I will be starting phase 2 tomorrow. I am pretty nervous about adding carbs and fruit. I have read everything in the Getting Started Post and it was really helpful. I just don't want to mess up and eat too much of something, you know?
My best advise is - sometimes I wish phase 1 didn't exist. If I had it to do over I wouldn't even have bothered with phase 1. It "trains" us to think that whole grains/starches and fruit are the enemy and that the less you eat of them the faster you lose. Fruits and starches aren't "treats" we get to add back in phase 2. They are very important and healthy foods to fuel our metabolism and HELP us lose weight.
I lost 8lbs on phase 1, which was great. But I lost 58lbs on PHASE 2 - eating THREE fruits AND THREE grains, each and every day. Actually, I switched to phase 3 last Sept, adding in more grains, 4 or 5 servings per day - and that is when I lost the last 15lbs.
I'll tell a story - my MIL. She did what she thought was South Beach about 1.5 yrs ago. She just read the book and didn't have a site like this. She did phase 1 and thought - "hey, I'm losing quickly in phase 1 - why bother going to phase 2? This way I will lose even quicker" She did that for a few months and lost about 35lbs...thought she was doing great - and then BOOM. It stopped. No more losing. Then, even though she was eating the same things, she started gaining it all back. By staying in phase 1 too long, and depriving her body of those important nutrients she totally slowed her metabolism and it caused her to back track all the way to where she started. After seeing my success, I finally convinced her to add healthy fruits, and whole grains to her diet. Once she did that - she started losing again. Its taken her longer now to undo all the damage she had done by depriving herself of those foods, but its coming off again.
None of us got fat from eating 1/2 cup brown rice or steel cut oatmeal. We got where we were on JUNK - whether its high fat, white starches, fast food, donuts, candy, soda, etc. that expanded your waistline - it wasn't fruit and whole grains. None of the foods that are "bad" for us are allowed back in phase 2 - so don't worry! There are no Big Macs or pastries on the phase 2 list, so you will be fine!
MichaelAnn, thank you SO much. I really needed that. I know this isn't my thread, but I wanted to thank you for putting phase 2 into perspective for me. I have been feeling guilty today because I ate 3 grain servings instead of 2. Feeling like I cheated and was weak! OK, so I only meant to eat 2....but I didn't eat anything awful. Oatmeal, a slice of WW bread from the health store, and some brown rice. I really wanted that rice. Better than a cookie, right? Yes, I was a little weak, and I was feeling like I should throw in the towel....but no so much anymore.
Krissy--don't worry! You will love phase 2 and all of the additional options it brings. Just stick to the recommended foods and you will be fine. As long as you're eating your protein and vegetable servings, you shouldn't feel the need to overeat on the whole grains and fruit. I felt the same way as you when I was about to begin phase 2--scared, and unsure of myself. This board has been extremely helpful. So just remember help is always a message away when you need it.
Thank you so much for all of your kind words~ When I read that it can mess up your metabolism to stay on phase 1, it really got me thinking and changed my attitude. I can't go through life eating just the foods on phase 1 anyway! I would go nuts!
The past couple of days I have been eating one serving of grain and one serving of fruit. I also added nonfat, flavored, (no high fructose cornsyrup) yogurt. It's been great and so far my weight has stayed the same.
Thanks again for all your support. I love this board!!
My best advise is - sometimes I wish phase 1 didn't exist. If I had it to do over I wouldn't even have bothered with phase 1. It "trains" us to think that whole grains/starches and fruit are the enemy and that the less you eat of them the faster you lose. Fruits and starches aren't "treats" we get to add back in phase 2. They are very important and healthy foods to fuel our metabolism and HELP us lose weight.
I lost 8lbs on phase 1, which was great. But I lost 58lbs on PHASE 2 - eating THREE fruits AND THREE grains, each and every day. Actually, I switched to phase 3 last Sept, adding in more grains, 4 or 5 servings per day - and that is when I lost the last 15lbs.
I'll tell a story - my MIL. She did what she thought was South Beach about 1.5 yrs ago. She just read the book and didn't have a site like this. She did phase 1 and thought - "hey, I'm losing quickly in phase 1 - why bother going to phase 2? This way I will lose even quicker" She did that for a few months and lost about 35lbs...thought she was doing great - and then BOOM. It stopped. No more losing. Then, even though she was eating the same things, she started gaining it all back. By staying in phase 1 too long, and depriving her body of those important nutrients she totally slowed her metabolism and it caused her to back track all the way to where she started. After seeing my success, I finally convinced her to add healthy fruits, and whole grains to her diet. Once she did that - she started losing again. Its taken her longer now to undo all the damage she had done by depriving herself of those foods, but its coming off again.
None of us got fat from eating 1/2 cup brown rice or steel cut oatmeal. We got where we were on JUNK - whether its high fat, white starches, fast food, donuts, candy, soda, etc. that expanded your waistline - it wasn't fruit and whole grains. None of the foods that are "bad" for us are allowed back in phase 2 - so don't worry! There are no Big Macs or pastries on the phase 2 list, so you will be fine!
spring06sig2
Hi Krissy,
MichaelAnn said it perfectly.
MichaelAnn, thank you SO much. I really needed that. I know this isn't my thread, but I wanted to thank you for putting phase 2 into perspective for me. I have been feeling guilty today because I ate 3 grain servings instead of 2. Feeling like I cheated and was weak! OK, so I only meant to eat 2....but I didn't eat anything awful. Oatmeal, a slice of WW bread from the health store, and some brown rice. I really wanted that rice. Better than a cookie, right? Yes, I was a little weak, and I was feeling like I should throw in the towel....but no so much anymore.
Laurie
LAURIE IN OH, Mom to:
Alex, 1
Hi Krissy,
It's a pretty common fear, unfortunately.
Krissy--don't worry! You will love phase 2 and all of the additional options it brings. Just stick to the recommended foods and you will be fine. As long as you're eating your protein and vegetable servings, you shouldn't feel the need to overeat on the whole grains and fruit. I felt the same way as you when I was about to begin phase 2--scared, and unsure of myself. This board has been extremely helpful. So just remember help is always a message away when you need it.
Good luck!
Kate
Thank you so much for all of your kind words~ When I read that it can mess up your metabolism to stay on phase 1, it really got me thinking and changed my attitude. I can't go through life eating just the foods on phase 1 anyway! I would go nuts!
The past couple of days I have been eating one serving of grain and one serving of fruit. I also added nonfat, flavored, (no high fructose cornsyrup) yogurt. It's been great and so far my weight has stayed the same.
Thanks again for all your support. I love this board!!
Krissy,
You've got the right attitude now.