another newbie

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2006
another newbie
7
Mon, 08-07-2006 - 12:53am

Heya ladies. Another newbie here. I've been doing a bit of research on different diet plans, talking to my doctor and seeing what my healthy options are for losing weight. I've decided on the South Beach Diet, and tomorrow will be my first day.

I'm at the point where I'm excited about it - the menus look good, I've done the grocery shopping, and DH is supportive. I just know that a few days into it, I'm going to get discouraged, lazy, and unenthusiastic. But right now I'm trying to focus my energy on being positive and eager to get started, seeing this as a good thing and not a restrictive, horrible thing. Which it doesn't have to be.

I spent the weekend saying "goodbye" to some of my favorites for a while - Wendy's hamburgers, ice cream, fruits - tonight I had a big Italian pasta dinner complete with garlic bread and tiramisu (Super Yum!). Tomorrow I begin the two week intro phase to SBD, but I thought I'd drop in now, say "howdy" and see what's going on before I get started. I've been on a couple of other iVillage message boards (South Beach Diet, and Plus-Size Friends TTC) and it's been a great experience. I've got a lot to lose, and a lot of medical issues that will hopefully resolve themselves as the weight comes off (high blood pressure, acid reflux, infertility). And, when I have kids of my own, I want to be living a healthy lifestyle and pass *that* legacy on to them, instead of a legacy of unhealthy eating habits.

So that's about it. And I wish you all luck on your own journeys towards happier health. =)

~ Jessica


visit my family blog at: lifeinthefunzone.blogspot.co

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: rathgr1th
Mon, 08-07-2006 - 8:17am
Welcome aboard! I found this board a few weeks ago and really like it here. South Beach is one of the few plans I haven't tried so I'll be watching your progress with curiosity. All the best, Annie
A
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2006
In reply to: rathgr1th
Mon, 08-07-2006 - 10:01pm
Welcome aboard and the best of luck to you!!1

Angela


Test.jpg






My first Goal (10%)




My Final Weight Goal




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Angela

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-01-2006
In reply to: rathgr1th
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 2:37pm

Hey there!


A belated welcome to you, and how's it going with South Beach?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-15-2006
In reply to: rathgr1th
Fri, 08-18-2006 - 7:49pm

Welcome!

I am new to the board myself, and it is everything I hoped it would be. Everyone is ultra-supportive and knows exactly what it's like to be in your shoes. It sounds like you're already on the right track. It's great that you're excited to start your weight loss journey, because it is an exciting process.

Good luck, and keep posting,
Dianne
318/243/165

Avatar for sohappilyme
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: rathgr1th
Sat, 08-19-2006 - 4:17pm

Welcome!

Sarah
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2006
In reply to: rathgr1th
Sun, 08-20-2006 - 1:25am

lovely_misha

SBD is going well, but this was a tough week. PMS hit me hard core, and unfortunately a bag of Fritos and a bar of chocolate are not on the "approved" list. ;-) I made it though, strong in my resolve, and honestly most of the time I don't feel like I'm on a "diet." I look at it as a new way of looking at food, and building a new relationship with how I eat.

AND, it gives me permission to "cheat." Tonight was a long day of hard work (painting our family room and other home rennovations), at the end of a long week (PMS, for example, LOL), and I was tired and hungry and discouraged. I had myself a big BBQ dinner, complete with ribs and fries and garlic bread. It was super yummy, and I don't feel bad about it at all. Tomorrow I will eat "better," and my husband can have my leftovers. Monday I start Phase II of SBD, and I'll be able to face that with a strengthened resolve.

When you have over 100 lbs to lose, the thought of living on a strict diet for over a year can be very daunting. I hate to think I'll have to live without my favorites for that long. But another book I'm reading, "The Cheater's Diet," suggests treating a diet like a job - feel free to take weekends off. Not completely binging, but allowing yourself to indulge a bit. People tend to lose more that way, the book suggests, because they don't burn out on their diets and give up.

I'm sure it doesn't work for everyone. It would be tempting for me to fall off the wagon and never get back on. But if I can see it more as stepping off the wagon for a meal, then getting right back on, then I think it could be a good strategy for me.

I encourage you to try South Beach. Seriously, the menus are wonderful and I've lost 10 lbs in two weeks. It gives you the flexibility to eat some really good food, the first phase is only two weeks long (you can do anything for two weeks), and it really isn't too restrictive. Most restaurants understand a "low carb" diet, and can make accommodations when you'd rather have a salad or veggies than a potato or fries. It's the only diet I can actually stick to, because of the flexibility. I may have cheated a little tonight, but I don't feel like I blew it, because I can pick it up again tomorrow and know that I have the freedom to make my own choices about how to approach the diet.

Now I sound like a SBD Evangelist, LOL. It took me about two months of looking into it before setting a date to start and actually doing it. Different things work for different people, but if you are looking into this, I'm happy to give you a positive review. =)

~ Jessica


visit my family blog at: lifeinthefunzone.blogspot.co

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-01-2006
In reply to: rathgr1th
Sun, 08-20-2006 - 8:38am

Congratulations for sticking to plan in the face of raging hormones!