Phase 1 Weight Gain

Annie4 · Mon Feb 28, 2005 12:41 pm

Ok, my husband and I started on Feb. 15, so tomorrow we are supposed to move to P2. I haven't lost much, but that is probably because I lost a lot before I started (by drinking more water, I lost a lot of water weight). I have still lost about 2-3 lbs now, though.

The real problem is that my husband lost 6 lbs right away the first week. In the second week he gained it all back. Right now the scale shows he has only lost 1-2 lbs. I know that he hasn't cheated, and we eat the same foods. Hubby started at 200 and wants to get to 175, he's got a LOT of muscle, but it is generally covered up with those extra lbs.

Typically he has this...

Breakfast: Generally flaxseed pancakes or eggs with SF Syrup
Snack, Lunch, Snack (all packed and sent to work with him): 2-3 slices of lunch meat, 1-2 slices of skim string cheese, veggies of sorts (lettuce, tomato, celery, radishes).
Dinner: Chicken or Venison & Veggies
Dessert: PB Cup, or SF Ice Cream (2 TBSP only) with a Chocolate Bean Brownie, or CoolWhip/Crystal Light/Cream Cheese w/ nut crust dessert.

I am eating the same things as he is, but he hasn't lost any weight hardly. He is drinking tons of water, too. Only thing I can think of is that he is using too much dressing, eating too much coolwhip/cream cheese, eating too many nuts. However, would that make that much of a difference considering he is WAY under the calories he had before?? He is VERY frustrated because he used to eat horribly and we change it and he doesn't loose any weight. He said he's ready to go back to how he was eating before, only that he does FEEL BETTER with how we are eating now (he used to get sick after every dinner meal pretty much).

Should we both move to P2 as directed, or should he stay on P1? I worry aobut him staying on P1 because he works in construction and needs his energy in the day. He's been tired a bit and he works REALLY hard, so I know he needs to really move to P2, just not sure what to do about the weight loss.

Neither of our cravings have really gone away, either, and I SWEAR we haven't cheated.

LyndaB · Mon Feb 28, 2005 4:23 pm

I'm still a little vague as to what your lunches are but it looks like he's not eating enough for the job he does. I think you might want to move him along to Phase 2.

You should incorporate veggies into breakfast. Or, in phase 2, perhaps oatmeal or grain toast or cereal. He'd get more energy from those carbs.

Snack is 1 -2 string cheese?

Lunch is 2 -3 slices of lunch meat? What kind? Is he getting about 2 cups of veggies with lunch?

Snack is veggies? How about hummus along with that celery? Or yogurt?

What are the portions of meat at dinner? About 3 oz?

Maybe he should hold off on some of the desserts to help eliminate the cravings. I know that if I eat the PB cup, I either stall or gain. I just can't have that much pb daily.

You indicate he works in construction. Maybe you should up his portions during the day, when he needs the energy. I just don't think he's eating enough. His *cravings* may actually be hunger.

Annie4 · Mon Feb 28, 2005 5:08 pm

To clarify the snack/lunch/snack thing...

I pack everything into a bag for him in the morning (or night before). I generally pack at least 3 slices of lean turkey lunch meat, 2 things of sting cheese, 1 cup of lettuce, and then at least 1-2 cups of other various veggies depending on what we have (cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, celery, etc.). I don't know when he eats everything, or in what order. He probably muches on everything all day, but has the lettuce and lunchmeat at lunch time. Sometimes he goes and gets a Wendy's Chilli, too, if he's hungry. Oh, and sometimes I pack him almonds or pistachios.

We do try to eat veggies during breakfast. Sometimes cherry tomatoes, lately it has been raw asparagus. I know when I'm gone, though, he probably forgets.

As for dinner, he has a large chicken breast or about that equivalent of Venison with some veggies, but probably not enough veggies. He always eats more than me, always has, always will.

I keep asking him if he's hungry and he says he's been hungry since we started. I tell him to go get some veggies and he just doesn't want them. Sometimes he will go get some, but usually he just says "isn't it time for dessert?" He was no stranger to downing a whole pint of ice cream a night before we started SB, so I've been trying to get him good desserts, but he probably still eats too many of them to be healthy.

Since he works hard outside (especially in the cold winter) I think moving right along to P2 would be best, too. He's just so frustrated, and I really feel bad for him. He doesn't really WANT to go to P2 because he didn't loose that much weight in P1, but we'll move on as scheduled and see what happens. Like I said, he isn't getting sick after dinner anymore, and he does say he stays more full longer. So, I do like the way we are eating.

Kimboroni · Tue Mar 01, 2005 1:24 am

I agree with Lynda that he probably just isn't eating enough. He has been hungry, and he works a physical job. P2 will probably treat him better.

It also looks like he isn't getting any beans except for when he has chili, and no milk/yogurt either. Incorporating those more often, plus the added p2 good carbs, should really help. If the calories are drastically below what we need to get through the day, the body tends to hold on to the calories in fat storage rather than burning them off. That could easily be what is happening here given his job.

