Starting today - P1 - welcome back, old friend.
I was successful 18 months ago with a 24 pound loss - gained some back - and now I'm in the full throes of a sugar frenzy and my pants don't fit.

So, here I am, again. This is my first time going back to strict P1. I didn't journal last time. However, last time there was a LOT more activity on this bulletin board. I did check in several times daily because I did find a lot of advice and enthusiasm here. This time it's a little quieter. So I'm starting my journal to see if this helps.

I am an ER nurse so I work crazy hours and that can be hard on the snacking habits. But, so far today I have had 4 oz protein for breakfast with coffee, Splenda and milk. Went to the gym for a 30 minute treadmill walk/run and situps. Then to the grocery store to stock up for success.

I remember last time that I spent a whole lot of time cleaning veggies and bagging up food. If I didn't plan snacks for the day I went right for the chocolate and potato chips. Not a lot at a time but a few handfuls a day. Guess that's where the weight gain started creeping up.

So I do work tonight and for supper I'll have a large salad with fava beans and cottage cheese for dressing. Some sunflower seeds and olives for crunch.

Snacks at work will be hummus and celery and some laughing cow. (Oh, I will have egg whites scrambled with laughing cow prior to going to work). I drink tons of water at work, so that's good and I have one diet pop/day.

I remember feeling awful for 2 days last time I was in P1 and then gloriously the cravings went away and I felt so darn free to not be a slave to food. Looking forward to 2 days from now because the next couple of days are gonna suck.

Also remember that beans and yogurt warded off the SB flu which I got bad the first time. Also, I do work out 1 hour/day 5 days/week and want to keep that up. So I'll need a lot of good carbs so I don't poop out on the run.
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/journal-your-way-thin/1826-my-journey-thin-summer.html

Til tomorrow.

Glad to see a fellow beacher so ready to start!!!

Welcome back and if you need anything, I'm here...but it sounds like you already know what's up & how it works...keep us posted on how it's going! You'll drop those 11 lbs in no time flat with your great outlook!...keep up the good work!

__________________

(Because I STAYED Determined!)

Thanks for the support, T. I really appreciate hearing from you or anyone. It's bound to be more successful when I have people to bounce ideas off of. And I saw your before and after pictures - wow! Congrats to you!

Yesterday went pretty good. Stayed on course until midnight at work when one of the doctors brought out gourmet chocolate for all the nurses. omigod! Midnight chocolate in a busy ER???? No mercy! So, I tasted one piece (it was heavenly, by the way) and left it at that. I don't feel bad. I stopped at one. So there's my bad move. The rest of the day stayed on track. I brough many healthy snacks to work with me and that's my key to staying on track. I must have a healthy option or else I will eat whatever is laying around. Nurses...we are terrible at having food laying around and it's never good food. Always chips, chocolate, etc.
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/showthread.php?t=1826

Just had my coffee and egg whites with laughing cow cheese and 1 T of grated parmesan for texture.

Going for a 3 miles run with my workout buddy.

Lunch will be baked salmon fillet with leeks and supper will be a big salad.
Planned snacks today will be cheese sticks, celery and hummus, walnuts and yogurt.

That covers my yogurt and bean serving to ward of SB flu. I have a really busy day planned so I will have an easier time staying on track since I won't be home to snack.

I'll check in later. After today the cravings should start to diminish considerably - that will be great. Getting over these 2 days is the hardest part. So far so good.

Starting to think about cute summer clothes!!!

Yesterday went great! No cheating. Boy, but did I ever eat often and alot. Lots of veggies and I salmon. Also knocked out a 3 mile run, pushups, leg work and some abs.

I know it's not my imagination - my tummy feels flatter already.

