I just started the South Beach Diet and have been doing pretty well so far. Just wondering if Diet coke is allowed on the diet (especially the first 2 weeks). I read the whole book and didn't see it mentioned.

what is the south beach diet??

Yes, Diet Coke is allowed, but it must be caffeine-free. Tea and Coffee are allowed also, but also must be caffeine free. I'm on my fourth day of South Beach Diet and lost five pounds so far.

Actually, I don't think diet coke is allowed in the first two weeks. I am in Phase II currently but, I remember Phase I is only supposed to be water, tea, or coffee(preferably caffeine free).

I've been on this diet for a little over 7 weeks and lost 15lbs!!! My friend read a write up on this diet in a popular health and fitness mag that said the first two weeks aren't the healthiest but, after that (Phase II and III) is just good healthy eating!!

Keep it up! The lbs just fall off!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Actually, I have to make myself eat certain things that are now allowed in Phase II because I just didn't crave them any more!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Hi,

I am a "newbie" and enjoy reading everyone’s posts.

I am 25, female, 120 lbs. and 5'3, I am very fit and work out everyday (and have for about 3 years) but still could lose some fat %'s. Do you think this diet could work for me?

I know that some diets allow you to lose weight quickly but only if you have enough to shed quickly and they never seem to help you lose the last ten pounds.

I don’t really know what it entails but I will do anything to lose the fat! Is it a program like Jenny Craig, or is it something you can do from home like Atkins?

And input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks and keep up the good work (o:
OS*

"Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down."

OK, I'm sure you can loose weight with this diet.
But the claim that you'll loose belly fat first ,
that I have a hard time with ,you can't spot reduce fat and choose where it comes off first. Has anyone seen a big difference in the midriff?? I'm thinking of starting this, two people at work are on it, while they have lost weight , both think it's mostly water
and that it wasn't belly fat.They are in the 2nd week
one lost 4 pounds and the other 8 pounds.

Ok, in reply to a couple of you.

The South Beach Diet is something you can do at home. Just go buy the book. I've been on it for about 8 weeks and it's going great (15-16lbs).

Yes, I did lose my belly area first. I think this is due to cutting out items with white flour, etc. At first it probably is water weight but, if I've lost 16lbs of water weight............that's A LOT of water! I can't say enough good things about this new way of eating (and that's really what it is). I like most of you tried the low fat, general healthy eating and NOTHING would happen. So this plan has been wonderful. I only have 9lbs left to get to my goal weight of 115. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Thanks, I will go check out the book then - see if its something I could do.

Right now I am doing OK on the little calorie, much workout program. I eat 1 cup of dry fruit loops for breakfast (split into 2 half cups) one half I eat before I work out, the other after I workout, then I eat a small boneless, skinless chicken breast grilled w/ no oil. For dinner I eat whatever I cook my family but just less than normal. For snacks (if needed) I eat WOW chips, sucks on an atomic fireball, or have fruit.
I workout about an hour a day 4 times per week and burn off 400 calories per workout. I also try to be a weekend warrior when possible.

It seems to be working but I just would like to lose more fat faster.

I know you can not spot reduce. Normally the reason you lose in a certain area first is b/c you always takes off the weight the last place your body stored it (if that makes sense)?! That’s what I was told by my doctor anyway. So for me I see results in my arms, and abs before my hip and thighs.

(o: Yall rock - keep up the good work.
OS*

Ok, im plannin to get the book tomorrow. But can someone tell me first.. is the book focused mainly on FOOD diet or in combination of food and exercise?!?!?

Im suprised some of u have lost so much weight quickly.. GOOD JOB!!

I gained 7 lbs in 3 months.. so i have to lose all that back.. plus another 5 more!!!

=(

Can you drink alcohol on this diet? That's the problem with these strict diets like Atkins, The Zone, and probably South Beach too. My gosh, I can't give up my relaxing glass or two of red wine, and I come from a big German family of beer drinkers! What's a girl with a social life to do?? (Don't even suggest refraining -it would be too life-altering!!)