LyndaB · Tue Mar 01, 2005 2:35 pm

When you indicate that he used to get *sick* after dinner... was it due to overeating, eating the wrong things, or is it possible the man has food allergies?

I'm glad he's not getting sick anymore, though. That must've been a bummer.

By the way, my DH is king of the ice cream dish and still has at least 2 cups of it every night (as opposed to the 1/2 serving size that's recommended on the label). He lost all of his weight fairly quickly but has regained many inches in his belly girth because he won't give up his ice cream and doesn't drink enough water.

And, remind your DH that Phase 2 is actually the real SB plan. Phase 1 is only a detox phase. Phase 2 is where you will lose the majority of your weight.

Annie4 · Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:57 pm

Oh yeah, milk. We do get in our 2-3 cups of 1%. He is a whole Vit. D milk person all the way, so 1% is pusing it for him and skim isn't even an option. I'm thinking of getting some, though, and mixing it 1/2 and 1/2 to see if he notices. :D

Neither of us like yogurt. I do have to come up with more bean recipes. I know there is a thread here that I printed, so that shouldn't be a problem. I just have to do it.

As for him getting sick, we don't know - probably just eating the wrong things. He did NOT eat very well before. Too much bad fat, too many bad carbs, too much processed food. We ate out ALL the time - literally. After a while anything with the slightest bit of spice to it would give him an upset stomach and he'd be in the bathroom all night. That was a real bummer because he loves stuff with some kick to it. Even TGI's Jack Daniels items (his fav.) would give him an upset stomach sometimes. So, when we went to Cracker Barrel last weekend (first time out in a week and a half) he got the Spicy Catfish and just expected to be sick afterwards. It never happened, and he was very excited. Hopefully this whole eat and get sick thing is behind him.

Thanks so much for all your input you two! We did move on to P2 this morning with some Quaker Oats. I don't really like Oatmeal AT ALL, but it wasn't eggs or flaxseed pancakes so it was delicious. Throw in just a tad of SF Log Cabin Syrup and we were doing very well. :D

We will probably only add in 1 grain OR fruit a day this week, move to 2 a day next week, etc. We are supposed to get up to 3 servings of each, right?? Is that moving too slowely toward the 6 total, or is that fine?? I know I have to take it slow with the grains because even now being ALLOWED to eat them makes me want them all the time. I had oatmeal for breakfast, wanted a Subway wrap for lunch (stuck with a salad, though), and keep thinking of everything I can make for dinner that is loaded with carbs. What was that whole thing about cravings going away?? :?

Annie4 · Tue Mar 01, 2005 4:58 pm

Oh yeah, milk. We do get in our 2-3 cups of 1%. He is a whole Vit. D milk person all the way, so 1% is pusing it for him and skim isn't even an option. I'm thinking of getting some, though, and mixing it 1/2 and 1/2 to see if he notices. :D

Neither of us like yogurt. I do have to come up with more bean recipes. I know there is a thread here that I printed, so that shouldn't be a problem. I just have to do it.

As for him getting sick, we don't know - probably just eating the wrong things. He did NOT eat very well before. Too much bad fat, too many bad carbs, too much processed food. We ate out ALL the time - literally. After a while anything with the slightest bit of spice to it would give him an upset stomach and he'd be in the bathroom all night. That was a real bummer because he loves stuff with some kick to it. Even TGI's Jack Daniels items (his fav.) would give him an upset stomach sometimes. So, when we went to Cracker Barrel last weekend (first time out in a week and a half) he got the Spicy Catfish and just expected to be sick afterwards. It never happened, and he was very excited. Hopefully this whole eat and get sick thing is behind him.

Thanks so much for all your input you two! We did move on to P2 this morning with some Quaker Oats. I don't really like Oatmeal AT ALL, but it wasn't eggs or flaxseed pancakes so it was delicious. Throw in just a tad of SF Log Cabin Syrup and we were doing very well. :D

We will probably only add in 1 grain OR fruit a day this week, move to 2 a day next week, etc. We are supposed to get up to 3 servings of each, right?? Is that moving too slowely toward the 6 total, or is that fine?? I know I have to take it slow with the grains because even now being ALLOWED to eat them makes me want them all the time. I had oatmeal for breakfast, wanted a Subway wrap for lunch (stuck with a salad, though), and keep thinking of everything I can make for dinner that is loaded with carbs. What was that whole thing about cravings going away?? :?

RedRox · Tue Mar 01, 2005 5:31 pm

Well there are physical cravings and mental longings. The latter take longer and sometimes never really go away I think. Someone here described it as cravings that originate above the neck (longings) versus those that originate below the neck, e.g. actual physical hunger. The SB program really only helps with the physical hunger aspects by keeping our blood sugar levels more contant and eliminating the hunger pangs caused by insulin spikes and drops.

Also don't discount what eating healthy and unproccessed foods can do to help your whole digestion process and overall body functionality! Many of us have noticed that we get virtually no heatburn anymore while eating this way, but if we "treat" ourselves to some refined/highly processed foods, it may come back. I just feel like my body is operating in a much more efficient manner eating this way. YMMV...


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