21.5 pounds down!

[kalikalooti]

Dear SBD,

Thank you soooo very much for coming into my life! I'd been on and off the diet since I first started in April 2010, but I've been on it consistently for the last 6 months now, and I'm SO happy!! I'm down 21.5 pounds down since I first started (from 138.5 to 117), and I am so happy with what I have achieved!

I wasn't really overweight as such when I started (I'm 5'5), and you can't really tell that I've lost so much weight, but I just feel so happy eating well and wearing clothes that originally used to fit me and then didn't for so many years! I'm down from a size 6 to 0

One thing I'm really struggling with at the moment - I'm SBD compliant during the week, but come weekend I eat out all the time, mostly SBD friendly, but I don't kill myself if it's not, and I wonder if this is a bad strategy. I do find my weight stagnating for many weeks. Is this sustainable long term?

I wasn't exercising at all initially, but I've just started brisk walking for an hour most days now... hope to get a bit toned too!

BTW, I'm off to Israel on holiday for 2 weeks... that should be an interesting experience... hope I find enough SBD friendly stuff there. I survived 10 days in the US, eating pancakes as part of otherwise healthy meals, so I'm hopeful

Thank you all very much for your help and support!!!

[SBMike]

WOOT! Congrats! And enjoy your trip.

[DCLissa17]

Good for you! I'm another of those SBers who is eating this way for the health benefits much more so than any weight loss aspect. I had small amounts available to lose but this is more to feel better physically, stop the sugar/carb craving/hunger cycle, and prevent future weight GAIN. It really does work, but I know that when you AREN'T in a constant struggle to keep losing, it can be more difficult to prevent yourself from treating yourself and it can be REALLY easy to slide too far into bad habits. I think the difference is realizing where and how you are treating yourself and really making a conscious effort to not let the 'treats' increase too much or push out the other healthy habits (such as portion control, WG starch choices, and heavy on the veggies). For me, once I have the basic tenets of this WOE changed into automatic choices, the treats when eating out or on weekends are not a big issue. Just watch for any weight gain starting back up and make sure you stick with the underlying foundation the majority of the time and you should be fine.

[bethy]

Israel has the Best Hummus

[kalikalooti]

Thanks all
I'm now in Israel / Palestine and completely off track. Breakfasts are usually fine because they're salad heavy, with some boiled eggs. However, I didn't bring any snacks with me, and it's usually very hard to find SBD friendly stuff easily (i eat dry fruits bought locally, and I know I can't get fruits, etc, but it's just not working out as well as I would like), and main meals are seldom lean, though I try to eat a lot of salad. The food is also so varied that I can't help trying new stuff, so I'm off track but looking forward to going back to the diet once return home!
Definitely can tell the difference between eating well and not now!
Btw, the hummus, of course, is absolutely awesome, but I've been eating a lot of pita, which is completely refined flour. I don't crave or have any particular fondness for it though, so I'm not worried about cravings coming back, but I am about putting on weight in just the time I'm here!

[Kimboroni]

... which is completely refined flour. I don't crave or have any particular fondness for it though, so I'm not worried about cravings coming back...

I see this kind of comment a lot-- people are really confused about this cravings thing and what it means. It's not that one particular food can make you crave more of that particular food, and only if you like that food. It's that high glycemic foods in general mess up your blood sugar and make you need to eat more high glycemic foods in general in an attempt to fix it. It puts you on a roller coaster of low and high blood sugar.

So starches could make you go for more starches, but they could also make your body feel like it needs sugar. Or vice versa. It's not about, "I'd really like to eat more ______," but about your body needing more of anything that would fix the reactive drop in blood sugar.

[kalikalooti]

Thanks Kimboroni! Yeah, I know what you're saying. All I meant was that I'm not really craving the unhealthy stuff in general yet. However, to your point, I do find that when I don't eat every couple of hours, or SBD friendly stuff in general, my eating gets a bit messed and I tend to hog at the next meal. I'm determined to set it right when I return though...so hope this is temporary.

[Kimboroni]

Well, enjoy your time! It's only 2 weeks!

[thelawwon]

Hey kalikalooti! I just got back from Israel too, and totally agree-the breakfasts were awesome, but all the pita with EVERYTHING made it tough.

Congrats on your 21 lb loss!!! I'm starting at 141 and the same height as you are, so if you have any words of wisdom on this WOE I appreciate it! Enjoy your trip