The Official SOUTH BEACH DIET/ATKINS thread!

This is NOT a thread to debate these diets. This is a thread for those who are on these diets and want to share tips and frustrations, etc. When in doubt specify which diet you are on, though I think in most cases, the experience and foods are similar.

My first tip: For that delicious Phase One of South Beach dessert, Ricotta Cremes, make sure you mix it up in a food processor for a pudding consistency. And do serve chilled. The lime one tastes just like key lime pie!

I started officially today back on Phase One. So far, so good. It's really easy when you prepare the right foods.

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Good timing, JRB! I sent for the South Beach Diet Cookbook and received it today. I’ll be looking it over and will “officially” restart my diet on Monday.

The South Beach Diet does work. I started it on Feb. 2 last year and lost 7 pounds the first week, 20 lbs total of the 30 I intended to lose before my trips in May. It’s totally my fault I stopped and regained 10 of those pounds back.

I will stick with it this and make my goal.

Best Wishes and good luck with losing whatever amount of weight you want.

D

It's that darn word--MODERATION! What I LOVE about eating South Beach in my every day life is that I can make a special trip to Coldstone and not feel one bit of guilt. But, it's when every 3rd meal becomes pizza or take out or what have you. It's when you "nibble" on Halloween candy. Then Thanksgiving desserts. Then, Christmas desserts (or whatever holiday you celebrate). Next thing you know--you have gained 10 - 20 pounds.

So, I beg of myself to maintain the MODERATION that I lost round about October.

Bluemoon--just hang in there for two weeks. It is rough the first two or three days as your body adjusts. If you are hungry, eat something. I ate all day the first day!! And, the trick is that if you follow phase one, you really do start to lose cravings. I went months not caring about fast food, pizza, pastries, or ice cream. I only got those cravings back when I started having apple fritters every other day during the summer.

After those first two weeks, you can indulge in toast again--grilled cheese sandwiches, etc. Granted, you have to use whole wheat or whole grain (unbleached) for your bread.

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Updated On: 1/13/05 at 02:49 AM

I have been an Atkins boy now for a few days short of a year. And I have lost a LOT of weight. And I need to lose more. I stopped for a week over Christmas (I'm strict but I am not THAT strict) and I had the hardest time starting again. But I managed. The cravings are a bitch but I got them beat now.

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I want some Jerby, but not the sugar free version

and cream with less calories.

*tucks napkin into shirt collar and grabs spoon*

That's funny, robbie - I'm on the "eat more, lose less" plan. I LOVE it.

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bad, bluemoon! Bad! :)

You can have wee bits of chocolate--the darker the better. And sugarfree is cool--but don't eat too much of that.

But only certain foods have limits--and it's not the end of the world if you eat more than.

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I have lost 6 pounds in 4 days on Phase 1! It's water weight--but it makes for such a difference. Can I get some snaps?

My favorite meal: ground beef ((or chicken) spiced with white pepper, chili powder, etc.), black beans and mozzarella cheese. You can eat this with romaine lettuce and tomato for a taco salad. But, I like eating some veggies on the side. It's a very tasty meal--easy to prepare and I do not for one second feel like I am on a diet.

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Updated On: 1/15/05 at 02:49 PM

Ok, so I've heard about South Beach and Atkins, but don't know what either one of their plans really encompass. No carbs? No sugar? All protein? Huh?
Also- I don't cook. At all. So how do I do one of these diets if all my food comes directly from the store or a restaurant?

JRB- Low-carb snaps to you my friend! You've been so good! After losing the first 7 pounds I've slowed down a bit. I wonder if men loose faster than women? Damn that Y chromosome!

liotte- South Beach is very do-able in restaurants as long as you are assertive with your ordering. Ask them to remove any high carb food and substitute "legal" choices. I've eaten out for the last two nights - once in a Greek restaurant, tonight in an Indian restaurant. Many chains now list "Atkins" or "low carb" menu choices. Just avoid Italian places - the pasta and bread are overwelming.

Oh, and jrb- about those pills you mentioned: um....YEAH, you aren't kidding!

good luck guys! so my parents and my sister just started the southbeach diet and my sis says its hard but both my mom and my sister has lost a good amount of weight (i forget how much) in like the 2 weeks they've been on it.... it looks really cool and i wanna try it, but im a vegitarian and a college student at that so i dont have much time to prepare food or money for it at that matter