Today will be soooooooo challenging. I have a luncheon meeting (eating before I go so I won't even accept a lunch at the meeting or else my plate will be filled with breat, fruit and dessert - all no-nos). Then at work tonight one of the nurses is retiring so there will be a pizza party with root beer floats, cake, etc, etc. I'm bringing and meat and cheese platter for the party and will take my own snacks. But that stuff will be staring me in the face all night. blech!
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/showthread.php?t=1826

In the past I have taped a piece of paper above the food table with my name and a big red X through my name so that everyone knows I'm not allowed to take any of the food on the table. Then everyone polices the table and busts me if I start eating. I think I'll have to do that tonight. I really don't want to screw up on day 3 because from my experience it only gets easier from now until about day 10. I remember it getting hard again on day 10 last time because I got so bored with the food and got lazy about all the shopping and chopping a bagging of food that I have to do in order to succeed on this plan.

No exercise today - I rest 2 days/week to keep my aging joints from injury. Although working a 12 hour shift in a busy ER can feel like running a marathon!
menu-
eggwhites with laughing cow, cappucino and splenda, celery and hummus, yogurt
salad with all the allowed fixins and grilled chicken breast
cheese stick
salad for supper with lots of beans
flax seed muffin with walnuts for work treat

I eat A LOT of P1!

I made it through the meeting without eating anything. Ended up to be a 2 hour meeting with pizza 6 inches in front of me for 2 hours. Actually didn't find it to be much of a struggle - are craving starting to subside????????

Now, I have some prep to do before my 8 hour shift full of party food. ugh. I feel much better about myself over the past 3 days. Not as much negative self talk and I feel more in control.

__________________
This summer is for fun, not for feeling bad about how I look.

SWEET!! You made it past pizza heaven!!???/

YOU ROCK!!! GREAT JOB RESISTING!!! Keep it up my friend...resisting food tonight should be a "piece of cake" for ya...no pun intended...lol

I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT MY FRIEND!!! :Hug1:

__________________

(Because I STAYED Determined!)

Whew! Just home from work and proud to announce that I did not cheat at all today. Suvived pizza lunch and potluck at work (included all my fav foods) but found the cravings were not too bad. I did bring lots of P1 snacks and snacked a lot at work so I felt a part of the party - just made different food choices.

There were a couple people who tried to get me to cheat "just this one time". Stinkers. That's not fair. I just told them I was determined to stick this out for 2 weeks come h@!! or high water. They let it go easily.

Tomorrow is a super busy day so I'll have to be careful to avoid cheating by poor planning. Good luck to anyone and everyone reading this. I didn't think journaling would be very helpful, but I think differently now. I need to talk this thing out and plan. Nobody wants to hear about my diet in my "real life" but here I can get the thinking and venting an brainstorming done is an environment meant for just that.
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/showthread.php?t=1826

Be sure to post if you are reading because we really need some lively conversation and success stories here!

__________________
This summer is for fun, not for feeling bad about how I look.

Ok, so I made it through day 4 successfully. Whew.
Work was so crazy busy last night that I didn't get a chance to sit and eat at all. Of course there were M&Ms and jelly beans and chocolate covered macadamian nuts and Triscuits on the counter for munching. ugh!
But I stayed away. I wanted to eat a big salad but never had time to get it so I ordered a cheeseburger with mushrooms and onions (no bun of course) and ate that piece by piece for 3 hours. Managed to stay away from all the junk. Thank goodness the cravings are gone. But one piece and I would be finished and I would eat 8 more.

However, it was not good for me to only have one burger in 12 hours. I really need to eat more frequently than that. After work I stopped by a birthday party for a dear friend (had it at a bar with a band playing). There was cake and crepes and sweets. Man, it never stops. But I just had a beer and went home. Okay - hold the phones - yes I had a beer. Good thing was it didn't cause me to eat anything else. And I talked to my dear friend who owns the bar I was at (1 mile from my house and my hangout for music) and she will start stocking diet tonic for me so when I go I can have diet tonic and lime or maybe a splash of vodka. I know it's not allowed on P1. Honestly I did have some drinks the first time through P1 and managed to lose a lot of weight - so I'm cheating with the occasional drink.
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/showthread.php?t=1826

Weighed yesterday (day 4) and lost 2.5 pounds already!
Ran 2.5 miles with my workout buddy and plan another 3 mile run today.
Also going to ab workout at the fitness center.

