Sample Meal Plan - Can I really have wine and chocolate?

[pennyd]

Hi everyone,

I am a newbie to the South Beach diet, and am just starting phase 2. I started with only about 12 pounds to lose, and was shocked that I lost almost 6 pounds on phase 1. I assume it was mostly water weight, but I feel great, and want to make sure I don't undo my progress on phase 2.

Here is what I have eaten the first three days of phase 2 (haven't noticed any cravings, and haven't gained any weight, although my weight loss has stalled for now):

Day One
Breakfast: Coffee with Skim Milk, Plain Nonfat Chobani Yogurt (6 oz cup) with 2/3 cup blackberries
Lunch: Salad with Chicken, Black beans, tomato salsa, light cheese with a squeezed lime wedge for dressing
Snack: Lowfat string cheese, diet soda
Dinner: Tortilla pizza (lowcarb whole wheat tortilla base, tomato sauce with no sugar added, low fat mozzarella, black olives and mushrooms on top), large green salad with vinaigrette dressing
Treat: 6 oz glass of wine, 1 square of Dove dark chocolate (the "promise" kind)

Day Two
Breakfast: Same as day 1
Snack: Lowfat string cheese with sliced turkey rollup
Snack: 30 pistacchios, diet soda
Early Dinner: Turkey hot dog with whole wheat roll and mustard, veggie dippers with hummus, 1 deviled egg, fresh fruit salad, one light beer (was at a barbecue)

Day Three
Breakfast: Same as day 1
Snack: lowfat string cheese
Lunch: 1 can of chicken with 1 tbsp light mayo, celery/cucumber with red pepper hummus
Snack: 30 pistacchios, diet soda
Dinner: Grilled chicken breast with Frank's Red Hot sauce, large romaine salad with bell peppers, tomatoes and homemade low fat ranch dressing, baked sweet potato fries
Treat: 6 oz glass of wine, 1 square of Dove dark chocolate

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Is it really ok to have a glass of wine every night, and a dark chocolate most nights? This seems too good to be true!

[Kimboroni]

Theoretically, yes-- they are allowed, and they have health benefits. But in actual practice, you will have to see how that works out for you. It will depend on what else you're eating, what kind of activity level you have, your general metabolism, etc. to determine whether or not you can have those daily and still reach your weight loss goals.

[pennyd]

Thanks Kimboroni. It's good to know that I'm still following the rules, and I will definitely keep an eye on how my body reacts to these treats in case I need to modify. I almost couldn't believe that those things were allowed when I read it in the book... so I just wanted to make sure. I guess I'm not used to "diets" that are so lifestyle friendly!

Have a great weekend!

[michal123]

The chocolate shouldn't be sweeter than the wine. I think a small number of wines really do work with chocolate.

[Magna]

The chocolate shouldn't be sweeter than the wine.

That's not correct. No sweet wines are included in the plan, so the rule you posted would only allow for unsweetened or very bitter chocolate.

Any dark chocolate (including Dove) is OK.