Can Phase 1 go longer than 2 weeks?

[jfrue610]

I'm only on day 3 and I am sure by the time this week is over, I will be counting down the days I can eat a piece of bread...but just wondering if anyone has done phase 1 longer?
Is it safe to do this?

BTW, never read the book, just went on the southbeach diet plan website and followed the guidelines, so if I am missing the big picture, sorry!

After 2 weeks of doing phase 1, I am afraid of just gaining weight back once I eat carbs again.

[makkat]

Phase 1 is intended to rid your body of cravings for sugar I believe. I think as long as you feel good enough to move on you are supposed to. I have also heard that sticking it out for another week if you feel neccessary will not hurt you.

People also do a week of phase 1 when they fall off the wagon later down the road. Your cravings will (if they haven't yet) go away. I am day on day 10 and am SURROUNDED by things I can engorge in if I wanted. But, I can honestly say I don't want them at all.

So, I guess you have to do what your body is telling you to do. If you are in good shape...move on!! Just don't take in too much too soon...that's the secret and rule!!

[jfrue610]

Yes, that would make sense not to just eat a bunch of carbs once Phase 2 starts.

I have a feeling I will start Phase 2 as scheduled because it feels like weight is coming off pretty quick and part of me is freaking out about how fast it is coming off. I haven't acutally weighed myself but my tummy is flat.

Woo hoo!

A friend of mine at work told me that whenever she falls off the wagon she restarts with Phase 1 and she's back on the plan again. She's been doing this for 4 years now and the weight has stayed off. I love to hear things like that!

[Jilly_Bean]

I love hearing good stories like that too.

It is strongly recommended in the book that you do Phase 1 no longer than the two weeks. Going back on it after having things that might start up your cravings again (ie, refined carbs) is considered okay, again for no longer than two weeks and maybe not even that long.

[RedRox]

I've been in maintenance mode for about 3.5 years or so and maintain pretty well although I always gain a bit over the end of the year holidays when we visit my parents! Not their fault. They don't force me to eat the stollen and spritz cookies! LOL!! I just typically do a tighter P2 when we get back. My wife restarted with P1 this time though, although she has been veering considerably more off plan than I was for the last few months! But yeah it is possible to both lose and maintain with this program. The key is simply understanding that you can't eat like you did before and staying in a "semi-relaxed" P2 and keeping active. Well that is what works for me anyway!

But yeah P1 is designed for 2 weeks. And it is designed more to get rid of physical food based cravings by evening out your blood sugar levels than it is for weight loss. It's actually pretty common to stop losing in the 2nd week of P1 at some point and staying in P1 longer doesn't really improve your odds of losing more, more quickly. Despite the publisher's claims of "lose 8-13 lbs in 2 weeks!" it was never designed to be a quick weight loss program. Which is kind of why it works as a long term plan! LOL!!

If by "carbs" you mean breads and pastas and grains, then realize you don't have to add those things in right away. The categories are listed as Fruits and Starches to start adding back in. You can start with a serving of fruit once a day for the first week. Pair it with some good fats or protein though to limit the glycemic impact. Starches can be starchy veggies. It's a good time of year for winter squashes and most long term beachers come to enjoy their sweet potatoes! (I like mine with a little dab o' smart balance and cinnamon). When venturing into the world of grains, try whole grains more in their whole format first. Steel cut (best) or rolled/old fashioned (good) oats, barley and the supergrain that is really a seed, quinoa and brown rice, among others, are all good choices for whole grains. The more you have to chew something the longer it will take to digest and be better for you. Whole wheat breads, pastas and so forth can come in later when you are more in a P2 groove and aren't so scared of "carbs" anymore! Really our bodies and brains do need carbs to function efficiently. We just have to choose the right kinds and eat them in appropriate portion sizes. If we had done that all along, we probably wouldn't all be meeting on message boards like this!
????: South Beach Diet Forums http://www.southbeachdietbulletinboard.com/south-beach-diet-forums-phase-1/2379-can-phase-1-go-longer-than-2-weeks.html

good luck!