Due to a significant weight gain over the past two years related to medication, my doctor is strongly recommending that I go on the South Beach diet. His goal for me is 50 lbs over the next year. If I don't lose at least 25 in that timeframe, however, he's going to take me off this med entirely and prescribe something different. But I like the other side effects of this med so I'd prefer to stay on it if I can.
I've not heard anything about this diet yet beyond hearing that it's similar to Atkins but not as restrictive, and am hoping that someone has some kind of feedback for me. I also have the tie-in book on reserve at the library (57 copies in network and not a single one on shelf anywhere) to see what's the deal.
Goody
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Goody, Many of my friends have been successful with this diet, and really enjoy it. I have glanced at it, and it looks pretty reasonable. Good luck. Somewhere on here is a weight loss encouragement thread, and there might be something mentioned about the South Beach Diet on there.
[ September 03, 2004, 10:04 PM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]
Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
My husband is getting ready to start this diet. A friend of his at work went on it and was very successful. The first phase is quite restrictive, but that only lasts two weeks. From what I can tell by looking at Mr. Opera's book the diet itself seems very reasonable and easy to maintain. The emphasis is on veggies and meat and avoiding fruit and breads. Good luck, and I'll let you know how Mr. Opera does.
space opera
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
quote:My husband is getting ready to start this diet. A friend of his at work went on it and was very successful. The first phase is quite restrictive, but that only lasts two weeks. From what I can tell by looking at Mr. Opera's book the diet itself seems very reasonable and easy to maintain. The emphasis is on veggies and meat and avoiding fruit and breads. Good luck, and I'll let you know how Mr. Opera does.
Maybe Mr. Opera and I can egg each other on =)
Goody
Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
Heehee - that was actually a very good pun, as during the first phase of the diet it's eggs every morning for breakfast!
space opera
Posted by kaioshin00 (Member # 3740) on :
Good luck Goody, I hope you reap the fruits of this new diet.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
My father has had great luck with this diet. I'm not sure exactly how much weight he's lost, but he's gone from being an undeniably fat man to being pretty thin. I know he's wearing jeans with a 32 inch waist, which is something he's neve been able to do during my lifetime.
I couldn't do this particular diet, though. I'm just too enamored of fruit. I like bread, and I'd miss it, but without fruit...no, it's too bleak to contemplate.
Posted by Goody Scrivener (Member # 6742) on :
quote:I couldn't do this particular diet, though. I'm just too enamored of fruit. I like bread, and I'd miss it, but without fruit...no, it's too bleak to contemplate.
Noemon, from what I've read online so far, certain fruits are allowed. I have to get into more detail once I get my hands on the book, but it sounds like you eliminate grains, potatoes and certain fruits/veggies in stage 1, then start to slowly reintegrate certain items as you progress from there.
Goody
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
My latest sorry attempt is to follow Andrew Weil's 8 weeks to optimum fitness. He breaks it down into small lifestyle changes. The first thing I had to do was throw out anything with hydrogenated oil, and use only olive and safflower oils. I have to eat fish once a week. I'm supposed to walk for five minutes. Do some breathing exercises. Actively think happy thoughts.
I can do those things.
Posted by Coccinelle (Member # 5832) on :
My doctor recommended this diet for me too. I'm buying the book today. I'll let you know what I find out!
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Mack, I think it is patheticly ironic that I know just about any diet ever created, yet am still overweight.
Edit, Oh, how surprising that the little ads at the bottom of the page are for the Atkins Diet!
[ September 04, 2004, 10:34 AM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Elizabeth - don't worry about dieting.
Walk five to fifteen minutes a day. Eventually, you want to be walking for half an hour a day.
Go buy two five pound dumbbells and start doing basic bicep curls. Three sets of six repetitions. That's it - nothing fancy and nothing difficult.
Diets are short-term alterations to your lifestyle and any weight loss will rebound when you stop the alterations in your lifestyle from the diet.
To lose weight and keep it off, you need to increase your physical activity.
-Trevor
Posted by Christy (Member # 4397) on :
This diet physically makes me sick. Both my mother and father-in-law are on it and love it, though. They haven't really lost weight, but say they feel more active and healthy.
Elizabeth, I like the sound of your diet. As feeble as it may seem, you just might find that the habits stick.
While I agree with Trevor to some extent, good eating habits and exercise are both good ways to maintain a healthy weight if you really do make the lifestyle change. Be realistic about what you can live with. Few people are able to maintain a 7 day a week workout regime in the long term and few stick with a diet that deprives them of the foods they love.
[ September 07, 2004, 05:14 PM: Message edited by: Christy ]
Posted by Lime (Member # 1707) on :
My father in law did South Beach and it turned out *very* well for him. He's lost something in the neighborhood of 40 pounds and looks great. I've tried it as well, but have found that it doesn't fit my mindset very well - I enjoy good bread, potatoes, pasta too much - whereas actual exercise fits me very well. I just have a salad for lunch, watch what I eat otherwise, and exercise as my hours allow.
Seems to be working.
*blink*
Anyway, if you can do South Beach, go for it. It's a heck of a lot healthier than Atkins.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Teaching fifth graders is actually really good exercise. There is much more movement than in the self-contained classroom I was in, where we did most things around a table. I am wiped out, physically, at the end of the day, but I feel much better emotionally. I also don't have as much time to sit and eat lunch, and tend to have something healthy on the fly. This makes me want a healthier dinner, and I also feel more like going out and walking in the woods or biking after work than I do hanging around the house.
I have worked with emotionally disturbed kids almost exclusively for nineteen years. I did not realize how much emotional energy I had siphoned out to those kids. Now, teaching 110 students, I am more physical, and get to use my brain more, and save more of my heart for my family. (This does not mean I do not have heart as a fifth grade teacher, just that the kids don't demand as much of it because they are generally less needy.
I can already feel my body reacting to my mood. I just hope it lasts!
Edit: Thanks Christy and Trevor
[ September 07, 2004, 10:38 PM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]
Posted by Space Opera (Member # 6504) on :
Mr. Opera has lost 5 pounds in 3 days since starting the diet. He says it's difficult right now, so he's really looking forward to phase 2.
space opera
Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :
My mom wants our family to eat something closer to this diet, but I'm sorta loath. I have a hard time eating a lot of vegetables. I'm mostly a meat person, and when I was on the Atkins diet, I avoided veggies to an unhealthy extent, to the point where the diet made me sick.
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
I really should start monitoring my daily food intake, but until my life stabilizes, there isn't much point.