South Beach diet experiences, anyone???

[Manifestor_of_Light]

I got the book, I think it's the 2nd or third one.
My doc wanted me to get on it. I have hypertension, low thyroid, various other conditions, and am overweight in the middle.

I just started on the Phase 1 with no carbs and no sugars tonight, and I'm still hungry after having my sugar free hot jello and my glass of milk. I'm using Equal for sweetener.

I have a terrible craving for sugar and carbs, and I hope I can get rid of some of that.

Any advice?

[AlCzervik]

1. hi, how are you? I did do the SB diet, i'm going to post the thread---ok?

i've lost 90 pounds and i'm on the maintenance phase. It's been almost 3 years now, yes it's taken a long time but i'm glad, i think i have a much better chance of keeping this weight off.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=337x382

[auntAgonist]

2. wow Chimpsrsmarter!!

You have done wonderfully well on this. 90 lbs is an amazing loss, you are to be congratulated on your hard work. This is much better than starving yourself and yo yo dieting (as I did and failed at).
You will have much success keeping this weight off for having done it over a longer period of time.

Your story is inspiring to those looking to lose weight and gain back their lives.

WTG! :applause:

:hug:

aA
kesha

[AlCzervik]

4. Thank you so much, it's been quite a trip! let me give you a tip that worked for me

i know the first 2 weeks are way hard core but after about 7 days your cravings for stuff will probably go away, having said that when i was on phase 1 i kept and emergency box of mike and ike's, i know they say "NO SUGAR!!!!!!OMG SERIESSS!!!" but i found that i when i was really about to go mental i would have about 10 of them, they take awhile to eat and 10 seem to do the trick. From what i can tell this really didn't slow down my weight loss and even it did it wasn't by much and really for all concerned parties it was better for to have my small sugar hit.

I think by day 6 my cravings for bad carbohydrates....ie junk disappeared and that was really stunning for me, my whole life is been about bad carbos so not wanting them was trippy. Anyhow i'm happy to help you and i will tell you i am no expert but i can some of what i went through with you. Best of luck!

[auntAgonist]

5. I'm very lucky in so many ways..

I failed at so many diets to the point where my metabolism just stopped! I could starve myself and not lose weight. Anything I ate went to fat stores. My body wasn't going to be deprived of anything. I tried Dr supervised diets, weight watchers, overeaters anonymous ... you name it.

After years and years of abusing my body this way I began to research weight loss surgeries. It took me 3 years of hard reading and questioning to decide to have surgery. My story is on here somewhere LOL
I've lost 168 lbs and every once in a while I'll lose a couple of pounds then gain a couple back. I can eat almost anything I want with very little consequence.
My main goal daily is to get enough proteins, drink lots of water and take my 3 daily doses of 15 different supplements! It's a small price to pay for a life turned around. I can now do more than I ever dreamed possible.

aA

[Manifestor_of_Light]

6. That's good that you had surgery.

I was on a severely restricted diet (500 cal/day) doctor supervised, and I could only lose about 5 pounds. It slowed down my already slow metabolism. I'm a very light eater and I have a dead thyroid and take thyroid medication.

I got off the strict diet because I went to the diet doc one morning, fasting, and had some blood drawn. I went home and felt so bad I stayed in bed all day. That day I realized I was starving, and it was not good.

I had a tummy tuck back in 1994 and gained the weight back, distributed differently. A lapband wouldn't work on me because I have such a slow metabolism. I'm not big and husky like most of the people I see on TV that have that done.

If it was cheap or I could go to another country, I'd get liposuction done.

I need to lose about 30 pounds. I'm petite and my weight has crept up gradually since college.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

7. Thanks for the tip!

I've been going nuts without any carbs! So I can have a little cookie or something and it won't mess me up completely. I don't binge eat, and I don't eat very much anyway.

[auntAgonist]

3. I never tried the South Beach Diet but I sure

do understand the cravings for carbs! Not for sweets as such, but for me, even after having lost so much weight I still fight the bread addiction. Be patient with yourself.