Oops, posted twice...read message below

[This message has been edited by MnMnPJ2 (edited 07-28-2003).]

Originally posted by susiejb:
Can you drink alcohol on this diet? That's the problem with these strict diets like Atkins, The Zone, and probably South Beach too. My gosh, I can't give up my relaxing glass or two of red wine, and I come from a big German family of beer drinkers! What's a girl with a social life to do?? (Don't even suggest refraining -it would be too life-altering!!)

I think red wine is allowed in phase II, not phase I though.

It's my first day on this diet..and first day on this forum. Hello, to all! Mandie

can someone help me here plz!?!?!

I started today w/o the book.. but i read the sample menu and tips online..

im vegetarian!!!!!!!!!!!!! How can this help me? I usually substitute or cook with veggie chick and eat a lot of organic foods...will that work?

someone give me a sample diet for a day for vegetarian?

I know im suppose to avoid soy based food.. so what can i eat besides salad?

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!

This is a TOUGH diet. I am on it now, and my goal is to lose roughly 15 pounds or so. I've only lost about 4 pounds the first week (water weight).

Since it is a "glycemic-index diet" you cannot have ANY bread, wheat flour, fruit, etc. Anything that will raise the insulin levels is off limits.

Now for a girl who loves her pita chips, salsa, and pasta, this is rough. I also don't eat red meat, and rarely eat chicken. I'm stuck with bean dishes, nuts, cheese, and eggs. I'm hungry all the time, but sticking to the diet. A co-worker lost 16 pounds in 2 weeks on it.

The author recommends red wine after week 2. I plan on introducing whole-wheat pasta and rice back into my diet at that time.

Hello to the vegetarian, I saw this diet on the KYW news today. It does sound healthy, especially once you get to phase II, because it doesn't exclude any food group....just the white flour, sugar, and processed stuff. I would think that you could substitute a protein for your meat like nuts, beans, or tofu.

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Magpie

Thanks Magpie.. but im still confuse.. didnt it say that SOY should be avoided durin PHASE 1?????

what would be a typical daily meal for a vegetarian?

thanks!

I'm starting to have doubts about the diet.

During week one, I lost a few pounds, mostly water weight. Now I am on week 2 and I can't lose weight to save my life. I have actually gained a pound over the last 3 days.

The problems are as follows:
1. Lunch: if I pack my own salad for lunch, it becomes soggy and nasty by 12pm. ALL frozen dinners are off limits. The only thing I have been able to do is go get a chicken caesar salad which is loaded with fat (restaurants don't offer non-fat dressing). My mid-day snack is usually pistachios or peanuts, both high-fat, high-calorie. In other words, I am eating low glycemic-index foods, but they are high fat. therefore I'm not losing any weight.

2. Without red meat, the diet is very difficult to stay on. Chicken 4 times a week sucks. Cooking fish at home stinks the place up and never tastes as good as a restaurant.

I guess I'll stay on it for another week and see what happens.

Hello vegie buddy, Even if soy is "off" the menu, I really don't see what it would hurt. I just don't see how you would gain weight on soy. If you want to try the diet, I would say just adapt it to your life style; otherwise, you won't stick with it. Can you give me a menu example for me to try to change to vegie style? If worse comes to worse, you could use the nuts as a meat substitue.

I just peaked at the diet and I think a lot of people could get away with skipping over phase I. I really think that phase I is for motivation, but is disguised as a "cleansing process." It's just that it might take you longer or you might loose weight at a slower rate, but you can speed up the rate by adding some fun exercise. (After dinner walk/speed walk or biking.)

For the salad lunchtime trouble-why not just bring the dressing in a separate container?

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Magpie

I'm not sure how to do this diet as a vegetarian (I can see that it would be difficult).

But, in response to the not being able to eat red meat by someone else. You CAN absolutely eat red meat on this diet. It's listed in the book but, I think it's top sirloin and ground chuck that are acceptable. I've had red meat the entire time and I've lost 17lbs.

