Hello everyone! My name is Nette and I am a 23 year old newlywed. My husband and I live in the wonderful, pollen invested state of SC with our three children-- who all happen to be cats (Chanel is 7 years, Mr Bing is 1 year, and our huge Earle is 1 year). My husband has agreed to help me along with journey with the South Beach. I am now on day two!! (I should also mention they should invent the South Beach for cats because our little Earle is 14 lbs while Mr. Bing is the same age and only 11!!! The vet says he just has big bones because he is a Maine Coone!)

At any rate, enough talk about my children. I have been overweight my entire life. My DR even put me on some type of dieting pill when I was only 7 but it only made me grumpy!!! My grandmother-- God rest her soul-- loved to cook for me when I was little and lived with her.... and here I am at over 200 which is a lot on my 5'8 frame.

When I was in highschool I lost a lot of weight but I have no idea how other than exercising regularly-- which is something my husband and I don't do. We are too busy engrossed in our horror movies and Law and Order CI infront of the TV to do that-- sad to say.

I think I will be able to handle the SBD but I need all the support I can get! I've been lurking around different message boards/ forums for the last couple of weeks and this one by far seems the most supportive-- and friendly!!!!
Congrats to you all!!!!

Welcome, Nette!

Your kitties sound wonderful! I am also the mother of three...two house rabbits and a dog. Maine Coons can get to be HUGE! My friend Charlotte has Cokie the Maine Coon Cat who weighs something like 23 pounds (or maybe more!). So I think Earle is just fluffy, that's all.

I hope you like this diet as much as I do! I, too have been overweight my whole life and went on my first diet when I was five years old, after my Dr. recommended it. Ack! I am a total carb and sugar addict, and yet have been able to make it through Phase 1 and am on one carb and one fruit a day right now. I do have mental cravings sometimes, but overall, I am really thrilled with this program, and my loss! (28 pounds or more in less than a month!).

So I would say that the water is perfect and dive on in!

Welcome, Nette!
So you're a couch potato, are you? (join the club) Have you ever thought about getting an exercise bike or treadmill for when you're watching TV? I know how appealing that sounds but getting active is SO important.
Is your husband going to be doing this with you? It's a LOT easier when the two of you are on the same plan.
Good luck... and come and join us on the other threads.

There you go, Ellis! We should be reading while on a bike, not eating while reading. And biking sounds like so much more fun than eating bridge mix...

Laurie, the funny thing is, my trainer has told me not to read while I'm on the exercise bike. He says it's too distracting. He's right... I bike a lot slower if I'm reading.
Oh... for the metabolism of my eight-year old.

Aw, shucks! That's the only thing that gets me through my workout...if I am reading I have no clue that I am working out. And I guess that is the point, huh. I'll try it without a magazine tomorrow and see how it goes. Good point.

So if we can't read while biking, we'll just have to eat bridge mix while reading, right? As if!

Thank for the warm welcomes Laurie and Ellis!!!!! Yes-- my husband (and dad for that matter) have come along with me. Hubby says he's eat whatever I cook and eat whatever I eat when we go out but he is still going to eat hamburgers at work though but I guess as long as he doesn't eat them around me I'll be ok!!!

I am currently looking for a treadmill. I used to pop in a CD and when the CD was over I'd finished my routine but I am going to have to build back up to that point!! Actually--Ellis-- I have an English degree and have always had my nose stuck in a book. I tried to read one time while walking on the treadmill and ended up falling and hitting my head on the wall! Not funny then but pretty funny now I must say!!

I'll be getting A LOT of exercise in about 4 months though!!! My husband and I are about to start building our house... well... we aren't building it the contractors are!!! We couldn't even work the screwdriver the other day. So-- once the house is done I'll have lots to do to fix it up like I want it. I've always wanted a garden of my own but I know it'll be hard work!!!!

I just enjoyed some low fat ham, cucumber and fat free yogurt dip, and celery. I couldn't eat my cumcumber slices though because they were mushy!!! I'm going to have to wait and slice those in the morning. I'm actually shocked that I had a Diet Pepsi for the first time in my life and it was pretty good! I haven't had any caffine in a week so I guess I cheated a bit but I needed something sweet to wash down all the onions in the dip!!!

Getting over those carbs is going to be a bit tricky for me...I am an Italian and Chinese addict!!! But I can still go to our favorite Italian place and have their grilled chicken salad... they have the BEST dressing! And I asked!! It only has O&V and spices in it so I think it is SBD friendly! I usually stirfry a bunch of veggies for my Chinese addiction so I can still do that but lower my Soy Sauce and cut out the rice. I am looking forward to those WW Pitas and Rice though!!! I'll just have to learn to limit myself.

Well... lunch break's over. Time to get back to work!

I lost a bunch the last time we moved -- didn't have tme to eat! Keeping busy really helps, doesn't it?

Welcome, Nettie. There's always room on the Beach for another furry pet addict!
I fell off a Nordic Track once when I was trying to read!

I actually fell off a treadmill with no excuse last month!

I usually read, but have found that on the treadmill I bounce up and down too much to read.

I got some books on tape and have started listening to those while working out. I wonder if that will allow me to retain enough attention to the elliptical to keep up a fast pace? Hmmm....

You girls are hilarious!
One of my brother-in-laws is deaf. He was on a treadmill at the gym for the first time, and decided to close his eyes while running! He went flying off the back of the treadmill and hit the wall. heh heh. Hurt pride more than anything else, I think.

OMG! Wow!

I always tease my dad because his treadmill has a little string that you clip to your clothes. The other end is connected a pin. If you go to far from the treadmill, say, by falling off, for instance, the pin is pulled and the machine stops. I think it's rather a funny thing to have, but I guess it's something we should all request when ordering a treadmill!

Would you all believe I fell ON a treadmill???

I did!

I fall up the steps all the time.... <LOL> I definately need to get the clippy thing for my clothes... that way if I am reading and start to fall off!!!!

Hi Poeteangel, just wanted to welcome you to the beach!! I am glad to know I am not the only clutz on the beach. I fall up stairs, bump into walls/doors and still spill my milk haha. I think I'd better stay far far away from exercise equipment, I'll stick with the videos.