Tell me about South Beach diet

[maestramommy]

I've heard it mentioned a couple of times now on the picture threads, and that makes it several times in the last month. Is anyone on it? Can you tell me what it is exactly? I know it's not really new, though maybe newer than Atkins. Is it just lower carb?

I'm trying to shed the last 10 lbs and not getting much traction in spite of exercise. I'm willing to try some form of dieting as long as it doesn't involve anything extreme (like completely eliminating or exclusively eating of anything), dishes with a long ingredients list or involved cooking skills.

[luckytwenty]

Sounds like it would be good for you. It works pretty fast even if you're close to goal weight. The first two weeks are kind of extreme, but after that I'd say it's pretty similar to Weight Watchers. You can eat fruit, brown rice, wheat bread and wheat pasta, etc. But you're not really supposed to eat "bad carbs" at all.

My suggestion would be to do the SB for a month and then switch to WW to finish whatever few pounds you have left and to learn how to maintain your new weight for life. My one issue with SB as a lifestyle is that sometimes, I really do want to eat a piece of pizza. Or a cupcake. And I don't want to feel like that's a cardinal sin. With WW, you can have the cupcake as long as you have the "points" (calories) for it, which is why it's a better long term deal IMHO.

[egoldber]

I lost about 30 pounds on the SB about 7 years ago. I have to say it really opened my eyes to the whole "good carb-bad carb thing".

In essence, it is a low glycemic index eating plan. The first two weeks (Phase 1) you eat no grains or fruit, so essentially only lean proteins and vegetables. Summer is a good time to do it, when veggies are in season and cheap! After the first two weeks (Phase 2), you add in a small amount of whole grain, low glycemic index carbs, about 2-3 servings a day. You do Phase 2 until you reach your goal weight.

After you reach your goal, you go to Phase 3, where you add in even more low GI carbs and "sometimes foods" (like WW, nothing is really "forbidden" on SB) at whatever rate that YOU can maintain your goal.

The problem I have with SB is that it is OK to do when I am not doing any exercise, but I find it impossible to do Phase 1 when I am exercising. Even Phase 2 is hard for me if I am exercising hard.

[daisymommy]

Beth, do you think that is because it doesn't allow for enough calories? protein? carbs? (obviously it must be missing some type of fuel source you need for exercising, right?--which do you think it is?).

[fivi2]

I've done South Beach (ish) twice. Both times I lost pretty easily. The first time went well and I just kind of fell off the wagon.

The second time, however, I had some pretty serious mood swing issues. It took a while for me to make the connection, but I do think it was the low carb diet. I was googling the symptoms of whatever the more serious pms thing is, and saw that people recommended increasing carbs for that, and realized that I had been doing low carb... I added some back in and it helped the mood (but not the waistline).

I don't know if it was the lack of carbs or not (and I didn't notice it the first time around), but it is something I would pay attention to if I try it again.

[egoldber]

Beth, do you think that is because it doesn't allow for enough calories? protein? carbs? (obviously it must be missing some type of fuel source you need for exercising, right?--which do you think it is?).

I suppose it must be not enough calories. I had no issues the first time doing it when I was a couch potato. :) But when I was exercising 4-6 days a week, I couldn't do it without getting lightheaded.

[maestramommy]

Thanks Beth for the description. Hmmm, I'd have to think about whether I could really do this. The thing is I DO exercise pretty strenously, esp. during the summer. I need to eat red meat a couple times a week or I start feeling "anemic." I don't have problems with the carb thing though. We already eat brown rice, and I've been doing the 50/50 mix for pasta, so it's simple enough to make it 100% whole grain.

I have a list of low GI veggies and carbs, so I could at least start there.

[g-mama]

Melinda,

I did the SBD many years ago and found that, once I got into "the zone" with it, it was okay. It wasn't that hard once I got into thinking in a new way, and was amazed at how UN-bloated I felt compared to my normal state.

I pulled the book out and am looking at the foods you can eat. You can eat lean cuts of red meat including sirloin (also ground), tenderloin, and top round.

I remember pulling up some old threads on the SBD a long time ago and finding a ton of helpful information - much of it from Beth (egoldber) so you might want to do a search.

Maybe we can do it together and be buddies! I am reading over the book right now.

[maestramommy]

Melinda,

I did the SBD many years ago and found that, once I got into "the zone" with it, it was okay. It wasn't that hard once I got into thinking in a new way, and was amazed at how UN-bloated I felt compared to my normal state.

