South Beach Diet - Phase I Chick Check - Week of November 2

This thread is for all new and returning Phase I folks.

Please post your successes, problems and helpful hints in this thread where we can all share. If you are new, feel free to join in - there's lots of support here.

I am on day 2 for round 2! I am super excited and ready to roll!

The hardest thing for me is eating enough veggies..they kinda make me gag!

We can do this!!!! :)

I'm starting over on P1 later this week. I am just waiting on hubby to get home from Iraq. He was so impressed that I lost 40 pounds in four months, that he wants to do exactly what I did. I know I should be eating healthy right now, but I keep thinking that I will be deprived in a few days. I never felt deprived the first time and it was so easy...so I don't know why I feel this way. I am looking forward to doing this and losing the rest of the weight.

I'm on Day 2, just like movielover (hi, there:)).
So far, so good! I remember having dizzy spells, headache and mood swings on Phase 1 the first time I did it - none this time around. I actually feel way better than when I was eating all that bread and potatoes and whatnot. I think refined sugar, corn syrup and the like were making me sick and miserable. I gotta say, though, the highlight of my day is that post-supper dessert. I bought some SF ice-cream and I'll have 1/2 cup while I watch Desperate Housewives tonight!:drool:

Armywife - it took me a month to get into that mind frame to be psyched and really want to do this. I think if you're not READY ready, you're setting yourself up for failure and frustration. So, I guess it's OK to take your time and make that commitment and ultimately be accountable to yourself. You've already lost 40 lbs. I mean - how awe inspiring is that! You can do this again and reach your goal!

:cheer2:

Hello everyone. I'll be joining you on phase 1 starting tomorrow for a few days. I have been on phase 2 for 6 weeks now. Had some slip ups this weekend with Halloween candy, which led to more slip-ups! Getting back on track tomorrow.
Movielover - if you are coming up short on veggies, add some V8 into your day. I don't like it cold. I heat mine up and eat it like soup!! Goes down much easier.
Back to the gym tomorrow too. The time change should help!!
Good luck this week.

Hi Im new here- but I thought I would join this forum because everyone seems so supportive (as a whole, not just on the SBD forum!)

We (my partner and I) started Phase 1 (again) last night so we are almost at the end of Day 1. We initially tried SB in March and had great success in the first week and then well.... got overconfident and fell off the wagon. He needs to get rid of the beer tummy and I need to lose some inches so I can fit better into the rowing shells next year for the seat my coaches want me to row.

We both have about 30 pounds to lose, though if I were able to drop an additional 10 from that I would be thrilled! I have posted my goal weight by Thanksgiving (193) in big black numbers on the fridge- hopefully that works as a good incentive for me to keep focused and not wander in and look for left over Halloween candy.

Have found that it works for us to have an evening start- SBD friendly meal one evening before "officially" starting P1. That way its not too tempting to put things off for another day.

:welcome3: to The Beach, Bertine! We're happy to have you joining us. You'll find plenty of support here, and feel free to join us in our Daily Chat, too.

Today is Day 1 for me. I will be going upstairs and making my breakfast in a few minutes. I will be popping in throughout the week with updates.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Hey guys! I am back to p1 for another week after my fall out this weekend... oops. thats ok though!

Started today off with coffee and skim milk, 2 eggs and 2 veggie links and salsa. my plan for today/tonight is...
lunch-taco salad with black beans
dinner-mushroom lovers burger and broccoli with a salad

snacks will probably be some cheese and hummus. and a fudgsicle for dessert!

I think I might be joining you all on Wednesday. I have an election results party to go to tomorrow and I think there will be damage done there!

Day 3....I am having horrible withdrawals....and the headache is killing me! Oh geez! I think it was the binge right before! I swear I can smell all of the food cooking in the cafeteria!!!

How is my day partner, Aleksandra??

