since my return.
ReplyJust a note - the alcohol was DURING my camping trip. The Vicodin has been AFTER. No worries - I'm not mixing the two!
ReplyOoo dear sorry about your back!!Other than that ho was camping?
Im going to go the book store and read it.Its not like I dont already workout.But I'll read up on it anyway!
ReplyI think everyone with body image issues should go camping with naked people. It's very liberating.
No matter how big you are or how insecure, there's always someone paler and lumpier than you, just letting it all hang out and feeling good about it.
I camp with naked people. I am too pale and prone to sunburn to go naked much myself. The sun is not my friend and I spend much of the time hiding from it.
ReplyI was just at the beach and was thinking the same thing ha.I was like ahh i feel wierd and here comes someone wearing a two piece who totally should not be.And I realized how silly I was being!!I get sun poisoning so I dont lay out.I get burnt too.It hurts!!
Oh and Crystal thanks for putting that video on my page I needed it!!Im so late with that thank you!Sorry!
ReplyI am so encouraged to here about you all who have lost between 20 and 30 lbs. I know it's a longer haul for those of us who have 20 lbs. or less because the weight doesn't come off as fast and just one restaurant meal can push it up a bit. It gets discouraging when only a little bit comes off at a time.
Jodi, after feeding three kids for nearly 20 years, I am basically repulsed by most kid food. If I never ate pasta again in my life, I would not miss it. The virtue of pasta is that it is cheap (even whole wheat), quick, and easy. I am starting to get tired of planning meals and cleaning up after them, while my family deserts me for other activities.
I am clearly not a carboholic which is why the diet hasn't been too tough for me. Unless pasta is smothered in garlic and wine sauce and covered with shrimp or lobster, I have no interest. The same goes for peanut butter, chicken nuggets, and most pizza. I was never one of those moms who cleaned my kids' plates. It's probably one of the reasons that most of my life, I have been successful at maintaining normal weight. Only after menopause did I start to gain, especially after breaking my foot last summer and having 3 months of inactivity.
Crystal, where does your back hurt -- upper or lower? I got sciatica last year so severe I couldn't drive, and they gave me something called etodolac, which is a strong NSAID, stronger than naproxen. It worked very well, without the side effects of Vicodin. Also, beacause it's an NSAID, it heals the injury, as well as helps with the pain. All last year was tough for me -- one injury right after another, which is what set me on the road to oveweight. Turns out I have pretty bad osteo in the spine and some bone loss all over. You're just a young thing, not an old broad like me, so you probably just pulled something and will recover quickly.
ReplyWell, speaking of speedy recovery, after spending a good portion of my day at the ER, my back seems to be doing much better all on its own. They didn't DO anything to me. I thought I would die last night, though.
I didn't get any sort of official diagnosis, just a "we can treat your symptoms," and another prescription for Vicodin, which, as far as I can tell are the equivalent of Tic Tacs.
I am currently whipping up another batch of the Mystery Squash Soup to take to work for lunches this week. My neighbor put out more mystery squash, zucchini, and green peppers as part of her free adopt-a-homeless-vegetable program yesterday. So, this batch of soup will have green peppers in it also.
I ate sauteed zucchini, onions, and green peppers last night with steak for my dinner. All lovingly prepared for me by my BF while I laid in misery on the sofa watching movies.
ReplyOh, it was only the right side - about where I'd imagine my kidney to be.
ReplyCrystal,
Just a thought, but did they test your urine for any sign of infection? Kidney infections don't usually go away on there own, however, if you have any abdominal pain, fever, chills or burning with urination, you should go see your doctor right away. They can be tricky little devils.
I totally know what you mean about people watching. I have avoided putting on a bathing suit. But when I go to the pool and take a long hard look I feel OK. Why not just please myself. I love to get my tummy tan. It's not too big, just stretch marks from babies. Especially the 10 pounder. Yikes!!! I doubt anyone is concerned with me. Or anyone else for that matter.
Good for you to have the courage to say what the heck and just do it. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyGlad you're feeling better Crystal!:)
Im doing great.This week is going to be crazy.Theres going to be lots of heavy lifting in my life at work.So I know i am guarenteed to lose a few this week.Thats going to feel great im sure.Tried on my dress again.It still looks really good.Now if only I could practice wearing my heels so I dont fall on my face.
ReplyCrystal, my sciatica started in lower right back, but eventually radiated down hip and leg. For some reason that nerve is sensitive. Anyway, if someone would wait on me hand and foot, I'd fake a case of it. But when I broke my foot last summer, no one in my family would do a damn thing for me after the first two days. I was expected to do everything I did before, just in a cast. It's enough to make me write them out of my will.
ReplyI am mostly miraculously/spontaneously cured. And yes, I did have 2 tests that would have shown an infection (3 if you count the over the counter one I did at home before I went to the urgent care center.) They are sure I don't have an infection. They are REASONABLY sure I don't/didn't have a kidney stone.
If this happens again, I'll go to the ER sooner.
Went back to work today.
I've been loving the Mystery Squash Soup. I feel absolutely no guilt whatsoever even when eating a LOT of it.
