Phase 1, day 12

B: Cinnamon omelet- um... YUM!!! (3FC recipe); V8; coffee
L: green salad w/chick, cuc, tomatoes, avocado & lite rasp vinag. dressing; diet Coke
S: 15 almonds; ff milk
D: something involving chicken breasts that I need to use up. Ideas or recipe recommendations?
S: SF Jello

Exercise: 45 min elliptical

Phase 2

B. the usual - oatmeal soaked in almond milk with black raspberries
S. snack pac of nuts and dried fruit
L. 1/2 Kashi thin-crust spinach & mushroom pizza piled high with fresh baby spinach
S. Greek yogurt sprinkled with cocoa powder & a splash of SF caramel syrup
D. BBQ pulled "chicken" and roasted veggies over shirataki noodles
S. SBD friendly apple pie with a dollop of FF Cool Whip

ETA-

A glass or two of red wine, just because it's Friday!

phase 2

b - oatmeal soaked in almond milk (thanks cottage it is delicious) an orange
l - shrimp, avocado and tomato salad
s - yougurt with agave
s - steak, stir fry of onion, green pepper and mushrooms with leftover quinoa
s - saturday night glass of wine, a very small slice of 12 year old cheddar cheese

Phase 1 (day 13):

B: cinnamon omelet; coffee, 2 pcs turkey bacon
L: leftover spaghetti squash deep dish pie- yummy!; diet coke
S: mozz stick
D: chicken something???
S: SF jello

Exercise: 6 mile run/walk

Phase 2

B. Oatmeal soaked in almond milk w/black raspberries
L. veggie burger patty wrapped in baby spinach and a piece of string cheese
S. SBD friendly apple custard pie
D. braised kale and white beans with tomatoes and mushrooms
S. peanut butter cup dessert

Yesterday was traveling mostly:
B-scrambled eggs, salad with avocado (trying to use up veggies in the house)
We were on the road so I mostly snacked until dinner. I had 3 cheese sticks, about 25 almonds, sliced yellow pepper and celery. Not great but I did the best I could
D-inside of a steak sandwich (i.e. a steak with some fried onions), no bread, and garlic spinach instead of the fries. A couple of glasses of wine.

This morning we had breakfast in our hotel room.
B-hard boiled egg, non fat greek yogurt, ff wet cappucino and glass of tomato juice
S-cheese stick
L-small hamburger with cheese and 2 slices bacon, salad
S-15 almonds and TJ's green bean snacks, wine
D-broiled crab cake with salad w/hot sauce and blue cheese dressing
S-15 almonds, wine (am on vacation)

I'm sneaking back, if I may. I'd been dallying on the beach since I started Phase 2, back in August I think. I'd be on and off plan (some of my excuses really were valid ) I went back to WW in mid-December, full of recommitment, recipe ideas and determination to meet their healthy guidelines. Two days later we had a blizzard and I was snowed in -- literally -- with the Chrismas gifts from my students. I won't go into detail so as not to tempt the temptable. I did NOT eat all four tins of goodies, but I ate at least half (gave the rest to the security guards).

All of this, I could neatly fit into WW. If you eat zero point soup and 30 points of cookies, technically, your tracker is happy. I did track, and realized something. I first went on WW eons ago when they used the exchange program. It was about 1200 calories a day, very neatly prescribed: 2 servings bread, 2 milk, 6-7 protein, etc. I internalized that. It is, to me, A Diet. When I'm in diet mode, I go back to those exchanges. That leaves an extra 10 points of Whatever and I've never adapted to adding more healthful foods. I also eat too much bread when I'm on WW.

I realized that I needed a prescription, a program that set out, in general terms, what one should eat, and lo, I hadn't even taken the South Beach books off my coffee table. I'm meal planning today (and not eating junk) and will start again tomorrow. It's been great to have this thread to read -- helps the menu planning.

Hi Xan!
I was thinking about you last night, and read your blog but didn't comment. I was going to PM you to say hi. It didn't sound like you were a happy WW camper. I'm glad to see you back.

Xan - that's exactly the way I always dieted. My other favorite was total deprivation until I hit goal then big celebration and back to "normal" eating. I so need a logical structure to plan food choices in. Sorry about the challenges but glad to see you back

While I'm here:

1.5 modified for gluten free
B: black beans, spinach, egg, 1/2 serving rf feta, salsa, 1 sprouted corn tortilla (gluten free alternative, not SBD)
L: lemon grilled tempeh, veggie soup, homemade gluten free "rye" bread (no actual grain)
S: plain yogurt & frozen blueberry smoothie
D: crockpot curried veggies, black bean burgers, brown rice

exercise: 45m exercise bike, 30m yoga, 10m arms, 10m core

back to The Beach, Xan! We even saved your beachtowel for you.

Phase 2 for me again today, since I want a piece of pie later.

B. Kashi Go Lean with almond milk, slivered almonds & cranberries
L. leftover braised kale & white beans
S. Lite & Fit yogurt
D. split pea soup w/ string cheese "crackers" (I didn't feel like making the squash casserole, it's more of a soup day today)
S. SBD friendly apple custard pie w/ff Cool Whip

Thank you so much, Debbie, Cyndi and Cottage! I found the towel

I got a Moosewood cookbook for Christmas and thought of you -- lots of beans and kale recipes ("Cooking for Health")

I think I'm ready to go this time. Nothing wrong with WW, and it works for thousands of people, but it doesn't tackle my personal demons. I keep going back to it because SB DOES tackle my personal demons, and they don't like being tackled. But I've put those demons in a closet and gotten a very strong lock

I'm sure there are a lot of new people starting -- good luck to everyone!

Phase 1 day 9
Slept in til 9:45

B- Scramble eggs and turkey bacon V8
S-SF vanilla latte with full cup of milk
L- roasted veggies, my spicy shrimp salad(shrimp, bl beans, jalepenos, tomatoes, red and green peppers served over lettuce with a bit of ranch dressing.)
S-nuts and cheese
D- white bean and chicken chilli
D- making lemon cheesecake (I am attempting a cheesecake)

Phase 1- final day!!! (Though I am scared of P2 a bit!!!! I enjoy the strict guidelines of P1 and P2 seems to me to open the flood gates for me. Strict menu planning involved here!!!!)

B: cinnamon omelet; V8; coffee
S: 15 almonds
L: leftover spag squash deep dish pie w/ green salad w/fixings
S: mozz stick
D: leftover salsa baked chicken w/brocc
S: SF jello

rest day for exercise