So I'm on a deadline for my weightloss (brother's wedding in Mexico - only 6 months notice, thanks Jamie) and I'm about to move into phase 2 next week. I've lost a bit (3.5 in the last 5 days) and I'm encouraged. However I also know that it slows down for phase 2.
I'm wondering if anyone has tried alternating days of phase 2 and days of phase 1 and if it helped. My man thinks it will make my body store that one carb even more than if I was eating one a day, but I don't think one day is long enough for my body to start doubting the arrival of carbs and therefore starvation mode me. I'm basing this on the book, where it says if you stall out, remove some of the carbs you reintroduced. But I was hoping someone had tried something similar, with either good or bad results. If it works, it's just for 6 months, to get as much gone as possible, then I can be on regular phase two forever and be happy. For now I can live with one peice of toast every two days.
I am only on day 5 of Phase 1, but I plan on staying on Phase 1 for as long as I can tolerate it.
I'm pretty sure that isn't the perfect way to do it, but I want to get as much weight off as I can before holidays come up (cameras are EVERYWHERE then).
If you needed some of Phase 2, I think it would be totally acceptable to eat them every other day. I would just limit how many you eat on that day. So you don't have cravings on your no-healthy carb day.
I eat Phase I some days, Phase II others. (I've been maintaining for 2 years.) I don't eat grains most days, but do consume carrots, some fruit and sweet potatoes on others. When I was losing though, I think I pretty much stuck to a real Phase II with 1-2 grains and 1 fruit. I lost about 1-2 lbs per week. I don't know if your rotation would increase your rate of loss. Probably depend on calories consumed in total.
I'm like Anne, I often alternate back and forth without any trouble, and I do agree with Anne that alot of it depends on calories consumed.
My greatest success on SBD was when I committed to 6 full months on plan-absolutely no off plan foods. It was pretty easy for me because I had made that commitment and I lost very steadily. If I had a week I didn't, I just kept plugging along....and felt great...still do.
I too was planning on either alternating phase 1 and 2 until I get more weight off once I am off phase one. I was also thinking about staying on phase one as long as my body would allow.
We all have to make sure that we are doing this the healthy way so we don't gain it all back and have to start all over again.
Of the two, I think alternating would be a good way to do it since you're not missing out on grains etc. and from reading the book, I wouldn't stay on Phase I for longer than a month TOPS.
I also alternate, but not really a planned thing. But I rarely have a day without fruit. I only have grains maybe once or twice a week and pretty much just stick with veggies/seafood/eggs/fruit. (3.5 years)
Last edited by femmecreole; 09-12-2010 at 08:14 AM.
I don't alternate (I hate being on Ph1 any longer than I absolutely have to), but I'll switch to Ph1 for a few days if I go off plan. Sort of like damage control. I think 6 months if enough time to reach your goal weight, or be very very close even if you lose very slowly from now on. (I know, I freak out if I'm not losing, I freak out if I'm losing too fast/too much, I freak out if I'm losing too slowly and my irrational mind is telling me I should lose all the weight yesterday...). Sorry I didn't really answer your question If you do alternate, that'll be like being on Ph1 for two weeks every month... maybe try this for a month and see how you feel?
6 months seems like an acceptable time-line to reach your goal weight doing Phase 2. That's just over a pound a week.
I have been keeping track of my calories on thedailyplate (LiveStrong) just to see where I am at. I'm on Phase 2 and when I plug in my planned foods for the day, I'm usually only at 1000 calories, I find that I usually need to add in additional foods for the day so that I am getting an acceptable number of calories in. My advice to you would be to make sure that you are getting your appropriate calories in even if its not with carbs. You don't want to make your body start storing fat.
B: Eggs with Peppers & glass of Milk
S: Peanuts/ Cottage cheese
L: Turkey on Whole Wheat with onion, tomato, lettuce
S: Dill Pickles and a small salad with cucumbers
D: Salmon & Broccoli
*Desert: SF dark chocolate
The recommended amount for entering Phase II would be adding one of eachfruitandwhole grains. On 1.5 I only use one (fruit or whole grain), correct? Sorry for the confusion, I just want to make sure I am getting this down properly so I can optimize my results.
Lately I've been doing phase 2 but know that it's a bit too much the carbs since I haven't been losing.
I just can't get back into phase 1- so I allow myself a "treat" of either a carb or fruit at one meal per day on my 1.5 phase days. Usually I eat my carb treat at breakfast and if I decide to eat fruit that day I do it with lunch or dinner.
I added berries back first and only had them 3 days a week, the other days I didn't have any grains or fruit. I think you will be O.K. I agree to try it for a month and see how it goes.
Will this work? Phase 1 and 2 alternating days
If you do alternate, that'll be like being on Ph1 for two weeks every month... maybe try this for a month and see how you feel?
