SBO

[Magna]

The research on moderate amounts of coffee is mixed. Some studies suggest it has both helpful effects and some drawbacks. Some suggest a few cups are good for you. In any case, I don't know of any studies that say a moderate amount of coffee is something to be concerned about for most adults. And if it's working for you as a tasty treat, and helping you avoid unhealthy treats, I think that's great.

For anyone who may be reading this, not everyone is the same. Some people get insomnia or have other health conditions that require them to avoid or strictly limit coffee or caffeine. No matter what anyone else says, if your doctor has told you to limit or avoid coffee (or caffeine), you should follow your doctor's advice.

[doghouse]

Today I had a nectarine. Hmm not sure it was a good idea because after supper all I wanted was something sweet (I had the nectarine at lunch time - just before I ate my ham salad). Will not have a fruit tomorrow and see how I go.
Made a lovely jug of iced tea - rooibos, slices of orange, mint and lots of ice. I guess to my American friends who are freeeeeeeeeeeezing this does not sound appealing but we are in the middle of a HEATWAVE. my friend came back from the valley and told me it was 51 degrees centigrade! (not a stevenson screen reading admittedly) however many part of the country are having temps in the 40's but here we are on a mild 35 deg C. yuk. but yum iced tea and not so 'bad' as the iced coffees. THanks for the info magna. I am good on the stuff - no sleepless nights etc, my concern is the milk (albeit skimmed) that I put in. If I have three coffees then I have had my milk allowance .... and some?
Healthybound, i was thinking of you over the weekend as I am sure they must be hard for you. Sending you love and light.
S
xx

[doghouse]

Cannot post my weight today as my scale needs new batteries. I also think that I am not ready to introduce fruit, it sets me up for too many cravings. I have not tried apple yet, so maybe that is the one to introduce. I am also stressed because of exams so last night i made wholewheat spaghetti - - but i had more than a cup. with marinara tomato sauce. (homemade) anyway i continue on slowly and a bit wobbly.
Healthybound you are still thought of and I am sending you love and strength.

[Healthybound]

Well, I'm finally back!!!! I didn't lose power, but I lost my phone, cable and internet. It was finally restored this afternoon. What a mess we're in!! And there are still many, many more people with no power yet. This was a terrible storm. Doghouse, you're such a good friend! I appreciate all your good thoughts and wishes. I wish you luck in incorporating fruit back into your food plan. But you are doing it the right way. You are paying attention as to how your body reacts when you put something different into it. Your iced tea sounds very intriguing but what are rooibos? You're going to be giving me an education!

And yes, I do like swimming. My goal is to finish up the work we have started on our house, sell it and buy a condo, preferable in Florida where I will not have to deal with the ice and snow anymore. My cousin is encouraging me to buy a condo up in his complex in Massachusetts, but there I would still have to deal with the ice and snow. I have a brother in Florida but he is too much in the south of Florida for me. I want to be about midway and I have a very good friend there and I can always make some new friends or I can even come back up here. But first I have to deal with Probate and all good things like that. I am so glad I am on this South Beach plan. I find it very easy to stay on the plan, eat well and still feel good. It's my head that I can't clear up; too many things to deal with I guess. Thank you doghouse. - M

[doghouse]

Hi Healthybound. Well done for staying on the plan - you are a star! No power is something I am sooooo familiar with here and it is a nightmare. it is not uncommon for us in zIM TO have 'load shedding' for 16 hours a day!!! 4 x week!!! the only thing in our favour is that we are so used to it we have back ups in the form of generators and inverters. But I do understand how awful it must have been with NOTHING - and foul weather to boot - i hope you have gas heating! Yes i can understand why you might want to move to warmer climes. In a way it is good that you have to stay put for a wee while just so that you do not rush into any decisions. give things time to settle. will you be able to keep your dog in a condo? it is back to stinking hot weather here again - the rain was a welcome reprise. I think the change in temps has made me so lethargic - i had to sleep for an hour at lunch because i felt i was going to fall asleep behind the wheel today! that bad!
take care and have a fabuously healthy week!

