Hi,

I bought and read the book this past weekend because I really need to get myself on track and eat healthy. I am waiting until after the superbowl to begin because I KNOW I will be drinking beer all night. I have been reading up on the threads as much as I can, but I'd appreciate any tips you have on preparing for Phase 1. I have roommates and can't have the house 100% carb free, which might seriously hurt me. I am in the process of eating all my high-carb food this week because I can't bear to throw away perfectly good food. I have been buying a lot of cheese and chicken breasts though to start up on Monday. Any tips for the chicken? I guess most packaged marinades have lots of sugar. What are some favorite ways to prepare boneless chicken breasts? I'll probably freeze most of it. Is sour cream acceptable for phase 1? Could dried tortellini be incorporated into Phase 2? Sorry for all the questions, but to be honest I found the book a little too lacking in the nitty gritty of the diet. It's good in a way to be so loose, but that's how I got in this condition in the first place (a bite here, a bowl there...). I have to say I'm a bit nervous hearing about all the headaches and fatigue...Any help is much appreciated!

Lexxy, welcome to the beach!

I'm not sure I have any great tips for starting off but i do buy a marinade called carb sense that is wonderful to marinade meats in. They have several different flavors and I found it right at my local grocery store near the other marinades. My mom uses Emeril (I think that is the brand) salad dressings to marinade her chicken in and it comes out REALLY well to. They have a bunch of different flavors.

At another grocery store I found low carb meal packets in the refrigerator section, which did have tortellini in one of them. Definitly a phase 2 occassional meal but well worth a try.

Check out the recipe section for new recipes, we post new ones all the time. My mom also gave me a cookbook called the good carbs cookbook by Sandra Woodruff, which follows along the lines of SBD and has practical and easy normal recipes to follow.

Anyway welcome again to the beach!

ps I think we can have sour cream on phase 1 with the new modifications to the diet, not 100% positive, but I would buy fat free and use moderatly.

Welcome, Lexxy! Enjoy your binge this weekend.
There's LOTS of info in the FAQ. Recipes, tips, answers to questions other people have asked... take a good look around.
And just look at the headache in a positive light. It means you're detoxing.
We're glad to have you join us!