I pulled the book out and am looking at the foods you can eat. You can eat lean cuts of red meat including sirloin (also ground), tenderloin, and top round.

I remember pulling up some old threads on the SBD a long time ago and finding a ton of helpful information - much of it from Beth (egoldber) so you might want to do a search.

Maybe we can do it together and be buddies! I am reading over the book right now.

You're on! The biggest thing is being able to tweak so I don't have to cook separately for Dh and the kids. Dh absolutely can NOT go on any diet like this, he would fall over and die.

[Meatball Mommie]

I'd be willing to give SB a go and be "buddies" with you too :) I really need to lose about 10 pounds. I don't exercise strenuously so I think I wouldn't have a problem like Beth described. The hardest part would be what I'd eat for dinner vs. the family. DH could stand to do it too, so it might be good for him, but my kids would have trouble...

Need to find the book in my stash... We did it years ago pre-kids, so I think we still have the book, but I will have to look for it.

[g-mama]

Sounds good, Melinda and Karen!

As far as how to cook for your family, I think I would just prepare a starch to go along with the meat and veggies, like rice or potatoes or biscuits or noodles of some sort, and not eat that part of the meal myself.

The one thing I know my kids will always eat well is pasta, so I tend to serve that to them quite often. On those nights, I would try to have something left over from the day before, or from lunch, that I could eat so that I was not cooking two separate meals. Or I'd have a salad with grilled chicken on top - something very easy using food I already had, kwim?

[Green_Tea]

I am going to follow this thread...

I just lost 24 pounds on WW, and did it primarily by cutting out refined carbs like breads, cereals, white rice, crackers, etc. I kept fruit. It was slow going, but I felt like cutting out fruit would have made me a madwoman :).

I'd love to hear more about what you guys eat on a daily basis - what does breakfast, lunch and dinner look like for you? I am planning to stay low (refined) carb even though I reached my goal, mainly because I feel SO much better on a daily basis when I eat that way. I am always looking for new ideas of what to eat!

[AnnieW625]

I am interested too. I have tried Atkins but then I got too cocky once I got into phase 2. I then looked at South Beach which I found all too confusing. I have decided to just stick to Weight Watchers, but I know that if I want true quick success I really should just try Atkins again, but it will just be a vicious cycle and I'll end up back at WW again.

I do really like eating eggs for breakfast. I find if I scramble them or make them hard boiled I am less likely to grab that slice of bread like I would if I poached an egg or a soft boiled egg.

[egoldber]

I think WW is WAY too confusing. I find SB to be very intuitive, but obviously everyone is different.

what does breakfast, lunch and dinner look like for you

In the first phase meals are typically.....

breakfast: 2 eggs and tomato juice

snack: PB with celery

lunch: large salad with protein

afternoon snack: almonds

dinner: lean protein with large serving of veggies

late night snack: cheese stick or sugar free jello or pudding

You actually eat a LOT of food, it's just mainly vegetables and proteins.

In phase 2 you add in servings of whole grain carbs. So maybe steel cut oatmeal and an egg for breakfast. Lunch you add quinoa to the salad. Dinner you serve brown rice on the side. Generally you add in carbs while still losing weight.

When you reach your goal, you then add in more carbs while still maintaining.

[maestramommy]

I think WW is WAY too confusing. I find SB to be very intuitive, but obviously everyone is different.



In the first phase meals are typically.....

breakfast: 2 eggs and tomato juice

snack: PB with celery

lunch: large salad with protein

afternoon snack: almonds

dinner: lean protein with large serving of veggies

late night snack: cheese stick or sugar free jello or pudding

You actually eat a LOT of food, it's just mainly vegetables and proteins.

In phase 2 you add in servings of whole grain carbs. So maybe steel cut oatmeal and an egg for breakfast. Lunch you add quinoa to the salad. Dinner you serve brown rice on the side. Generally you add in carbs while still losing weight.

When you reach your goal, you then add in more carbs while still maintaining.

This is great thanks! I put in a hold request for two books from my local library (one is a book about the diet, the other is a recipe book), so as soon as they arrive I'll be starting officially. It gives me a little time to rethink my shopping list. I was wondering how to do breakfast and lunch, because I can't imagine breakfast without a carb, and lunch is almost always spontaneous.

Now one thing is that I cannot cut out fruit. I was actually going to ask if I can sub fruit for things like the tomato juice, because I never drink tomato juice.