Tomorrow I think it will be nice enough here to get the rollerblades on and get a good 10 miles skate in. I've been very active and fit despite my 181 pounds and I just know that underneath this layer of pudge there is firm muscle so if I can just get that 11 pounds off - oh, wait, 8.5 pounds now - the muscle should start to show.

I really think I can maintain at 170. I am 42 years old and 5'6" and know I should weigh more like 160 but that just seems to unreal to me that I don't want to think about that now. Maybe at 170 I'll reassess. I really need to learn to maintain better before I worry about losing more than 11 pounds.

I never made it to P3 last time. I went from P2 back to old habits. So...this time I want to do it differently because I don't want to keep losing the same 10 pounds the rest of my life!!!

Menu:
scrambled eggs with cheese and yogurt with pecans
cappacino with Splenda and milk
not sure about lunch - I'll have to eat out after my run so I'll need to think about that a little bit...
celery and hummus and broccoli for snacks
cheese stick
supper will be grilled chicken breast with huge salaed

lunch out...hhmmmmmm...I think I'll run to the deli at the grocery and get a baked chicken breast and some veggie salad from the deli - we have a great deli here and I can get ingredient lists to check before eating.

There - lots of chicken today, I guess.

Weekend coming up and no work - woohoo! But lots of time to snack - so I'll be checking in regularly for support and encouragement.

__________________
This summer is for fun, not for feeling bad about how I look.

ah...phase 3....

I can't wait to get there and try some new foods...Last time I reached my goal weight...I too fell off the wagon...never even attempted phase 3...guess I should have celebrated w/my phase 3 menu instead of my same old eating habbits....I re-gained about 50 lbs back in 4 months....WHAT THE HELL!!??? YIKES! NOT THIS TIME SISTER! I can't wait to try that phase 3 menu now...I am SO going to do it right this time...I don't wanna keep putting on & taking off my same 50 lbs. either!...lol
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/showthread.php?t=1826

Nice job resisting at work by the way...it's tough...my co-worker just tried to shove some cookies at me as I was reading your journal...I said...see, your just as bad as these girls setting food out all night long!....anyhow, thanks for posting about it...it was perfect timing for me to read it...helped me resist as well. Keep up the good work and keep us....'posted'...lol

__________________

(Because I STAYED Determined!)

Boy, this is going by fast.
Did great yesterday. Got my 3 mile run in and didn't cheat. Woke this morning feeling thin. You know that great feeling when you wake up without regret about the 1/2 bag of potato chips and chocolate chips you ate at midnight the night before??? So much better toa wkae up saying to myself "Good job" instead of "Why did you sabatoge yourself like that?"

Spring has sprung around here and I am dying to get on the roller blades today. First day warm enough to skate! I love to rollerblade. Cover a lot of ground and we have a lovely 14 mile trail that follows the lakefront through the woods that I just love to skate.

I was thinking this morning about why I've been able to have some success in P1 this time. I've said to myself "Today is the day to start" many many times over the past 14 months. Then by noon I have cheated. I do believe that the difference this time has been 2 things:
1) Announcing to friends that I've started this diet so I'm accountable
2) Using this journal and this bulletin board for ideas and encouragement

So, here's to a successful day.

Menu:
egg whites, cheese, cappacino and yogurt with pecans
cheese stick and celery with hummus
going to an open house this noon where they will be serving smoked meats and cole slaw and beans. So I should be able to survive that without falling off the wagon - but I'll probably stay away from beans and be careful about the coleslaw because it seems like a lot of people use sugary dressings with beans and coleslaw. I'll have to test the waters...
roasted garbanzo beans (yyuuuuummmmmmmmmyyyyyyy)
grilled pork chop with steamed green beans
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/showthread.php?t=1826
yogurt

__________________
This summer is for fun, not for feeling bad about how I look.