Good luck and best wishes.

aA
kesha

[maddezmom]

10. that's my biggest issue

Bread and salty stuff.

[RavensChick]

8. I started Phase 1 yesterday

and so far, so good. I've been reading the book real close and it's very easy to do, but Phase 1 is the hardest part. Besides, I'm already preparing for Phase 2 by adjusting what I normally eat to the SB version of it.

One trick I just figured out--eat beans and the craving for bread, pasta, and so forth will diminish before the 2 weeks are up! I'm eating a salad with black beans in it and it's working very well! The key is to trick your mind that'll have the body react differently to the foods we can have and not have during Phase 1. When I read the list, I thought, damn, this sucks!, but given the fact I'm over 40 and over 225 lbs., now is the time to get my shit together and do this. Walking helps A LOT! It's the best exercise in the world, so I'm increasing my walking schedule every day, and drinking water and V8 juice. That will help you as well.

Hang in there with the cravings 'cause I know what it's like. If you like to eat nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, etc.), do this--sprinkle Equal on them and eat in small amounts to stretch it out for at least 5-10 minutes. I did it earlier this morning and continued to do my work with no problems. It's just as good as eating a Snickers or something.

Best of luck to ya!

:hi:

[TexasBushwhacker]

9. Not much different than Atkins

It seems to me that if you concentrate on eating everything BUT carbs for the first 3 weeks, you'll lose that "carb craving" that got us so fat in the first place. Granted, Atkins tells you to eat a pound of bacon a day if you want, which I DON'T think is a good idea. Eating 5 or 6 small meals, each with protein, can help also. The carb craving comes from a blood sugar drop. Eating more often keeps your blood sugar more stable.

[AllieB]

11. Atkins does not tell you to eat a pound of bacon a day.

He says to eat at least 3 cups of vegetables a day, and enough protein to fill you. You're probably right that for some people (like my 6'3" husband), a pound of bacon could figure into the diet plan. You're also right about the first 2 weeks of Atkins (or South Beach or Protein Power). They are designed during their strict phases to break the carb craving/addiction cycle.

[The empressof all]

12. I've followed South Beach for the last two years

The weight came off for me at first but I've been at a snails pace crawl for the past 8 months. I know eating lower on the carb scale certainly makes me feel better and the frequent small meals a day have done wonders for my blood levels. (Not diabetic but was on that road pre South Beach)

I've recently changed plans to another low glycemic plan and I'm dropping weight again. I actually have upped my carbs but am now being more stringent with my portion control.

I can only say wonderful things about the Beach way of eating. I will do it or something similar for the rest of my life. I rarely miss Bread (unless I'm at a restaurant that has the amazing stuff) and have found enough Pasta alternatives to soothe that itch when it occurs.

[RavensChick]

13. According to the book it varies

but it also depends on one's body chemistry and what their target weight is. If I can get to 160 or below, that'll work wonders for me. I've been on Phase 2 since June 17th and I can tell the difference. Besides, hot as it is now I eat mostly salads. As long as you keep the carb count down to a bare minimum, the pounds should not increase but rather decrease.

Drinking water helps a lot too, but most times I use the SB Tide Me Over drink mix (Crystal Light is not all that great) and it works!!! Get it from the drug store if your grocer doesn't carry it. I hardly miss bread but I'll have a multigrain roll at least once a week and that's enough on the carb front. Otherwise, so far so good. I'll stay on Phase 2 for a year or so and see how things progress.

[The empressof all]

14. Unfortunately for me it has come down to strict portion control

I really wasn't compulsively weighing and measuring when I was doing SB which I think was the major issue for me. I have some medical issues (Thyroid & PCOS) which make losing a challenge. I'll go back to SB when I'm ready for maintenance. For me it's a great way of eating.

I love water but when I want a change I go for the Crystal Light Punch flavor or the Lemonade.