[egoldber]

You only cut out fruit for the first 2 weeks. The whole point of the first two weeks is to "detox" your body's craving for sweets. I have to say that an apple never tasted so sweet as the one I had after my first 2 weeks of the SBD LOL!!!

I would really try to limit fruit as much as possible during that time. But if you don't like tomato juice or V8, all the menus (including what I posted above) are just suggestions. The key is proteins and vegetables, mainly vegetables, the first 2 weeks.

[daisymommy]

:yeahthat: And remember, even though fruit has things in it that are good for you, it still contains carbs, and does still convert to sugar in your body, and causes an insulin output. Any excess insulin that your body does not use for energy during the day gets stored as fat. It's really much more important to eat vegetables than it is fruit.

Here's a great article: http://rheumatic.org/insulin.htm

[lhafer]

Can I join? DH and I are currently doing the Zone diet and then will switch to SB diet. We have done it in the past and I lost about 30 pounds. This time with kids, I find it harder to follow the regimented diet given in the book for the first 2 weeks, so we are modifying it some.

[Meatball Mommie]

I couldn't find my book (I think I loaned it out and never got it back :(), so I ordered it again from Amazon. I picked up one of the cookbooks from the library too. I *really* need to do this! I have the worst tendency to just grab whatever for b'fast and lunch and head to work...not much thought goes into what I take. DH gets a standard sandwich lunch but I'm not a sandwich person, so I don't take the same thing.

So we have Melinda, Kristen, Annie & myself... anyone else doing it too?

[lhafer]

I couldn't find my book (I think I loaned it out and never got it back :(), so I ordered it again from Amazon. I picked up one of the cookbooks from the library too. I *really* need to do this! I have the worst tendency to just grab whatever for b'fast and lunch and head to work...not much thought goes into what I take. DH gets a standard sandwich lunch but I'm not a sandwich person, so I don't take the same thing.

So we have Melinda, Kristen, Annie & myself... anyone else doing it too?

Me!! Laura.

[Meatball Mommie]

Me!! Laura.

Great! I think we posted at the same time - I didn't see your post when I hit reply... Thanks for joining us ;)

[MommyofAmaya]

I'm considering it, especially b/c I just got on the scale and realized that I have gained 9 pounds in the last three weeks since we returned from vacation. I have been exercising too. It took me twice that long to lose those nine pounds. And I still had another 20 i wanted to lose. :nodno: If I don't watch every single thing that goes into my mouth, the weight sneaks back on. It's not fair!

[daisymommy]

I'm thinking about it...
I have fallen off the wagon of good eating lately. I *know* what I need to do, and how I need to eat. But doing it is a whole other thing entirely. Lately I have been sucked into eating ice-cream, popsicles, and drinking lemonade and sweet-iced tea. Umm, yeah, the total opposite of the SBD!

[maestramommy]

I'm thinking about it...
I have fallen off the wagon of good eating lately. I *know* what I need to do, and how I need to eat. But doing it is a whole other thing entirely. Lately I have been sucked into eating ice-cream, popsicles, and drinking lemonade and sweet-iced tea. Umm, yeah, the total opposite of the SBD!

:tongue5:Sounds like me. Not the lemonade or iced tea. But my default dessert is ice cream or popsicles (same for the kids). And my default filler is always some kind of carb. Are nuts allowed on this diet? Someone gave the kids a box of Mrs. Mays fruit/seed/nut bars. They are YUMMY, last me a LONG time, and the lowest sugar content of all the "power" bars I've looked at.

[Kindra178]

Please include me. When is everyone starting? I think I will need friends for that first two weeks.

[Meatball Mommie]

Please include me. When is everyone starting? I think I will need friends for that first two weeks.

Yay! The more the merrier...or at least more people to commiserate with! Maybe we should be nice to ourselves and give ourselves the holiday weekend? Just a thought.... I don't have the book yet either although I basically know what to do the first 2 weeks. So that would give everyone time to get the book, if needed, finish off all their "bad" carbs ;) and enjoy the weekend.

[billysmommy]

I just started Phase 1 again today so I'll join in too.

My all-time favorite Phase 1 recipe are the stuffed baked tomatoes, especially in the summer with the tomatoes and basil straight from the garden!!! I make them pretty much every night :)

[maestramommy]

I just started Phase 1 again today so I'll join in too.