Hi again, Chuck is the fatest cut of meat you can buy, so I don't think ground chuck would be aloud according to the news article I read. Ground round and sirloin might, since those are leaner cuts. Lean red meats contain the word "round" or "loin" in them. You might want to double check. Here's an excerpt from a kyw news story that I am talking about..."That's the big difference on the South Beach Diet, which emphasizes lower-fat protein like fish and chicken.

The big no-no's are the breads and the pasta. This is especially true during the first two weeks of the diet, when Dr. Agatston says the carbohydrate craving cycle is broken when people on average loose between seven to 14 pounds, eating no carbs and cholesterol levels get better."

It does allow good fats like olive oil, but you still have to watch ou for the sat. fats while on this diet. That's why I don't see where all the fat would come from as someone else had mentioned. Unless it's from nuts, which are also good fats. This diet is already starting to sound confusing. My one friend said she hates it, because it makes her feel dizzy, miserable, and weak. Another one said she loves it, because she lost 15 lbs. already and it's easy to follow. I wish you all the best of luck and hope it works for you. I'm pulling for you guys! (I'll be your cheer leader...Go, guys/gals,Go! You can do it!)



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Magpie

Oops! Sorry guys, I meant ground round!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif Even though, sometimes I'll eat a burger when I'm out (no bun of course) and I continue to lose weight! But, I try to stick to the leaner cuts as much as possible.

Hey Everyone! I'm new here and I read this post! I am going to start it today from the sample menu and buy the book tonight. I'm getting married in 44 days and gained 8 lbs somehow since Monday (I gain weight EASILY). If this jump starts me for my dress fitting, I will be sooo happy! Great to hear all the good things about it from everyone!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Hi, I'm a veggie on the sbd and found it very easy. Soy is allowed in Phase 1 as are Quorn products.

hey descartemum:

im starting my diet tomorrow.. i have the book. Can you give me UR sample diet for a day that excludes meat? --- so i know how i can substitute the meat..

maybe i can use tofu "chicken" instead.. and make dishes like that?

or just starve this whole....

Hi,
For breakfast I sometimes eat the quiche cups which instead of using spinach (yeuch) I use broccoli. I add red onions, mushrooms, the lf cheese, on the top I'll sprinkle a little bit more cheese. I also put it into a baking tin, 9x9. I hate fiddling with the cups.

Midmorning snack might be a hunk of cheese or some hummus with slices of red pepper.

Lunch is a big salad. Lettuce and other green things with maybe some chickpeas (roasted or un), the 10 cherry tomatoes, cucumber, spring onions, mushrooms. Anything really. I make my own salad dressing with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and dired herbs.

Afternoon break is trying only to eat 30 pistachioes (that is hard!)

Supper can be stir fry with Quorn pieces. Or Quorn or Tivall hot dogs or burgers with a salad. Or I have discover how lovely the fake mashed potatoes are with a little bit of lightly sauteed onions. Desert is Quark (I live in England and we can't get low fat ricotta) which I use as if it is ricotta and add cocoa and some Splenda.

Hope this helps.

I belong to the [removed] board and we have several threads with vegetarian suggestions if you want to visit. It's [removed]
We are a friendly group. Just come and lurk if you want.

Good luck, Carol :-)

thank you!!

I mostly eat organic food.. i assume its ok to add into my diet right?

this means.. i have to wake weee early in the morning to prepare all my foods.. hehee.. need a cook!

I wonder how much i weigh now... im doing pretty good.. no cravings,...

Just kinda depressed knowing that I might have hypothyroid.. and my throat's been hurting, so i dont feel like putting anything in my mouth.

hows everyone else doing?

Hi Selluna,

Even if lactose intolerant the aged, firmer cheeses should be tolerated. The lactose is quite gone in them--that's how they became cheese.

