December 1st Starters?
 

Good Morning, Is anyone planning on starting this saturday the 1st? I'm thinking about starting then or today. The only reason I'm thinking about starting today is I got on some old jeans (can't breathe,oh the price of beauty) but just thrilled I got them on so that gives me quite the motivation but I'm so weird about starting on either the 1st or a monday. Just wondering if anyone is planning on the 1st:D

I've been on the beach since August, but I'm considering restarting Phase I this weekend. My eating hasn't been consistent lately and I need to fix that before it gets out of control.

Slugg I'm not starting as I have been at it since may. I want to wish you good luck and much success. Heres some :dust: to get you through

My hubby and I are starting tomorrow. I am going to the grocery today so I am making my grocery list now.

Good luck! I HAVE to start things on Sundays, so I'm on Day 5 now :)

I will restart on Monday, the 3rd I think should my stomach be up to it!

I started on Monday So I'm on day 4 woohooo!

I just finished my first day back on the beach and I'm feeling fantastic! I started the plan early in the spring and was doing great, but then I went on vacation over the summer and entered a downward spiral of junk food and general laziness. Now I'm back up to my original starting weight and ready to kick these bad habits for good!

I restarted P1 on Monday to clear out all that remained of Thanksgiving. I plan to run for 3 weeks so I will be good and strong for the Christmas holidays!

Good luck!

Sabby

fell off the wagon last night but I'm back on!! ready to be successful!

DH and I will be restarting on Monday. It's too hard to start on the weekend we have DSS. (DH gets cranky and short tempered after 24 hours without bad carbs). DH wants to do a super low carb thing and I will be restarting Phase 1 of SB. Now I have to make up a menu that's suitable for both of us.

DH is on a night schedule and I am not so this is going to be a bit harder than I thought.

How often should we be eating? I know snacks are required, how long after breakfast should we eat a snack?

Well I started last monday, but I had a garlic knot binge last night so I restarted today! Good luck!

Starting on Monday (which will give me all weekend to gear up and plan meals).

G'luck folks!! :carrot:

Hey gals! Mind if I join you? I finally said enough is enough with trying to get back on track after the whole summer and Thanksgiving and I restarted Phase 1 today. It's been going swimmingly so far!

Kara

One for every clean Phase 1 day:
:tree:

2 Days and already off plan! It was purely an accident though, I'd had some acorn squash in the house and cooked it without even thinking about it. I was planning tomorrows list and bam, there is was on the avoid list, ooops. The good news... it's easier to start over when you are just on day 2 ;)

DH has lost 7lbs in the past 2 days. He is weighing himself when he gets up since he has to lose either 20lbs or 4" by Wednesday. It's a pretty tight schedule but he's doing great!

Except for taking communion this morning (and I don't feel at all guilty about that!) I ate well today, so I'm not giving myself another tree, but I feel good about my choices.

One for every clean Phase 1 day:
:tree:

omgosh, I just called DH to remind him to have a snack now and he was telling me we should continue SB for good! I have been trying to get him to eat healthier for years and I think he's finally come around. I do think we will have a "cheat" day planned for each week so we can still have things that are on the foods to avoid list. I am a big believer in not letting myself feel deprived of things that are off plan. I also know DH wouldn't be able to stick with it certain items were off limits forever.

That's awesome! Eating well makes you feel so good. I forget that "clean" feeling when I start eating crud but it's good to get back into the groove!

Just remember that some things are "off-limits" in South Beach because they screw with your blood sugar and can set off your cravings for simple carbs. One of our wise moderators once said that to be successful on South Beach you have to stick with it 90% of the time. Throwing in a treat here and there won't kill the plan, but letting that one treat lead to another and another and another is how I ended up back where I started four months ago. It's totally your decision, just be mindful of what you eat and how you feel afterwards, and don't cheat at all on Phase 1!

Kara

I started on 12-2 so I would love to post here!

I have been on a sugar overload the past month and I really need to stop these cravings!

