I overthink things...
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I overthink things...
| Fri, 01-09-2009 - 3:54pm |
Ok, I know you remember that my weight loss has stopped/stalled/plateaued whatever you want to call it I have weighed the same since December 1st. And yes I'm challenging myself to lose 10lbs in the next 10 weeks, and so far things are going well...here comes the overthinking part ; )
Should I be doing early phase 2? One Carb and One Fruit? I looked over my journal (not very good) and I noticed I'm eating about 3 grains a day and only 1 fruit (that 1 fruit is a BIG deal for me) Seems a little unbalanced, do you think maybe I should go down to 1 grain?
Just want to get that scale moving...down! :)
Thanks!!!
Melissa
Change takes CHANGE!

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NOOOOOOO! DO NOT CUT BACK ON GRAINS.
If anything you should be increasing your fruits, one a day is not a enough, you should keep at 3 grains and get up to at least 2 fruits, 3 is better.
Less fruits and grains is not "better". "Early" phase 2 is not better, it doesn't mean quicker weight loss. The only reason for phase 1 or easing into phase 2 it to even blood sugar and correct the hunger/craving high and low cycle that most people are in. It is NOT to lose weight quicker. It has nothing to do with speeding weight loss. Once you are established in phase 2 and gotten out of the sugar high/crash cycle THERE IS NO BENEFIT to cutting back down on grains.
belizesig1
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Not only is there no benefit, it simply is not healthy to go without grains and fruit (or even limit them) for a long period of time.
Wow I'm so glad I asked!
Melissa
Change takes CHANGE!
Has the thinking changed on going back to
Melissa
Change takes CHANGE!
Yes, his thinking changed.
You have to understand the context of the first book. Dr. A is a man, he is trained in cardiology not nutrition, and he did not design South Beach to be a weight loss program.
When writing the first book, he really did not take into account the way women are with dieting. He did not foresee all the women who think they need to deprive and punish themselves to lose weight.
Here is a whole thread about why NOT to go back to phase 1, taken straight from the South Beach website:
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=iv-fbsouthbeach&msg=13298.1
belizesig1
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I was also really confused about this.
Carrie
Phase 2 and phase 3 - The difference for me...
I have been on phase 3 for 3 years now. I was on phase 2 for one year, lost 70lbs, then went to phase 3 and have easily maintained since then.
The basic philosophy is still the same: I eat tons of veggies, I choose non-fat dairy, lean protein, I choose whole grains, I eat fruit, nuts, beans, etc. I do not eat fast food, saturated fat, sugar, etc. I still exercise 4-5 days a week just like I always did - probably even more intense.
The only difference for me from phase 2 to phase 3 is that I no longer "count" anything. If I have 4 or 5 (or even 6) grains a day - fine. Honestly at this point I don't really know how many I have on a average day. I've had 4 today already, will probably have one more with dinner. I don't bother to count my veggies anymore, though out of habit I still eat about 4 cups a day. I don't count dairy, I don't measure my salad dressing or oil, I don't measure my nuts.
I'm not quite as picky when we go out - I will eat the whole grain bread at Panera even though it has 2g fiber instead of 3g (but I still don't eat the white). If I order soup and there is a bit of potato in it, I don't freak - one or two pieces won't kill me. I will sometimes have 1 corn tortilla when we have fajitas at a Mexican restaurant, but not every time, and I don't 3 or 4 like I used to before South Beach. We have a place that has a CLOSE to legal pizza crust - 2g fiber. But the cheese is not low-fat, so we go there about once every 6 weeks and I have one piece of pizza with a big salad (pre-SBD I would have just had like 4-5 pieces of pizza). I have added corn back into my diet occasionally, I sometimes throw a few corn kernels on my salad. All along, even in phase 2 I "treated" about every 3-4 weeks, that has stayed about the same frequency.
I still weigh-in daily - will do that the rest of my life. I check my body fat % frequently. I still meal plan. So not really a lot changes - just a bit more flexibility and not quite as "structured."
belizesig1
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Exactly Carrie - phase 1 is ONLY about that blood sugar cycle (what the book calls "cravings"), not weight loss.
If you have been off the plan long enough that your body has gotten back into that cycle, then a few days on phase 1 can help. But if you have been on plan, your blood sugar is stable, then going back to phase 1 or reducing fruits/grains is of no benefit at all.
belizesig1
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OMG!!!
Melissa
Change takes CHANGE!
I just had to say a BIG thank you to MichaelAnn!!!
Melissa
Change takes CHANGE!
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