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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by rainyday on February 16, 2004, at 9:55:51
In reply to South Beach Diet, posted by tabitha on February 15, 2004, at 17:49:57
> Has anyone tried this? I'm on day 2 and not sure I'm going to make it. The first 2 weeks you have just lean meats, eggs, lowfat dairy, olive & canola oil, nuts, and lots of veggies (but no potatoes corn or carrots) and water. I'm not really hungry but I feel bad. I think it's probably low blood sugar. I usually eat a lot of sweets and starches. I hope it gets better in a few days.
Hmmmm... I bought the book and used it as a paperweight for a couple of months. I finally read it and started a couple of weeks ago. You're right there is a lot of prep work to eat healthy!! I have started to buy those easy veggies - bags of baby carrots, cut up celery - anything to make it easier. Frozen veg work just fine. My biggest frustration has been sticking to this diet and not seeing ANY progress. Not a single pound has left this body! My p-doc says it's due to the meds (effexor xr, buspar, and xanax). The sugar I could actually care less about!
>
> My other gripe is all the preparation and the expense. It costs a lot and takes a lot of chopping and cooking to fill up on fresh veggies and meats. I know it's better for me, but so far it doesn't *feel* better.
>
> I think I'll go to the store and get some pre-chopped frozen veggies. Maybe that will help. You're supposed to have 2 cups of veggies with lunch and dinner, and one cup with breakfast. It's a lot of veggies.
Posted by tabitha on February 16, 2004, at 16:43:55
In reply to Re: South Beach Diet, posted by rainyday on February 16, 2004, at 9:55:51
I haven't lost any weight either. You're supposed to lose a bunch of water right away as your stored glucose gets used up. I think my body has just decided to quit functioning rather than using up the stores. I'm feeling cold all the time, and lethargic. I don't really want to lose weight so much as just get off all the sugar and junk food that crowds everything else out of my diet.
I've eaten more vegetables the last 3 days than I probably ate in the last 3 months. It must be good for me, right? Normally I don't even think of them as food-- more just as garnish. I'm being liberal with the olive oil, which helps make them palatable.
I read some hypoglycemia websites-- they recommend a similar diet, cut all sweets for a while, then add them back in gradually (but not refined sugars and starches). It said you feel worse for the first week, so maybe there's still hope my body will figure out how to function on all these alien foodstuffs.
Posted by tabitha on February 17, 2004, at 23:04:07
In reply to Re: South Beach Diet » rainyday, posted by tabitha on February 16, 2004, at 16:43:55
My god has it only been 4 days? Actually I think I'm feeling better. The muscle aches stopped, and my head was clear most of the day, and I even had an hour of non-depression. Pretty irritable though.
I'm just so sick of cooking 3 meals a day, and the kitchen is a mess since I'm not so good at doing clean-as-you-go. And my big salmon filet that cost 7 bucks went bad in the fridge before I cooked it. I'm not used to all this real food. Where's my drive-thru window? Dinner of salad and pea pods.. have to figure out some protein.
Posted by rainyday on February 18, 2004, at 7:00:31
In reply to Re: South Beach Diet Day 4, posted by tabitha on February 17, 2004, at 23:04:07
> I'm just so sick of cooking 3 meals a day, and the kitchen is a mess since I'm not so good at doing clean-as-you-go. And my big salmon filet that cost 7 bucks went bad in the fridge before I cooked it. I'm not used to all this real food. Where's my drive-thru window? Dinner of salad and pea pods.. have to figure out some protein.
>
>
I've been eating more bean-type foods to get enough protein: I made a chili with fake meat and black beans. It lasted long enough for me to get sick of it!! The plus was I only messed up the kitchen once for a few days' worth of eating. Also chick peas are great. I make (or you can buy) hummus spread for scooping with all those veggies. Oh yeah - stock up on Beano.
