Extending Phase 1?

[luvbug412]

I've seen mixed information on extending phase 1.

That two weeks are good and you should move onto phase 2 but I also just read were it's "OK" to extend Phase 1 if you have +100 lbs to lose (which I do) or are morbidly obese (my 6ft. height saves me from this - for now).

Would extending phase 1 help or hurt? Anyone have any experience with this?

[paintedbliss]

When I started south beach first time around I did do this for 3 weeks for a couple of reasons. For one I had lost a decent amount of weight and wanted it to continue. Two, my dh had joined me and felt he needed another week so I decided to stay for a little longer. I did not lose any more weight that 3rd week, my body needed more food and actually it was not until I started phase 2 that the pounds started coming off again. I really do not reccomend that you do more than two weeks of phase 1. I recomend you do phase 2 slowly, what I call a phase one and 1/2. I just started adding one fruit the first few days. The next week I would have two fruits, then a grain such as sweet potato, then rice and lastly bread. I just recently started having breads/cereals and do it in small amounts and this is my 6th week. Some people like to go directly for oatmeal that first week but that should be one of your last products. Everyone is different and this is my opinion, and sometimes you might have to experiment a little bit to see what works for you.

[RedRox]

A Q&A with Dr. A on the topic from another board...

Q: This lifestyle is wonderful. I lost 8 pounds the first week and have no more cravings. My question is: Is it ok to do Phase 1 for more than 2 weeks?

Dr. Agatson: If you have a great deal of weight to lose it is okay to extend Phase 1 to three weeks or longer. The problem is that continued rapid weight loss can make it more difficult to maintain. In general, pounds that are lost more slowly are more easily kept off. If one is losing weight rapidly, it is particularly important to exercise because this helps maintain lean body mass and thereby helps keep our metabolism at a high level.

But also he adds this from the other perspective:

Los Angeles, CA: Must Phase One last two weeks, or will one week suffice?

Dr. Arthur Agatston: Remember that the purpose of Phase 1 is to get rid of cravings and this is generally associated with loss of belly fat. Once cravings have disappeared it is fine to proceed to Phase 2.

So if it takes longer to lose the food based cravings, then staying in P1 is
"OK" for that purpose. I wouldn't necessarily stay in it simply for the purpose of additional weight loss, because you may find it doesn't achieve that anyway. Or you might. Just hard to say. My view is if you are still eating according to P2 SBD prinicples 6 and 12 months from now, it really doesn't make that much of a difference with a week or two here or there in P1. To me the "real" program is P2 where we learn to eat a balanced meal plan that supports and nourishes us without bringing back food based cravings. So we need to get to that process at some point and too long in P1 can be detrimental to both metabolism and body functions if stayed in too long.

Do what feels "right" to you is usually a good approach!

[RunnerKim]

You know, I am only a few days away from P2 but I moved on already. When I was able to make sugar cookies w/ royal icing with my 2 daughters and not even lick the spoon or take a bite I knew my cravings were gone. So I started by adding 1 fruit in a day and lo and behold my scale started moving again! I haven't added any grains yet and will probably wait until my actual P2 date to do so. Go for it. Your body needs the fruit and grains anyway.

[k.s.e.live]

good job kicking the sugar cookies!
those are hard to resist this time of year....

we had extra teens around the house this morning (everyone is snowed in) and they went out for krispy kreme donuts. they brought back a box for the rest of us (we have little guys too) and i wasn't even tempted.

alas, i have had carmel corn today though

[AprilDraven]

The first time I tried the diet I stayed on phase 1 for 6 weeks and lost a little over 20 lbs. This time the weight isn't dropping off as quickly as it did before so I guess it all depends on how your body reacts to the diet at the time. If you extend it to 3 weeks and it is slowing down then just go on to phase 2 but if you are still losing a lot by all means continue that is my advise. Good Luck.

[RunnerKim]

Originally Posted by k.s.e.live

good job kicking the sugar cookies!
those are hard to resist this time of year....

we had extra teens around the house this morning (everyone is snowed in) and they went out for krispy kreme donuts. they brought back a box for the rest of us (we have little guys too) and i wasn't even tempted.

alas, i have had carmel corn today though

Thanks! I'm SO proud of myself. There they sit on the counter...nobody would know if I had one (or 10!) except me and that's all its taking. No temptations. I won't say they don't look good but I made the SBD P1 peanut butter cookies and when I feel I need one I eat one of those. They are so good!!!! I used PB2 instead of natural peanut butter because the carbs are only 3.7g and the calories are only 57 for 2 tbsp! that stuff rocks but not sure if its definitely P1 allowable.