Success! *updated pics*

[happilymarried614]

Yes, you both have done a fantastic job!!

Thruthickandthin, you're right! What an Oprah show! And you've done a wonderful job yourself. Congratulations!!

[thruthickandthin]

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[Kellydawn]

Wow what an inspiration. You are my before photo!!! Wow!! Can I look like you ?? So fast! Wow did you eat unusually lowfat stuff?? That seems impossible but I am seeing it!! I gave up ever being small again. I used to wear a size 7/8 years ago.

Are you guys really carb sensitive? Is that why so fast?? I am just curious. You dont have to answer all my questions even tho I want to corner you!!! Hehehehe

[thruthickandthin]

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[Sara06]

WOW!!! What a differnce.

[sa7r6a]

Thanks. You guys are great.

KellyDawn, I completely relate to giving up ever being small again (and the sizes I USED to wear pre-babies). I thought once you had kids, giving up your figure was just one of the sacrifices that had to be made-- and, by golly, my kids were WORTH it. Well, you really don't have to give up being who you want to be just to have kids. (Yes, I'm sure the stretch marks will never go away, and there will be permanent sags in areas forever, I'm sure, but I'm looking better than I had ever thought possible.)
As far as being carb-sensitive, etc...we followed the diet strictly on phase I. We did phase II with minimal cheats. When we got down to our goal weights we began, phase III, or I guess "maintenance."

We pretty much eat what we want, but now we know what's healthy and what isn't. So, we still go out here and there and eat what we want, and we DO eat carbs; however, since doing the diet, we mainly stick to whole wheat and whole grain. (Also we still try to cut out sugars as much as possible.)

Have you all noticed that they're now making whole wheat goldfish crackers? Also, the white whole wheat flour is really nice. I'm still playing around with it, and don't like it in EVERYTHING by itself, but mixed with the regular whole wheat flour, it makes GREAT waffles. Just remember it has to be kept in the fridge or freezer if you buy it.

They're coming out with newer and healthier foods all the time, so it seems. The light yogurt made with Splenda is also a really great treat every now and then. My husband is stuck on the 7 grain Kashi cereal with no sugar. I think we eat some foods to death till we move onto something new.

Compared to how we used to eat-- I don't think I cooked a meal that didn't have at least a stick of butter added to it-- I think we're pretty strict with how we eat now. However, I still look back on what I've eaten during the day and shake my head thinking, I KNOW I should really do better. I still don't seem to be gaining, though, so that's always a plus.

I wish you all the success we've found and more. Unbelievably, it IS possible to achieve your weightloss dreams. It's getting easier all the time.

[tntklip]

Just wanted to let you know that I was debating starting SBD back and hadn't been on the forum in a long while. When I seen your before and after pictures, that's all it took for me to jump back on the band wagon and get motivated. Your pictures were definately a big inspiration. So thank you for sharing your pictures and motivating me to improve my health. Just finished p1 yesterday losing 10 lbs. Started p2 today and on my way to great success.

Thanks,
Trish

[mamatries]

Awesome!

[syscokidd]

Just wondering if you lost alot of weight in your thighs?? I am just wondering if there is hope that my legs just might not rub together anymore. I am starting at 196 in hopes of getting to 140 or better would be nice. But I really hate my legs being so big. Thanks and you both look absolutely wonderful.

[sa7r6a]

Ok, to be brutally honest...the thing I probably hate the most about myself are my legs. So, even IF they are possibly at their best now, I am still outrageously self-conscious about them. I will say that they're not NEARLY the size they were, and amazingly, my thighs no longer touch. That alone was beyond my wildest dreams; however, I've still got the "cottage cheese" look on the back of my legs and hate to wear shorts.
I know everyone's got something they HATE about themselves. I guess my legs are mine. I'm currently trying to motivate myself to exercise for swimsuit season. (I'm basically hoping to get my legs in shape enough as to not be embarrassed to wear a swimsuit out in public.)
I hope this has helped somewhat. Sorry to not be overly encouraging on this particular subject. On the brighter side-- I don't look so bad in a pair of jeans!
Best of luck in reaching your goals!

[newbeginning]

That is so beautiful... your kids will thank you in the long run and I am sure you will teach them how to grow up healthy!

[maltaguy]

I have congratulated you before .. and I will do it again! What an inspiration! thank you so much for putting up those pictures! I look at them .. and I say to myself .. I can do it!

I have a question if you don't mind.

I guess one of my problems that keeps popping up is during the phase that I'm in right now .. like halfway there ... so I'm like .. lost a lot of weight but got so much more to loose .. how do you deal with that? I mean .. I'm fitting into clothes that I didn't wear for the past 3-4 years .. and my weightloss so far has been 48lbs in 10 weeks. Looking ahead sometimes can be very unclear .. like when you think .. ok I was able to loose this much .. but will I be able to loose the rest? What motivated you during this period?

