Hi guys, I am new to this site as well....
I have been trying a new approach to the dieting thing. I am a South Beach Phase 2 dropout - reintroducing some foods led to bingeing on a few bad things here and there and now I weigh more than I did pre-SB! So, right now I have started a food/excerise journal to list what I eat and any acitivity I have done throughout the day. I feel like the diary is a big motivator for me, and also keeps me accountable for what I do.
As for my eating habits, I have started paying attention to portions. When I go out to eat, I try to get something healthy, but whatever I order, I will halve the meal and tell the server to put one half in a box.
I make sure I drink lots of water all day long. Some days, this is harder to do than others, but I remind myself that I am flushing my system of bad stuff.
I am still trying to follow some of the SB diet in terms of proteins and "good carbs", but I am also now looking for low salt/low fat/low cal things as well.
Snacks for me include 2% string cheese sticks or 2% cheddar cheese cubes, pistachios, almonds, peanuts, whole wheat or whole grain crackers with cheese spread (can you tell I love cheese?), veggies with a light dip of some kind.
I no longer eat any white breads or white flour tortillas, most everything I buy is whole wheat or whole grain. I also use Splenda in place of sugars and use ICBINB instead of my usual Country Crock. I buy turkey bacon instead of regular, and most of the time, I buy turkey meat instead of ground beef.
Here is where the weird part is - I don't eat chocolate or sweets or potato chips or any other junk foods like that - never have, except once in a blue moon and even then, not much. So, you'd think I would be a skinny little thing. But I'm not.
I am 26 years old, I stand at 5'3" and weigh 160 lbs. I have gained approximately 10 pounds a year over the last 4 years and I hate it. I am not a morning person, so I usually TRY to get in at least 30 mins on my eliptical machine after work each night, but I don't think that is enough. I would like to lose at least 40 lbs. and then would weigh the same as I did when I graduated high school.
Oh goodness, enough rambling, I need help, guys!