Phase I Time Limit - from The Daily Dish

[Ruthxxx]

From the Daily Dish:

Phase 1 Time Limit

It can be tempting to stay in Phase 1 until you've reached your goal weight. Not only can you shed pounds quickly during the early part of this Phase, but it can also be scary to start opening yourself up to more food choices. However, Dr. Agatston has several good reasons for moving on to Phase 2.

Extending Phase 1 means you'll be missing out on a variety of whole-grain foods and fresh fruits that offer important nutritional benefits. In addition, Phase 1 wasn't designed to be a long-term eating plan. The meal options are limited and constrictive, so dieters are in danger of improvising to eliminate boredom. After a while, you may find old habits creeping back in, and before long, you're cheating more than eating healthy.

The three-phase approach of The South Beach Diet™ is central to its success. We strongly encourage you to follow the diet as recommended. Look at this journey as a lifestyle change. It's important to take things one step at a time — don't get caught up in the idea that this is a race to reach a particular goal. Remember, gradual weight loss will be more sustainable over the long term.

[mizski]

The Supercharged book is somewhat different than the original book. IMO the diet is more relaxed (more foods allowed, etc.).

... [text removed as it refers to the thread from which this post originally came]

I don't have my Supercharged book here to look for it (or maybe it was on Dr. A's blog?) but he does state that people with a lot of weight to lose can stay on PH1 longer (up to a month at a time?) Now I'm curious to find that quote...will post it if I'm successful finding it.

ETA: I found it! Now I need to find the going back on PH1 part.

Ask Dr. Agatston

Is It Okay to Extend Phase 1?

Q: Is it acceptable to remain in Phase 1 longer than two weeks if you have more than 100 pounds to lose?
—Dale C.

A: Yes, if you still have a lot of weight to lose, it is acceptable to stay in Phase 1 for longer periods. Typically, we recommend that dieters extend Phase 1 if they have a particularly high body mass index (BMI), which is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. Someone with a BMI over 30 (which is considered obese), for instance, can stay in Phase 1 for three or four weeks, while someone with a BMI over 35 (which is considered morbid obesity) can stay on Phase 1 for up to two months. For those whose BMI is below 30, we strongly recommend the regular two-week period.

If you're staying in Phase 1 for an extended period, it is important to exercise to maintain muscle and bone mass, and to ensure that the weight you're losing is fat (and not lean body mass). Try aerobics, a stationary bike, swimming, or walking for at least 20 minutes a day.

[mizski]

It's me again. Kaplods, I cannot find any mention of returning to PH1 even though I know many of the 100+ gals on the SB site do it.

Here's what I did find by Dr. A on the subject:

From the Why People Fail on This Diet article:

Looking for a Quick Fix

To a degree, failure is a result of the program's success. After two weeks, you begin reintroducing some of the carbs you cut out completely in Phase 1. You continue losing weight in Phase 2, but not at the same speed. Depending on how much you want to lose, it may take up to a year or even longer. For some, that's a disappointment, so they decide to stay on Phase 1 until they reach their goal. Now, I know plenty of dieters who have made that decision and succeeded — but I know plenty more who have failed.

Here's why: Phase 1 isn't meant to be a long-term eating plan. You're limited to a fairly small palette of foods, which — after two or three weeks — gets a little dull. That's when dieters begin to improvise — improperly. They mix in their old bad habits. They follow Phase 1, but they add in a handful of cookies at night, a small bag of corn chips one afternoon, or pizza and beer on the weekend. Before long, you're cheating more than dieting. When you realize how badly you've strayed, you might try Phase 1 again, only now it seems even more monotonous than it did the first time. You may just surrender. If you're lucky, you won't end up weighing more than you did before you started the diet.

This is why we strongly urge everyone to switch to Phase 2 after the second week, no matter how tempting it is to remain on Phase 1. This is a long-term diet, and the three-phase approach is an important part of its success. It may take longer to lose the weight, but your chances of keeping it off are much better.

I think I may have to re-think my thinking about yoyoing back & forth on PH1.