[doghouse]

Hi Healthybound. Well done for staying on the plan - you are a star! No power is something I am sooooo familiar with here and it is a nightmare. it is not uncommon for us in zIM TO have 'load shedding' for 16 hours a day!!! 4 x week!!! the only thing in our favour is that we are so used to it we have back ups in the form of generators and inverters. But I do understand how awful it must have been with NOTHING - and foul weather to boot - i hope you have gas heating! Yes i can understand why you might want to move to warmer climes. In a way it is good that you have to stay put for a wee while just so that you do not rush into any decisions. give things time to settle. will you be able to keep your dog in a condo? it is back to stinking hot weather here again - the rain was a welcome reprise. I think the change in temps has made me so lethargic - i had to sleep for an hour at lunch because i felt i was going to fall asleep behind the wheel today! that bad!
take care and have a fabulously healthy week!

[Teacher Sue]

Hello Again Finally,
Sorry I haven't been here in so long, but we have been dealing with my husband's Father being in and out of the hospital, and some other family issues, so I just haven't been able to sit down and do anything in weeks!
Healthybound- I am so sorry to hear about your husband! Like Doghouse, I had to reread your post tonight, as I just couldn't believe what I read the first time through! Please know my thoughts and prayers and a great big hug go out to you.
Doghouse- It sounds like you are sticking right to it pretty well this time! Good for you!
Well, the bad news is I have completely blown it since I last posted! No excuses except that when I get stressed I just keep eating anything and everything, and this has been a stressful time for me!
Now, the good news! I am determined to start again on Monday! I will go for Phase 1 for at least 1 week! No matter what this time, I just have to do it!
I feel like I have been trying to do this forever, and just can't get very far! It's so strange that when I do eliminate the sugary junk, after a few days I don't even miss it, yet I can't seem to get myself motivated to push through all the external problems and just stick with it!
I am going to try to just set some small goals for myself, (Very small so I can see pretty much immediate results!) That way maybe if I can reach a goal every few days for the first few weeks I will feel more motivated!
Also, as you know, I live in Michigan, where it is snowing even as I write this! So, anymore outside exercisie is about out for the next few months! I have a knee that decides it wants to "go out" on me every once in awhile, so I am afraid to do much walking outside when it is icy out!
However, I just read in the paper that they are going to offer water aerobics at a pool about eight miles from my house, starting on Monday, so I am hoping to get up my courage and try to go over there and give it a try! I do love to swim, so this might be a good alternative for me! I'll let you know how it goes if I can work up the courage to go and give it a try!
Please know that I am thinking of you both, and that I will try to do a better job of keeping in touch! Take care!

[doghouse]

So nice to see you back Teacher Sue. Yoo Hoo HB - are you there? Like me though I find days go by and I realised I have not popped in to say hello! Added to which like TS when I get stressed I eeeeeeeeeeeeeeat too much. your post really reasonated with me TS, like you I feel I have been 'at this' for ages with just so little progress. do so well then external factors hit and i am back to square one. (or four or five actually because I have never actually got back to where I was when we started in Aug 2008 - thank goodness!
Anyway i am pleased to say my LAST exam of my degree is over - finished , done and check. Now waiting for the results (which will be hard!) and then I will start in earnest to look for a job for next year. So excited about that.
Right I must sign off now since my girls are desperate to swim - 35 deg celcius heat - we are MELTING!!!!! i am going to get into the water just to escape from the flies!!!!!
Good luck and keep going I am with you both. xxxx

[Healthybound]

HI Doghouse and Teacher Sue. Thank you for staying in this forum. I am staying at my current weight. I don't overeat on anything; I probably don't have as much milk as I should. I'm good with the veggies, fats, starches and fruit. But I am not getting any exercise, except for making myself do things in the yard and take Crissy (our little poodle) out for necessaries. I notice though, that when the weather gets colder, my other bad knee gives me a lot of pain and gives out on me. I have to think on how I'm going to get through this winter. My very good friend invited me to Florida for the Christmas holiday so I can also look at what Florida has to offer me in terms of housing. And yes, wherever I move to, has to accept Crissy. Right now she's my lifeline! I enjoy her so much and she is always ready for a hug (long ones). My friends and family are trying to keep me busy; but this is something I just have to get through. I'm going to start reading a book that the Funeral Home lent me, called, 'Healing A Spouse's Grieving Heart'. I think I'm now ready for that read.

