[madamwu]

Hello everyone.

I feel sort of strange just getting around to trying the South Beach Diet in 2014 when it was the big thing a decade ago. But better late than never?

I did weight watchers (Momentum) but just never clicked with Points Plus. Now that I have gotten rid of my stressful business, I am finally ready to make another attempt to get my health back in order. My doctor read me the riot act to get my triglycerides and cholesterol down, because of my PCOS/metabolic syndrome. I'm 59 and it is time to get serious.

I have managed to lose a few pounds following a diabetic exchange type system, but after eating 7 pepperidge farm cookies in one sitting the other day, I realized I have a serious carb problem that has to be dealt with.

I have been buying low carb etc. cookbooks & diet books from Goodwill for months. Gave up on the idea of Atkins--too extreme. But I keep coming back to the South Beach Diet books I bought. The recipes appeal to me (tried the oatmeal pancakes one and it was good).

I need some structure. I am going on vacation early next week, figure I will take the books with me and do some planning.

I guess I am just curious why you all are doing SBD even though it is no longer "fashionable."

Thanks

[Lexxiss]

Hi madamwu, and welcome!

I'm following SBD because it's a healthy way of eating for the long term. I think eating healthy is fashionable and it provides me with guidelines that I find easy to follow. I, too, started transitioning to weightloss after selling 2 very stressful businesses in Alaska and moving to Colorado to be near my mom. I originally focused on getting into regular exercises and making better choices. The winter of 2008-09 I gained 20# back and recognized I needed more structure with a food plan.

I find that structure with SBD and I've never felt better. I'm 56 and find that I can loosely follow my plan and slowly lose. When I follow strictly I lose much faster. After a few years enjoying a pretty laid back lifestyle my life the past few years has turned much busier and more stressful again. I'm happy to report I can handle the stress much better when I follow this way of eating and I no longer bounce back and forth between totally on plan and totally off plan. I've found a middle of the road healthy solution here and great friends to share my journey with.

Best wishes!

[cottagebythesea]

madamwu!

SBD is still here because it's a healthy life plan, and it works. Like Lexxiss, I can follow it loosely at times and lose weight slowly, or kick it up and follow it strictly, and know the pounds and inches will fall off faster. I can really feel the difference when I eat healthy vs. eating crap foods such as white bread and sugary food.

[WaistingTime]

I eat this way because it works for me. I was a classic yo-yo dieter and it took me many years to learn that losing and MAINTAINING really is about finding a way of eating that you can live with long-term. This plan, unlike many that are fashionable (as you put it), is healthy. And seems to have approval of the medical community. (At least the doctors that I have asked personally.) SBD is still around, IMO, because it works and is safe and healthy and doable long-term. Many fashionable plans are not.

I've done WW before. More than once. This is so much easier than calculating and counting points.

I also have what might be described as a carb problem. In WW I learned about red light foods. Well, no surprise, most of mine are carbs!

That said, I believe that no one plan works for everyone. We each need to figure out what makes us feel good, what we can live with long-term, what helps us lose weight if that is the goal, etc.

[madamwu]

Your replies have been encouraging.

Yesterday I was at Goodwill (I stop before I grocery shop; it has become my favorite used bookstore) and picked up copies of "South Beach Diet Supercharged" and "South Beach Heart Health Revolution", along with a copy of "Beck Diet Solution."

I started the Beck book, and I see there is a board here it--I will check it out. I know the success of Cognitive Therapy, and I realize I need to change my wishful thinking that I can lose weight and go back to eating the way I used to. But at 59 it is time for me to decide between self indulgence and living longer. I have the love of my life who I want to grow old with, so I have to make the right choice.

As part of my commitment, for the first time I have added a weight tracker to my signature. At 5' I know I should have a goal weight of 100 #, but I decided to be realistic. Last time I was 100# was when I was 16! 142 will get me back in size 14-12, which allows me to shop in the petites section again. It should also help my health and mobility.

I have been on 3 chicks since early 2000 (old id got lost) and this is the first time I am ready to really take advantage of it fully.

Next up, to post my bio.

Thanks for the warm welcome!