The South Beach Diet Plan: How I Got Through Phase 1
I love eat! I guess that’s why I hate dieting so much.
Most of those fad diets keep you from eating the foods you love (and crave), or make you eat an overabundance of foods that aren’t my favorites.
After all, how many eggs, peanuts or oranges can you really eat? I guess that’s why I was so hesitant to follow my friends on the South Beach diet bandwagon.
Everyone was trying, and yes, even losing weight. I watched enviously as their waists got smaller and smaller, but I couldn’t get their moans and complaints out of my head during those first few days and weeks on the show.
Give up all sugar, carbs, and fat for two full weeks! I do not! No way! Not even for a smaller dress size.
Then I went to see my doctor for a sick feeling that I couldn’t shake. She wasn’t really sick, I just felt tired and gross all the time. After a few tests, she told me that my glucose levels were rising, my cholesterol was hitting an all-time high, and even my blood pressure was boiling.
I? healthy mrs? I knew it was time to get serious, so I asked around and did some research and discovered that in addition to being a “diet,” people were using the South Beach plan not only as a safe way to lose weight that affects your health , but it also teaches you to eat in a more nutritious and satisfying way.
Well, it’s time to try it. And the first thing I stumbled upon (you’ve probably heard of it) was the dreaded “Phase I” of the South Beach diet plan: “restriction hell,” as my friends like to call it.
Fortunately, I knew so many people who had already followed the diet that I could turn to them for reassurance and advice.
By the way, that’s Tip #1: Set up a support system.
For me it made all the difference. Honestly, I don’t know if I would have been successful without the support of my friends. They shared their tips and stories on how to survive the first 14 days on the show and made me feel like I could too. Here are some of my favorite survival tips:
o Enjoy one last meal and favorite dessert before beginning the diet
o Getting anything that is not allowed to touch their lips in the first 14 days out of the house and threatening anyone who dares to sneak contraband food
o Keep a journal about your feelings during Phase I (it’s great to read how those cravings and cravings really affected the way you think and feel after it’s all just a distant memory)
o Avoid shopping at the mall during Phase I (food court odors will kill you)
o Do not plan to attend family gatherings, school functions, parties, etc. for two full weeks (become a hermit)
I’ll admit, during those early days in South Beach all I wanted was to dive headfirst into a bag of chocolate chip cookies, dipped in whipped cream, with a side of fries and a big slice of pizza.
But when a friend came over and made me the most delicious meal of lean chicken and sauteed vegetables drizzled with low-fat cheese (yes, I said cheese!), I knew I’d make it.
That is Tip #2: Presentation.
The plate he put in front of me could have rivaled one found in any five-star restaurant. I learned that night that a beautifully prepared plate of colorful vegetables cooked to perfection beats a bag of Oreos 10 to 1.
Within a week, my bad mood was subsiding, after all, my sugar levels were stabilizing and my blood pressure was dropping, and I didn’t even have junk cravings anymore. In fact, I was eager to find new ways to prepare and serve my new, healthier food options.
which brings me to Tip #3: Learn to cook.
Since I started in South Beach, I have learned to really enjoy cooking. Watching a variety of cooking shows and incorporating their ideas using my South Beach-approved foods was one way I found to survive the first phase of the show, as you can always find new and interesting ways to prepare and enjoy the foods that come your way. allowed.
I couldn’t believe when the two weeks were up. It seemed to go by very quickly, and then I was allowed to start reintroducing some of my favorites back into my daily eating plan, like fresh fruit and bread (thank goodness!).
The best part was that I no longer craved some of those forbidden foods like cake, ice cream, and even, yes, those diet cookies! And I managed to lose a whopping 12 pounds, a real triumph for someone like me who has never been able to stay on a diet for more than a day or two before!
Was it difficult to start the South Beach diet? Yes, in the early days, but it sure was worth it!