I do need to get my snacking under control, though. I feel like I've been way out of control this past week.
ReplyGlad you're feeling better Crystal. I found I have been snacking more. Because nuts are "on plan", I tend to eat more than the serving size. Hubby has a weakness for them, too. He is still sticking to Phase I, and I am trying to get him to eat an apple for a snack instead of nuts because even though they are "on plan," they are still more fattening and caloric than an apple. Carb or no carb, a calorie is still a calorie. By the way, how long should someone stay on Phase I? I am off it after 2 weeks, but he wants to stay on until he loses 10 more lbs. He's been on it longer than 2 weeks now.
Anyone have a particular snack that once they start eating, they can't stop? Mine is anything salty and crunchy. I cannot have chips or salty snacks in my house because won't stop eating once I start. Although I enjoy chocolate and dessert, I can have a small piece and be satisfied, but could eat half a bag of chips without noticing. What are your "weakness" foods?
ReplyI think the official plan recommends no more than 4 weeks on Phase 1.
My big weakness is the salt/crunch combination, too. Every once in a while, I crave tortilla chips and salsa so badly, I'll splurge on a bag of soy crisps (which contain rice - who'da thunkit!?) and convince myself I'm allowed to eat them. Thank goodness they come in a small bag. 3.5 oz, I think. Still more than one serving, but I'll still eat the whole bag with salsa.
I have learned that when I'm eating my All Bran crackers, I have to force myself to remove my serving from the box, leave the box in the kitchen, and take my allotted crackers elsewhere. If I bring the whole box along I'll eat oodles of them.
ReplyHummus and cucumbers are my snack of choice. Ooo and reduced fat wheat thins.Now I want to go buy some yummie.Everytime I buy them I have 10 or 16 and give th rest away.Crunchy/salty isthe way to go for sure
ReplyWhat is it with the salty, crunchy stuff? I used to think it was about the "time of the month" thing, but now that's all over with for me, and I still want it. What could be missing from our bodies that we want that?
ReplyI like to make sandwiches or put hummus on high fiber crispbread (sometimes I put pizza toppings on it and broil it!) It helps to satisfy the urge to crunch and at the same times is not SO addictive I can't resist it.
It does hurt my mouth, though - like Cap'n Crunch.
ReplyToday I had a moment of brilliance! I remembered that the school just around the corner from my house has a running track out back. I changed out of my work clothes and put on my walking shoes as soon as I got home. I only managed 4 laps of interval walking before I felt pretty pooped (hey - not bad considering I could hardly move 3 days ago!)
I don't remember if I've talked about the interval walking on this group before. It's something my health & fitness coach* recommended since I'm not really ready for anything too intense yet but I do want to get my endurance up and burn calories more efficiently. It's a cycle of run/walk/run/walk (lather, rinse, repeat.) I run for a certain length of time, then walk and catch my breath until I recover. I haven't worked up to much running yet. I can go about 30 paces before my fitness level and an old knee injury get the best of me and I switch back to walking to recover. Hopefully, I can gradually increase that number.
I would desperately love to find a regular walking partner who lives nearby. However, now that I remember how close that track is, maybe I can get a little more motivated even if I do have to walk alone. I haven't seen any major difference on my scale in a couple weeks. It's time to shake things up and make things happen!
*NOT the same as a personal trainer - the health & fitness coach is a free phone-counseling service offered through my health insurance company, Anthem. I could certainly NOT afford a personal trainer.
ReplyHi to all,
My 16 yr old step daughter is visiting from Texas. Has to buy a few things for her to eat that are not SBD friendly. I am OK with it,but having trouble keeping my husband out of the Trix cereal. lol
I know that tomorrow we plan to have a big get together. Pizza is on the menu. Pray for me!! Love pizza. Oh well.
Just to add my 2 cents worth. Once I start eating almonds I cant seem to stop. No salt or anything, but something about the crunch...
Have a great day.
ReplyPapa Johns has whole wheat crusts available now! I checked it out on their website and the nutrition info is a little sparse, but the wheat crusts look like they would be more SBD friendly than the regular ones. With the right toppings, shouldn't be too bad! I used to work for them a few years ago - don't be afraid to ask for oddball toppings - they've heard it all! The chicken is pretty good - with light cheese and veggies (I love the tomato slices!) it should be relatively healthy.
In other news - the neighbor put out more mystery squashes for adoption today. This time she made a sign for them! Apparently they're "bell zucchinis," which I've never heard of. I took a giant one, scooped out the seeds, sliced it up and coated the slices in beaten eggs & crushed garlic herb All Bran crackers. They just came out of the oven. They're kinda like the deep fried zucchini appetizers in restaurants - or as close as I can get to that. I am a little disappointed that I don't have any tomato sauce to dip them in.
ReplyYeah, those nuts are a weak point for both H and I.
Well, it's been 3 1/2 weeks, and I am down 8 lbs. I seem to be losing faster on Phase II, which is a bit of a surprise.
