My only issue with the South Beach Diet...

[egoldber]

OK, so its early days, yet, but I am enjoying the South Beach diet. I love eggs, cheese and seafood, and goodness knows you get enough of those in this diet. And I have probably eaten more vegetables in the last two days than in the last two weeks! Surpisingly, I don't miss bread and rice at all! It is weird to not make a sandwich for lunch or have cereal for breakfast, but I'm getting used to it.

But I miss FRUIT!!!! OMG!!! I'm dreaming about bananas (one of my absolute FAVORITE foods!!!) and apples and oranges.

Sigh.

Hi beth,
No fruit! When are you allowed to introduce fruits back into your diet? Are you allowed anything sweetened with artificial sugar?
Kim

[egoldber]

The no fruit thing is only for Phase 1 (the first 2 weeks), when you're on the strict low carb part. Phase 2 allows some fruits, but only those naturally low in sugar. You stay in Phase 2 until you reach your goal weight. Then you go on to Phase 3 (the maintenance phase), which is still more liberal, but is a relatively low carb diet vs the typical American diet.

He makes liberal use of artificial sweeteners in making desserts and snacks. I think that the diet is easy to follow. And the food is quite tasty. Its just DIFFERENT from what I usually eat, but I guess that's the whole point!

Its also nice because you can customize it to suit your needs and tastes. Everyone's body processes foods differently. He teaches you how to evaluate what is safe for YOU to eat.

This diet sounds very interesting....I may have to check out SB's web site. I'll get back to you when I've had a chance to look at it.
Kim
P.S.
Have you ever tried WW?

[egoldber]

I've never done WW. My MIL did it a couple years ago. It seems to be a pretty sensible diet, but all her point counting drove me a little nuts. To this day, she can't look at a meal without saying "Oh, thats SOO many points!" LOL!

That is too funny. My husband feels the same way. I have learned to not comment on the points for food values when his order arrives at the table! Still, I think, you're gonna spend 20 points on that?!?!?

Beth,
I hear you! We went apple picking a couple of weeks ago and I now have these gorgeous, just ripe to perfection apples staring at me saying: eat me!
DH and I are at the end of Phase 1 (TG!) and already looking forward to next week!
Have you found that you're feeling more tired on this diet? We did. It's much better now. I guess our bodies got used to the new diet.
Good luck!
Annette
SAHM to Sabrina 6/24/02

[egoldber]

Actually no. But, pathetically, I was really tired all the time before too. I don't get anough sleep (no fault but my own), so I always feel a little tired and rundown. Like I said above, its just WEIRD to not eat sandwiches and bread! And its depressing to open my pantry and realize it is FULL of food I shouldn't eat any more! I'm going to have to do something about that. I feel a big food bank donation coming on...

I'm excited because DH agreed to go on it with me. (He's been out of town all week, so its just been me up to this point.) He has a good friend who has lost a ton of weight on Atkins, but Atkins scares him, so he agreed to try this with me!

And I was feeling a little dejected this morning, so I weighed myself (I know, I know...) and I've lost 3 pounds so far!!! That was a big boost for me to keep me motivated!!

FANTASTIC!! Congrats, Beth, on losing the pounds!

I bought the SBD book at Costco and was all aready to throw myself into it, but I'm going to wait until after next weekend because of my brother's wedding (wedding lunch at an Italian restaurant, who knows what they're serving at dinner - but definitely cake!). I figure that gives me a good couple weeks before really hitting the holiday season...

Thanks for your stories and reports. In a way I'm excited about this, but I'm also a little nervous.

[khakismom]

It's amazing how my body has gotten used to this diet. I wasn't a big carbo loader anyway--I have been doing WW and was already cutting way back anyway. I did this all last week and it does get easier. Well on Tuesday I cheated and ate pasta at lunch. I thought it would fill me up--wrong! My tummy was growling from hunger 2 hours later!! It was a big difference! I was amazed because with eating all the protein and veggies with SBD, I haven't been hungry at all. So I am back on the beach with no cheating--and I may do Phase I for longer than 2 weeks. And when Phase II rolls around, I will probably only add in cereal, oatmeal bars, and low-carb/whole wheat bread and pasta. :)