Started New South Beach Support Group
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| Wed, 10-29-2003 - 3:04pm |
Having researched diet and nutrition topics for months, I decided that the South Beach Diet best fits what I have learned about the science of weight gain and loss. I am a Division Director where I work and as I began discussing the topic with my employees, more and more people became interested. In the span of a week, I have started a South Beach support group that currently has 20 active members. I ordered a book for everyone (Buy.Com has them for $13.47 each, which includes S&H) and we've had our first meeting. I have agreed to summarize each section of the book and we will have an "open forum" discussion of the material this Friday. We've all agreed to begin Phase 1 on Monday. The support group is for purposes of educating, sharing experiences/recipes, and encouragement. I figure when you have a sense of accountability to more than just yourself, the chances of success increase (group synergy). Everyone seems to really get excited about the prospects of "not going it alone".
I'm an avid weightlifter with a huge upper body. The weight doesn't show up as readily on me but, if my upper body was that of the average person, you would be able to tell at first glance that I have quite a healthy midsection. That is going to change. My goal is to have a 33" waist again. Then, maybe I will run for governor : )
The group is composed of all women except for two of us males. The weight loss targets range from 15 to 100 Lbs. I plan on staying with those who haven't reached their goals as quickly as others until they too have succeeded. It may take a year but probably longer. I'll provide followups.

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Welcome to the Beach! It sounds like you have organized quite a support group there. It is true: You are more likely to stick to something with support. This group is great for that purpose.
Happy and Healthy Eating on the Beach!
Catherine
Come visit me at Tiny Rooms, Huge Solutions
Hi Bama,
My boyfriend (definitely all male) started the SBD before me.
Maggie
"Success is a journey, not a destination"
Maggie
"Success is a journey, not a destination"
The remainder of the group is doing marvelous. Everyone is still pumped and the ladies, at my urging, have formed little groups to spend 30 minutes of their lunch hour each day walking briskly up and down the parking deck. I'm continuing my 30 minutes of cardio followed by 45 minutes to 1 hour of heavy lifting each evening. I've dropped 6 pounds already. Give me a couple of months and I might post a picture in my profile of me wearing only a pair of cutoffs.
I've constructed a web links page for the group at:
http://www.freelink.org/sbdiet
We'll be adding to it as time goes by. If anyone wants to recommend some links, please pass them along.
Although I recently returned after being mobilized for a one-year tour of active duty (I'm a National Guard Lieutenant Col), I just learned that my unit has been selected for another rotation to the desert by Oct 04. No sorrow here. As long as I wear the uniform, I'll go whenever and wherever I'm told without hesitation or complaint. Hopefully, I'll be a full Colonel by then (I'm up for it).
I'll leave you with the imortal words of wisdom spoken by former VP Walter Mondale after his selection as the Democrat VP running mate: "Jimmy , I can't wait to get down to Georgia and see all those peanut trees".
BIG D
I don't post here as often as I used to. I'm slogging away in Phase 2 with about 5 pounds left to lose until goal...they're holding on for dear life!
Good luck to you and your group...sounds like you've got it under control. Roll Tide!
CC
158/143/138ish
Hey, cc, welcome back...haven't seen you here much, lately. How is cooking school going? I recently had to quote you on the "mocha ricotta yuckotta" comment, as others an the board expressed similar sentiments!
Anyway, you Georgians seem to be making your presence known....AAAACK!!!! You guys may have the peanut growing market and football claims to fame, but we in CA have more fruit and veggies, more cheeses, more miles of beaches (OK, so ours are a bit chilly, but we have a longer coastline, just the same), better overall weather, etc....
Bamacharm,
Let me start with a big welcome, however, I must add a big "Whoooooo Pig, Souieeee"!
Good to hear from a fellow Alabamian. Sorry, but I live a ways north of you in Montgomery. Otherwise, I'd be more than happy to train you in free weights. I've trained a couple of ladies in the past and they've actually been easier to work with than the men. My weight training partners rarely last past a couple of weeks. The reason? Well it's the same reason I see the gym flooded with people after the New Year but down to a trickle by Easter....until the next batch of New Year's resolutions appear. People want the results but not the effort. Meaningful weight training is manual labor...hard manual labor in a condensed period of time. If you are ever going to succeed at anything, you must be willing to step out of your "comfort zone". The biggest mistake I see people making other than poor form and the resulting injuries, is a reluctance to exceed what they "percieve" is their current physical limitations. If all you do is stay within a comfort zone, you aren't taxing your muscles and you'll get little, if any, results. The biggest thing that women worry about (and I've heard this a million times) "I'm worried that I'll bulk up!" You won't unless you are taking anabolic steroids and/or spending 4-6 hours per day lifting. Men will but women just don't have the genetics nor the testosterone in sufficient quantity to bulk up. I've trained women who, by the end of the training, could lift as much or more than some guys but all they did was end up supertoned.
If I can offer some encouragement, my culinary proficient BAMA chick, is that you not return to your "comfort zone". Exercise harder. Stay on Phase II and don't give up until you reach your objective. Everyone reaches plateaus in weight loss and in weight training. The key is to be patient and your body will eventually respond as you wish.
Roll Tide
BIG D
I've been to your lovely state twice but always in the southern end. I'd love to visit Yosemite and the Bay Area. I'm a bit reluctant in that southern people are generally conservative and I'd stick out in the Bay Area like Hank Williams at a rap concert. Now, San Diego and Camp Pendalton folks are more my kind of people!
We'll be adding to the links. Feel free to drop in and peruse them anytime and to drop a line here when you want to "jaw" awhile.
BIG D
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