Hi. This is a 1st for me on any diet. My BF and I decided on SBD because we're vegetarian, and it seemed like the one that would be easiest to stick to while still eating healthy. Our diet consists of a disturbing amount of carbs. I cleaned out the pantry tonight and was amazed to fill two rubbermaid bins with 'no no' food. I'll be making a huge drop off at the chow barrel tomorrow! An added challenge is that HE is a very picky eater and has just recently started trying more vegetables. Because of this I've had to sort of come up with our own version of the meal plan for P1. I based it as closely as possible to the suggested plan, substituting meat replacements and the BF's 'icky' veggies from the approved list. I wish they would publish a veg. version. I spent all day working this out!

We've got a trip to Tybee island planned for May, so hopefully SBD will do the trick so I don't have to wear my muumuu at the beach :)

I just got a tracker to share. First time ive seen that number in print. GAH!

Hi Suzka! I'm a vegetarian, too. I've found South Beach rather easy to adapt to my eating preferances, especially utilizing the recipes in the recipe section of this forum. Be careful with the meat replacements because a lot of them have wheat gluten in the ingredients, which obviously wouldn't work for Phase 1. I use a lot of beans in Phase 1 to get my protein, and cottage cheese and other dairy as well.

Hope that helps, and welcome to the forum!

Kara

Dec 1st/Dec 3rd Starters
 

Wow,there has been alot of replies to this thread. Well I stated I was going to start Dec 1st but I did alot of baking this weekend and the cupcakes were screaming my name. I officially am starting today. Just reading all of these posts has helped with giving me the motivation to not cheat on phase I, which is always my downfall. I really would like to stay on phase I till christmas so my cravings will be gone so all the goodies won't be so overwhelming for me. I know I know, just do two weeks of phase I but my sugar cravings are almost considered a medical problem (well at least I think they should be) I just love the sweets so much but after five to seven days of clean phase I, I start to notice the cravings going away and not thinking I'm gonna go crazy if I don't have a donut. I really believe if I continue to post and actually start a journal, I'm gonna have great success. Theres something different about this SB board that really has me motivated. Ya'll are really nice and supportive. Heres to all the Dec 1st/Dec 3rd starters, may you have great success. Have a wonderful and SB day.:carrot:

This board is terrific, you're right!

Today was great - felt fantastic and ate really clean.

One for every clean Phase 1 day:
:tree: :tree:

Kara

You have to have 25 posts to PM so I can't reply but YES pcos affect your ability to lose weight in a big way. There is a forum on here that talks about it and as soon as I can PM, I have some questions for you.

P1 Day 1
thanks, tomandkara, i'll make sure to look out for wheat gluten. at the end of the first day, i have to admit i was surprised how much i wanted a bowl of cereal, a bagel or some tortilla chips. also, maybe i'm thinking a lot about eating and when to eat and what im eating. and what do you know? i don't want anything i CAN have. i was craving anything not in the very full fridge of allowed food. Here's hoping it gets easier!

the boyfriend seems to be adjusting quite well. or he's doing a really good job of faking it!

One for each day!
:smug:

okay I just typed a message but didn't finish it..I don't know if it went through or not lol :) But here goes again...

I've decided to kick start my SB diet again...I've been eating really badly in the past several months and I've been fibbing about exercising :( So now I really need to be honest with myself and get this weight off! I'm getting married on May 3, 2007...and I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to be at least 50 lbs. lighter by then! I also don't want to have to look for the largest size in stores...I no longer want to wear a size 30/32 shirt size...or 4x. I'd also LOVE to be out of the plus size section in general! ...Anyway.. I've done SB before so I know it'll work for me as long as I stick to it! I also need to make use of my new treadmill and really knock off these pounds! :) If anyone has any suggestions or advice please don't hesitate to say it!

Hi Rebecca! Congratulations on your engagement! I'm sure May will be here so quickly, especially with all the planning I'm sure you're doing!

The best thing for me to do to stay on track was post in this forum. The ladies here are so supportive and encouraging and they kept me honest.