My all-time favorite Phase 1 recipe are the stuffed baked tomatoes, especially in the summer with the tomatoes and basil straight from the garden!!! I make them pretty much every night :)

Care to share the recipe? :D

[billysmommy]

Care to share the recipe? :D

I will this evening once we're home :)

[maestramommy]

For those of us who don't have the books yet, I found this:
http://www.southbeach-diet-plan.com/shoppinglist_p1.htm

With this I *think* I can start as early as tomorrow. But I need to go shopping for more veggies and lean meat.

[liz]

I don't think I am ready to start - there is just too much good fruit available right now! - but know that I am cheering all of you on!

[lhafer]

For those of us who don't have the books yet, I found this:
http://www.southbeach-diet-plan.com/shoppinglist_p1.htm

With this I *think* I can start as early as tomorrow. But I need to go shopping for more veggies and lean meat.

Fantastic link!! i just printed it and will take that to the store with me later. I went to the store last week and loaded up on fruits and veggies, some fish and chicken. Need to go back and replinish for today through thursday.

[niccig]

I think WW is WAY too confusing. I find SB to be very intuitive, but obviously everyone is different.



In the first phase meals are typically.....

breakfast: 2 eggs and tomato juice

snack: PB with celery

lunch: large salad with protein

afternoon snack: almonds

dinner: lean protein with large serving of veggies

late night snack: cheese stick or sugar free jello or pudding

You actually eat a LOT of food, it's just mainly vegetables and proteins.

In phase 2 you add in servings of whole grain carbs. So maybe steel cut oatmeal and an egg for breakfast. Lunch you add quinoa to the salad. Dinner you serve brown rice on the side. Generally you add in carbs while still losing weight.

When you reach your goal, you then add in more carbs while still maintaining.

This is interesting as we're already eating like Phase 2.

The only carbs we have are quinoa, occasional brown rice but I use quinoa more often, occasionally TJ's harvest grain blend, steel cut oats. I do have an english muffin if have eggs. Pita bread with hummus.

DH has high triglicerides, and nutritionist told us to get off all refined carbs - we haven't had pasta or potatoes in over a year.

I've increased my protein at breakfast and find that I'm not hungry until after lunch time. It's really cut down on my snacking - and snack are carbs.

I'll have to look into joining you ladies in August...got too much one now to do this, but I'm less busy in August.

[egoldber]

One thing that helped me the first time I did Phase 1, was I chose a time when I would be home and not going anywhere or have any parties, etc. planned for the full 2 weeks. So I would really recommend starting after 4th of July if anyone is planning on attending any parties for that.

[maestramommy]

One thing that helped me the first time I did Phase 1, was I chose a time when I would be home and not going anywhere or have any parties, etc. planned for the full 2 weeks. So I would really recommend starting after 4th of July if anyone is planning on attending any parties for that.

Good point:p The only thing is I'm going to a family reunion for a week in 3 weeks, so I want to be in phase 2 by then, or it will be a little weird. As it is, eating only a couple of servings of whole grain carbs will be hard enough! Our extended family lives to eat, and my aunt is planning on taking us out for Dim Sum, among other things:tongue5: Anyone fall off the wagon right after starting phase 2?

[liz]

One thing that helped me the first time I did Phase 1, was I chose a time when I would be home and not going anywhere or have any parties, etc. planned for the full 2 weeks. So I would really recommend starting after 4th of July if anyone is planning on attending any parties for that.

:yeahthat: That's part of the reason I don't want to start now....I have a couple of cookouts and birthdays coming up.......oh, and don't foget, no alcohol.......

[billysmommy]

One thing that helped me the first time I did Phase 1, was I chose a time when I would be home and not going anywhere or have any parties, etc. planned for the full 2 weeks. So I would really recommend starting after 4th of July if anyone is planning on attending any parties for that.

This is huge!!! I've done phase 1 a few times (when I first started SBD and after weaning each of the boys) and you really need to make it as easy as possible to succeed!! 4th of July will be easy as my IL's are big into veggies and there's always some lean meat to put on it but my family's big clambake is in 4 weeks so I want to be into phase 2 for that :)

[lhafer]

So can we say Wednesday, July 6th as a start date? That will get us through the holiday weekend and tuesday to recoup and grocery shop. I know we will be driving back Tuesday from seeing family. So I know that day will probably not be the best for eating all the right foods.

