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Eliz87
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 10:00 am
I got an offer in the mail from Prevention today offering a free 21-day trial of this book. Has anyone tried this diet? Is it working? It seems that the main pitch is that you can lose 13 pounds in 14 days or whatever and that it targets belly fat first (this is appealing to my husband). But is the diet something that can be followed for a long period of time and does it seem safe?
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Reader234
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 11:08 am
I've been researching this as well, on the web. What I think I've found is this is a low carb diet, (Food Network did a special on the "Low Carb Revolution, I forget when it will be repeated...) because of my hypoglycemia I've been having a problem with my sugar levels, South Beach has 3 stages... the first stage being the most restrictive, and thus fewer foods (ex absolutely no wine/alcohol in phase one, but in phase 3 1 glass is allowed) because the first stage is the most restrictive, fewer calories, you lose weight.
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Texannie
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 11:28 am
South Beach is sort of a combo of Atkins and then Sugar Busters. The stage 1 is like Atkins induction (but there is a limit on fat). The other 2 phases are very similiar to Sugar Busters where you are eating healthy starchy carbs (whole grain breads/pasta, sweet potatoes), lots of veggies, low glycemic fruits and healthy fats.
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Hereiam
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 11:36 am
I have the book and have found it informative. I have been trying the Phase 1 part for a few days. It cuts out all carbs for two weeks. I must admit the first couple days was hard for me but it is easier now. I have lost a few pounds but my goal is not really weight loss but getting healthier. I was one of those folks who skips breakfast, grabs a cookie and soda for lunch and eats a reasonable dinner and snacks on junk all evening. This diet uses the glycemic index of food to help you make healthy choices. Not all carbs are bad and in moderation things are fine. The diet seems to be low carb/good carb and I think lower fat than Atkins (but I don't really know that diet). The book includes education in the front, meal plans and recipes. The basic deal in Phase 1 is eggs or egg substitute for breakfast; morning snack - cheese stick, turkey/ham slices rolled, hummus and veggie...; lunch is a salad; afternoon snack; dinner of lean meat (chicken, beef, fish) with vegetable (broccoli, cauliflower, dark greens, tomatoes, ect...). Hope that helps. If you have questions just ask.
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Pcakes2
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 11:41 am
I started SBD in June, and I loved it. Initially I lost 30 pounds Between June 27th and Sept 1. I went off the plan, and started eating recklessly, and gained back some weight. I am going away on the 19th (and will be wearing a bathing suit), so I started on Phase 1 again on Saturday. The plan is great, and yes, if you stick to the "foods to enjoy" & "foods to avoid", you can lose 13 pounds in 2 weeks. It does not eliminate ALL carbs in the first phase, but they recommend no pasta, bread, cereal, rice or alcohol. There are many online support groups also. With this plan, you are not eating obscene amonts of any one type of food.
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Jeep
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 11:48 am
This is good info. My hubby lost 60 pounds on the Atkins diet, but I found it too restrictive to follow for a long time (plus I don't have that much to lose). The SBD sounds a little better. I just might get the book and try it.
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Hereiam
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 11:49 am
I guess it does allow limited carbs in Phase 1. Like Pcakes2 said nothing that you would actually consider a carb. No bread, cookies, pasta, rice, potatoes, ect... Certain vegetables are approved however, I guess they count as carbs. It also cuts out sugar during this time. Meats should be lean cuts and cheese lower fat (we do part-skim). My husband is doing it too and has not complained too much.
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Texannie
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 12:27 pm
I think lots of time when a way of eating says low carb, people confuse it with no carbs. First, veggies and fruits have carbs, as do breads, pastas, potatoes. What alot of these eating plans do is restrict STARCHY carbs (like white bread, white rice, potatoes), many will allow limited amounts of whole grains and beans along with the veggies and fruits. (like South Beach and Sugar Busters, even Atkins in the last phase)
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Tishala
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 1:10 pm
For those of you who want to know more about South Beach but DON'T want to buy the book, you can see all the info at THIS SITE. Scroll down to the bottom of the page where it has "general guidelines" and "foods allowed/not allowed" for each of the three phases, plus recipes. It has all the info there. It's essentially super-charged Atkins.
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Pcakes2
| Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 1:24 pm
Like I said, I love the plan. Their is a website you can subscribe to if you don't want to buy the book...I forget the cost of the site. Fruit is out on P1, but is reintroduced after the first 14 days. I never thought I was a carb-o-holic, but when I limit my intake and make smart food choices, I just feel so much better. I have once again cut out my Pepsi, and that helps also. I have/had a horrific caffeine addiction. The first time I did the SBD, I had a little headache the first 2 days...this time...nothing. Since the low carb diet craze started, I am able to find more and more high protein, low carb food options. I have a million great chicken recipes, since boneless skinless chicken breasts are a staple in my diet. Yesterday I bought some fabulous chicken/turkey sausages from Trader Joes that only have 8 grams of fat and 16 grams of protein. There are a few veggies that they recommend you not eat in the first 2 weeks...carrots, beets, sugar snap peas. You are allowed 75 calories per day in sweet treats. I noticed a lot of diet candies and other treats, while low in carbs, were wither high in fat or alcohol sugar...still don't knwo what exactly "alocohol sugar" is, but I know it can't be good for me. Instead, I have sugar free jello as my treat. If anyone wants any recipes, let me know. Someof my favorite are chinese chicken salad, chicken parmigana & chicken cordon bleu.
