South Beach Info

Well, there is just nothing to blog about. All week I've been trying to think of something but just nothing is coming to my head. So I decided to do a post about South Beach and how its helped me. I am not trying to be cocky or big headed, I just feel good about what I've accomplished so I want to post about it. And many of you have asked questions.

I started the South Beach Diet again because I gained about 8lbs while pregnant, I think mostly because I hadn't had carbs for so long that when I ate crackers and bread to help with the nausea I gained. So I wanted to get it off and finish what I started. Its been going great. My hubby didn't need to do it but he promised to eat healthy with me again and so its been a nice support, although he hasn't been as strict. And many people have asked about South Beach and so I wanted to answer a few of your questions about it.

The one thing I love about it, is that honestly its not really a diet. Its just a way to eat healthy, as we should, and in the process you lose. If any of you have been watching Oprah lately you know that Dr Oz stresses no sugar, hydrogenated oils, high fructose corn syrup, and trans fats. Well, that follows exactly the South Beach plan. The South Beach follows the glycemic index and phases 1 and 2 cuts out foods with the highest gylcemic index. Foods that raise your blood glucose level and make you constantly crave those foods for energy. For instance a low GI, lower than 55 is most veggies and fruits(except potatoes and watermelon), grainy breads, beans, milk and low carb items like eggs, meat, cheese. A medium GI from 55-69 is orange sweet potato, whole wheat products. And high GI foods from 70-above are bake potato, watermelon, white rice, white bread products. A low GI food will release glucose more slowly and steadily. A high GI food causes a more rapid rise in blood glucose levels and is suitable for energy recovery after endurance exercise or for a person with diabetes experiencing hypoglycemia.

The first two weeks on the plan are simply to kick start your body back into a healthy mood, to where you do not crave the sweets. Your body doesn't need them to stay alert any more and so by being so strict on average you lose about 8-10 lbs the first two weeks and then 1-2 lbs a week after. When I started in March Trent and I lost 8 lbs in the first 2 weeks, and this time so far I've lost 7, I have 2 more days to go on Phase 1. And honestly, for those of you who know me I love bread and sweets. But the cravings really do go away. The first two weeks you cut out all sugar, fruit, breads, potatoes basically carbohydrates completely, remember its only kick start your body, fruits are a good thing but your body needs to learn to process them the right way. The foods recommended in Phase one are: lean beef, skinless chicken and turkey, turkey bacon, Canadian bacon, all fish, fresh low-fat lunch meat, low fat cheeses, nuts, 2 tbsps Peanut butter a day, eggs, fat free milk, most veggies, olive oil, all spices, broth, and I can't believe its not butter spray. You can also have a sugar free items as well to help curb the cravings. Costco has some Delicious Healthy Choice fudgsicles, so good. They are sugar free and 100 calories. You seriously ask yourself, is it really ok to have one these? I also keep sugar free jello on hand for those times when I need a treat and sugar free candies if you want.

Then phase 2, which is the phase you stay in until you have met your goal weight, you can add 100% whole grains, so certain cereals, oatmeal, breads, pasta's, sweet potatoes, popcorn, and wild rice sparingly. You can also add nonfat flavored yogurt, sugar free pudding, chocolate (semisweet sparingly), and most fruits, however banana's and pineapple are still not recommended because of their high sugar content. I really could stay in this phase forever. One weird thing is you find yourself being scared at first to add the breads and pasta's. If you read the book it recommends doing it slowly and only at certain meals.

And phase 3 or maintenance is just basically eating healthy all the time but you can add those few items that are still cut out on occasion.

I really recommend if you are considering doing the South Beach to get the book. You can get a new or used copy on ebay on amazon for so cheap. I read the book and it really makes so much sense. It explains how your body works and processes foods and why we gain and crave when we eat certain foods. Also what I loved about the book is that it explains that if you pair certain foods with others or cook foods a certain way it can be healthier. Example: The worst way to eat a potato is bake. It renders the starches most easily to your digestive system. So its better to add a fat on it, like cheese or sour cream, it will slow down the digestive process and lessen the amount of insulin taken by your body. So mashed or boiled is the best way to eat a potato. And sweet potatoes are so much healthier than white. So by adding fat, good fat, like olive oil and proteins to high GI foods, like bread is better and it slows down the absorption of the food. And whole fruit rather than fruit juice is better. Oh this one I don't like because I love fruit juice.

The book also has recipes and a list of the foods you can and can not eat.

I think in the next little while I will be starting a blog for no carb and low carb recipes.

And I'd be happy to answer anymore questions that you have.

One great thing is that you can have your occasional sweets and treats when you've reached your weight or are in phase two and comfortable and as long as you try to eat healthy most of the time you will be fine.

A funny picture I tried to take of myself after I lost the first 5 lbs last week.
My new haircut with glasses.
My new haircut with no glasses. Oh I can't wait to get lasix someday.