[DrSally]

This sounds really intriguing. One thing I've found is that when I'm on the BCP, carbs stick to me like glue (not when I'm artificial hormone free). It stinks. I would love to do it just to learn more about good carb/good carbs.

[Meatball Mommie]

So can we say Wednesday, July 6th as a start date? That will get us through the holiday weekend and tuesday to recoup and grocery shop. I know we will be driving back Tuesday from seeing family. So I know that day will probably not be the best for eating all the right foods.

I'm good with this as a start day. I need the weekend - friends are here from out of town and we have a big family bbq planned. It would be too hard to be in phase 1 this weekend. It also gives me time to use up some of the fruit, potatoes and fresh corn I have already ;)

[g-mama]

I started today and I have to keep going. Sad as it is, it's already been too hard to avoid carbs for me to not make today count! I am such a carb addict. I also don't have much coming up that will be a challenge and I started with that in mind.

One of the hardest things for me - but it will be the case all summer - is that most days of the week I pack lunch for myself and the kids to take to the pool. I always pack a sandwich or, if I have it, pasta salad. Packing a salad is going to be a lot harder. Maybe I'll pack string cheese and lean lunchmeat with some cut up veggies.

How should we keep up with one another?

[brittone2]

I started today and I have to keep going. Sad as it is, it's already been too hard to avoid carbs for me to not make today count! I am such a carb addict. I also don't have much coming up that will be a challenge and I started with that in mind.

One of the hardest things for me - but it will be the case all summer - is that most days of the week I pack lunch for myself and the kids to take to the pool. I always pack a sandwich or, if I have it, pasta salad. Packing a salad is going to be a lot harder. Maybe I'll pack string cheese and lean lunchmeat with some cut up veggies.

How should we keep up with one another?

I don't do South Beach because I can't tolerate the higher levels of carbs (due to IR) and prefer more fat in my diet (sounds funny :ROTFLMAO: )

I don't know if these are technically south beach acceptable, but I make "pasta" salads using cooked green beans in lieu of pasta. This works well with antipasto type toppings, vinaigrettes, etc. Or some mozzerella balls (I assume you'd need low fat mozzerella, and I don't know what phase this would be...) and grape tomatoes. Can you do lean lunchmeat wrapped around low fat cream cheese (it adds something to it if you add a slice of pickle in there or green onion) and cut into pinwheels? You'd have to verify that's okay on your phase of SB but just tossing out some portable ideas.

Lowcarbfriends has a southbeach message board if anyone is looking for inspiration and ideas.

[maestramommy]

I'm a little confused because when I looked at the meal plan for phase 1 I see "no milk." But on the foods allowed list, I see milks and dairy foods. I was assuming "no milk" meant no dairy products. No?

[egoldber]

Yes, I noticed that. The very old, original version of the plan said no dairy in Phase 1. They have since revised that. It looks like part of the list was updated and part wasn't.

Honestly, I wouldn't worry about the leanness/fat content of things. I would just worry about eliminating carbs and fruits.

[billysmommy]

These are SO yummy!!!

Stuffed Baked Tomatoes (Phase 1)

4 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise (we substitute whatever is ready from our garden or the farmer's market)
3 oz shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (1/2 cup)
1/4 cup roughly chopped fresh basil leaves
2 tbsp freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 garlic clove, minced
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

~ Heat oven to 400 F
~ Scoop out the inside of each tomato half and roughly chop the scooped pulp. Combine tomato pulp, mozzarella, basil, parmesan, garlic and a pinch of salt and pepper
~ Place tomatoes, cut side up, on a baking sheet. Spoon in tomato mixture and bake until cheese is melted and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Serve warm.

We've also done on these on the grill and they're really good that way too!!

[g-mama]

Ooooh, I can not wait to try these tomatoes. They look amazing! Thank you, billysmommy!

[maestramommy]

Wow, these sound so good! Will have to try as soon as I can buy some larger tomatoes:p We only have cherries. Thanks Lori!

[DrSally]

I think WW is WAY too confusing. I find SB to be very intuitive, but obviously everyone is different.



In the first phase meals are typically.....

breakfast: 2 eggs and tomato juice

snack: PB with celery

lunch: large salad with protein

afternoon snack: almonds

dinner: lean protein with large serving of veggies

late night snack: cheese stick or sugar free jello or pudding

You actually eat a LOT of food, it's just mainly vegetables and proteins.

