What's with the tomato juice?
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| Mon, 08-14-2006 - 9:07am |
I'm Erin and I'm new here with a question, obviously. I would have started with the intro but I thought the question would generate more response. ;-)
Anyway, I'm starting South Beach today. I bought the book and either skimmed or read most of it. The thing is, my friend who turned me on to it mentioned that the V-8 gets old and it's hard getting six cups of veggies in a day. So, am I missing something?
I noticed that the Phase I menus include a cup or so of V-8 or similar juice every morning but I was unable to find a place in the book where that was listed as a specific requirement. I don't like V-8. I could choke it down if I had to but... Since I couldn't find any reference to HAVING to drink V-8 I assumed it's really about having a veggie with breakfast. Which is correct?
Since I didn't know for sure I had a poached egg over a bed of leftover steamed zucchini and summer squash (about a cup) as well as three leftover cold shrimps with a spicy pepper confit. I put the remaining confit on top of the egg to fancy it up. I made all of it with olive oil so I know it was using good fats. I had black half-caf coffee too. I don't think I can go cold turkey on coffee AND carbs at the same time. I tried going cold-turkey on coffee alone once and I could barely endure the headaches and fatigue.
I'm sure that I'll be able to get the six cups of veggies in when I'm cutting out fruit and carbs for the next couple of weeks but was I missing that requirement in the book too? I don't really have to eat exclusively according to the menus printed in the book, do I? I thought those were samples. As long as I stay away from the forbidden foods choosing only from the approved list and using the same general combinations (ie. an approved veggie with a bit of lean protein for a snack) I'm good, right? That and preparing things by steaming, grilling or sauteeing in a small amount of good fats. There are eight of us in the house and I can't imagine preparing everyone else's meals the way I'd like to eat them then preparing something I find unappetizing for myself. I can't see how I'd be able to stick to that.
TIA for your help. It turns out to be more than one question but hopefully it won't require a lot of thought or time typing for replies. If I'm on the right track, "that's right," will do.
Erin

You sound like you are on the right track.
No, you don't have to drink V8 (I won't touch the stuff with a 10-ft pole...yuck).
Jennifer
Hi Erin,
Welcome!
Thanks for the help the other day! I'm finding this board quite valuable. I'm on day three and it's going really well. I can't say I've had too many real cravings until today and they're no big deal. The first two days I felt kind of icky though. I had this lower back ache--kind of crampy--plus this generally lightheaded feeling and fatigue. I've definitely had issues with reactive hypoglycemia since my first pg (12 years ago) so I wasn't surprised by my initial reaction to the changes. But, on a positive note, having so many years experience managing it I was really well able to stave off any big hypoglycemic episodes.
Anyway, all that is gone today. I've been going since I got up this morning and I feel great. Plus, I'm already down two or two and a half pounds. I had a dream about eating a mediocre grocery-store chocolate chip cookie last night and the only slipping I've done is the kind moms do when cooking for and feeding kids. I licked baby food off my finger twice before I realized what I was doing and I took a mouthful of couscous to check the seasoning before I knew it. I caught myself and spit it in the trash. Then there was the 1/3c of red wine I used for a marinade but I don't think that counts as cheating, does it? I didn't actually DRINK the wine and most or the marinade ended up down the drain anyway. :-D
I REALLY wanted a bowl of cereal for breakfast but I think that was more about the convenience than anything else. I've already modified one recipe I was worried about changing too. I was concerned about how a sauce would come out using nonfat yogurt v. whole milk yogurt. It didn't make a difference that I could tell. It was delicious, actually. I know it's only two-and-a-half days but this is the easiest time I've ever had sticking to a diet. I think the freedom to eat WHENEVER I feel hungry and the lack of counting/journaling is making a big difference for me.
So, thanks again!
Erin
Erin,
Great post! I am glad to hear this is working for you!
Hi Erin,
Then there was the 1/3c of red wine I used for a marinade but I don't think that counts as cheating, does it?
Nope, not cheating.