SBO

[Teacher Sue]

Hi Ladies,
Just a quick note to say "Hello". I have decided to just not worry about SB until after Christmas. I am way too busy to try to cook and eat the SB way. Too many times away from home at mealtime, etc. I'm sure you can all relate!
Anyway, I'm wishing you all a Merry Christmas, and hopefully we can all approach the New Year with new determination and focus!
Take care all!

[PaulaB]

hello ladies. I'm SO looking forward to the end of the temptation season. I need to 'detox' from carbs. I see Kayln is going to post P1 recipes all January. Check out her recent post of 10 P1 soup recipes.
At least I have been keeping up my exercise although the scale is too fearful to stand on. I go to 2 spin classes a week and do cardio and strength training at least 3 times a week. Very happy to see the SBO's are still posting. yay!

[Healthybound]

Hi all, I hope you all did well for the Holiday. I have been eating SB style, just going a little overboard on peanuts. I'm working on cutting back. My Christmas dinner was with relatives, and I have to admit, quite sad. I just miss hubby so much! And thank God, I'm not taking this out on food. My weight is just about the same. It would be better if I cut back on the peanuts. It actually helps to plan my meals, takes up time. I'm going to start a support group this week and hopefully will be able to start to cope with his passing. I find being on the computer uses mind-time, almost like my baby-sitter; but I have to start getting things together. Well, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Let's hope everyone gets to his/her goal in 2012 and enjoys doing it.

[Teacher Sue]

Hi Ladies,
Now that Christmas is over, I have decided I am out of excuses to eat, eat, eat! So, this morning, first thing, I did a walk aerobics DVD, and I have started back on the beach. So, I am going to pick myself up, and away I go!
I have decided to make the year 2012 a "me" year! For most of my life I have had to concentrate on others, always putting them first. But, now that I am retired, my son is grown, and my husband is holding his own health wise, I am going to take some time everyday for just me. I had a friend who did this last year, she lost almost 40 pounds, and found herself. She renewed some of her interests that she had when she was single, ie; reading, walking, ceramics, and other things she used to enjoy, and she tells me it was one of the best decisions she ever made. So, I am taking her advice and declaring 2012 a year for the " renewal of me"! Won't you join me in promising yourself that you are worth it this year?
Now, on to a good day of eating healthy and some "me" time!
Take Care All!

[Healthybound]

Way to Go, Teacher Sue!!! As for myself, since I started SB last March, it has been "ME". The food I bought was SB, the way I cooked was SB, except for Turkey legs which my husband liked. I would cook it the whole batch for him, and then put the rest in the freezer for when I wanted them again. I was never so amazed at the way I took to this plan. I had assummed that it was an high proten/low carb diet like the Atkins diet. It wasn't until I saw Dr. Agatston on the Dr. Oz show that I gave it a thought. I have had a few no no's along the way, but was able to recover quickly. And those only happened on special occasions. I didn't dare go off (except for the little bit of mashed potatoes) on Christmas, because I pay the price afterward with sugar spikes, unwielding cravings. I also have IBS and didn't want to deal with those cramps/diahrea again. South Beach Diet has lowered my A1C, my bad cholesterol, my heart rate, my weight, my glucose readings and my IBS attacks. The weight loss would have been greater had I exercised, but I started mainly for the health reasons. And I think that was the best health decision I have every made for me.

I have been having an urge for pizza lately (pizza is my favorite food of all time); not a craving, just an urge. But I will get it at Bertucci's with whole wheat pizza crust. I'm thinking for New Year's Eve would be a good time. And I think that's the difference between a craving and an urge. I can wait for the pizza. Good luck to you Sue, I'm sure you will do great in 2012.

[Magna]

That's a good point about the health benefits. For a lot of people, weight and appearance are the main motivators. But feeling better and having better health in general can be nice surprise benefits.

[Teacher Sue]

Hello Again!
Healthybound, I can't remember how much weight you have lost since you started SB. Can you refresh my memory?
Also, I am wondering if you have a lot of excess skin to worry about? A friend of mine had to lost a lot of weight so she could have surgery on her knees ( total replacement of both), and although she looks terrific, she said she has a lot of extra skin in her stomache area. I have heard that with time, (sometimes a couple of years), the skin can shrink, but I don't know if this is true or just wishful thinking!
Oh well, I have to lose the weight first before I start thinking about anything else!
I am doing well on my quest for "me" this year so far! I have always hated to exercise, but have found a few DVDs that I can do at home and don't mind doing! It's too cold, snowy, and icy to get out an walk here at this time of year, but I hope that by spring I can do some things outside! I keep thinking what others have posted here, that this is not a sprint, but a marathon, and I am determined to just keep trying this time!
I am definately going to check out the recipes for Phase 1, as I areally don't like eggs all that well!
Take care everyone!

