Nice chat. Hard to find something new to say! Bill's last point seems to be something many newbies aren't aware - snacking isn't permitted, snacking is required! You have to eat about every 2-3 hours!
So, let me elaborate on MOVE and YMMV as two themes to add.
MOVE in one message was the only hint about the importance of getting more active - that might need more stressing. I went from being active 2-3 x a month to 2-3 x a week. Don't feel you have to jog or join curves or a fitness center - obviously joining something regular is great - my Pilates Class teacher's wow when I was loosing was a great reinforcer! But in general I mostly go without organized activity. My solution was: walking about 40 min. Saturday and Sunday mornings and one or 2 evenings a week, weather permitting (which in Michigan is 30% of the time), if I can't walk, or have walked 2-3 times in a row, I do a mix of some physical therapy exercises I was given a year ago, plus the Windsor Pilates 20 min - together about 40 min. exercise. It makes a huge difference in how you feel, and how fast and how well you loose weight.
YMMV: Your Mileage may vary. First, you should choose a diet plan that feels good for you. I started Atkins, but even when reading not to cut the fat off and to have fatty meats for breakfast and no fruit other than berries, it felt not right. When I discovered SBD, it just sounded close to what I prefer to eat anyway, and reasonable to me. If you feel avoiding animal fats sounds bad, like one voice here, then don't bother with SBD - try Atkins. Lean meat and fish and whole wheat stuff is expensive. SBD is usually an expensive diet - more so than Atkins, so Atkins might be easier on a very tight budget - although if you are savvy with food and shopping, there are ways around it. You can reconsider SBD on maintenance - but then, Atkins maintenance is similar to SBD phase 2. If giving up carbs altogether sounds grim, look into CAD diet - I am convinced SBD is good for many people but not for everyone! Don't force yourself onto a diet plan that doesn't sound right. I don't mean you should bother with the crazy all cabbage or Holliwood plans, I mean good plans - such as the ones described at the top here under plans - it is good to read the summaries of all before deciding which books to buy to go deeper.
YMMV is also true within SBD. Phase 2 is when you are finding out. While Judy put up the rules, you can easily eat all the phase 2 allowed foods and gain weight. Bill is right, watch portion sizes (though I disagree with those saying you have to weigh everything - you don't have to). BUT: even within this way to eat, some of us are fine eating quite a lot of sugar alcohols, others gain weight and/or have gastrointestinal upheavals from them. Whole wheat or low carb versions of tortillas/bread/pasta are for many of us only ok when eaten once or twice a week and in moderation. Nuts are a trigger for me to overeat - I just can't have 20 nuts. I am better off not buying them. Alcoholic beverages similar - if you can't have just one glass of red wine, it might be better not. Fruit and dairy are other cases of food that seem ok for many but have to be watched by many - I seem to on the other side on the dairy - I really feel I loose better if I make sure I have some fatfree yoghurt as snack and often forget to buy it.
Phase 2 is where you are finding out your specific food preferences - the switch from phase 1 to phase 2 is not: now we can eat whatever is on the phase 2 list! It is one week at a time, I add something to my diet that wasn't on phase 1, and I see what my body does with this - does it feel good, does it make me hungry, my stomach upset or gain weight - drop it, irrespective of the lists. Next week something else. After several months on phase 2, you should have gained a weath of information on your own eating style and customized a diet that works for you!
Last edited by Monika4 : Sat, Aug-27-05 at 13:24.
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