Hope this helps.

sean

I'm trying to devise my own diet. Kind of a South Beach/Atkin's hybrid. Plan to eliminate almost everyting white, e.g, bread, potatoes, milk, white rice, pasta, etc ...

Drink water and diet soda.

Only plan to eat "nutrient dense" carbs along with lean meats.

I have just completed my first 2 weeks on the diet - lost 9 pounds. In phase 2, the book refers to fat-free, sugar-free yogurt. I can't find sugar-free yogurt anywhere. Any suggestions? Also, when reading food labels, there are total carbs, fiber, and sugar. Is the difference between total carbs and fiber + sugar = starches (ala sugar just slower to digest)? Thanks.

I think it's Blue Bunny that makes the sugar-free yogart that I eat......pretty good too.

To the person who comes from the beer-drinking, German family...welcome to the club! I too like to drink. Michaloeb makes an ultra-low carb beer (3 carbs). That allows me to have chicken for the day and a six pack!

Originally posted by DrChild:
In phase 2, the book refers to fat-free, sugar-free yogurt. I can't find sugar-free yogurt anywhere. Any suggestions?

You will not find "sugar-free" yogurt because the milk used to make yogurt naturally contains lactose which is a form of sugar. What you are looking for is "no added sugar". And note that most of the sugar shown on the label of no added sugar yogurt with live active cultures isn't really there - the bacteria consumed it during the fermentation process and converted it to lactic acid. A typical 1 cup serving of no added sugar yogurt lists about 12-14 grams of sugar, but there is really only about 3-4 grams of sugar left in there if it contains active cultures. The rest got converted to lactic acid which gives yogurt that tart taste.

Dannon plain yogurt is a type of no added sugar yogurt. They make a no-fat version as well as a full fat version, which is what I prefer. My favorite is Brown Cow plain yogurt with the cream on top - yum.

Also, when reading food labels, there are total carbs, fiber, and sugar. Is the difference between total carbs and fiber + sugar = starches (ala sugar just slower to digest)?

Sorta like that. Total Carbohydrate = Fiber + Sugars + Starch + Sugar Alcohols. In general (excluding sugar alcohol sweetened candy and such), you take the listed amount of total carbohydrate and subtract any fiber to end up with "effective carbohydrate count" or ECC which is the sugar and starch that will affect bloodsugar and insulin levels the most. Starch is often referred to as a complex carbohydrate, yet some forms of starch will actually raise your bloodsugar faster than simple sugars.

Alan

In phase I it says that you can have 1 tablespoon of peanut butter.. remember that this diet (eating lifestyle) is a guideline and as long as you have the willpower to limit yourself you can eat some things, that may say eat sparingly, like peanut butter, just don't go overboard with it and you will be fine... if you have to eat another tablespoon that day, then whats the harm in that... as long as its not another, and another, and so on...


I've been on the diet for a few days and recommend that everyone not go by pounds (which are deceiving) and go by measurements, you'll feel better knowing you've lost 2 inches rather than 10 or 15lbs (which means what exactly? Water or Fat?)

Genesis

Hi there South Beach Dieters, My husband and I have been on the diet for 2 weeks and 2 days. So we are on to Phase II. Phase I was pretty easy for us, doing a diet together helps.

Hey vegetarians, can you have egg substitute?? Eggs were a big part of Phase I for us. Hardboiled, quiche cups, omlets etc. So having to exclude them would have been pretty hard.

I am finding Phase II difficult, just because it is hard to put the carbs back in, I am so carb conscious it is funny! I am reading labels all the time, and hopefully it will really pay off in the end.

I just lost 4 lbs in the first phase, but I am trying to not get discouraged. My hubby lost 8 lbs. I think that it is because I don't have THAT much to lose in the first place, just 6-7 more lbs and I should be at my goal.

My advice to all of those starting Phase I is DON'T weigh so often... We waited until the end of the 2 weeks. It may be discouraging to weigh one day and have lost a pound and then weigh again the next day to find that you put it back on, etc.... just be patient and wait.

Good luck to everyone!