Posted by tabitha on February 18, 2004, at 16:29:48
In reply to Re: South Beach Diet Day 4, posted by rainyday on February 18, 2004, at 7:00:31
Good pointers, thanks. I did get some hummus, pre-made and pretty overpriced from the store. I was considering tofu, but I never can cook it to be nice and chewy like they do at restaurants-- it's always just mush. And does beano help with tofu?
Maybe a trip to the health food store to look for tempeh-- isn't that fake meat? I'm pretty darn sick of chicken breasts, eggs, and canned tuna. And if I ever buy a big salmon filet again, it's going in the freezer til I'm ready to cook it.
On the plus side.. I'm actually having the experience of using up produce! In the past I would use a little for a salad and then several weeks later toss out the bag of mush. Now I'm thrilled to see that I've got a third of a cucumber left, or half a pint of cherry tomatoes, and they actually come out of the fridge and get used again.
Posted by jdgjdg on February 19, 2004, at 22:04:55
In reply to South Beach Diet, posted by tabitha on February 15, 2004, at 17:49:57
I have tried the South Beach diet in addition to Adkins and Sugar Busters diets. I found S. Beach and Adkins to be way too restrictive and borderline dangerous for the long term. I really like the Sugar Busters diet and would strongly recommend it. Obviously you have to make it a way of life. The basis of the diet is eating nothing with added sugar or refined flour. You can eat most fruits(excluding watermelon, raisins, and a few others) and all veggies except white potatoes. You may have no flour except whole grain(not whole wheat)flour in moderation. It's a lot easier for me to follow than the other diets. You can actually have fruit and veggies from day one. They also encourage you have lean meats and low fat dairy products vs. Adkins. Again, I strongly recommend it. Good luck...J
Posted by tabitha on February 20, 2004, at 1:08:00
In reply to Re: South Beach Diet, posted by jdgjdg on February 19, 2004, at 22:04:55
I have come to the same conclusion. I feel like an anorexic on this diet. I've also been told you need more carbs to produce serotonin.
I'm going to add whole grain bread, fruit, and starchy vegetables. My main goas was to get rid of all the refined sugar and bad fats anyway. Heck if I'm eating real food and drinking water instead of drive-thru junk and sodas it's a huge improvement for me!
I'll check out the sugar busters websites. From the name I assumed it was another low-carb plan.
Posted by jdgjdg on February 20, 2004, at 23:51:07
In reply to Re: South Beach Diet » jdgjdg, posted by tabitha on February 20, 2004, at 1:08:00
Good idea, but I would stay away from the starchy veggies(1 baked potato=1cup table sugar) You can get plenty of good carbs from fruits and veggies. Make sure you exercise as well. You would be surprised how much it improves your mood. It's almost like a drug when you make it a habit. Jenn
Posted by Jai Narayan on February 21, 2004, at 17:20:35
In reply to Re: South Beach Diet, posted by jdgjdg on February 20, 2004, at 23:51:07
*This is a relatively new diet . I was thinking of using the Atkins through the winter and then shifting to Fat Flush diet for the summer.
I stopped eating sugar on Dec. 27th of 2003. you can get a headache from that.
> Good idea, but I would stay away from the starchy veggies(1 baked potato=1cup table sugar)
*Wow that is amazing. I had no idea. So my ancestors came from Ireland and their use of potatos is remarkable. I come from a long line of sugar eaters through the potato.>Make sure you exercise as well. You would be surprised how much it improves your mood. It's almost like a drug when you make it a habit.
* wish I felt the same way about exercise but I do it every day anyway.
Posted by tabitha on February 22, 2004, at 2:22:58
In reply to fat flush diet, posted by Jai Narayan on February 21, 2004, at 17:20:35
I wrote something earlier.. it got disappeared. Grr! A potato must be better a cup of sugar. I'm adding carbs back anyway. Some folks say you need more carbs to make serotonin, like in this book "Potatoes Not Prozac".
