Jenn, I get you, girl. I another forum we were discussing what a binge consists of...how much food. Most people ideas of a binge were very small compared to what I used to eat in one sitting! :o

Metrochick, I feel you. I used to live in LA, and if you think NYC is full of skinny, fit people, you should see LA! :faint: You know how we always say that the women in ads are airbrushed and fake and no one looks that good? Sometimes it feels like everyone in LA looks like that!!! :( The truth is, what's important is how you feel and who you really are. If you are healthy and happy, you'll look fantastic. :D If you wait to lose the weight to feel good about yourself, you'll find out you're a sad, skinny chick. Revealing your inner self just brings your insecurities to light. A lot of people started noticing me as I lost the weight and I realized that I hid in my fat to stay 'invisible' and to avoid advances from men, which scare me. :( I've had to do a lot of work emotionally as I did work to lose this weight. I bet most people do.

Yes, I've lost it all on SBD. I started this WOE 4-28-04, at 328 pounds. I've exercised during most of the plan, and cheated rarely. It's been a revelation for me. :goodvibes: DH and I are dying to start a family, and I need to be at a healthy weight to do that. Almost there...

Metro, I know you can do this...I felt the same way when I started--will it really last this time? Over a year later, I can say, YES! :cheer: When you really want to lose it, you'll do it. One of the mods has a signature that says, "If you really want it, you'll find a way, but if you don't, you'll find excuses." AMEN! :yes:

Love the vacation idea...that's PERFECT! :D When you feel good about who you are...your Aiden will come along. :love:

newbie
 

Hi Metro. Tomorrow is my first day on Phase 1. Don't worry, we'll be able to do this. ;)

MetroChick - welcome to the beach. You've already gotten lots of great replies. I hope I can add a little more.

Like you, I was inspired by a friend who had lost 65 pounds on SoBe, which had been recommended by her doctor. After I borrowed the book from the library I knew this was my new way of eating for life and bought a copy for me to always have forever. As long as you "make up your mind" this way of eating is easy and becomes a natural way of life.

You mentioned you love chips and bread. I don't know if that makes you a salt-tooth, but thats what I am. I have found that a serving of V-8 juice will help with the salt craving anytime, as well as help fill you up before and during mealtimes. Yes, I love sushi too, and you can still have the sashimi which usually satisfies my cravings. The Japanese rest. usually have that spinach salad (sorry but the name escapes me at the moment) which I really like, and is filling and healthy, too.

Good job on walking to work. Its heart-healthy, wallet-friendly, and environmentally sound. So what if its raining. How do you think all those people in England get by everyday!!!!

Just wanted to add a short, but important NOTE: Many people can lose between 8-13 lbs. (or more depending on where you start from) during their very first time doing two weeks on PH.1 on SoBe, but only if you follow the lists with NO CHEATING. If you "cheat" any during that time you won't see the results you possibly could have. It may leave you tired, cranky, etc. initially, but that will pass. I didn't have any sugar addictions so I escaped all the side effects of PH.1, but I can tell you from experience, and from reading this board, if and when you may try Ph. 1 again later, you probably will (never) not be able to get the same great results from doing PH.1 later on down the road as you DID/could have from doing it right the very first time. I hope you catch my drift, because sticking it out is SO motivational.

Good luck, and we look forward to hearing about your progress.

By the way, for your info, I lost my first 15 lbs. through counting calories and walking, and the second 15 from SoBe and walking. The SoBe way is much easier, and thats how I plan to get to my past my last 10, and how I plan to live for the rest of my life.

Best wishes to you and we hope to see you here on the boards often.

Hi MetroChick, Greetings from drizzily, overcast and cold NJ! ( This is May??? LOL)
I'm new too! You are soooo right - There are so many role models, support and encouragement from the SoBe forums...Good luck on your journey!

You gals rock!! And it's because you all are so rational about this whole thing--and not just SB focused. C'mon, how often do you see the words rational, women and diet (change of eating) together??? :dizzy: Nearly impossible.

You are making each second just a tad bit easier!! I am doing okay certainly--no cheats and I get the importance of making it through the first phase without those cheats. I am facing a difficult week few days ahead I have to admit but I am up for the challenge! I already informed a friend who asked me to "celebrate" her GMAT score with her after work tomorrow, that I will be the happy friend with a diet soda instead of a glass of wine or a martini...aaah, a dirty martini would be so good after this crappo day!! :devil: Maybe the pooch and I will just take an extra long walk before I clean the apartment!

KJSLJACQUES--Good luck!! It certainly isn't bad at all! And if I can make a recommendation--the South Beach Diet Cookbook. I have owned it for over a year--just because the recipes were good. So I broke it out of the shelf this week and last night I made a DELICIOUS :eating2: dinner from one of the PH1 recipes--Eggplant Stuffed with Beef. Awesome!! I am so looking forward to my leftovers tonight! The other thing that makes life easy (and yummy) are the butterball italian chicken breast strips and roasted turkey strips. As much as salad usually brings me down when I make it, my lunch salad today was great!

A broad Abroad--thanks for the tips too! I do have the "salt-tooth" which is why me and the smoked almonds or peanuts for snacks are doing just fine :smug: But I am going to give the V8 a shot and head for some sashimi and seaweed salad this weekend for sure--I am already looking forward to it! What part of Germany are you living in? And how hard is it to resist those yummy German beers?? :stars: Are you military or just fortunate enough to work for a company that allows to work abroad?

Schatzi--Good luck too!! You are close as well--we may just have to have some healthy tri-state area competition to keep us motivated, huh? I am trying to get ramped up to do more exercise than walking but it is so hard!! And I am a big baby about it! Keep me on my toes--and I will try to do the same for you!

Chat later ladies! :yes:

Metrochick,

I live in Wuerzburg, in the upper part of Bavaria. DH works for the Dept. of Defense so we'll be here a little while. Yes, its hard to resist the yummy German beers. Thats how the scale went up in the first place!! I rarely drink them anymore, but I'm in the heart of wine country, so thats my beverage of choice now.

Yesterday a friend gave me the SBD cookbook. I'm so excited to make some of the recipes I keep hearing about.