Hey movielover - Hang in there! I hear you though - I had a pretty rough day, too. No headache, just fatigue and muscle weakness. Got my af, too... so yeah, I got cramps, too. I did eat well, including a massive amount of greens, beans, mushrooms - so I'm happy about that. Didn't go to the gym, but at least I have an excuse now :dizzy: I hope we have a better day tomorrow. I keep reminding myself that I should really take one day at a time and stop focusing so much on the numbers, you know, how much I weigh, how much I have to lose, how many days until Phase 2, etc.

Jenskihere - great idea to heat up the V8. I loathe it, but am going to try it heated.

rdw1 - that sounds fab - great way to start!

Hi there, grneyedmustang, bertine and mythreesons. :wave:

Just popping in quick. I didn't start P1 yesterday. We had a bout of the stomach bug in the house. Today, we are going to try to get on the mend and if we are feeling better, I will try to get on board tomorrow.

Movielover and Bigmama - if you're having withdrawal symptoms, make sure to get in a good amount of beans and dairy into your daily menus. The feelings shouldn't last for more than a day or two, though. We affectionately refer to it as the South Beach Flu.

and yes, binging before will cause it ;)

Hang in there, girls!

Feeling awesome! I actually think this time is easier then the last time I did this about 1 1/2 years ago!!!

I did jump in the scale and I am down 3 lbs, so that is great!!

Keep it up ladies....and those of you who are still thinking of starting DO IT!!! :)

Thanks, Zeffryn! You're right - the "flu" is gone. (You are gorgeous, btw!)
Yay, movielover :). That's fantastic! I am so tempted to step on the scale, but I'll try to hold off until Saturday. Hoping for a big fat loss (pun intended!). If I start feeling like my motivation is dwindling, I'll weigh myself sooner. Nothing motivates me better than success.

You HAVE to make those chickpea things...if you love corn nuts you will LOVE THEM!!! Satisfies the chip need!!!!

Aw, geez...bigmama, you're making me blush. Thanks :)

and about the roasted chickpeas...mmmm....oh my. We make them all the time, especially for Friday movie night in place of popcorn.

I have to agree about the roasted chickpeas... which reminds me I haven't had them in a while, I might need to make some today!

I HATE v8 cold. But someone here suggested warming it up, and as "soup" I can handle it.

Phase 1 is going good, although I am not as strict as I was the first time. I had some berries with my ricotta pancakes this morning. (When you get to phase 2, you have to try this!!) I had the SD flu so bad last time on phase 1, I was exhausted and the fatigue and headaches were horrible. I didn't want to have that again, so that is why I ate the berries today. Plus this time I am working out hard and I cannot afford to have that flu again this round.

Hello Everyone!!

I'm new to 3FC and new to this particular forum! I'm on Day 3 of Phase 1 for the first time. I'm so glad to read withdrawal is normal!! I thought it was only me. I woke up feeling terrible this morning, and had an awful headache by this afternoon! I'm such a sweets junkie that my body probably has a lot of withdrawing to go through! :)

So far I'm sticking with it, but I'm having trouble thinking of things to bring to work to snack on. I quickly read through some of the recipe forums and you all have some great ideas! I just HATE cooking, I'm all about dining out, which isn't always a good thing. Also, how do you all resist the social temptations? I feel like the minute I'm on a diet, everyone seems to be offering me goodies!

Welcome to the P1 chat, QTestRDH!!!

booooo rikki... I haven't been good today. sheesh. All it took was a couple glasses of wine, I KNOW-NOT ON P1! and I was done for! I went to have lunch with a friend and indulged and out of control! Imagine that... Back on track 100% tomorrow. I blew it once again!

Rikki...you CAN do it!!!! Just picture your hotness!

Hello Everyone!!

I'm new to 3FC and new to this particular forum! I'm on Day 3 of Phase 1 for the first time. I'm so glad to read withdrawal is normal!! I thought it was only me. I woke up feeling terrible this morning, and had an awful headache by this afternoon! I'm such a sweets junkie that my body probably has a lot of withdrawing to go through! :)

So far I'm sticking with it, but I'm having trouble thinking of things to bring to work to snack on. I quickly read through some of the recipe forums and you all have some great ideas! I just HATE cooking, I'm all about dining out, which isn't always a good thing. Also, how do you all resist the social temptations? I feel like the minute I'm on a diet, everyone seems to be offering me goodies!

