Tips For Beginners

[nancy]

Originally Posted by cyn

My husband and I just started phase 1 today and I need to know if it is ok to drink Diet Ginger Ale (it is diet and caffeine free)? Cyndi

Hi, Cyndi. Welcome to our board!

Yes, diet sugar-free drinks are fine (no SBD limit). It's recommended to have no more than 1 to 2 servings (8 ounces each) of caffeine per day.

[cyn]

thank you so much! I could not just drink water, I have been drinking tons of water yesterday and will today, but with dinner I like something besides water. Thankfully Diet Ginger Ale in suger free and caffeine fee.

cyndi

[missbree]

Hello! I am new to the boards - I started phase 1 ten days ago and have been SO GOOD - I have never stuck to a diet this well before. But I am becoming frustrated because I have not lost a pound yet...how is this possible? I am 5'2", weigh 131 pounds and want to lose 16 pounds to end up at 115. I have only been eating lean meats, lowfat cheese, lots of veggies and nuts and lots of water. My usual eating habits include lots of carbs (bread, pasta, rice) and sugars ( I am a chocoholic) - so I expected some change in weight by now because this change in diet has been so drasic for me. Might my lack of lost pounds have something to do with the fact that I am PMS-ing? I was feeling very frustrated and dicouraged today, and now I am guilty because I indulged in a South Beach Diet High Protein Cereal Bar, which isn't allowed until phase 2. and now I am panicking that I totally ruined my good behavior over the past 10 days. Help!

[Mindy moves on!]

Missbree post your daily menu -- inlcuding portion sizes, so we can take a look at what you are eating to better give you an action plan to go forward. If everything checks out I'd say hang in there and stay with the plan. If it is close to that time of the month then you might see a significant loss after you go through your cycle.

Unless you have already rid yourself of sugar and carbs prior to Phase one it would be unusual not to drop weight as this is a detox phase. And the weight you lose during Phase 1 is primarily water weight. So we have to find out why you are retaining that water.

Could be several reasons - either you aren't eating enough calories daily, too many calories daily or some of the foods you are eating may not be appropriate.

We'll figure this out. Haven't lost a dieter yet!!

[missbree]

Hi Mindy,
Thanks for the input. After all of that, it looks like I have lost about 5 pounds. The problem here may be lack a good consistent scale. I am going to hold off on wieghing again until Sunday, at the 2 week mark. And I will do so on a medical scale at the gym (i've been using my grandma's crappy old one). Anyway, here is a sample of what i've been eating on a typical day:

Breakfast: 2 soft boiled eggs (only one yolk), 2 slices of turkey bacon, V8 or chopped tomato & onion with my eggs
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/south-beach-diet-forums-phase-1/159-tips-beginners.html
Snack: 5-10 toasted pecans (unslated), or plain celery sticks
Lunch: Salad with greens, cucumber, sprouts, tomato, olives & vinegar + oil, 2 Tbs. hummous, can of tuna in water (drained of course)
Snack: Mushrooms dipped in garlic salsa, or one low fat mozzarella string cheese
Dinner: Grilled Chicken Breast, steamed or roasted veggies (usually aspargus, brocolli, spinach), one square of laughing cow cheese
Dessert: Sugar Free Jello or No Suagar Added Fudge Pop, small glass of skim milk

This is a typical day. I mix it up, of course. I have been eating tons of tomatoes in everything (I'm italian, i can't help it!). Should I be limiting them b/c of sugar content?

[Mindy moves on!]

First, congrats on the 5 lb loss! That is WONDERFUL!!!!

Food intake looks perfect. Though you might want to check the s/f fudge pops. If they have sugar alcohol as an ingredient -- either listed as sugar alcohol in the nutritional breakdown numbers or as an actual ingredient like maltitol or sorbitol (or some other ingredient ending in "tol", that could be why you experienced slow weight loss. Sugar alcohols stall a lot of people.

But a 5 pound loss for someone with only 15 pounds to lose is terrific! Don't be alarmed when you transition into Phase 2 if your weight loss slows as in Phase 1 this is mostly water weight you've been retaining. WELCOME the slower weight loss because you will KNOW that it is actual fat loss!!

[missbree]

I will TRY to be patient, but I have a hard time with that...I am working so hard and I need to see results to keep me motivated. But I understand that slow and steady is the way to go. I am going to be very careful with adding fruits and stratches for phase 2. I might even do phase 1 for another week. Would that be a bad idea? I am just nervous that once I have a bite of something strachy it'll be too tempting to and i'll want more more more! I guess I'll just have to be strong... I can do it! I am woman, hear me roar!!!

[Mindy moves on!]

Follow the suggested serving sizes for grains and make sure you are eating other foods to balance out your plate. We get in trouble with starches when we load them up on our plate and eat little else. Think of your starches as a side dish -- never the main plate. Like a 1/2 cup of whole wheat pasta on the side of a meat dish with lots of veggies. That way you are eating enough food to satisfy you, so it's much less tempting to over eat. And since you will have smaller serving sizes of the starches, savor them. Eat them slowly. Make them last.

And be sure to eat your snacks. Eating every few hours is the way to avoid getting hungry and overeating!!

[shanond34]

thanks for the good tips on phase 1 it will really help along the way. It seems to be pretty good so far. My only problem is the sweet craving at night. It will get better as time goes on i hope.:cloud:

[missbree]

Hi Shanon. The sweets cravings WILL get better. I am also a huge sweets person - i "have to" have something sweet after a meal, love chocolate and would prefer to eat just deserts a lot of times if I could. I had major cravings for the first few days of Phase 1, but i swear by the end of the first week they were gone. And now i'm on my third week of sbd and i don't really have them at all. it's kind of amazing. If i'm really dying i'll have a no sugar added fudgecicle and that does the job. they're yummy and allowed in moderation. and in phase two you can have sugar free, fat free chocolate pudding in moderation. And though i've never had it, the ricotta mocha cream is supposed to be pretty good and help you through the cravings (the recipe is on the boards somewhere). Also, decaf coffe with skim milk and a bit of equal helped me through cravings right after lunch and dinner.
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/showthread.php?t=159
Good luck!