Hello everyone,
I am new here. I have done South Beach before and had good results but things have changed in the last 3 years and I have been attempting to start phase one again for the last 2 weeks and haven't made it past the first day. I read one member's success story earlier and she lost her weight on the Lindora diet. There are a few differences between the two from what I read. Apparently you eat pure protein for 3 days straight to go into ketosis and then after that you stay low carb and you can have fruit as well. I am a fan of fruit and I prefer it, especially with my breakfast, which is usually oatmeal. I am just wondering if anyone has had success by just cutting out processed carbs like bread,pasta,rice and processed foods without going on a specific diet like the south beach or Atkins. I mean do you have to go through those strict phases to get in ketosis or does your body automatically do that when carbs are restricted? And is ketosis absolutely necessary to be most successful on a low carb diet? It's confusing to me. I realize that phase one on the SB is necessary for stopping cravings and resetting your blood sugar/metabolism and all that. but is it ABSOLUTELY necessary to see good, steady results? Looking forward to the answers.

That's a great question.

I control my carbs and perhaps my plan is not what some other ladies would consider low carb, but to me it is! My goal was never ketosis though. I control my carbs cause that is what I overeat, so by controlling amounts and temptations, I have lost weight.

If your goal is ketosis, I think the most knowledgable person about Atkins here is JerseyGyrl and she would probably tell you to read the original Atkins book and follow the plan as written by Dr. Atkins. (I am not 100% sure that the goal on Atkins is ketosis, but I think it is, although I could be one of the masses misinformed about Atkins.)

For me, I pretty much eliminated pasta, white bread, rice, white sugars, etc., and I control whole grain products (oatmeal, whole grain bread) & beans/potatoes to a couple of servings a day. I have never hit ketosis (except with a stomach flu) and I have lost 54 pounds to date. So, yeah, it can work. Is it considered "low carb" by the experts? I don't know---but it has worked for me!

Good luck!

There is some strictness about South Beach phase 1, but it does NOT put you in ketosis. It is not that low carb.

You are an inspiration for all the knowledge you share. Thanks for your generosity. I had heard about Weston Price but did not have the links until now.

Your DBF is lucky to have someone who knows about statins.

yes, thank you so much for the info, Kim! I'm so glad people here are willing to share information so thoroughly. It's invigorating. I will check out the links you posted!

Hi girls,

I think the best thing anyone can do is to listen to their own body. You can get some ketosis test strips from your local grocery store that you just pass through your urine in the AM. I test every day and I have noticed that if my test is high for ketosis then I lose weight and if I test low I hit a stall.

For me I stay away form sugar, starchy breads and pasta and high carb fruits and veg like potato's. I eat all the meat, fish, cheese, low carb veg and almonds that I want and I lose about 1-2 pounds a week.

Good luck to you!

Yeah I have never changed color yet.

Mine didn't, either. My friend was teasing me about not really doing Atkins, but the scale proved otherwise.

Really? That's strange to me... 3 days into induction I was at the moderate ketone level, and now that 2 weeks have passed I'm at the highest level! I wonder what causes the difference...

I came to carbohydrate restriction via one of the books Kim recommends, Good Calories, Bad Calories by Gary Taubes. He makes the case for the biochemistry of what happens when your carb intake is lower. Basically he talks about 2 things, one is blood sugar/insulin response to carbs (which cutting out or way back on all carbs will help with) and the second is how a ketogenic diet may actually help you lose weight.

You can reduce carbs and get the benefit of the first point and still lose weight and feel good. Pushing to the second level probably requires cutting carbs back much further (like Atkins proposes, or there are other authors of ketogenic diets). (The Atkins phases of adding foods back basically is building you up to the level of carbs that balances points one and two & is different for each of us).

I basically started by cutting out all starches (all grains, potatoes, etc) and most fruit. For the first few weeks I did eat strawberries & nuts (which is not Atkins induction) but it was enough for me, in my body, to get into ketosis. I probably eat fewer carbs today than I did then, but honestly I am approaching this as a lifestyle not quick diet, so I very rarely track. I basically eat the low carb foods (berries as a special treat, nuts in my purse in case of emergencies) and try to track once a week (which in reality is half that).

I do have a plan of attack if my weight plateaus - that is to go back to daily tracking of carbs and cut down to 20 or so for a few weeks to get things moving again.

I've been on a break these past 3 weeks from weighing in due to some medical issues, but the plan is clear to me.

The biggest change I've seen from getting & keeping my carbs really low is the change in hunger. All my life I have struggled to control my appetite, and I have a strong will and have often been successful - but it's always been a battle until now. Now, I'm just much less hungry. I think it's due to more stable blood sugar/insulin, & probably a beneficial effect of ketones.

I really believe we're all different and we each need to figure out what works for ourselves. Use the books - any of them - as a guide to figure out what works for you. If you are someone who does well by following a strict plan, pick the one you think you can live with. If you're more independent-minded (like I am) learn from all of them and pick the lessons you will apply.

In both cases, be willing to go back to basics and double check your thinking & understanding if you stall.