First, welcome! I'm sorry you are going through the flu, but just remember that it only lasts a day or two and you'll feel SO much better afterwards.

Re: snacks for work: cheesesticks, pre-cut veggies (either bagged pre-cut or cut yourself), hummus, roasted chickpeas, etc. Very easy to prepare and very portable!

RE: eating out and avoiding social temptation: One tool that I like to use before eating out is checking the menu before you go out. Most restaurants list their menus online and it should be easy to set your "game plan". When you get to the restaurant, make appropriate adjustments to the order to ensure that it is compliant (ie; dressing on the side, no butter on steamed veggies, etc.). As far as avoiding social temptation, I haven't found any foolproof methods. I find that telling my friends and family that I'm avoiding sugar, excess fats, etc. helps with them offering but really, it comes down to willpower. There are always going to be temptations, especially in social situations and it is up to us to say NO!

Thanks Movielover- I am feeling better today!

I am back on track today even after my big splurge yesterday. I put all my calories into calorieking and was at 1700 so thats not too awful bad. Anywho-none of that for a while! Since being called off work today I am going to do some cooking and cleaning. Laundry is started and I also want to at least get out for a long walk, if not get to the gym! Hope everyone has a great op day!

I officially started today! I am ready to go and look forward to seeing the scale go down!!

Welcome to Ph1, mythreesons! I am also a mommy of three little kiddies and would always find myself picking at their leftovers and snack food.

Rikki, just hop back on - you CAN do it! I have always found it hard to get back on track once I cheated or splurged. I'd feel as if I'd failed and it would take days, maybe even weeks to get over it. It's great that you're back right away.

I have a birthday party to go to on Saturday and while I am sure there is going to be stuff that I CAN eat, I also know that I'll be very tempted to eat cake (knowing the hosts, it won't be some crappy store-bought sugar-bomb, but something home-made and gourmet :drool: ). I have been able to say no before in these kinds of situations, and I know that it's only sheer willpower, no magic tricks, that gets me through. I guess, also, knowing I have been able to say no before makes it easier to do it again. Don't know if this makes sense...

Anyway - how do you deal with hunger? Live with it, eat more of the food allowed for Ph1, snack more often? I feel that I AM eating enough, but I am almost always hungry. Not famished, just... you know, I could eat something. I am still breastfeeding, like 3 times a day, so maybe that's why. I suppose you do have to feel a little bit hungry, that means your body is dipping into the fat reserves? OK, now I'm rambling :yawn:

Have a great day!
Aleksandra

Welcome mythreesons.....

I am still feeling great and ready to conquer this!!!

I need to drink more water!

Re: snacks for work: cheesesticks, pre-cut veggies (either bagged pre-cut or cut yourself), hummus, roasted chickpeas, etc. Very easy to prepare and very portable!

RE: eating out and avoiding social temptation: One tool that I like to use before eating out is checking the menu before you go out. Most restaurants list their menus online and it should be easy to set your "game plan". When you get to the restaurant, make appropriate adjustments to the order to ensure that it is compliant (ie; dressing on the side, no butter on steamed veggies, etc.). As far as avoiding social temptation, I haven't found any foolproof methods. I find that telling my friends and family that I'm avoiding sugar, excess fats, etc. helps with them offering but really, it comes down to willpower. There are always going to be temptations, especially in social situations and it is up to us to say NO!

Thanks so much for the advice. I tried the roasted chick peas after reading about them last night. Ahhh I'm in love! It was so nice to have something crunchy in my mouth! as odd as that sounds! Most of my friends are pretty supportive, but unfortunately I have one co worker always trying to shove baked goods down my throat! :) As for dining out, I'm just gonna try and avoid it while on phase 1 :)

Big Mama - get your butt on Phase 2 if you're breastfeeding, girl! You're not going to be getting enough calories to sustain your milk production! That is probably the reason why you've been feeling hungry. You definitely need to be getting more complex carbs. I'll be in your situation in a few months :) The loss will be slower on Phase 2, and I would really try to avoid any sugary things (even sugar substitutes) at all for the first few days - especially if you've been having sugar cravings. Once you deny your body that taste, the cravings will subside....usually ;) Good luck!