Good luck! Can't wait to hear more from you!

Kara

Oh, Suzka, about wanting everything you can't have... It's all in your head. Make yourself some really yummy recipes from the recipe section and you'll forget you're on a "diet" at all! I remember the first time I did Phase 1 I couldn't believe I was actually going to lose weight eating the delicious meals I found here! Keeping your menu varied and interesting will make it a lot easier.

Hope that helps!

Kara

So mad at myself
 

I so blew it last night. Why is it I do so good during the day but late at night I loose all control. I go to sleep and wake up a few hours later and feel I'm gonna die if I don't eat something sweet. I can consume so much junk in such a short time, its scary. Please, if anyone else does this and has gotten a handle on it , I really would like to know how you did it. I have so much control during the day, I just need to be able to get thru the night. Thanks for listening. Have a great SB day.

Sorry Sluggo, I don't get cravings that strong. I refuse to eat after a certain time at night though, even if I think I feel hungry. I will drink water or a SF flavored water and make myself go to bed. Since DH works nights, it's harder for me to stay on plan and not snack once the kids are in bed so this works for me.

Maybe you can have a "PB cup" at night when you wake if you need something sweet? I refuse to eat any food where I can't eat just one, if it makes me want more, even if it's a legal food, I don't touch it.

Sluggo, my best advice is to make yourself rules. I have a rule about no eating after 8:00 at night. I also have a rule about eating sitting at the table (not at the computer, not standing at the counter, etc.). When I follow my rules, I reward myself with something non-food related. Also, for me, Phase 1 is its own motivation because I know when I make it through the entire two weeks clean, then my cravings will have subsided. If I'm halfway in and I mess up, then I have to start over and I don't want to "waste" the good work I've already done.

You're worth it. Your body deserves to be fueled properly.

Sounds to me like you need to get all the junk out of the house. You don't need the temptation and no one else in the house NEEDS junk. Donate it to the local food bank and you'll feel doubly good!

Good luck!

Kara

One for every clean Phase 1 day:
:tree: :tree: :tree:

Yay day 2!
:smug::smug:

Today did seem a little easier. I'm not thinking about eating as much, only when my computer alarm goes off to remind me.

Had jicama with a tiny sprinkle of Zsweet and cinnamon for breakfast with my eggs, and it helped the egg 'queasies' i tend to get. also instead of 2 whole eggs i did just 1 with extra egg whites.

I tried the plain yogurt with Zsweet and a little vanilla extract last night. I've never tried plain before, and i think it might be an acquired taste. It seemed so tangy and sour, it made me think it might be spoiled or something. But i guess thats why they add so much sugar to the flavored varieties. they seem much milder.

anyone else using Zsweet? i'm using it very conservatively since its both new to me and a bit pricey. The BF and i have a long standing aversion to the more common artificial sweetners, or heavily 'engineered' naturally derived sugar alcohols. they just seem like they will come back to bite us in our skinny asses one day. and if this is going to be a lifetime change in eating habits, i'd rather settle in for the long haul with something i trust. we havent been using refined sugar in the house for a few years, using turbinado and cane juice instead. also, i really can't stand the aftertaste from the artificial sweetners. Zsweet has none, and it feels and looks the most like sugar from all the choices i've looked at.

What's the story behind Zsweet?

Kara

Kara, according to their website, Zsweet is an all natural blend of erythritol and natural fruit extracts as flavor enhancers. It contains no sucrose, glucose, frutose or honey and is regulated by the FDA. It has zero calories, zero aftertaste and zero glycemic effects.
A healthfood store near me carries it and is giving out free samples, I may go check it out.

Thanks, Linda. Is it OK for Phase 1 if it is derived from fruit extracts? Chances are I won't be able to find it here anyway, but just so I know...because I'm nosy...

Kara

I think it would be ok for Phase 1, since it's supposed to have no glycemic effect. Google their website to find out more about it, that's where I found the information I got.