In phase 2 you add in servings of whole grain carbs. So maybe steel cut oatmeal and an egg for breakfast. Lunch you add quinoa to the salad. Dinner you serve brown rice on the side. Generally you add in carbs while still losing weight.

When you reach your goal, you then add in more carbs while still maintaining.

This example sounds really doable. Obviously, the first 2 weeks would take discipline, but I think a lot of it afterward would be an increased consciousness about carbs.

BTW, I think my costco stopped carrying indiv frozen brown rice packets

ETA: the stuffed baked tomatoes sound so yummy!
I don't have the energy to do this officially right now, but I'm going to be looking to you guys for inspiration, and I'll be trying to cut my carbs down.

[kristenk]

Hmmmm...I'm interested. I don't have the book, yet, but the web site linked on page 1 looks interesting.

I'm not looking forward to cutting out carbs, but I think that a cold turkey approach is probably my best bet anyway. I'd rather start after the 4th so I have a little bit of time to figure out what meals will look like.

[Octobermommy]

I want to join but I'm still nursing a few times a day. I will be decreasing my carbs though. Good luck everyone!

[essnce629]

I'm in!

I've been doing no sugar and low carb for about 2 weeks now after reading all of Brittone's posts and reading the NYT "Is Sugar Toxic" article. I hate eggs though so that's a big bummer when going low carb.

I've switched from regular sugar to xylitol. I found jam, ketchup, and BBQ sauce all sweetened with xylitol at Whole Foods. It tastes just like regular sugar, can be used 1:1 for sugar in recipes, and has no aftertaste at all. If you eat too much of it you'll get gassy or stomach rumblings though since it's a sugar alcohol. I have to eat 4 tablespoons of it though for that to happen.

For breakfast I usually have an avocado shake (1/2 avocado, 1/2 c milk, 1/4 c yogurt, 1 tsp vanilla exact, and xyitol to sweeten it), plain greek yogurt with xylitol sweetened jam and slivered almonds, and a 1-minute muffin (brittone posted the recipe) or bacon. I tried to find a sausage that I like, but I just don't like sausage so I gave up! Maybe I should look for some type of breakfast ham?

For lunch I usually have a chinese chicken salad. The dressing I make myself and use xylitol instead of the brown sugar that's in the original recipe. There's lots of chicken and almonds in it.

For dinner I have some kind of meat and green veggies. Tonight we had tuna steaks with roasted broccoli and I made coleslaw too (w/ xylitol instead of regular sugar).

I did break down and buy the low carb tortillas at TJ's that are 4 net carbs per tortilla so I could make a quessadilla or wrap.

Snacks throughout the day are almonds, beef jerky, string cheese, or ham slices rolled up with cream cheese in the middle.

I ordered these books or checked them out from the library:

Back to Protein cookbook
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0871319128

Sugar Shock!: How Sweets and Simple Carbs Can Derail Your Life-- and How YouCan Get Back on Track
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0425213579

The 30-Day Low-Carb Diet Solution
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/047145415X

Dr. Atkins' New Diet Cookbook
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/087131925X

Dr. Atkins' Quick & Easy New Diet Cookbook
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743266463

[maestramommy]

Well for breakfast this morning, I had 2 eggs covered with 1/2 cup of frozen spinach and shredded cheddar, 10 cherry tomatoes, and black coffee. I need to shop for low fat cheese this week and many bags of frozen veggies:p

I also need more options for snacks, since according to the foods list I can only eat nuts once a day (darn!). Hit me with your fav snack options, esp. if you're on the go!

[Meatball Mommie]

Thanks for all the book recs, Latia! I can't wait to check them out! It's interesting to hear that you've had success with xylitol - part of my problem in the past with doing low carbs is digestive issues. The veggies alone make me super gassy and then adding xylitol would make it worse. I also have this (irrational?) fear of artificial stuff...I'd almost rather do without than have any other sweetener...maybe I need to read up on xylitol though...

I'm not planning on starting until after the weekend so that gives me some time to read up on everything. I got the SB summer cooking book from the library and it has a phase 1 meal plan in the back...not sure if it's any different from the other books, but I can post some parts of it if anyone is interested...

[brittone2]

MeatballMommy-xylitol does cause tummy rumbles or diarrhea in some people. I find erythritol much more tolerable. It is maybe a little tougher to find (I order from global sweet online because theirs is non GMO).

I do fine w/ xylitol but if I over do it isn't good ;) Malitol and sorbitol I will not touch with a 10 foot pole.

