Anyone else changing lifestyle with South Beach?

[Jayden2298]

After the stress of working retail over the holdays, I am back into the structure of the Beach. Was wondering if there were any other wenches who were changing their lifestyles by the habits and mehtouds of South Beach?

[Madame Maria]

I did SB a while ago, lost only 4 lbs, but looking back I "cheated" according to the diet. After talking with my doc today, gonna try it again, this time sticking to the letter. Hopefully there'll be better results. Am also exercising at least 30 min 5 days a week...some days for 90 min. (when I'm not so tired from work :? )

[Jessa]

The best type of diet is the one you can stick to long-term. Remember, once you loose it, you have to keep it off. Dieting works best when you aproach it as a permanent change to your lifestyle. If you cheated on SB before, maybe its not the right diet for you. We are all different, and no diet is one-size-fits-all. There are many plans to choose from. I know I couldn't keep myself on some of them, like SB or Atkins.

:cheer: wishing you all the best in your efforts!

[Lucy]

I have been on the South Beach "Diet" for 1 year and 3 months. The weight was DRIPPING off of me at some points. I changed the way I ate. It's wonderful because it teaches you how to do just that without having to "cheat". I was 148 pounds and a size 14 when I started it and got down to 128/size 8 at my lowest point. I've been totally depressed because through this last holiday season I managed to gain back 10 pounds.

SO....I am doing something about it! I'm back on track and not eating the junk anymore (my "cheating" was all candy, chocolate, ice cream...etc. not bread & pasta type stuff). I actually started to buckle down yesterday. Did my step aerobics then a jog /walk down the street and back (not far but enough to make me sweat).

I think the coolest thing about the diet was that I found a buddy who helped me in being accountable for everything. We e-mailed each other every day with support and reprimand :) it was really nice. But now she has fallen WAY off the wagon and isn't much help anymore... ah well! But yes, I HIGHLY recommend the SBD because it's not low carb, it teaches you about GOOD carbs!

:)

Good luck with it! (Keep your fingers crossed for me too!

*hugglez*
Lucy

[Lady Laurel]

I did the Atkins thing about 2 years ago and up until 5 months ago have kept all the weight off. Now I am going to try to SB diet. The Atkins was so harsh on my body and had very bad problems with cravings.

[Lucy]

Atkins is EVIL! :evil:

[aspen]

As far as I'm concerned, any diet that says you can't eat fresh fruits and vegetables isn't right. Most Americans need to eat MORE fresh fruits and vegetables-- they're an important source of vitamins and fiber.

But comparing SB and Atkins, SB is less stringent and, as such, more workable while still being effective. While I don't follow the diet, I read the book and I think the basic philosophy is sound-- reduce calories by reducing sugars, especially simple sugars. Fiber good, whole grains good, lean meat and certain fats good. Everything else rarely.

Even small adjustments in diet and fitness can have long-term, if slow, benefits.

Aspen

[Lewen]

I'm currently reading the book to see if this would be something I'm interested in pursuing.
But so far, it looks doable for me...now to actually start!

Lewen

[Lucy]

The hardest part is the "sugar detox" you have to do in Phase 1 for two weeks. By the third day you will be squirming in your skin wanting ANYTHING with sugar in it (and by sugar, I mean sweets, fruit, bad carbs, etc). But it slowly gets easier to say NO to the stuff. Then when Phase 2 comes along, you won't want to stop Phase 1 because you have probably shown some weight loss!! DO NOT STAY ON PHASE 1!!! I cannot stress that to you enough! Your body will need to have some of those good carbs and sugars by then and it will help your metabolism. If you CAN, then exercise. If you don't, you can still lose the weight but don't expect to look like a supermodel if you aren't working out...it just doesn't happen that way.