Today's menu..
espresso
2 calcium chewsspinach & jack cheese omelet
plain yogurt with pineapple chunks
espresso
big glass of waterapple
quarter cup mixed nuts
big glass of waterchicken breast
lots of sauteed veggies
big glass of water
about 2 oz coca-cola2 slices whole wheat toast with butter and fruit spread.
more waterIt's amazing.. I've been eating real food for a whole week.
Posted by sb417 on February 22, 2004, at 19:26:05
In reply to Re: in defense of the potato, posted by tabitha on February 22, 2004, at 2:22:58
I love potatoes, especially baked potatoes. About once a month or so, I splurge and eat steak and a baked potato along with salad. I guess the steak has too much saturated fat, but I figure that's OK once in while.
Posted by tabitha on February 23, 2004, at 16:01:25
In reply to Re: in defense of the potato » tabitha, posted by sb417 on February 22, 2004, at 19:26:05
Steak, potato, and salad sounds like a reasonably healthy meal to me. My worst habit was drive-thru combo meals, the type where you get about 400 calories of pure trans fat from the fries, 300 calories pure white sugar from the soda, and probably near zero fiber and vitamins in the whole 'meal'. Sure is a simple way to get calories though. Just drive up and pay your 4 bucks, and wolf down your 1200 calories or whatever in a few minutes.
Posted by joebob on February 23, 2004, at 18:59:57
In reply to Re: in defense of the potato, posted by tabitha on February 22, 2004, at 2:22:58
yams
Posted by tabitha on February 23, 2004, at 20:08:27
In reply to if you want to use potatoes, use sweet potatoes or, posted by joebob on February 23, 2004, at 18:59:57
Sweet potatoes are yummy. I just toss them whole into the toaster oven and bake them til they smell done. Sometimes I leave the cooked potatoes (skin left on) sitting around for a couple days on the counter and they're fine without refrigeration. When you're ready to eat them the skin peels off easily.
For some reason yams don't work so well that way. The skins won't come off.
Posted by Karen_kay on February 23, 2004, at 20:13:36
In reply to Re: in defense of the potato, posted by tabitha on February 22, 2004, at 2:22:58
Wow, is that your food for just today? I can list mine in about 3 seconds flat...
2 pots coffee with half and half and Sugar
pepperoni pizza (Pizza King!) 4 slices (In my defense, they are very small slices)
bubble gum
Wow, sounds like the typical college diet....
It just seems odd to me that you could eat that much food in one day. Not that I'm criticising, but my stomach couldn't handle that much food in one day. I'd be sick.....
Just wondering, is the amount of food you ate normal? Any hypothesis by outside viewers...
Posted by sb417 on February 24, 2004, at 2:52:34
In reply to Re: in defense of the potato » sb417, posted by tabitha on February 23, 2004, at 16:01:25
> My worst habit was drive-thru combo meals, the type where you get about 400 calories of pure trans fat from the fries, 300 calories pure white sugar from the soda, and probably near zero fiber and vitamins in the whole 'meal'.
Hi Tabitha. Why does junk food have to taste so good? Lipids taste yummy! Once in while those drive-thru meals are fun, but I guess we just can't make a steady diet of them! The trouble is, eating healthfully has become such a problem. Every day we hear such bad news about traditionally healthy foods. I had been substituting a lot of chicken and fish for beef. I was avoiding beef because of both the high fat content and fears of mad cow disease. Well, now we are inundated with news about "bird flu" possibly infecting chickens. I'm so sick of the news! Potatoes are looking better and better -- and safer!
Posted by tabitha on February 24, 2004, at 15:17:15
In reply to Re: in defense of the potato » tabitha, posted by Karen_kay on February 23, 2004, at 20:13:36
Actually that is much less than normal, calorie-wise, but more than normal, meal-wise. When I was stressed out and working fulltime I'd usually have nothing but coffee, soda, and vending machine junk all day til like 10 pm when I'd have some dinner -- just odds and ends or else drive-thru fast food.
