Going strong

Well hello everyone! I have fallen off the calorie count wagon for quite some time. I think the last time that I logged in was in 2006.

I've started dieting again, after gaining an ungodly amount of weight from the holidays. Plus, in the midst of all this, I moved into a new house and for 2 weeks it was McDonald's here, Sonic there, Burger King, Hardee's. Anything quick and cheap so we could keep working. I didn't realize how detrimental all of these "quick" meals were. They sure did add on the pounds "quickly" as well.

With the help of a friend, I have started the South Beach diet. At first, I didn't think that I could do it. No carbs? Yeah right!! I considered myself a carb addict. But, here I am 3 weeks later, and I have lost 12.6 lbs. I have never been more excited about a diet, words I never thought I'd hear myself say. But, it actually has triggered some type of change in my thought process and I can actually say, I enjoy eating the healthier foods. I have fallen off the wagon a couple of times, but thankfully there has been no real detrimental effects on my overall weight loss. Plus, the foods made me feel gross and sick to my stomach.

Just wanted to post something to maybe start some type of support system. I have quite a ways to go... 79 pounds. I know it is not going to happen tomorrow. Just so long as it happens, I'm happy.

Please be very careful on SB. I've never tried it, but I've met a lot who have. It seems once you re-introduce carbs. you start gaining weight back two fold. A healthy diet and exercise is the only way to loose weight and KEEP it off. You must live a healthy lifestyle to accomplish this. That is why most diets fail. Someone tells you what foods to eat, then when you deveiate, you gain it all back plus some.

BG

that's right, kjowers. bgerding2 is right. if you want to stay slim for the rest of your life you need to establish the right habits NOW. not just make a temporary change.

so, i'd suggest you just start logging in, and keep track of everything. and try to get a nice ratio of fats, carbs, and protein. (i think 50 carb 25 fats and 25 protein works best, but everybody's different.)

of course, also figure out what your calorie allowance should be, and try to keep it at around 500 to 1000 calories deficit.

welcome back!

I do appreciate your input. However, I really do feel as though I am establishing the RIGHT eating habits. I get plenty of protein in the day through eggs, egg beaters, and lean cut meats. I eat vegetables at lunch and dinner and even snack on them in the afternoon. I eat fruits, I eat real oatmeal, not the instant stuff that is packed with sugars. I am able to eat bran cereal and whole grain bread.  To me, it's not a diet; it's a change in eating habits. This program has helped me to lower the intake of fried foods and processed foods. I don't eat anything that is loaded with sugars.... isn't that what the right habits are?

This isn't something that I can do and then, when I hit my target, am able to go back to the old habits. I will maintain this for the rest of my life. I am teaching my body and brain to rely on the good carbs, not the processed ones. And regarding falling off the wagon and gaining everything back, I have deviated from the diet a couple of times now. When I do, I get back on the wagon the next day and am still seeing an overall weight loss... not gain.

Are you in phase 2 of South Beach?

Although I think phase 1 is very restrictive, I think phase 2 with some modications can lead to very healthy eating...

My eating is actually pretty similar to phase 2 although I knew nothing of South Beach when I started and created my eating plan on my own.  I eat more whole greains and fruits than you are allowed with South Beach and less cheese, but other than that I follow something similar.  because I eat more whole grains and less meat, my ratios are very similar to those that elin suggests.

I eat a lot of whole grains, lean meats, veggies, fruit, raw nuts, low fat dairy and legumes and feel that I have truly reached a balance with healthy eaiting.