Kristin_M

[Kristin_M]

Hello,

I have had some success with SB before so, after a long, lazy hiatus, I am back at it. I just turned 40 and "play time" is over. I have to start taking care of the precious gift of my health. I am not here for reasons of vanity as much as reasons of longevity. Hopefully we can all encourage one another. I hope to lose a minimum of 50 lbs to get into the top end of my "healthy weight range" and then I'll review and perhaps reset my goal.

Kristin

[JeffInJax]

Hello Kristin! Welcome to south beach. It's very important for both reasons, aestetically liking the way you look causes your attitude to stay on a more positive trend and longevity to stay with the people closest to you (My goal =) ). You're definetly here for the right reasons and im sure you'll do great. It can be frustrating at times but long as you are firmly committed to your goal, take it from some of us "veterans" that it becomes much easier with time. Most of the beachy recipes i enjoy i dont even think about when i make it anymore, i just know the recipes by heart and its easier each week to stay committed. The NUMBER 1 thing i would personally recommend if you dont mind a piece of advice is to make your meals anywhere from 1 to 3 days in advance. In my opinion it provides a huge mental push to eat healthy since you already made it, why not eat what was planned instead of being provided an excuse to eat something else? Once more though welcome and stay strong, its a long but rewarding walk on the beach.

[Kristin_M]

Thanks Jeff That's a great idea about making meals in advance. I'll be less likely to be tempted to stray and I'll hate to waste food that is already waiting for me. Day 3 of Phase 1. It never ceases to amaze me how NOT hungry I am. I want to eat junk but, if I'm honest with myself in those moments, I'm not even HUNGRY. Soon the cravings will pass. Can't wait!

[Kristin_M]

Day 3 and I feel like I could eat a candy store.

I KNOW I'm not being true to phase one because...
- My morning coffee is such a treat and, despite trying to get used to drinking it black, I still want my 1.5 sweetener and two cream (half and half - not "lite" or "coffeemate non-dairy creamer".
- I am not much of a "cook" - it's never been my habit. So I find I am eating a lot of salads "out" with what I KNOW is too much dressing. But I am fussy. I WANT my salad coated in dressing (a little less would be nice) so I don't want it on the side to dribble over my salad. Is it too much to ask for half the dressing at a restaurant? I haven't tried yet.
- I at sausages today, knowing they're full of filler (and made myself feel better by mopping off the grease with a paper towel first).

So, when I get on the scale on Monday, if I don't have the results I hoped for, I have only myself to blame.

I'm also not exercising like I planned.

Grrrrr - why oh WHY are the bad things the best?

[Kyan]

Grrrrr - why oh WHY are the bad things the best?

I ask myself that question ALL of the time!

God must have REALLY loved calories..... He made so many of them!!

Welcome to the Beach!

[Kristin_M]

haha Kyan

So, last night, the end of day 2, I decided I'd eat a whole bloody bag of Russel Stover "no sugar added" peppermint patties. I know it's a million times better than how I'd have binged before (there were only 6 in the bag) but still...

So, this morning, even though I promised I'd only weigh myself once a week, I jumped on the scale. I wanted to see that the needle was moving in the right direction so I didn't just throw in the towel today after last night's debacle. Lo and behold, despite my infraction, things are moving in the right direction. This will give me the strength to make it through my friend's "open bar" wedding on Saturday and the last long (beerless) weekend of the summer.

[JeffInJax]

Hello Hello, im happy to see you're still posting. If you dont mind another recommendation with salads is at resteraunts i ask for it on the side, but instead of dribbling it over the salad i poke my fork all the way down into the dressing to coat the pointy parts and then get a full bite of salad, its enough to add the flavor to the whole bite and by time the salad is finished generally ive only used about half the dressing provided. -Shrugs- It's how i learned to control the amount of dressing used.

As for the 6 peppermint patties, in small in relativity to your daily meals, i know the regular peppermint patties are like...60 calories for 3 pieces and you're allowed up to 100 calories of sugarfree type candy a day. Just have to make sure you dont go over. My occasional treat even though technically i could have 2 a day is no sugar added fudgesicles, they still taste good and are like 40 calories each, and southbeach approved!

[Kristin_M]

I forgot we're allowed up to 100 cals of sugarfree canday a day! Hooray Those Russel Stover peppermint patties are pretty darn good. I've eaten all six at once in the recent past too.

So, I have really only been phase one-ing consistently since September 13th :-S However, I am down from 204 to 188, so I'm not complaining. Since Tuesday the 20th, however, I haven't lost an oz. Not sure why.

The other good news is I have taken my doctor's advice and am trying to not be an "all or nothing" gal. I have the DVD of the exercise program that goes with "South Beach Diet Supercharged" and I have been doing 20-30 min a day (my doctor said 20 min three times a week is plenty, so...) I feel strong and full of energy. I have also signed up for 8 weeks of belly dancing classes starting in January (I hope to be in better shape by then so it doesn't kill me) and am trying to score a volunteer role with our local roller derby team in hopes of eventually being able to join. As I am jumping around working out, I am thinking about all the gals on wheels I am gonna be able to body check - lol.

I would have been frustrated by plateauing, as it were, a week into it. However, my success the first week and the fact that, at 40, it's not about looks anymore - it's about longevity - both of those lend themselves to extra patience.