Qtest - You're welcome! I <3 the chickpeas - my DS eats them like crazy. I usually make 2-3 batches a week. Unfortunately, there are always going to be people that try to sabotage you despite the fact that they know you are on a "diet"....I figure they are put there as tests to our willpower....the more you say no, the easier it will be to do in the future.

As for restaurants on Phase 1, my favorite were small local delis. One had a gigantic salad bar with lots of great veggies and SB compliant stuff....I would just load up and add a protein like chicken or tuna. It made it easier for my family to eat when we were out and it was easy for me to choose something that I knew was compliant. They also offered their sandwiches in lettuce wraps instead of bread (a lot of places will do this, just ask - it is amazing what you can get accomplished when you ask nicely!)

Good luck, girls!

Thanks, Zeffryn - you are so helpful and supportive. I'll stick with Ph1 a few more days and see what happens. The milk production has been fine so far and my little dude has had no complaints. Btw, are you expecting, or I misread it when you said you'd be in my situation in a few months?? I do realize I can't keep it up for too long. I promise I'll switch to Ph2 as soon as I notice any changes. I even dragged my butt to the gym tonight and I feel fine.

You're absolutely right about sweets, as soon as I get a taste of sugar, EVEN the fake kind, it takes every ounce of willpower to stop myself from binge-eating. I am an "all or nothing" kinda person. Need to work on that, too.

BigMama - I was going to shorten your name to BM....and then I realized what BM stood for and decided not to associate you to poo. ;) I'm 33 weeks preg. btw.

If you want to stay on Phase 1, try to add more protein (whether it be larger portions with your meals, making sure to have protein at snack time, etc.) and definitely make sure to get your 4.5 cups of veggies and some beans in every day. This will ensure that your body is at least getting a minimal amount of carbs. I try to have protein every time I eat - whether it be cottage cheese as a snack, peanut butter with celery, roasted chickpeas, or just chicken on a salad. It will keep you full longer. Also, as I'm sure you know, make sure you're getting enough water. That was the fall of my breastfeeding with DS1 - not enough food and water. Busy mama's forget to eat sometimes :)

How old is your son?

About the sweets, I'm the same way. I tried to just use splenda on Phase 1 and realized that it caused cravings still, so I tried Phase 1 without any sweets whatsoever and it worked wonders. I still don't have sugar cravings as badly as I used to.

Good morning guys! Just thought I would post my plan for today to keep me on track,especially since it looks like I will be working all day. blah.

B: COFFEE :) with skim and a couple tablespoons hummus
S: 100 cal pack wholly guacamole with lettuce
L: leftovers
S: hummus with lettuce
D: lentil and sausage soup

BM :D... now, that would be a user name everyone would remember! Duuuhhhh, I saw your ticker and duuuuhhhh - now it makes sense:) Congratulations! My son is 10.5 months. I also have two girls (5 and 6 y.o.)

Yeah, eating enough veggies is a challenge, but after eating a big bowl of baby spinach w/feta, caramelized onions and some nuts with my dinner, I felt full for hours and didn't feel the need to have my dessert. Drinking enough water is no prob. I have at least 8 glasses per day, more if I exercise.

Rikki - that sounds like a good plan, although coffee and hummus for breakfast? :) It sounds like you might be sick of eggs :rolleyes: I know I am.

Movielover, how's it going? We're almost one week into Ph1!!! Hope you're doing fine.

Let's have a fab day, ladies!
Aleksandra

Glad that you felt full last night, Aleksandra. Also, glad that you're remembering to get lots of water...you would be surprised how many people forget just how vital it is.

Have you tried any of the other breakfast-y Phase 1 recipes? I really liked the "cheesecakes" and the ricotta pancakes and waffles.

