Looking for slow start stories...

[oceanrose]

For those who are losing slowly,

Figure out your daily caloric intake. I'm betting in a lot of cases, you're not eating enough. If you don't eat enough, you simply will not lose weight that quickly - your body thinks it's starving.

Also, introduce a few more foods. For some reason eating a variety can cause you to lose weight.

[KT21]

Hi.

I am also losing very slowly if anything It's really discouraging. It's my 6th week on SBD. I drink about 3 L of water everyday (I think it about 100 fl oz. US). I eat 4-5 small reasonable meals. I had a cheat day but I ate half of small veggie pizza on whole wheat bread. I had pasta once with tomato sauce. I had no sweets, chocolate or fast food. I drive my bike to school/work and back all the time (20 minutes one way - going really fast, breaking a sweat). If I am on foot I walk around the city a lot don't have a car so I use public transport. I do want to start a exercise program but with no results I have no motivation at all. Don't have a bunch to lose. But with two years trying it's just getting a bit pathetic.

[anotherncbeachbum]

I know several people who went on SB, lost a bunch in the beginning then stalled. Happened to me, I was down 6 for week 1 of P1, I'm 2/3 of the way through P2 and have only dropped another 2. The others I've talked to were in the same boat except for one person who was way overweight anyway.

While I wish I lost more during P1 I'm sort of thrilled that I've kicked my carbs habit. The desire to stuff my face with chips, donuts, etc is gone. I walked by a party the other day at work....nothing but CRAP (except for one crudites tray, which my GF took). I've gone out to eat a few times and totally pasted on the bread stuff.

If you're working out, like me, you could be gaining some muscle mass, too. I might be down 8# in 2 weeks but my tight pants now require a belt. I didn't gain weight overnight and I don't think that I'll lose it overnight.

Good luck and keep it up!

[Cynthia_1979]

When you talk about slow start stories what do you mean? Are you having hard time sticking to the diet and not following it at least 80-90% of the time? Or, are you being consistent with your efforts but experiencing the weight coming off slowly?

Whatever the case may be, no matter what program you may be following, you can't expect to see results overnight. As one poster put it, "the weight didn't come on overnight, therefore it's not going to come off overnight either". Typically with any weight loss program it takes at least a good 2-3 months to start seeing results and that is if you're being consistent and following your diet as closely as possible.

Also, if you're not losing, a few things could be off balance in your diet; water intake (one should be drinking 1/2 there body weight in water); exercise (remember you can't lose weight with out creating a calorie deficit in both diet and exercise...calories in, calories out); and a big one I've noticed a major restriction in diet; I believe you were on phase 1 for more than 2 weeks-which probably has worked against you in the long run.

The SB diet really works if you try your best to stick to it. Be patient, try to stay as motivated as possible and you will start seeing results. And one more thing, don't rely solely on the scale to track your progress. Try using a measuring tape to track inches lost.

Stay Blessed!

[Cynthia_1979]

I have been on the beach since 3/29/09 and am losing weight VERY slowly. I am 5'4", 48 y/o and had a full hysterectomy last year. I was already overweight by 55 lbs and I put on another 30 in the 5 months since I came back to work. I really think the hyst slowed down an already slow matabolism. I also have a job where I am not allowed to leave my desk and frequently sit for very long periods of time.
I never cheat and I do at minimum a brisk 15 min walk almost everyday. I am also installing a wood fence on weekends and have done most of it myself (yes I think I am slightly insane to do it too!), including manually digging the post holes. This is really hard work and I am using muscles I haven't used in years. But still I am not losing more than a 1 lb a week.
I think my food consumption is about where it should be but maybe someone can look at this and let me know for sure. I usually eat a high protein, sugar free, low fat bran muffin(home made) with a V8 for breakfast during the week or a couple eggs with veggies or v8 and whole wheat toast on weekends. AM snack of roast soy nuts or almonds(on days where I am not having other servings of nuts) and/or a serving of fruit. Lunch is usually left overs from the night before or a black bean burger with light american cheese(no bread), and a large helping of raw veggies with about a tablespoon of regular ranch dressing. Afternoon snack is a slice of Kavli with either a laughing cow wedge or a little natural pb and 1/2 sliced apple or a light string cheese. Dinner is usually quinoa, kashi 7 grain, 1/2 small sweet potato or a serving of beans, a lean meat of some type and plenty of veggies. Evening desert/snack has been sugar free cocoa and a hand full of black berries or strawberries or, my favorite, a s/f fudgie with a spoon of pb and whipped cream all mixed together(YUM!!!!)
I was on the beach a few years ago with better success but did not stay on it. Although it is coming off slowly it IS coming off. And just when I think the scale is not going to do anything it does. I am determined to do it this time, all the way, every last pound no matter how long it takes. You can do it too. You would not be here if you didn't think it could happen.
Thanks for that rant, it felt good.

SW 219 3/29/2009
CW 210
GW 135

[hungrygirl]

I "only" lost 5 lbs in phase 1, and in the 8 weeks since then - have "stalled" for about a week twice. But then I'll drop a few pounds and then go up & back down before levelling off. I have come to accept that this is the way my body loses weight and i've just accepted it. In the grand scheme of things - it ends up coming out ok (i've dropped 20 pounds in about 2 months - half of what i need to lose).

For me, the changes in my craving and not being hungry all the time are what strikes me the most. And it's been fascinating to see how my body handles various things (can't look at a grape without wanting to eat everything in sight, but a little square of dark chocolate doesn't set me back a bit). It's even gotten to the point where I can even make banana bread and cookies for others and not HAVE to eat it myself (used to be a "one for them & two for me" experience).

I keep a list of things that i've noticed as i eat the SB way beyond the lbs lost - and that's where i get my kicks if the scale isn't doing it for me. It's more about the way my body feels (and fighting off pre-diabetes/type 2 diabetes - no way am i going to end up having to jab myself with needles or monitor my eating even more than i do with SB). I think part of this is about how you measure success. There was a nice thread somewhere about all the "side benefits" and reading (and re-reading) that during my stall periods helps with the motivation and a reminder of why I still eat this way even if the pounds are slow to come off.

[rmd318]

Hi,

I started South Beach on June 8th and have only lost 3 lbs, but I figure it's better than nothing. I'm just going to take one day at a time. Good luck on the diet.

[vickilynn]

I too have had that experience from time to time. I did the South Beach Diet a number of years ago and was successful at it, but whenever I've tried it since then I have always got discouraged because of the slow weight loss. I have recommitted myself and really need to have good luck this time. I know one thing that worked for me the first time, but something that I haven't done other times was to log everything that I ate and the amount, also kept track of my water intake. The first time I did it, I was more strict on portion sizes and lower fat things instead of handfuls of nuts or other high calorie things. Good luck !!! I'm sure it will come off soon, don't give up.