[Healthybound]

Hi Sue,
50 lbs. is what I have lost on SB. My lower abdomen is a little saggy but not as much as my upper arms. At age 68, I don't know how much 'skin shrink' possibility I have, but I'm not that concerned about it at the moment; and I don't know why. I think I just put it out of my mind. My main reason for starting SB was for heath reasons and that has improved immensly. Right now I seem to be feeling a little sorry for myself and eating too much of SB food. New Year's Eve I bought a Bertucci's Pucillo pizza on whole wheat, to eat at home (that was the last meal my husband and I shared together); they messed up the order and made a Margherita pizza. They did remake my pizza order but also gave me the Margherita and I have been eating both of them. Even though they're both on whole wheat, it's still too much of a good thing. A very bad leak in the plumbinging in the house, washing and donating my hubb's clothes and missing him so much has really put me in a funk. When I get upset, my eating can go either way and right now I'm struggling. I only want to eat SB food but eating too much of it is not good either. I'm not tempted to eat cake, cookies, white starch or any of the 'bad foods', it's just trying to stop when I should stop. I don't know; maybe this is part of my grieving process, but I think I just have to keep myself busy and not think about food. But, Sue, good luck in 2012; I'm sure this will be your year of success. And Happy New Year to you and all of our SB Forum friends.

[Teacher Sue]

Happy New Year Everyone!
Wow! Now that the holidays are behind us, lets all forge ahead with renewed determination to have our best year that we possibly can!
Healthybound- Thanks for the info! I know what you mean about mood eating, as in the past when I have been in mourning I either tend to splurge or just not want to eat at all, and just want to sleep for days on end! I think you should just give yourself a break for a little while, and try to stay healthy and well rested! I can't imagine what you are going thru so I won't pretend to, but I do think that now my be the time to just take it one step at a time. Maybe for now it is alright if you just breathe in and then breathe out, and try to think of one little thing that brings you joy, even if it's just for that minute.
Maybe your goal should be one smile per day, or something like that! I know my pets (two male cats) are usually good for at least one smile a day! So, maybe just try something like that. In the meantime, know that it's perfectly alright to feel sad for however long you need. It's an old saying, but it tends to be true, that time does have a way of helping us heal. You will never, ever forget your husband, but someday when you remember things about him the pain won't be as sharp. In the meanitme just give yourself a break and give yourself some room to get thru each day.
Have you thought anymore about moving? I don't really know, but I have always heard that you should give yourself about a year after the loss of your spouse before you make any major life changes. Maybe it would be good for you to just go to Florida and stay (maybe rent a mobile home or something) for a month or two, just to decide if you really do want to leave your home. In the meantime, I am praying for you each day, so know that others think of you often!
Doghouse- Are you still out there? I have seen the pictures of your family on facebook! What a wonderful family you have! Are you teaching full time yet? If so what grade or ages? I miss the children I worked with alot, but I do not miss all the politics that came with teaching in the small school district I worked for. I think the final straw that broke the camel's back was when they hired the school board president's son-in-law to be the new Principal even though he had never spent a day in a classroom of children in his life! I had just had enough! I know everyone said he was a nice man, and no doubt he is, but working for someone who is my son's age and who never had any experience just ended it all for me.
Getting used to retirement took awhile, because I have worked for the better part of fifty years, but now I find myself really enjoying each day! Today for instance, I am off to run some errands, then over to visit my sister, and on to the Bunco club! So, as you see, I have successfully made the transition from one who spends her days working, to one who spends her days playing! Retirement for me has basically become one all day recess! Not too bad really!
All you other SBO ladies, Hello, hope that 2012 finds you well, and hope we can all find success and contentment in the new year! God Bless!

[Teacher Sue]

Hello???
Is anybody out there?

[Healthybound]

Hi Sue,
I'm here, but I have been not good in checking in with the forums. Sorry. I'm just having a bad time of it right now. I'm staying SB, but tend to eat too much SB. Thank goodness for our good weather here; but not to be to pessimistic, I hope we don't have to pay for it later (weather-wise). I'm appreciating the money saved on fuel to be able to pay some of the bills. I have to do without my husband's social security benefit check, so I'm keeping my expenses as low as I can. I'm stocked up on chicken and fish; they seem to be the lowest cost of proteins. I have a good stash of canned beans on hand and even dried beans if I can get up the energy to cook them up. Fresh vegetables and fresh fruit are my highest cost right now and peanuts. I can't believe that the dry roasted unsalted (and no oil or sugar) peanuts went up almost 14%. Instead of drinking seltzer during the day, I am drinking Brita filtered water and actually enjoying it! I seem to go in cycles in food tastes. For a while my main whole grain was sweet potatoes. Now I just wait for my desire to tell me what starch to eat. RonniRoo told me about the flatout bread and I keep that in my freezer. It is surpringly very good as either a sandwich or as a wrap. It was suggested to use it for pizza, but as yet I haven't tried it; too lazy I guess.

I trust you are doing well on SB. I'm glad you are enjoying your retirement; you sound like you now don't have enough time in the day to do the things you really want to do.

Keep up the good work and keep on posting. I look forward to them.

[Teacher Sue]

Hi Again!
Hope this finds you all well and eating the SB way, or at least healthy! I have been doing okay so far, although today I did blow it. I made some cookies, and ate two of them right away! Also, going out to lunch today, so I know that probably won't be the best either! Oh well, back at it tommorow!
I did join a gym last week, and so far have used the treadmill and enjoyed two different water aerobics classes. I have been having some problems with my knees, so think I'll probably stick mostly with the water exercise. I know some fitness trainers don't think you work enough of a "sweat" up this way, but if it helps me feel good and lose some weight, I think I'll give it a try!
The weather here is gloomy, which makes me kind of blah! Hope to see more sunshine and warmer temperatures soon!
Take care all!

[Teacher Sue]

Hello! Anybody out there? Where is everyone???

[mireya]

It is quieeeet here now, but there are some of us still around and posting! I tend to avoid the really long threads because more often than not they've been resurrected by a spammer .