I am doing well...another headache, but truthfully, I think it is allergies! POOP!!!!

I am HUNGRY today...I don't think I had enough beans last night!

I am not losing like I want...I have only lost 4lbs! I wanted to lost 10lbs in these two weeks, I think I will hit up the gym!

Keep it up ladies!

I am on day 2 of P1. Woo hoo!

movielover - Sorry it is not coming off as fast as you hoped but you are still heading int he right direction.

Movielover, losing 4 lbs so far is fantastic, so don't get discouraged. Phase 1 is for getting your cravings under control and detoxing. The real weight loss starts in Phase 2, so hang in there. Eat enough to satisfy your hunger every day, and drink plenty of water. That hungry feeling will go away. :)

Hey, movielover - 4 lbs is a great amount of weight to lose in less than a week! It's almost too much! Really. And as Cottage said - the real loss happens in Ph2. We're mostly losing water weight in Ph1 because our bodies are using glycogen first which contains lots of water molecules. I keep reminding myself, too not to focus on numbers, but rather on eating healthy and controlling the cravings.

Thanks ladies..I swear last time I dropped SOOO much sooo fast and I felt great!

I think I will start working out tomorrow!

Rikki has a really great tool for those times when we think that pounds are insignificant - butter.

You lost 4 pounds which equals 16 sticks of butter. That is something to be proud of!

Yum...butter :)!!!! Thanks :)

I know....the butter analogy might have the opposite effect :)

"I've lost 16 sticks of butter! Surely it wouldn't matter if I ate one of those sticks of butter - 15 is still great!" :dizzy:

OK, so I "cheated" yesterday! :eek: I had a piece of toast (multigrain, flax seeds, a whole lot of grains in it) AND a small apple. I felt lightheaded and like I said, I'm nursing so that's why I put cheated in quotation marks. It felt like the right thing to do. However! It tasted really weird. Especially the toast. It's almost as if my taste buds for sweet went numb!! :) Now, that's what I'm really happy about.
Today is a new day and I'll eat a piece of toast if I have to! I'll weigh myself in tomorrow morning and I'll be super happy with anything over 3 lbs.

How's everyone else doing?

Big Mama...you did NOT cheat...you should be on P2 while breast feeding!!!!!

TOM hit 1 week early!!!!

I know (everybody keeps saying that! :). Thing is - my son is already 10.5 m.o. so he's not nursing more than 3 times a day. I did Ph1 a few years ago when my second daughter was about 9 m.o. and lost 8 lbs in two weeks while I was on it AND continued to nurse successfully until she was 14 months old. So yes, while in theory I need a more versatile diet, this isn't a long term plan. As long as my milk supply is fine, I'm not worried. Another week of Ph1 (with a serving of whole grains here and there) should be fine. I promise I'll move to Ph2 as soon as I notice even a slightest drop in my milk supply. Like Zeffryn said - lots of water to stay hydrated is the key. Thank you for the support, though! :)

What's TOM?

TOM - Time Of Month

Big Mama, you seem like you have a great plan. It's funny how quickly our tastebuds lose the affinity for sweets. Fruit tastes so sweet!

I am going to the Jelly Belly Factory today with the 2nd grade class on a field trip...I plan on buying lots of SF stuff :) But the free samples will be so tempting!

Movielover-congrats on 4lb weight loss!! Keep up the great work!! And good luck with resisting all those Jelly beans!!!

Today was Day 6 and I had a much better day than yesterday, no lighteheadedness for me :) I tried to eat more dairy and had some peanut butter and celery, yum yum. I noticed I keep skipping breakfast though, cause eggs are not my most favorite thing, so I'm going to have to do some searching through recipes tonight! :)

Next week 2 of my friends are celebrating birthdays...eek! That will be a test of my will power!

How is everyone doing this weekend????