For most people, malitol and sorbitol are the most problematic. Xylitol tends to be in the middle, and erythritol is the most tolerable.

Xylitol is as sweet as sugar. Erythritol is about 70% as sweet as sugar. For that reason, erythritol works well when combined w/ a touch of something like stevia, because they enhance each other's sweetness.

I have grown to like stevia but it is an acquired taste. That said, I think the NuNaturals stuff is *really* good. If you don't think you like stevia but have never tried that brand, I highly recommend considering giving it a try. It is a bit expensive, but you really only need the tiniest, tiniest amount in so many things. Nunaturals IME has very, very, very little of the bitterness that many brands of stevia have.

[Meatball Mommie]

Thanks for all the info brittone! That really helped and I am going to look into it more today. I never really understood what the differences between all the sweeteners were - it's all so confusing, you know? I just had this mindset that they were "fake" so they couldn't possibly be good for you and then my digestive distress with xylitol containing products didn't help ;)

[brittone2]

Thanks for all the info brittone! That really helped and I am going to look into it more today. I never really understood what the differences between all the sweeteners were - it's all so confusing, you know? I just had this mindset that they were "fake" so they couldn't possibly be good for you and then my digestive distress with xylitol containing products didn't help ;)

SOme people also find they can work their tolerance up with xylitol over time. I know if I stop using it it tends to give me more GI distress than if I use a little and build up to it. That said, I almost always use erythritol and stevia now.

I don't think they are perfect, but they are the best alternative for my own personal situation. I think the ideal would be to skip sweet stuff altogether, but since I have done this for years, I find I need something when making the occasional dessert, etc. otherwise I couldn't sustain the way I eat.

[daisymommy]

Just wanted to share a great website I enjoy. It's all low/no carb cooking, based off the South beach Diet.

Kalyns Kitchen
http://www.kalynskitchen.com/

Phase 1 Recipes
http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2006/01/index-of-south-beach-diet-phase-one.html

Look over on the left side bar for more links on her web-page.

Info.
http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2006/09/south-beach-diet-information-posts-on.html

[essnce629]

I wouldn't touch artificial sweeteners like Splenda or aspartame with a 10 foot pole.

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol though and actually has a ton of health benefits. Studies show that it decreases cavities in both those who use it and in toddlers whose mothers use it, improves bone density, prevents ear and respiratory infections, and helps control yeast.
I not only use it as a sugar substitute, but I also use xylitol toothpaste, chewing gum, mints, and mouthwash. DBF uses the xylitol nasal spray. When using it as a sugar substitute though it does say to start out gradually. I did get liquid Stevia drops like Brittone said and use 2 drops in my yogurt along with the xylitol jam.

Xylitol info
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xylitol

I buy the Now Foods brand from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013P3KC6

[essnce629]

Brittone-- do you eat fruit at all? If so, which ones? Just low sugar ones like plums, peaches, stawberries, blueberries, etc? It seems like bananas, watermelon, and mangos are big no, nos!

Oh, and you eat the Fage yogurt right? I started buying it since it has like double the protein as all the other yogurts (23g per cup!!!!) BUT I've only been buying organic, and preferrably grass-fed dairy for the past year or so and this isn't even organic. Are you fine with it not being organic then? I know it doesn't have rBst. Maybe I should just keep buying the organic whole milk yogurt and straining it myself like I was doing before. Is it the straining of it that makes it high protein? If that's the case then my hand strained yogurt should be high protein as well.

[brittone2]

Brittone-- do you eat fruit at all? If so, which ones? Just low sugar ones like plums, peaches, stawberries, blueberries, etc? It seems like bananas, watermelon, and mangos are big no, nos!

Oh, and you eat the Fage yogurt right? I started buying it since it has like double the protein as all the other yogurts (23g per cup!!!!) BUT I've only been buying organic, and preferrably grass-fed dairy for the past year or so and this isn't even organic. Are you fine with it not being organic then? I know it doesn't have rBst. Maybe I should just keep buying the organic whole milk yogurt and straining it myself like I was doing before. Is it the straining of it that makes it high protein? If that's the case then my hand strained yogurt should be high protein as well.

I eat some fruit, but I don't go crazy on it. For one, I find I am usually hungrier after eating something like a banana, apple, grapes, or pineapple than when I started. And because I am insulin resistant, I just don't want to overdo the fructose.

