7/25 South Beach & Low Carb check-in

[essnce629]

Good afternoon ladies! I know some people checked in already on last week's thread, but I figured I better keep the weekly thread going.

I haven't weighed myself today. I'm thinking I'll wait 3 more days since I've only been drinking the dandelion root tea for 4 days now and you're supposed to notice a difference after a week. Even though I haven't worked out at all in years, I decided to go ahead and order the Personal Training with Jackie dvds that I mentioned in last weeks thread: Xtreme Timesaver Training and Crunch-Free Xtreme Abs. I also ordered a set of 2lb weights. The dvds get excellent reviews and I think getting my core stronger would help with my lower back that is always hurting and has been hurting since high school. I'm not sure when I'll start though since I still want to see how much weight I can lose with just the low carb eating. I got DBF the Power 90 dvd workout series (less intense P90X) for his birthday and he just started them 2 days ago. I figure if he's going to be excercising and getting in shape, I should beat him since he's not doing low-carb. I kind of want to start excercising when he's not around and not tell him and see if he notices a difference. I had to take measurements of his whole body at the start of his Power 90 program as well as pictures of his body. You take new pics and measurements every 30 days. So I had him take pics of me as well so I can compare to later. I wish I would have taken pics of myself 6 weeks ago though when I was 5lbs heavier and my stomach, waist, and hips were bigger.

So my advice for everyone is if you haven't already, take your measurements now and take pics so you can compare later. The measurements I took were of my natural waist, lower waist (pooch area about 1" below belly button), hips, and thigh. I didn't do my chest since that's already small and doesn't need to get smaller! The pictures I took were of my front, back, and side profile while I was in my bathing suit.

What's everyone making for dinner tonight? I really want to make the salmon chowder that's in my 15 minute low carb cookbook, but it's 87 degrees outside and that doesn't really seem like chowder weather!!!

[maestramommy]

I really want to take before and after pics, but I am so tired right now I don't know if I can handle it all by myself, and I'm too embarrassed to ask Dh to take them Okay, maybe I can squeeze it in tomorrow. I will definitely take measurements though. I just bought a swimsuit from LE and I'm definitely down in size, but I'm actually wondering if sizes are getting bigger these days? Esp. in the lower halves.

Tonight's dinner was steak and sauteed yellow squash and mushrooms. And dessert. I bought it yesterday to end my vacation, but it was so late by the time Dh and I got everything done we just tumbled into bed. So today wasn't a pure back to Phase 1. Onward!

One thing I noticed last week when on vacation is that carbs don't taste as good as they used to. Even stuff I usually crave, like chips, fries, buns. One of my cousins is a master baker and she made some taro buns. Obviously not allowed, but they sure were yummy! My aunt also made a very chewy pineapple nut cake with (I think) cream cheese frosting and seriously it was to die for! Maybe it's sweets? Neither were very sweet.

[essnce629]

I really want to take before and after pics, but I am so tired right now I don't know if I can handle it all by myself, and I'm too embarrassed to ask Dh to take them

Can Dora take them for you? Conner was pretty good at taking pics by that age!

I didn't end up making salmon chowder for dinner. I had spicy mahi mahi and creamed spinach. The creamed spinach was from my 15 minute low carb cookbook and was very good. You just heat up the frozen spinach in butter and after it's hot add in a package of Boursin cheese that has garlic and herbs. So good and super fast to make!

[Meatball Mommie]

I totally wish I had taken before pictures and measurements! I am noticeably thinner in my hips/pooch area. I have lost 5 pounds but I can now fit into pants that I haven't worn for a year! woohoo! I actually went to put on a skirt I bought a month ago (fattest point - skirt is a size 10) and it is so big that it now sits super low on my hips and I really can't wear it! Kind of a bummer because I just got it, but a good bummer Also, my skin is so much nicer - DH even commented this morning that my skin on my face is clearer and he never notices anything!

Latia - I am going to have to try that creamed spinach recipe! Sounds delicious!!

Melinda - I noticed the same thing about carbs just not tasting as good. I had a couple of "tastes" of pasta/potatoes when I made them for my family, but after 1 bite, I really didn't want any more! I don't crave carbs either. When I'm hungry, I have a piece of cheese or some nuts and that fixes it. I used to eat tons of crackers and I don't want them at all now!

[azazela]

I am thinking about joining you ladies... I did South Beach very successfully pre-kids. I lost around 30 lbs and was at my thinnest ever. I kept it off for more than a year give or take a few pounds until I got pregnant with my daughter. Well, 5 years and 2 kids later I've been trying different things to lose weight and feel that I just need to go back to SB. I am more of a black/white person when it comes to food, as in I do better with restrictions vs. portion control. I think I am going to do some reading to remind myself of all the plan particulars and start it up. Maybe I'll shoot for Monday to start Phase 1.

Can any of you ladies point me to some good recipes? I think I lost my stash last time I changed computers. I do have a few of the cookbooks so I'll look through those as well. Off to find the list and plan my grocery shopping for this weekend.