Doghouse, now that you're through with school, I'll bet you will find it easier to live South Beach. And Teacher Sue, you too have had a lot to deal with. And once things settle down a little, you will most likely be all SB.

I thank both of you for your kind concerns and wish you both a great week!

[doghouse]

Good luck for tomorrow ladies - let's remember portion control. okay i am talking to myself here!!! have a lovely week.

[suoon2bthinner]

Hi all- long time no visit! I have been up and down, had a little flirt with Dukan- lost 14lbs on that but put some back on as soon as I added in any carbs, and I did miss fruit. So, here I am, about to revisit the Beach!
I like how I feel when I am lighter than I am now- and my clothes look better too, so ready to try again.
Also, having a few issues with hot flushes and wonder if some of my cravings are due to hormone fluctuations- anyone else finding this?

Hi HealthyBound- was sad to read about your hubby, hope time will heal. We have been married 33 years so I understand the time thing.

Sue

[doghouse]

Hi Sue! gosh, long time no read. nice to see you again! after the royal wedding i looked at the Dukan (desperate measures after our winter and my overseas holiday) but realised that it would not be sustainable for me either.... but well done for getting kick started and welcome back. it must be hard for you all with thanksgiving, the run up to christmas and then christmas and new year.... the party season has already started here and the mince pies etc really do not fit in well with south beach!!!! anyway, onward ever and if we keep checking in over this period hopefully we will not gain anything:)
love to you all and HB sending you special love and thoughts at this time.xxxx

[suoon2bthinner]

Hi
Did wonder if you would remember me, it's been so long- guess you did Doghouse, thanks for the welcome. It is a busy time of year but for me, there is never really a 'good' time to diet, always something about to happen and I could delay forever! Anyway, plan a few days on just protein and veg, like a mini P1 then see how I go. I have 10lbs to lose and expect Xmas to hinder progress- am out for office lunch on Friday for example- might be able to have a salad but feel some wine might be called for, I know SB allows wine in P2 but think its supposed to be limited to one glass! Have my sf gum ready for today and spicy pumpkin soup and yog for lunch. Got into oat bran porridge whilst on Dukan and have continued with it for bf. dinner chicken omelette and salad- what do you think?
Sue

[Teacher Sue]

Hi Everyone!
I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile. Just when I think things might settle down, something else happens and I get distracted and way off track again! I am ashamed to say I have not done well at all in trying to stay "Beachy"!
No excuses except Stress, Stress, Stress! I know all the answers about how to deal with it without feeding my face, but I just can't seem to find ways that work for me! Ugh!!
Oh well, today is a new day, and so far, so good! I am determined to just keep at it for as long as it takes!
I feel like I keep going up the same hill, only going one step up and two steps back!
Hope you all are doing much better then me!
We had about seven inches of snow here last night, so although everything looks pretty, it is cold and icy out! I am going to dig out a walking video and do my best to follow along! At least maybe some exercise will help me get out of this grand funk I'm in!
Take care all and I'll try to be more positive with my next post!

[suoon2bthinner]

Hi
Guess from the lack of posts that we are all struggling to stay on track? I find it tough with nights out- with drinks, and sometimes set food plus all the chocs and cakes appearing at work. Don't like my clothes feeling tight but at least I am maintaining weight just now and not gaining- so far!
Have a posh wedding to go to at end of jan so that will help with the postxmas eating- shame about the pre!
Went round some of the Xmas market last night- mulled wine, garlic mushrooms and garlic potatoes followed by strawberries on a stick dipped in milk choc. Putting tree up today. Full of cold but over the worst I think, Sue