| Caylynn
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Here are some tips from the Daily Dish, the paid SBD site. Many people ask the same questions (why am I not losing weight) and these articles provide some possible reasons why:
Waiting for Weight Loss
12/02/03
Are you having trouble shedding the initial 8 to 13 pounds you thought would be so easy to lose? You're not alone. Some South Beach dieters don't experience the same rapid weight loss during Phase 1 as others dieters. This could be due to a number of factors, including the following:
You haven't cut all bad carbohydrates out of your diet. If you suspect this may be the case, reexamine your diet and make the appropriate adjustments.
You carry most of your weight in the hips and buttocks. Pear-shaped people don't experience the same dramatic weight loss as those who carry most of their weight in the belly. In this case, patience is the key to success.
Your exercise regimen lacks intensity. While exercise isn't mandatory on the South Beach Diet, it will certainly help you lose weight faster. Dr. Agatston recommends at least 20 minutes of aerobic exercise a day. If you barely work up a sweat or increase your heartbeat when you exercise, you may not be working hard enough. Try a more difficult activity or increase the length of your workout.
You're experiencing menopause. If you're a women going through menopause, decreased levels of estrogen can lead to weight gain or difficulty losing weight. Maintaining a vigorous exercise program, including weight-bearing exercises, can help boost metabolism and aid in weight loss.
You have a medical condition that prevents you from losing weight. A minority of South Beach dieters have other causes for their weight gain or slow-to-nonexistent weight loss. If, after a couple of weeks in Phase 1, you see no change in your weight, consult your physician about having blood tests to check your thyroid and lipid profile.
Exceptions to the Rule
03/04/04
Are you in Phase 1 and wondering why you haven't been able to lose as much weight as you'd like? Don't quit the diet yet! There are a few possible explanations:
Your diet before going on the Beach was already pretty healthy. Phase 1 weight loss is attributable to a loss of water associated with limiting carbs as well as fat loss due to a decrease in the overall intake of calories. If your diet already limited carbs, chances are you're not retaining as much water weight as the average overweight person.
You just came off a low-carb diet. For the same reason as above, you may not see drastic Phase 1 weight loss.
You don't have much weight to lose. If you're looking to drop 5 to 10 pounds or less, you may experience a more gradual weight loss.
You're going through menopause. Women experiencing hormonal changes have a harder time losing weight.
You have a medical condition that prevents you from losing weight. Some dieters have other reasons for their weight gain or slow-to-nonexistent weight loss. Only your physician can determine if you fit into this category.
If you're not satisfied with your rate of weight loss and there is no existing medical condition or hormonal change that would prevent you from losing weight, try upping the intensity and duration of your exercise routine. Adding weight-bearing exercise to your workout can also aid in weight loss.
Plateau Problems
From South Beach Diet Online's Daily Dish 02/01/04.
It is not uncommon to reach a plateau in Phase 2 of the South Beach Diet, especially as you get closer to your target weight. If your weight loss has stalled, here are three strategies for getting back on track:
Try eating different foods. Sometimes dieters get into a food rut, eating the same things day in and out. Change your diet and you may start losing weight again.
Get adequate exercise. Plateauing may result from losing too much muscle mass (as well as fat). Maintaining muscle mass with exercise helps burn calories and boost metabolism.
Return to Phase 1. If you have plateaued for several weeks and still have a fair amount of weight to lose, return to Phase 1 for a kick-start.
Stalled During Phase Two
02/05/04
You made great strides during Phase 1, but now that you've transitioned to Phase 2 it seems like your weight loss has stalled. It's a common complaint with three common explanations:
1. You've reached your optimum weight. Congratulations! Your blood chemistry has improved and your body is adjusting to your new lifestyle. Still, if you're hoping to lose additional weight for cosmetic reasons, try adding additional sweat-generating exercises to your regimen or increasing the length of your workout.
2. High-glycemic carbs have crept back into your diet. If you don't stick to Dr. Agatston's recommendations, you can't expect the diet to work. Take a long, hard look at what you're eating and, if necessary, return to Phase 1.
3. Your weight loss hasn't stalled; it's just slowed. Some dieters expect the rapid weight loss they experienced during Phase 1 to continue. But during Phase 2, weight loss is often considerably slower. If you're still relatively new to Phase 2, be patient. Sustainable weight loss doesn't happen overnight it may be months before you notice significant progress. |
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Mon Mar 22, 2004 1:34 pm |
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| PattyBo
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| Love reading what you post. Thanks for the helpful info. |
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Mon Mar 22, 2004 6:18 pm |
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| Caylynn
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| *bump* Since a lot of new people seem to be asking "why haven't I lost any weight yet" - well, here are some possibilities. |
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Fri Mar 26, 2004 8:03 pm |
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| momof2
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| this was helpful to me as well, especially the comment about menopause. now I am not going through the change, but I am a nursing mom whose hormones are still very out of wack. I seem to remember my dr telling me that nursing moms have very low estrogen levels, so I am attributing my difficulties to hormones. the article boosted my resolve. |
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Fri Mar 26, 2004 9:13 pm |
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| Caylynn
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| *bump* Since many people are asking, once again "why aren't I losing weight?" |
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Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:40 pm |
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| spacetygrss
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This is very helpful. I was wondering if I was going to see the dramatic weight loss at the beginning since I have never eaten many carbs (especially wheat-it aggravates my IBS). I'm only on Day 5 of phase 1, but now I won't be surprised if at the end of week two I haven't loss more than five pounds or so.