Again, thank you for posting those pictures ... and as someone said earlier in this thread ... you are The King and Queen of Southbeach!

[sa7r6a]

First of all, congrats on the weightloss so far!
It can be really hard to stay ON the diet. At some point, it just becomes a way of life, but even then, there are days it's hard not to cheat.
First of all, my husband RARELY cheats (to this day), but I do.
So, here's my two-cents:
There's no diet in this world that will ever keep the weight off for good unless you personally feel satisfied. For some (like my husband) it's those 1-2 fudgesicles a day. For me it varies. I can go for days with nothing and then want to pig out. It's better if you decide what your currency is going to be and work towards it.
It's hard not to weigh yourself every day and then get disappointed when the scales don't drastically drop-- as you're doing everything right. The thing is, as fast as the weight loss actually IS in hindsight, it's not so drastic on a day-to-day basis. So, it may help to not allow yourself to weigh yourself daily, but maybe to just weigh yourself on a weekly basis.
I've said before as well, that it REALLY helps to have a buddy-- and not a good friend who's going to encourage you to do what makes you happy-- you need a REAL buddy who's going to bust your butt if you cheat.
My sister did this diet with me and we called daily-- one or the other wanting to cheat, while the other would threaten the weaker to stay on the diet. THIS is what worked for me. You commit yourself to this, and you find someone to keep you accountable-- probably better if it's not your significant other, and it could REALLY cause problems in a relationship.
That said, DO allow yourself to cheat as you reach special occasions or your mini-goals. Who cares if it takes you a week or two longer to reach your life-time dream weight, as long as you're happy? Just don't "reward" yourself with food more than once a week-- once a month is better-- and keep these cheats minimal. Allow yourself that ice cream cone or that piece of cheesecake, just don't eat two or three. You reached your goal, reward yourself and then remind yourself you have another goal set that you're working towards. You don't want to sabbotage yourself by continually working to reach the SAME weightloss goal-- unless that goal is within your ideal weight range.
Food is an emotional comfort to me, so when things go wrong, I tend to eat-- and not the healthy foods. This is really hard to break, but when you're working SO hard to lose, it's important that if you get these urges, you keep healthy prepared foods in your fridge, so when you open the fridge and see that salad (or whatever) staring you in the face, you feel a little guilty going for the kids candy or whatever. (I've been trying to force my kids to eat healthier too just so I won't snitch their foods when I'm feeling desperate.)
In any case, weightloss is a personal battle. You have to find the strength within yourself to WANT better for yourself. For me, I wanted better for my entire family. I wanted my kids to have a living father when they reached their college years-- and it was a REAL possibility with my husbands family history that he wouldn't life past his mid-50's if he didn't work to change his lifestyle. That said, I wasn't too far behind him with my family's history of diabetes. These are things you can choose to avoid by choosing a healthier lifestyle. In choosing better for ourselves, our kids learn better eating habits than what I ever knew as a child. If the time ever comes for them that they feel they have weight problems, hopefully it will be easier for them just KNOWING the right foods to choose. For us, the entire diet was a learning process-- who knew that corn and white potatoes shouldn't be eaten at EVERY meal and that putting a stick of butter in everything you cook was BAD for you?!?!
Pat yourself on the back for doing such a great job. Then get back to work. My husband and I never thought it possible to lose past our dream weights. Having kids and getting older doesn't have to mean the end of your figure. (Granted we've both got stretch marks and saggy skin, but you've got to cut your losses somewhere.)
Best of luck!

[maltaguy]

Thanks for you reply and for you time sa7r6a!

I hear you when you say doing this diet with your girlfriend (in your case your husband) can cause some problems in the relationship. I'm doing this with my girlfriend, and sometimes constructive criticism is not always appreciated or understood in good terms.

As far as cheats go .. I'm pretty much like your husband. I don't cheat much .. infact .. this is my 11th week on SB .. and so far I have only cheated once .. and that was last week on my sisters birthday .. I had an egg roll and 3 pieces of sweet and sour pork .. but that was it!

Thanks for you advices! And again .. congratulations on your weight loss. I can never stop saying congratulations and good job to you guys!

[lisa30]

tHANK YOU for this amazing post.

I dont know you but it brought tears to my eyes.

You are such an inspiration, thanks for your time in writing such good advice which has clearly worked for you.

I have 45 lbs to lose and i feel like it is such a mountain to climb, but you have helped me put things into perspective.

Best wishes
Lisa