The Official SOUTH BEACH DIET/ATKINS thread! — Page 2

Vegetarians can make it work--using tofu and cheese.

But it is true that sometimes being a vegetarian is why someone is heavy--their body isn't getting what it needs. (And please know that that isn't a slam--just that there are studies that it isn't healthy for everyone).

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the fact that exercise is a part of your life makes me envious. I have to WORK to make myself exercise.

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How is everyone doing?

The ricotta cremes are even better when mixed in the blender!!

My roomie made some chili: ground beef, black beans, tomato sauce and spices. Add some cheese and it is a heavenly meal for this cold. (Note: try not to use much tomato sauce as tomatoes have a high glycemic count).

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Black beans are a savior--cuz they are the closest thing to a "grain" type of food during those first two weeks of South Beach.

Next week, I get to have apples and whole wheat tortillas. I am so excited!

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Well, the first 10 pounds came off WAY too easily. I've lost nothing since. I tell myself that the initial weight loss was all water, so keeping it off is the real loss. Hard to stay motivated when you hit a plateau, though.

I did join a fitness center last week! I've only had the time to go in twice and I was supposed to meet with a personal trainer today, but the snow storm has shut shut down the gym. Nothing to do but sit in front of the tube and snack! (but I'll try not to)

Ummmmm...ok, JRB, first you have to know that it's all NYC's fault. I was on phase one, then spent a long weekend in the city. It's real easy to eat a fistful (or two) of pretzels (ouch, stop hitting me)when everyone else is is pigging out on popcorn shrimp. And you can really justify that after theater drink when you're not eating all the appetizers your party has ordered.

"Pity party of one; Now seating pity party of one......."

And, God Almighty, it's hard to go back to phase one when you've broken your resolve. You'd think that with all the justifications I'm swallowing I wouldn't be hungry anymore. "Just a bite of this. Only a little piece of that." It all adds up, doesn't it? But while I did lose anything last week - I didn't gain back any of the 10 I had lost. Soooooooo....
It's a new day and a new chance. Back to phase one, looking forward to the rewards of phase two! (this time, legally)

By the way - your ricotta cream ideas have been my salvation after dinner. A millon thanks!

Dance classes are a GREAT idea for exercise!

Atkins makes some great ice creams. And there are no sugar added ice creams by various companies now that are fantastic.

Cheating can easily create a plateau. The great thing is that unless you really start cheating, you won't gain the weight back--and if you start gaining, you know to go back to phase 1 or phase 2. The thing is you don't wanna plateau until you reach your goal weight. This is the mistake I made last year.

But, if you are doing everything correctly and you plateau, you probably need to incorporate exercise (which we should do ideally anyway). I would not consider day to day plateaus as an issue. I would gage week to week. Pick a day and time of the week to record an official weight. Make your comparisons based on that. I weigh roughly 3 pounds lighter in the morning than I do at night. And, some days, your body just doesn't drop the weight like you might hope it would.

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