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can

[nfowife]

Today is my last day of phase 1. Weighed myself this morning and I've lost 5 lbs.! Woohoo!! So excited. And we went out of town this weekend and I really did pretty good.
Start phase 2 tomorrow. I think this first week I will just add 1 fruit and 1 grain per day and see how that goes. My in-laws leave next Wednesday as well, so I will be getting back to the gym for sure.

[goldenpig]

Reposting from another thread, I didn't realize you guys had moved to a new South Beach thread:

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?

ETA: I checked out the South Beach Supercharged from the library and am planning to go to the grocery to buy some phase 1 foods. But I'm thinking the kids and I will stick to phase 2.

[nfowife]

goldenpig, I'm doing SBD and I'm nursing my 7 month-old. I haven't noticed any change in my supply nor does she seem to be eating more. She has recently started solids and does get 1 bottle a day but nurses otherwise and overnight and no change as far as I can tell. He does recommend to start on phase 2 if you are nursing but I decided to try phase 1 and it was fine.

As for meals, I just always have made a salad, and then a protein, starch, and veggie. I just eat the protein, veggie, and salad and leave the rest for the others. For pasta dishes I eat a double salad portion and the protein seperate. For example tonight I made spaghetti and meatballs. I had double salad and meatballs and sauce (that I made from scratch so I knew it was SBD friendly). That kind of thing. It's really not too hard once you get in the swing of it. The other night I made pesto tortellini (super easy with premade pesto). I couldn't have any of that so made a big dinner salad with leftover chicken on top for myself.
It hasn't been a big deal.

[maestramommy]

For meals, I always make a simple meat, veggie, and starch. I just don't eat the starch. For example, Dh and I usually have rice, a meat and veggie. Now I only make rice for him, and I make sure to make PLENTY of veggie. I eat pretty much the same amount of meat as I always have. Tonight we had pan fried Tilapia. Too light for Dh so I added a Morningstar veggie burger for him. Sauteed patapan squash and mushrooms for the veggie. The kids had meatballs and sauce with leftover mac n cheese, and cantaloupe. Last night we had steak and salad. Unfortunately making meatballs from scratch is beyond my ken, so I buy packaged meatballs, which means I don't eat meatballs right now.

For me phase 1 has been easy because I have found a breakfast and lunch I don't mind eating over and over. Breakfast is always 2 eggs, a cup of frozen spinach and a slice of cheese. Lunch is either a ton of romaine, 6 cherry tomatoes and lunchmeat with a hummus and balsamic vinegarette, OR frozen broccoli topped with some lunchmeat, a slice of cheese, and about 2 tbsp of hummus. Usually I crave variety, but for the purpose of this diet it's actually been easier eating the same thing over because I know what it's going to be and don't have to plan so much. Phase 2 I find harder because after reading a dozen menu plans I can't generalize as easily as I could with Phase 2. I think nfowife has it right at 1 carb and 1 fruit per day.

[essnce629]

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'm nursing a toddler! DS2 still nurses 2-3 times a day and is 26 months old. I haven't noticed any change in my supply or DS's nursing habits.

For quick, low carb meal ideas I'd recommend you get the "15-Minute Low-Carb Recipes" book by Dana Carpender: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001SARBY4
I've been making a recipe or two from the book every night for dinner and all have been good (although I have had to add a little salt). Even DS1 has liked everything, which says a lot! I'm not making a separate starch for the kids, but I do give them a piece of whole wheat bread with butter at dinner sometimes. In the book, there are several recipes for "rice" made with grated cauliflower. It's actually really good and the texture is so much like rice that DS1 thought it was the real thing! Tonight I made "saffron rice" from the book. All the "rice" recipes say to shred half a head of cauliflower with the shredding attachment on a food processor, but I only have a mini food processor that doesn't have separate attachments. I found that shredding the cauliflower works just as well using my salad shooter (cheese grating attachment). So now at dinner I'm usually having meat and two types of veggies. Tonight we had stir fried chicken, the saffron cauliflower rice, and roasted broccoli. The kids have a fruit with their dinner as well and are plenty full.

I like eating the same thing over and over again when it comes to lunch. I usually make a big batch of chinese chicken salad that will last me about 4 days. I make the dressing myself using xylitol instead of the brown sugar that's in the original recipe. I'll sometimes eat a chicken quesadilla using the low-carb tortillas from TJs, pepperjack cheese, chicken, and avocado and then I'll mix some salsa and sour cream together to dip it in. Very good and very filling.

Oh, and I definately don't have much to lose either, but have consistently lost a pound a week for the past 7 weeks. The only week I didn't lose anything was the week of my period. I also lost an inch on my waist, lower belly, hips, and thighs! And this is with ZERO exercise. I'm 5lbs away from my normal pre-pregnancy weight of 120lbs, but I'm thinking that may be too skinny so I may be upping my carbs soon if I lose much more.