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Dahli
| Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 12:41 pm
The real key to remember with carbs is fibre... if it has no fibre DON"T eat it!
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Konamouse
| Friday, January 09, 2004 - 6:14 pm
Sugar Alcohols are harder to digest and absorb than mono- and disaccharides (traditional "sugars") and the FDA does not require them to be counted as "sugar" on the label - therefor the food can be called "sugar-free". You will see Maltitol, Sorbitol, Xylitol on the ingredient list. They are partitially undigested so will usually have half the amount of calories as traditional sugars when used in recipes. Don't be fooled by those "Low Carb" foods with "net carbs" listed on the label. There is no federal regulation or standardization for "low carb" and "net carbs" has never been defined either - these are marketing gimmicks to sell "low carb" foods to replace the previously eaten starchy carbs. Calories still count - and many of these items have just the same (or more) as the foods they are replacing. About the only good thing about some of them (some bread products) is that they add extra non-digestible fiber (if dietary fiber >5 g, then people with Type 1 Diabetes will subtract that number from the Total Carbohydrate before calculating their insulin dose). WARNING re "sugar-free" cakes, candies, and desserts???? Sugar alcohol will have a laxative effect if you eat more than the 1 serving as listed on the container. 'squeek'
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Costacat
| Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 10:31 am
Kona wrote: Quote: Calories still count - and many of these items have just the same (or more) as the foods they are replacing.
Thank you!! That has been my argument for longer than I can remember... to lose weight you HAVE to eat less calories than you use. Obviously, you have to be smart about those calories (eating a half dozen Krispy Kreme donuts instead of breakfast or lunch is NOT smart! <wink>). I just bought the SBD book, mostly cause I was curious. I'm hoping to start reading it this weekend (although the fact that I have to work all weekend will reduce my leisure reading time considerably, darn it!). I've been following a modified SBD diet this week (NOT the induction phase), and lost 2 lbs. Really by just reducing the amount of carbs I ate, and them also limiting my "treats" to two Hershey Kisses a day.
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Eliz87
| Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 11:18 am
But Costacat...I thought that donuts had no calories since there's holes in them. Isn't that the rule? ;-)
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Spygirl
| Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 2:25 pm
Sure is! They fall right out the middle 
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Konamouse
| Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 2:49 pm
And when you have a Diet Coke with the donuts, the calories cancel eachother out.
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Tabbyking
| Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 2:50 pm
mine land right on my middle--some people have a spare tire, i get a donut. i have had two donuts in the last 6 years... both while driving back home from vegas almost 2 years ago. man, i could sure use a donut.....
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Costacat
| Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 10:25 am
LOL. Y'all crack me UP!!! <wink>
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Cathie
| Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 10:52 am
Bottom line is calories in vs. calories out. It takes a deficit of 3500 calories to lose one pound. To calculate the calories you burn during normal daily activities multiply your current weight X 11. Example, if you weigh 140 your daily calories needed to maintain that weight are 1540. To lose one pound per week you need to deficit 500 calories a day, for a daily calorie total of 1040. You can reduce calories by reducing food intake and exercising. Calories burned during exercise figure into the daily totals. Example, you walk on the treadmill for 45 minutes and burn 300 calories. If your goal is to deficit 500 calories a day you will need to reduce food calories by 200 to go with the 300 burned in physical activity. I dieted over and over for years until I followed the basic calories in vs. calories out plan. I eat 5-7 fruits and veggies per day, lean meat, sugar frree Jello and pudding, etc. I lost 94 pounds in 8 months and am maintaining it two years later. Who knew math skills would be so important, lol. Konamouse is SO RIGHT about the sugar alcohol having an effect on your body. I am diabetic so the sugar free chocolate gets my attention, but the after effects are horrible--not worth it at all!!! p.s. Tabby, I remember the donuts on the trip back from Vegas--they were my last ones, too!!!
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Konamouse
| Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 3:14 pm
Hey Cathie - way to go! You found what worked for you, and the most important part of the war - how to keep it off. Are you going to be signed up on the National Weight Loss Registery (I think you have to have lost >30 pounds and kept it off for more than 3 years, but not sure the length of time). 'squeek'
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Tabbyking
| Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 3:29 pm
ah, cathie, i remember the company more than the donuts! i miss you! you also were my inspiration to lose weight and improve my health. thanks, buddy!
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Cathie
| Sunday, January 11, 2004 - 3:55 pm
Konamouse, thanks for the kudos. I signed up with the National Weight Loss Registery last year and participate in their surveys several times a year. It is a good reminder to help me focus on where I am now and where I do not want to go back!
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