Hi Beach Friends...

I am new, on SBD 1 week today, and have lost only about 1.5-2 pounds. I have only 10 pounds to lose, and have always been one of those "slow losers" on any diet I've tried. I exercise regularly (5 days/wk cardio, with 2or3 of those days including weights), so maybe that's part of it? I just thought I'd lose faster on SB, seeing as I have forsaken my Beloved Chocolate and Red Wine .

I have felt pretty good, except for having NO energy the past couple of times I've exercised. My legs feel like lead (like my muscles are screaming, "GIVE ME MY CARBS!!!"), even when climbing stairs--and this is only since SBD. My only other complaint is that my belly seems a little bloated (I thought it would be the opposite), so I've wondered if I need more fiber??? I have always drank TONS of water, even before SB.

Should I just stick out P1 another week? Or should I do P1.5 and add a little fruit or something? Any suggestions, pearls of wisdom, encouragement, reality checks would be appreciated.

Thanks a lot!

JoJo42

SW: 151.5
CW: 150-ish (last weighed 2 days ago but I feel the same)
GW: 142

You will lose weight slowly if you don't have much to lose. It is also pretty normal to feel a bit sluggish the first few days until you withdraw from carbohydrates. Make sure you eat three meals, two snacks and desert every day even if you don't feel hungry. This will stabilise your blood sugar levels.

If you exercise regularly you may need more carbohydrates. I exercise about this much and still did the two weeks on phase one before I added in more carbos. The main advantage is that it got rid of my cravings for sweet food, bread and fruit which I was eating way to much of. Now I don't have any interest in them.

If you are eating 1/2 cup of vegies with breakfast and 2 cups each for lunch and dinner you shouldn't need more fibre. Remember you can have beans and nuts, these are good carbos so if you feel that you need more fibre have some of these.

Jojo, add some beans to your menu; they really helped me although I can't exercise much. I ate turkey chili, chickpeas on salads, and hummus. They helped me feel not so dragged out.

Thanks to both of you...I don't know why it didn't register with me that beans are okay...I looked again at the food list in the book, and sure enough, it's there. I do find the book a little "user un-friendly," though: I think I just saw "beans" in the list and assumed green beans, though the heading includes "legumes..." I had garbanzos today, in a great salad. This will be much easier with beans--I just feel HEAVY when I eat meat 2 or 3 times a day.