I'm experimenting with this whole 3 meals a day concept. It sure is a lot of effort.
Posted by tabitha on February 24, 2004, at 15:22:46
In reply to Re: in defense of the potato » tabitha, posted by sb417 on February 24, 2004, at 2:52:34
Oh, heck with the mad cow news I say. Enough already! So we already have salmonella from chicken and eggs, mercury from fish, not to mention growth hormones and fish dyes, oh and too much tofu is bad for your hormone levels, right? There's nothing left to eat!
Posted by noa on February 24, 2004, at 19:43:29
In reply to Re: in defense of the potato » tabitha, posted by Karen_kay on February 23, 2004, at 20:13:36
What Tabitha listed is not that much. Karen, I worry about your perceptions about what is a normal amount to eat.
Posted by sb417 on February 24, 2004, at 20:44:52
In reply to Re: in defense of the potato » sb417, posted by tabitha on February 24, 2004, at 15:22:46
Tabitha, you're right. To heck with the bad news! Those reports about tofu were the biggest surprise to me. Oh well, as the saying goes, "Everything in moderation."
Posted by Jai Narayan on February 29, 2004, at 22:03:51
In reply to Re: in defense of the potato » Karen_kay, posted by noa on February 24, 2004, at 19:43:29
> What Tabitha listed is not that much. Karen, I worry about your perceptions about what is a normal amount to eat.
*Wow that's a good response. You seem to ask the hard questions and I totally respect that.
Karen, I am worried.
Posted by tabitha on March 3, 2004, at 22:22:23
In reply to Re: in defense of the potato » sb417, posted by tabitha on February 24, 2004, at 15:22:46
I'm still doing this healthy eating thing. I'm not trying to restrict calories or go hungry but I've lost a noticeable amount of weight already-- about an inch off my circumference of hips, waist, and (unfortunately) bust, about a half inch off the thighs. My belly fat has really shrunk and I've lost the constant tummy bloat that was plaguing me for several years.
Basically all I did was cut out the junk food-- all the refined sugar and fried junk and refined flour. I also started eating breakfast, and am trying for 3 meals+2 snacks a day, but realistically it's been more like 2 meals + 3 snacks.
My mood has been consistently good and I'm sleeping well. There's also been improvement in my, er, bowel elimination. I feel great!
Posted by gardenergirl on March 4, 2004, at 6:52:29
In reply to Re: Update.. I've actually lost weight., posted by tabitha on March 3, 2004, at 22:22:23
Posted by Dinah on March 8, 2004, at 19:32:27
In reply to Re: Update.. I've actually lost weight., posted by tabitha on March 3, 2004, at 22:22:23
Posted by tabitha on March 14, 2004, at 0:43:30
In reply to Re: That's fabulous!!! (nm) » tabitha, posted by Dinah on March 8, 2004, at 19:32:27
My l*rd it was good! There was birthday cake at work. I decided to eat about an inch square piece. Mind you I haven't had any sweets except fruit for weeks, and prior to that I ate lots and lots of sugar. I have not even been craving sweets, but after that piece of cake I had an enormous craving for more. I had another slightly larger piece and still wanted more! I felt I could devour the entire cake. It really surprised me-- I wasn't even hungry before I ate the cake. I realized I had to stop.. so I drank a big glass of water and went back to work. An hour later I was practically overcome with the aroma of icing, from the little dab left on the plate. I had to take the plate to the trash in another room.
I think I'm not ready for moderate sweet intake. Back to abstinence.
But generally I've adapted to the healthy diet, and I feel better when I eat lots of vegetables and lean protein, and not so much carbs and fat. I start to feel out of sorts if I don't get enough salad in a day. I never would have thought I'd be craving salad.
The other odd thing.. I never used to like oranges, except juiced. Now I love them! They've become my favorite treat.
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