[schluh]

Hi everyone...I did south beach for a month or so before a big trip to the beach and am back on it due to splurging while at the beach. Is it just me or is it 100 times harder the second time around? I actually woke up with hunger pains the other day and have felt light headed too.

I have added more nuts but am already egg and salad-ed out! What meals give you the most energy. I am going to try refried beans with cheese and salsa.

The only negative is that the only meat I eat is seafood. I am a true carboholic and really feel like I am going through withdrawl. Today I gave in and had some dark chocolate covered soynuts.

Any suggestions to get through these next 11 days. The died does work on me. I got down to 117 (I am short and hold all my weight in my middle) but am now back up to 125.

Help.
Schluh

[Drgnfly423]

Hi,
Congrats on coming back to the beach! I just started again, too. P1, D3. It also looks like we have the same goal and are the roughly the same weight and height.

The first time I came back I felt like it was easier becuase I knew what to expect. This time I am continuing to exercise. I think that is helping with the low energy. I am still having cravings though. The first day I had a dream that I ate a bunch of rice. It was so real I actually thought I had cheated.

Beans are my favorite thing to eat that give me energy. I have them at lunch and at dinner everyday. Have you tried edamame? They are great on salad.

My only advice is to remember it's only xx days until phase 2. Good luck!

[Ruthxxx]

Welcome back to The Beach.

Yes, beans are important and filling. So is dairy.

Check out the REVISED Phase I Food list in the FAQ Section and join us on the Phase I Thread where ideas and support are rampant!

[Schmoodle]

Any of the allowed protein things are what do it for me - cheese, eggs, lean meat, beans, milk, yogurt, nuts, etc. Hummus and raw veggies is pretty filling.

[schluh]

I just boiled up a bunch of eggs (if I eat more scrambled eggs I will start clucking). Cold eggs appleal much more to me than warm.

I am doing better today. I have some fish in the fridge for dinner. Jello has helped a lot. Helps my sweet tooth. My mom is starting SB today and we did the gym together. That made me feel a lot more energized. More than I would have thought. I am down about 2 lbs but I think that is mainly water weight (BUT I WILL TAKE IT!!!!)

Thanks for the support everyone...Dragonfly...Keep me updated on your progress on this post. The bad thing about being near your goal weight is that every time you gain 10lbs you have to lose that "last 10lbs" again and they are the hardest to lose and the easiest to gain back.

ALSO- Just a gripe! My husband ordered pizza the other night even though I told him I was on phase 1. He has been stressed out and looses weight when he is stressed...If I get stressed I gain like 15lbs. Just a gripe.

[beachgal]

Schluh,

I can't tell from your post--but it kind of sounds like you go on diets to quickly lose the few pounds you want gone, then go back to your normal eating habits. Is that true? If so, the best thing you can do for yourself is to find a plan that you know you can do for a very long time--long after you reach your goal weight. Obviously, we all change over time, and what works now might not work years from now. But pick something you can really stick with. You have a very small amount of weight to lose, so if you do it in a healthy way, it's going to take some time. I know you might not want to hear that--but gaining and losing quickly, over and over, even if it's just a small amount of weight, is going to mess up your metabolism and your health. The best thing you can do is to find a plan that you can stick with and stick with it!

If SBD is that plan, then commit to a stellar 3-5 days on Phase1. There's no reason to do two weeks again after you've done it once. You just want to get rid of the cravings. Each time you have to detox, it will be hard--that's why going off plan shouldn't be a regular occurance (not that it is for you! ). So, stay away from those soybeans and make sure you eat plenty of tomatoes, bell peppers, dairy, and beans to help you get through P1. Protein helps you feel full longer, but veggies help you to feel more full. So make sure you get both at every meal.

When you are on Phase 2, consider including tempeh into your diet--it's a great source of protein and really yummy! Have you included soy, too? Plus, 1 oz of lowfat cheese has the same amount of protein as 1 oz of lean meat (7g).

Good luck!

[schluh]

Hi Laurie,
My biggest weakness is food rewards. I "treated" myself the entire time I was on my vacation and didn't really work out at all. I do better at home. SBD does really help. I think a lot of people right near their goal weight (especially when they are short) have the same problem I do. I don't think I will get back to my heaviest weight again (145lbs) but the final 5-10 are really hard to manage. I will try tempeh (i always thought that had breading) and will get some fake hot dogs (they are pretty good). Too much soy will bloat my tummy really bad and I am sensitive to shellfish. Between the diet, not eating chicken, beef and pork, and my sensitive tummy I have been limited and have gotten really bored.

The good thing about SB is that it is easy to eat out. Everyplace has a salad with fish or a fish entree. That is what helps me stay on SB.

Also my cravings have lasted longer this time than last time. I really wanted some cereal this morning but made my eggs and spinach and had an iced cup of decaf coffee.

The big thing is I need to get more protein into my diet. I do good with veggies but always slack on protein. Due to that I can eat so many carbs in one sitting.

But I feel better today (just wish my mind would stop thinking about food).

Thank you for your feedback. I really want to make SB a way of life this time. Just need to avoid a vacation for a while
:P

[beachgal]

Thanks, Schluh, for the explanation. I hope I didn't offend you--I've just seen several friends have disastrous consequences now, 10 years later, from yo-yo dieting when they were younger. It's awful.

It's great that you've figured out you reward yourself with food. Maybe the slow pace of those last 5-10 pounds will help you relearn rewarding yourself with non-food things like spa treatments, clothes, small trips, books you really want, time out with friends for something special (my best friend and I went to Disneyland for the day! ), etc.

I'm on a really high protein regimen right now and find that there's a lot out there to help you get more protein in your diet. Honestly, I wasn't a fan of them when they came out because they have ingredients that aren't okay in the book--but the SBD cereal bars are really helpful. Sometimes they do make me crave, but as long as I know that it might be coming and can plan ahead, it's usually not a problem. You get 10g of protein in each, which is awesome! The meal replacement bars (both SBD and Atkins) have 18-19g of protein for about 200+ calories, which is good, too. Of course, I assume both are getting most of the protein from soy, so you'd have to factor that in. Again, beano might help.

Have you tried whey protein for making protein shakes? I make mine with frozen fruit (no sugar or juice), fat free plain yogurt, protein powder, SF syrup, and a little FF milk (if needed). If I make them with plain Kefir (a drinkable yogurt), it works out to 32g of protein!!! Yum and so filling! I found psyllium husk in our health food section at the local grocery and have added a bit of that to my shakes ever since. It makes it much more filling and the fiber is really helpful, too.

Don't forget beans--they are super good for you with tons of fiber and protein. My nutritionist says an easy way to add more protein to your meal is to put a can of black beans (with the liquid) in a blender with some salsa and a little cumin (the cumin is important!). Blend it to desired consistency, then heat. Voila! Black bean soup! Great starter for dinner or lunch so you not only feel more full, but get more protein.

LF and FF cottage cheese has tons of protein--12g per 1/2 cup. Even oatmeal has protein...and so do whole wheat products. You can also find pasta made with whole grains other than wheat that have more protein (I had kamut pasta last night). Also, have you tried quinoa yet? It's a pain to wash, but easy/fast to cook. It's a grain that has a lot of protein. Yum!

Hope that helps...it's funny that you eat just seafood, as I despise all forms of shellfish and only eat fish if I can hold my nostrils closed! It's good that you eat it, though!