I did not work out during the diet. Now that I've gained some back, I AM working out because I want my metabolism to be up to par. If your metabolism is up to par, it will help you to maintain when you get to your goal weight. I maintained for a LONG time before I started gaining anything back. But don't let that lead you to believe (like me) that you can go back to your old eating habits...it WILL catch up with you. :)

Hope I have added some input for everyone interested! :) Let me know how you all are doing okay? If any of you are interested, maybe we could have a support group so-to-speak. :)

Good luck!
Lucy

[GingerRose]

I started South Beach about a month ago, but more for sugar control reasons (other fun health issues -- not diabetes or anything, just have to cut out as much high glycemic foods as possible for a few months). I'm not a huge carb hog, so other than the "no beer" rule (rough for me at faire!) its been a breeze.

It does NOT say you can't have fruits and veggies -- that is a misunderstanding. There are just some that you can't have because of how quickly they raise the sugar in your blood.

Weight loss has been amazing, frankly...I didn't really need to lose much (I had some extra weight from being ill for a while -- compensated low energy with food!). I lost stomach fat within the first week. What is MOST encouraging though is that I'm physically feeling better for the first time in almost a year. My energy levels are getting back to normal again, and I don't "bottom out" energy-wise after strenuous activity. I also don't get hunger pangs like I used to either -- when I had more carbs in my system, I'd climb the WALLS with hunger and eat ANYTHING. It was easy to sabotage a moderate diet then. Don't have anything like that now.

South Beach is designed for lifestyle change, as is Atkins. Both programs detail that. Frankly, if you want to loose weight and keep it off, you need to accept that you're in for a lifestyle change of some kind first, really. I've been VERY happy with this one -- I'm never really "hungry," I eat until I'm satisfied, I get to eat foods I love, and my energy level and health has improved -- the weight loss is a bonus. The first week or two is rough for everyone (my energy levels were really wacked out), but once you're past that and the cravings, its much easier.

Best of luck...this is definitely a change in lifestyle for me, but a good one that I've found to be almost effortless in comparison to other diets I've tried.

Sincerely,

[Lewen]

Thanks y'all for your input...I'm definately interested in this. I believe it when you all say the first two weeks is the hardest!!! I do need to cut down on my sugars and that's why I was looking at this particular 'lifestyle change' as opposed to the word 'diet'.

I hope hear some more about all this, I'm going to read some more and then decide what I need to do to kick-start....it's the getting started that's hard...there's always "next monday!" to start and how quickly it passes! LOL....

Looking forward to hearing some more....
Lewen

[Lucy]

Well? How is everyone doing??? Don't even ASK about me... i was on jury duty for two weeks and it got ugly...however I DID figure out what triggers my sweets cravings...STRESS! Go figure huh? So now I am back into the swing of things and hoping to get back to my goal again. :)

[Lucy]

Okay ladies! I started Phase one 2 days ago to get rid of this ikky stuff on my body! I'm assuming from your lack of response that no one is doing very well???

[GingerRose]

Okay ladies! I started Phase one 2 days ago to get rid of this ikky stuff on my body! I'm assuming from your lack of response that no one is doing very well???

*sigh* Well, technically good, technically not. I started SB in order to help stave off some blood chemistry backlash (body pain -- long story). Helped a lot initially, but I've had a health relapse in some ways. :( I think its largely due to the fact that we're in faire here and I'm NOT hydrating enough on the weekends. Once you hit the point where your body gets used to all the water you're supposed to drink, when you slack off on the water consumption it throws a LOT of things out of whack.

Other than that, doing fine. Weight loss has slowed down, but I wasn't doing it for the weight so much as the sugar control. THAT part is working well...I very rarely have interest much less cravings. I know I've waited too long to snack when candy gets my attention (we have an office candy bowl here, and I walk past it several times a day).

Hey, the cool thing about this diet is that the phases are intended to teach and give you control again. I don't see "slipping" as anything but testing control limits at times. You have to reintroduce carbs back down the road, and this diet is good for excersizing your 'control' muscles to do that. ;)

**HUGS**

[Lucy]

I haven't done too bad so far...I'm on day four and now I have PMS on top of it...grumble grumble grumble....

Lost 2 pounds though! Whee! I haven't been walking yet though I dance on the weekends. I'll start walking when it gets a bit warmer (hunny already promised me he'd go with!) :)

[Lucy]

Okay... 3.5 pounds lost in the first week of SBD! Woo hoo! ANyone else a loser too? ;)