I'm very proud of myself. The institute for which I teach has given the teachers meal cards so we can eat in the cafeteria on the college campus where the program is held. It is the usual all-you-can eat institutional food, and I am eating 2 meals a day there -- breakfast and lunch, but staying on plan. It has been a real "perk" because there is a modest salad bar, so I don't have to make myself a salad every day. One of the major obstacles to dieting for a working person is to have one more thing to plan and do in the morning. And after breakfast, I always take a piece of fruit for my mid-morning snack. I did eat pasta for the first time this week but because it was serve yourself, I took only a small amount. I still would never order pasta in a restaurant because they give way too much. My only cheat was 1/2 a brownie. The other teachers were eating them and they looked so good, but they were huge, so I just cut one in half. I am also resisting the ice cream bar.
ReplyHello to everyone, I am going to start the SBD on Monday, I am a little skeptical, but I am willing to try it, I know people who have lost weight with the diet so I am going to give it a try. I am the heaviest I have ever been 190 and I would like to get down to 150, so wish me luck.
ReplyCongratulations, Becca, on your commitment to trying to losing weight and eat more healthily. For people trying to lose more than 20 lbs., SBD seems to be very effective. My husband and I are both in our third week. He's lost about 20 lbs. already. I had to lose only 20, and I've lost about 8. If you follow the diet as in the book and have all the snacks Agaston recommends, you won't go hungry! There are many people with supportive and useful advice on tis blog.
ReplyWent to a "Girls' Night In" at a friend's house Friday. There was much drinking and snacking. I did manage to stick to sugar-free mixers and SBD-friendly snacks, even if I did overindulge in both. I know that hard alcohol is not technically allowed. I also knew I wouldn't be able to resist it if my friends were all mixing cocktails, so I planned ahead and made it as SBD-friendly as possible.
I was super-good today. I even went walking. I was somewhat resentful that someone else was using the track with me at the school tonight. I do feel terribly self-conscious when exercising.
I talked to my fitness coach Friday and my new goal is to record all my exercise.
Starting BMI: 51.5
Current BMI: 43.9
Hope everyone else is doing well and had a good weekend!
ReplyGood Morning Girls,
Welcome Becca.
Well this AM was weigh in. I was nervous!! Had a house full of teenagers for several days. Had pizza fri night. Man was it good !!! Even had Japanese food with fried rice on wed. I kicked up my workouts. Happy to say that I lost 2.5 lbs this week. That is the most I have lost in one week yet. That makes a total of 8 lbs. Yeah!!!
Have kind of a funny story. I bought a couple boxes of the SBD cereal for my husband and myself. It taste OK. I rev it up with some splenda. We have renamed it "Colon Blow". If ya eat it be advised that you need to be close to a bathroom about 8 to 10 hours later. I'm not kidding!!!
My 16 yr old step daughter who is used to eating tons of junk at her mothers house has renamed the SBD "Starving Bitch Diet" lol (pardon my french)
Have a great day
ReplyWell, I gained about 3 lbs. back over the week-end. There was this teacher's appreciation lunch at a fancy restaurant. I was good and had a shrimp salad, but we were offered wine, and I indulged. Also, I had dessert, which was a kind of creme custard with strawberries -- it's hard to resist when it's on someone else's tab. Then, my daughter had a major role in a dinner theater production that night, and the dinner was a prix-fix meal with wine. I was good with my appetizer, which was a nice arugula salad, and my entree, broiled pork chops with bacon (I only ate one chop and brought the other home!), but dessert was included in the meal, so I did have that piece of cheese cake. It's so hard to say no to dessert when it's included in the price, and everything was top notch gourmet. I also had an extra drink while waiting for my daughter to finish breaking down the set after the show. I know where that extra 3 lbs. comes from and I hope that it's not a whole extra two weeks of Phase I before it comes off again. It's discouraging how a small indulgence can undo so much hard work.
ReplyI have been on the South Beach Diet since Jan of 08. As of today, I have lost 90 pounds. Say what you want about Phase 1, but I feel there are some necessities of incorporating it. While Phase 1 is a time for quick weight loss, it is also about making the chemical changes necessary to burn fat for energy instead of carbs. Ketosis comes about much more rapidly in this phase. If you skip it, and go to Phase 2, then you miss out on the fun of losing those pounds quick and getting your body busy on doing what you want to do....which is losing weight.
I shift between 2-3 weeks of Phase 1 and a week or two of Phase 2. Then once a month I do what I call reward day. This is pretty much the day I give the diet the finger and eat what I want and how much I want no matter what the carb count is...then its back to Phase 1, rinse and repeat.
Today also marks the first time I have ever done a structured program of exercise. I start a 5 day a week workout regimen with the local Y here.
ReplyWelcome Tim,
Congrats on the weight loss. We have a great little group. Growing rapidly.
Any advise you can share with the rest of us is much appreciated.
ReplyIt is official I have lost 30 pounds yayyyy!!That 3 pounds was killing me boy it wouldnt budge.And its only Monday imagine the end of the week!!IM so happy right now!!
ReplyI am so happy for you - there's something magical about those nice, round numbers. They're milestones. Are your friends all telling you to go buy new clothes yet!?
ReplyYou go girl!!!
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