I eat berries (smoothies, a few berries w/ my yogurt, or a smallish serving of them alone.). I ate a peach yesterday because organic peaches in season are divine and the season is short. Peaches are somewhat lower in sugar than some other fruits. If I eat an apple I try for a really small granny smith (like the really small ones that are sometimes bagged, and GS apples are lower in sugar) or I split mine w/ the kids. I will throw a banana in a smoothie on occasion but only if I'm dividing it up with the kids (so I'm only getting like 1/3 of the banana max, and I don't even do that most of the time). I try to eat those things w/ protein too (so if I have a GS apple I usually eat it w/ cheese or nut butter).

I do use Fage. I'd prefer straining my own but have gotten out of the habit. I can sometimes buy locally made grassfed/organic yogurt but it isn't always available. The rBST free works for me (but with all of the fat in greek yogurt, I think organic is a good idea), but I think straining will give you the same thing, really. We love our greek yogurt around here :) Even the "sugar" content of plain yogurt isn't accurate since a lot of the lactose is consumed by the bacteria cultures. The sugar content is based off of the lactose in the milk, but much of that is consumed by the cultures used to produce the yogurt. Just tossing that out there for anyone who is curious about the "sugar" in plain, unsweetened yogurts.

[essnce629]

Thanks Brittone!

The peaches are awesome right now. We go to the farmer's market each week and the strawberries, cherries, peaches, and plums are amazing! Sometimes I throw a few strawberries into my avocado shake. And it was interesting to read that peaches contain about half as much fructose as nectarines! So I'll stick to buying the peaches. So funny that just a few months ago my daily breakfast was a huge serving of whipped oatmeal made with a whole banana and then pineapple on the side! If I ate like that when I was pregnant I'd get super nauseas and light headed within 2 hours. I follow the Brewer diet when pregnant (so 80-100g protein a day) and I have to have protein every 2 hours!

I think I'll probably just keep straining the regular plain organic yogurt then. That Fage was delicious though! So thick I could turn the whole container upside down and it would just stay there! I couldn't find the full fat version though-- just the 2%. What I really want to do is start making my own 24 hour yogurt again, but even though I say I'm going to do it each week I haven't! For some reason when I made my own yogurt it was extremely thick as well.

[Meatball Mommie]

I bumped this thread for everyone who has started or is starting the South Beach diet. I'm starting today with Phase 1 and I know a bunch of others wanted to start after the holiday...

So, do you want to start a "check in" thread in another forum - if so, is "MommyFit" the right one?

[maestramommy]

I bumped this thread for everyone who has started or is starting the South Beach diet. I'm starting today with Phase 1 and I know a bunch of others wanted to start after the holiday...

So, do you want to start a "check in" thread in another forum - if so, is "MommyFit" the right one?

I will be done with Phase I next Monday, so I was going to post an update and see if anyone wanted to check in. Good idea, let's move to MommyFit:waving4:

[happy2bamom]

I'd like to join you. I'm starting tomorrow!

[Meatball Mommie]

I started a thread in "MommyFit" for those of us doing the South Beach diet - please check in so we can cheer each other on!

[Meatball Mommie]

I started a thread in "MommyFit" for those of us doing the South Beach diet - please check in so we can cheer each other on!

OK where is everyone? ;) I know g-mama and billysmommy have already started and others were going to start this week...we want to hear from you!

[Kindra178]

I am starting Phase 1 today. I am nervous. Can someone give me helpful snack tips?

[Meatball Mommie]

I usually have nuts, low-fat cheese or cut up raw veggies (red bell peppers are my fave) with hummus as my snacks. Come join us in Mommy Fit too!

[goldenpig]

Has anyone ever done the South Beach diet while breastfeeding (a toddler)? I don't really need to do this to lose weight (although it would be nice to lose about 3-5 lb and a few inches off my belly!) but DH needs to go low-carb and lose some more weight and I would like to join him 1) for moral support and 2) it's hard to make separate meals for everyone. But I don't know how to juggle meals with the kids who are pretty much on high-carb diets (they love noodles & rice!), and me and DS on dairy-free diets because of his milk protein sensitivity, and not having a lot of time after work to prepare meals, and making sure I get enough nutrition to produce milk (he nurses about 3-4x/day). I am just feeling a little intimidated and don't know where to start. I guess I'll check out the book from the library, but how do you do South Beach with a family when everyone has such diverse nutritional needs & tastes?