Great post! |
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Fri Apr 02, 2004 12:57 pm |
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| Caylynn
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| *bump* again :) Lots of new people with questions. |
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Mon Apr 05, 2004 2:28 pm |
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| lammy
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Hello,
I am in my 7th week on the southbeach diet. I lost 13 pounds in phase 1. Since then, I haven't lost another single pound. :? Haven't gained either. I don't want to go back to phase 1, but if I don't see a loss by next week, I may have to. Seems like I should see some results soon!@! I hope. I'm getting discouraged and worried. :x I will add more exersize this week to see if it will help. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!
Thanks!!! |
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Mon Apr 05, 2004 10:47 pm |
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| Kimboroni
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lammy, try posting what you're eating. Maybe we can see some hidden sugars, bad fats, or bad carbs.
Here's another Daily Dish on this same topic:
Practicing Patience
Some of our members haven't seen the Phase 1 weight loss they would have hoped for. Does this mean the diet's not working for them? Absolutely not. The South Beach Diet™ (SBD) is not a cookie-cutter diet—everyone will respond differently.
There are many factors involved in how quickly you lose weight:
What you eat. It can take some time to learn better eating habits and cut out cravings. Stick to the SBD principals, and eventually the weight will come off.
How much weight you have to lose. People with fewer pounds to lose may experience a slower rate of weight loss.
How long you spend on Phase 1. If you spend too much time on Phase 1, you may begin to lose lean muscle mass, which can stall weight loss. It's better to move on to Phase 2 after two weeks. If you experience weight gain, you can always go back to Phase 1.
How your body works. Some people have a harder time losing weight than others. This could be due to a slow metabolism or a medical condition. Whatever the case, no two people will be exactly alike in their ability to lose weight.
If you have unreasonable expectations, you may set yourself up for failure. Be patient and persistent—weight lost slowly and steadily tends to stay off over the long term. And remember that, in the process, you're improving your blood chemistry and learning to make healthier choices for life. |
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Tue Apr 06, 2004 12:12 am |
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| IvyLeaguer07
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THIS WAS THE SINGLE MOST HELPFUL POST I HAVE READ!
I was beginning to worry...I almost caved today when I was at the convenience store. Instead of buying chocolate (I'm addicted), I bought a 2L bottle of Diet Coke...which I know is bad, but I'm in college and I needed the caffeine tonight to get through my lab report! :wink:
Anyway, today marks the end of week one of P1. I have lost 1 lb, but kept off 3 more that I lost the weekend before I started by giving up sweets. So I guess I can count that... -4 so far, cuz I have not been able to maintain 146 (my CW) in a very long time. I'm only looking to get down to maybe 135...considering I'm an in-season athlete, I have practice everyday, along with an intense lifting session a few times a week. Plus walking at least 4 miles a day on an uphill campus...I think I get ample exercise!
My only 2 things I think might be getting in the way are sugar free chocolate (even though it's like 2 small SF reese's cups a day...does that count for the 75 calorie allowance for sweets?) and my diet coke (which I have almost completely stopped, except for tonight for academic purposes). :)
If I don't lose another pound in this next week (I'm weighing again next Monday), I don't know what to do. Is staying on P1 for an extra week bad....?
I also want to take the opportunity to say that this forum is AMAZING! It is helping me stay on track, as well as answering some questions that I seriously have. It seems like a LOT of newbies have the same concerns, so it's really helpful to get feedback from those who have been on the diet for some time.
Good luck everyone! |
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Tue Apr 06, 2004 3:09 am |
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| littlebee
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hi caylyn,
just wanted to say thanks and let you know that i really appreciate your informative and motivating posts!
:) |
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Tue Apr 06, 2004 3:59 am |
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| Kimboroni
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| This really needs a bump up again! |
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Sun May 09, 2004 9:22 am |
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| cherylal
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| B :lol: |
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Mon May 10, 2004 4:55 am |
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| tadolphin
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| whew...this makes me feel better. I just posted that question on the Little Losers thread. I am in P2 week 1 and lost ZERO!!! I was worried I would have to stay on P1 FOREVER!!!!! |
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Mon May 10, 2004 6:05 pm |
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| happymama
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bump...this needs to stay on the first page...
8) |
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Tue May 11, 2004 3:27 am |
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