I gotta say - I have done better than I'd expected :) Hopped on the scale this morning and I have lost just over 4 lbs. Not too shabby for the first week. Went to that birthday party, ate accordingly until the cake(s) came out. I had thought about it beforehand and decided to give myself a little reward and eat some cake, so I DID. I had a few bites and it was fine. Not great, just fine. However, I didn't crave more like I used to. It didn't give me an insulin rush and I felt, OK, I had some cake, and it wasn't really a big deal. I feel that if I can control myself and ocassionally have a little treat and think of it as exactly that, I'll be able to keep losing and eventually maintain my weight without feeling deprived. And also, I didn't want to ruin all the hard work and committment that I have invested in the past week by eating three slices of cake.

I'll have a small piece of cake again on my birthday in a couple of weeks (yikes!:yikes:) and that will have filled my quota of SB inappropriate food for November!

How's everyone else doing?

Way to go, Big Mama!

Well, I am on day 5 of Ph1. It's actually going really good. I probably didn't eat enough protein and I had and over 75calories of sugar-free snack, treat thing. But I am excited because I went out last night and I didn't drink any alcohol or buy any fast food after! Which usually was my routine on Saturday nights with the gals! I feel like I have a lot of energy. Currently I am waiting until it's been official week to hop on the scale again, I am really excited and can't wait.

*QTestRDH-good luck at those birthday parties! You can do it, stay focused!

It is all down hill from here on P1....5 days to go YAHOO!!!! I have lost almost 6 lbs, so that is great! I for sure feel the rolls going down and the clothing is getting looser again.

Way to go ladies!!! YUMMM Birthday cake!

Congrats BigMama on surviving a birthday party!! Hopefully I will have the same will power this week! (Thanks for the support BKY :))

I actually did ok this weekend. A little cheating here and there. I went to red lobster with my DB and I indulged on half a biscuit and one bite of mashed potatoes :) Other than that, I stayed right on track!! Week one is down and I lost almost 8lbs! My jeans definitely feel looser, but when I put on a pair that was too small, they were still WAY too tight, but hey a girls gotta try right??

Thanks, ladies! Wow, everyone has lost a whole bunch of weight!:woohoo:

QTest - 8 lbs. is a LOT of weight to lose in 1 week. You can definitely eat a bit more. Are you drinking enough water?

Bky - good job! You're almost half way through Ph1, so yay! Hang in there.

Hey movielover - 5 more days and it's Ph2 for us! I'll be adding oatmeal first to my diet and a piece of fruit for the afternoon snack. Otherwise, I'll be eating pretty much the same for at least another week, see how it goes and then add another carb portion. Last time, I added too much too soon and quickly started making more allowances and before I knew it, I totally fell off the wagon. I guees I've learned my lesson.

Hey Zeffryn - hope you had a lovely weekend. How are you feeling, mama?

Aleksandra

Aleksandra - feeling good...big....but good. The amount of things I can do without getting absolutely exhausted is getting less and less, though.

Qtest - great job with the 8 lbs! After Phase 1, the loss will be slower...please don't get discouraged!

Morning all! I was wondering how you all deal with stress? When I get stressed out it goes straight to my head and my head feels like it's going to explode. That's usually when I turn to food and say 'f-it' and binge.

I started the sbd on thursday and was doing well thurs & fri. But when the weekend hit, my husband came back from a week of travel and although I tried to stay on track I did end up with mini-binges over the weekend and ended up gaining a pound back.

Any suggestions??? You all seem to be doing really well and I hope that I can learn from your examples!!! Thanks!

~Flavia :)

FMB -

First, let me say Welcome!

Second, that pound that you gained was likely just water retention.

How I deal with stress? I used to be like you and turn to food - now, I turn to myself with the question of "am I really hungry or am I trying to fix something external" - if the answer is the latter, and it usually is I turn to my list of things that I can do to relieve stress. Some of the things on my list include: taking a walk around the block, working out at the gym, playing outdoors with my toddler, talking to my husband, reading a good book, knitting or a bath.

It is important to have alternatives set in place that you can easily turn to when you get stressed out. Stress is a major factor in everyone's lives and we need to train ourselves to not turn to food, but to health.