South Beach Diet - I'm ready for the Beach!

Hi!

I'm ready to start out on Phase I, been cutting the carbs already and hope to check out the book further over the weekend. I've had the SBD book for a looong time and read some of it. I've done Atkins for a few months a couple years ago.

Over a year ago I had a Lapband placed and lost 80 pounds in a year. Unfortunately, I've started eating carbs and need to quit in order to get to goal and maintain. I also need to make my exercise more regular -- I get quite a bit sometimes and not so much other times.

I use FitDay off and on and will be trying to be "on" all the time now. It's nice to find this forum. I really like the things you are doing here. I hope to join some of the Sept. challenges soon. I look forward to getting to know this friendly group. :cofdate:

Hi and welcome to the forum.
:D

Welcome to The Beach, Chickita. There is lots of good info here. Please be sure to check out the FAQ Forum, particularly the revised food lists - the book lists are out of date. I see you have already discovered our Weightloss Surgery Forum.

Hi and welcome, chickita! Good luck with your weight loss plan. Just curious - my MIL is considering a lapband - are you happy with yours?

Welcome, Chickita! Definitely read the FAQ articles before you start and make sure you've read the whole book (not counting the recipes) before you start.

Keep in mind that the menus in the book are just suggestions...feel free to change things around as long as you keep the principles and the 'things to avoid/enjoy' lists in mind. :)

Welcome! :wave:

Glad you could join us on the Beach!

Welcome...and what is a lapband?

Welcome Chickita!! Is a lapband a bandd places around the stomach to make it smaller without cutting part out?? Are you pleased that you had it done? You have made amazing progress so far :D. Welcome to the beach girl!!

:wave: Welcome to the beach!! :) :cheer:

Thanks for the great welcome. :)

I stayed up late and re-read parts of the book already. I really don't think I'll use the menus, but I'll certainly check out the ideas there. I'm glad there's a revised foods list and I'll check that out too.

My Lapband is a devise put around my stomach, way up high, to give me a smaller stomach, called a pouch. It can be made tighter to make food stay in the pouch longer. It's there to cut the hunger while eating smaller portions. No cutting of the innards involved. I am happy with my band and am considered successful because of the percentage of weight I have lost. I'd still like to lose the rest, though.

The Lapband is a good option for many people, but certainly comes with risks and side effects, like other surgeries. I have a throat problem from the band that is annoying at times, but not enough to consider removing it, which can be done if I want to. I will gain the weight back if it is removed.
My eating is not drastically different, but for some people it is much more of a change. Would I do it again? Absolutely! I appreciate what the band has done for me. I was aware of the risks and willing to deal with them. It is important to do lots of research if considering it. It is not a magic cure; the weight loss is still up to the person and there are ways to gain weight easily with one in place.

Right now, I'm excited about coming to the Beach and ready to get back on track! :dancer:

Hi Chickita!
You are right, it is not a magic cure! I had a Roux-en-y gastric bypass in January 2001. I started at 400. I lost down to around 207 but never really changed my eating habits except I ate less. I am now struggling because I eat too many carbs and naturally my "pouch" has stretched some. I gained back to almost 240 and am so afraid of gaining it all back through constant snacking, which I am very good at, that I knew I had to do something. The SBD is really the way I am supposed to eat anyway so eat is finally teaching me the better eating habits I should have learned after surgery. Would I do the surgery again? In a heart beat, but as you said, it isn't a cure, just a tool. I am happy to report I have been on Phase I for a week and have lost 9 pounds. I wish you the same progress and welcome to the beach!

Thanks, Candy!

I'm supposed to be eating this way, too. It's great to find a wonderful group for support with just the lower carb eating.

Wonderful that you are doing so well! Keep it up! You have done great and keeping it that way is just another phase of the journey. :)

And welcome! :)

recipes here are MUCH better than the sbd book!

Welcome! :cb: