OT - South Beach Diet

[Dogmama]

Has anybody tried this? My DH needs to lower his carbs & lose some weight (he is pre-diabetic) but Atkins is too extreme. I've never really followed any kind of strict diet, so I'm totally clueless. Is is a fairly high protein diet?

[brok]

and lost 25 lbs in 2½ months. The first phase about killed me - cut out Pepsi and had terrible caffeine withdrawal - top that off with no/very, very low carbs and I was a wreck for a few days. After the body gets over the initial shock of no carb though, I though it was a breeze. Have him read the book - it made sense to me and theat helped me stay focus on the change of eating habits. I approached it all from a health standpoint.

[SadieKate]

I really like it. If he rides a lot, Phase 1 needs to be modified because you just can't go on a several hour bike ride without carbs. Otherwise, the "diet" is the way we should all be eating - high fiber, low fat, lean protein, lots of veggies, etc.

[KnottedYet]

I tried to follow the diet (i'm just not that disciplined). I looooooved some of the recipes in the book.

Actually, I noticed that when I went "free range" with my eating, I ended up falling into a South Beach diet kind of pattern. Felt great. Lost 50 lbs.

The diet for diabetics is very similar to South Beach.

[SouthernBelle]

I lost 35 lbs on South Beach. I've been holding steady at 120-123 for several months now.

There is a very active forum that covers it.

http://www.southbeach-diet-plan.com/forum/

I'm known as WGirl there.

HTH,

[Geonz]

This bod was designed for carbs (at least while I'm biking). It doesn't work well without them.

[SouthernBelle]

This bod was designed for carbs (at least while I'm biking). It doesn't work well without them.

I would assume that you believe that SBD is a low carb diet. It certainly is in the first 2 weeks, but after that, it is not.

[SadieKate]

Geonz, read the book. The diet in Phase 3 is the right carbs not low carb. The previous phases are all about breaking you of cravings for sugar - simply like an elimination diet.

[Tiffanie]

SBD jump-started my weight loss. I followed phase 1 to help me kick my sugars and refined carbs addiction. It provided a lot of information on what are good/bad carbs.

This is not a low-carb diet. It's a good/healthy carb diet. After phase 1, I felt more prepared to make better food selections and it helped me to make healthier eating a lifestyle change as opposed to feeling I was just on a diet.

:)

[SouthernBelle]

Geonz, read the book. The diet in Phase 3 is the right carbs not low carb. The previous phases are all about breaking you of cravings for sugar - simply like an elimination diet.

Plus it doesn't have you eating bad fats, like pork rind. :D

[SadieKate]

Dogmama, I don't know what kind of mileage you put in on a weekly basis but I'll share what I did during Phase 1. The diet is low carb for only the first two weeks which is fine for about an hour's road ride at moderate levels (for me). Anything longer or more intense required more glycogen than Phase 1 can supply. The glycogen stores are pretty depleted during this time.

Starting with lunch the day before a long ride, for me Friday lunch, I would eat pasta or rice and stay with a fairly high carb diet through Sunday lunch. I could ride longer and with more intensity (for instance mtb rides) without problem. I would go back to the Phase 1 diet at Sunday dinner. Due to this I extended Phase 1 to three weeks. This modification worked really well for me. I have a friend who tried a pure Phase 1 approach but for some reason insisted on no carbs at all (I don't think he even ate vegetables which isn't part of the plan) and, in his words, "just about died." I tried to get him to understand the relationship between carbohydrates and glycogen stores but he wouldn't and now bad mouths the diet. Agatston even states briefly somewhere in the book that endurance athletes need to be aware of this issue.

The first part of the book is the educational part while the second half is recipes. An easy read and very educational - stuff we all should know. It is very little effort to get up to speed on Agatston's reasoning and make your own decision.

[SadieKate]

Another diet you might look into is The Paleo Diet for Athletes by Loren Cordain and Joel Friel. I haven't read it yet but have heard good things. Controversial again (as all "diet" plans are) but Joe Friel is certainly a well-respected name among cyclists.

Anyone have an opinion on it? The book is in my big bedside pile holding down the floor.

[GLC1968]

Another diet you might look into is The Paleo Diet for Athletes by Loren Cordain and Joel Friel. I haven't read it yet but have heard good things. Controversial again (as all "diet" plans are) but Joe Friel is certainly a well-respected name among cyclists.

Anyone have an opinion on it? The book is in my big bedside pile holding down the floor.

I HIGHLY recommend this book as well as the original one "The Paleo Diet". It's a very good read...very, very intersting concepts. When I read the first one, all I could think about was how I was going to survive 3 hour workout sessions (back before I started biking). When The Athletes one came out, it made perfect sense to me.

Be forewarned, our Paleo ancestors did not eat any grains, dairy, salt or sugar, so the 'diet' sounds a bit extreme when you first read it. Loren Cordain gives extremely sound reasoning for everything. I followed the plan for about a month and really felt great. I had to tweak some of the recommendations for long rides based on how my body reacted, but overall it worked well. I ended up going 'off' the plan due to some odd scheduling issues, but I keep meaning to get back to it. Good stuff!!

[SJCzar]

I did South Beach about 3 years ago. Lost 40+ pounds and have stayed within 10 pounds of that weight. While on it, I really lost the need for sweets. I keep saying I'm going to go back on for awhile just to get rid of that urge to have hot fudge sundaes or cookies ....which I unfortunately give in to way more than I should.

I think the diet helps you make healthier food choices (most of the time), even after you aren't officially following it anymore.

[maillotpois]

Anyone have an opinion on it? The book is in my big bedside pile holding down the floor.


Maybe we should compare the sizes of our bedside book piles one day. Not that I'm competitive or anything. :rolleyes:

[SouthernBelle]

Maybe we should compare the sizes of our bedside book piles one day. Not that I'm competitive or anything. :rolleyes:

Is credit given for magazines?

[SadieKate]

Throwing down the gauntlet?;) 25.5 inches (I'm sitting beside it and my knitting tools, inc. tape measure, are right there).

Editing: this does not include magazines.

[maillotpois]

Well, now I am intrigued. While I am on the disabled list, one goal is to get ride of the last 15 pounds I need to lose. Maybe this would be a helpful jump start, especially since I am not doing 8 hours rides right now, but 1 - 2 hour a day less intensive efforts. However, I generally can't stand diets that make certain foods "bad". That's why I lean towards Weight Watchers - where you can basically have anything, in moderation.

Does SBD eliminate permanently any of the following foods (I am okay with a week or so of cutting them out, but not for forever):

Wine
Oatmeal
Coffee (:eek: )
Soy milk
Pasta (whole wheat or not)
Wheat bread
Cereals (not lucky charms, but things like Shredded wheat, Kashi, etc.)
Carrots
Potatoes
Nuts

These are things I would not choose to live without (again, in moderation. well, except for coffee) and seem like targets in a lot of diets.

Thanks.

[maillotpois]

Throwing down the gauntlet?;) 25.5 inches (I'm sitting beside it and my knitting tools, inc. tape measure, are right there).

Editing: this does not include magazines.


Well, I am in a deposition right now (they are not talking about any issue I give a cr@p about right now), but I will measure when I get home. I plan to add multiple stacks together to make my total, because I have a few stacks to make them less prone to earthquake toppling.

[SadieKate]

I can't speak specifically to the cereals, but nope on everything else. Wine and caffeine probably in moderation. He is pretty realistic.

He simply gets you to start thinking about using foods that are processed as little as possible so that the fiber is harder to digest and eating foods which are low in sugars (Phase 1 has no corn because it contains a lot of sugar). Cut oats as opposed to rolled oats or, heaven forbid, instant oatmeal. Sweet potatoes as opposed to white potatoes. If you read the book, you'll see that the diet is really the way your grandparents ate.

The diet keeps your sugar levels much more even and lessens cravings. I think you'll find it very practical for use in everyday life.

I'd be happy to loan you both the SBD and the Paleo Diet for Athletes. Zen on BJ developed his own diet plan which ended up being similar to the Paleo Diet.

[SadieKate]

Well, I am in a deposition right now (they are not talking about any issue I give a cr@p about right now), but I will measure when I get home. I plan to add multiple stacks together to make my total, because I have a few stacks to make them less prone to earthquake toppling.For stability, my stack is leaning against a pile of knitting books leaning against 2 boxes of knitting magazines which, in turn, are leaning against the bookshelf, and does not include books which Bubba has on his side of the bed and I'm waiting for. Can I add those books and re-measure?

[maillotpois]

Yeah, you can add the Bubba wait list - but only if you lend me SBD and allow me to prospectively add that to my total as well.

[SadieKate]

Sure. I haven't heard SouthernBelle weigh in.

I vote that bicycling magazines are allowed.

[maillotpois]

Well, sure bicycling magazines are allowed. Especially my old stack of Cycle Sports from a few years back that I was planning to re-read....

So, SK, you are back? Trip report????

[GLC1968]

Sarah - stay away from the Paleo diet. The only things on your list that are allowed are the nuts and an occasional glass of wine. The rest is taboo. :eek:

And I'd bet that my bedside 'to be read' book pile tops 2 feet easily...perhaps more. :o

[KnottedYet]

My bedside pile collapsed and avalanched into a debris pile that amoebas its way under my bed.

Can we count acreage? Cuz piling it up again to measure would just be toooooo much like CLEANING. :D

[SouthernBelle]

Sure. I haven't heard SouthernBelle weigh in.

I vote that bicycling magazines are allowed.

My problem is my books and magazines are all over the house. NOT neatly and centrally located.

I do have a nice stack of Bicycling mags by my bedroom chair.

[SouthernBelle]

Well, now I am intrigued. While I am on the disabled list, one goal is to get ride of the last 15 pounds I need to lose. Maybe this would be a helpful jump start, especially since I am not doing 8 hours rides right now, but 1 - 2 hour a day less intensive efforts. However, I generally can't stand diets that make certain foods "bad". That's why I lean towards Weight Watchers - where you can basically have anything, in moderation.

Does SBD eliminate permanently any of the following foods (I am okay with a week or so of cutting them out, but not for forever):

Wine
Oatmeal
Coffee (:eek: )
Soy milk
Pasta (whole wheat or not)
Wheat bread
Cereals (not lucky charms, but things like Shredded wheat, Kashi, etc.)
Carrots
Potatoes
Nuts

These are things I would not choose to live without (again, in moderation. well, except for coffee) and seem like targets in a lot of diets.

Thanks.

None of those things are permanently eliminated. Potatoes are questionable and I seldom eat them now. Maybe french fries every week or 2. If you check out the stickies in the forum url I posted earlier, there are food lists.

[SadieKate]

I'm curious. Why would soy milk be off limits?

[SadieKate]

My bedside pile collapsed and avalanched into a debris pile that amoebas its way under my bed.

Can we count acreage? Cuz piling it up again to measure would just be toooooo much like CLEANING. :DI stack stuff. WrenchBoy lets it ooze. Entropy happens.

When his stuff oozes into my stacks, SadieKate commits chaos.

[SouthernBelle]

I'm curious. Why would soy milk be off limits?

It isn't. Though you should be careful because sometimes it is sweetened. Since I've started reading labels I've been appalled at some of the things sugar is added to.

Next time you are at the store, go over to the canned goods and read some ingredient lists. Many brands add sugar to BEANS. Why in the world do we need sugar in our red beans?

No wonder people are diabetic.

[SadieKate]

MP had it on her list. I was guessing about the sugar but was wondering where she had seen soy milk as off limits.

[snapdragen]

MP - have you tried the WW Core program? A few of the women in my meeting use it when they need a kick start.


Well, now I am intrigued. While I am on the disabled list, one goal is to get ride of the last 15 pounds I need to lose. Maybe this would be a helpful jump start, especially since I am not doing 8 hours rides right now, but 1 - 2 hour a day less intensive efforts. However, I generally can't stand diets that make certain foods "bad". That's why I lean towards Weight Watchers - where you can basically have anything, in moderation.

[caligurl]

as most others have said... south beach is a VERY healthy way of eating! yes... you are restricted from eating breads and such the first 2 weeks (phase 1).... but you can eat carbs... in the form of vegetables!!!!!

phase 2 you get to add back some more stuff.... but they teach you to eat the low glycemic... healthy stuff!!!!

phase 3 is your every day... normal.... healthy eating! geez... i LIVE on oatmeal... but it's not the sugary quick cook packaged stuff!!!!

plus you don't count points.... you don't pay to go to meetings or buy special foods (you basically shop the outer, healthy aisles and stay away from prepared foods....

i give southbeach 2 thumbs up!

[maillotpois]

MP had it on her list. I was guessing about the sugar but was wondering where she had seen soy milk as off limits.


I was just listing everything I generally couldn't live without. Some of it I suspected may be off limits. Other stuff, like soy milk and carrots, I just included for completeness.

[caligurl]

Well, now I am intrigued. While I am on the disabled list, one goal is to get ride of the last 15 pounds I need to lose. Maybe this would be a helpful jump start, especially since I am not doing 8 hours rides right now, but 1 - 2 hour a day less intensive efforts. However, I generally can't stand diets that make certain foods "bad". That's why I lean towards Weight Watchers - where you can basically have anything, in moderation.

Does SBD eliminate permanently any of the following foods (I am okay with a week or so of cutting them out, but not for forever):

Wine
Oatmeal
Coffee (:eek: )
Soy milk
Pasta (whole wheat or not)
Wheat bread
Cereals (not lucky charms, but things like Shredded wheat, Kashi, etc.)
Carrots
Potatoes
Nuts

These are things I would not choose to live without (again, in moderation. well, except for coffee) and seem like targets in a lot of diets.

Thanks.

potatoes are pretty much the only "bad" thing... cuz they have a high glycemic index... they are definitely a NO NO during phases one and two... very limited if you are following the ruled strictly.. in phase 3

i forget some of the phases... but

Wine - RED is ok in phase 2 I THINK
Oatmeal - as long as it's not the sugary processed kind
Coffee (:eek: ) OK in ALL phases
Soy milk OK all phased (light is preferred, of course)
Pasta (whole wheat or not) whole wheat phases 2 & 3 (less in 2 than 3 though)
Wheat bread whole wheat phases 2 & 3 (less in 2 than 3 though)
Cereals (not lucky charms, but things like Shredded wheat, Kashi, etc.) heathy kinds like kashi.. yes... 2 & 3... again... more limited in 2.. you lose more weight the less you eat in phase 2
Carrots - ok but have a high glycemic index
Potatoes
Nuts - dry roasted in all phases!

[SouthernBelle]

Oddly, carrots were initially discouraged as having too high a glycemic load to be worth it. He's kinda loosened up some things, esp on dairy. If you buy the book, make sure you get a later edition or check the web for current food lists.

[caligurl]

I'm curious. Why would soy milk be off limits?

when the diet first came out... NO milk in phase 1 except unflavored plain yogurt!

they added it back in along the way... along with adding carrots, tomatoes and some other healthy stuff!

i don't know if anyone has mentioned.. this diet was originally made up for HEART patients! not as a weight loss diet! that's a side effect of eating healthy for your heart!

i TRY to eat this way... do good all week (and i eat a LOT of oatmeal!) and my cholesterol is WAY low... (and the good one is way high!) all my bloodwork (except sodium :rolleyes: ) came back excellent!!!!!!!

my body fat (even though i carry more pounds than I"M happy with cuz i've been doing too much cheating on weekends)... is low... about 17%... and that's cuz i normally eat healthy!

it really is a good way of eating (diet has a bad connotation... south beach is more than a diet.. it's a way of life.. a way of eating!)

[caligurl]

Oddly, carrots were initially discouraged as having too high a glycemic load to be worth it. He's kinda loosened up some things, esp on dairy. If you by the book, make sure you get a later edition or check the web for current food lists.

ya... i was upset i couldn't have carrots when i started this.... i was glad they added them back in.. cuz i LOVE to eat carrots! i actually love most veggies!

anyone more up to date (i haven't checked web sites in a while.. cuz i pretty much know what i can and can't eat by now!) but did he by any chance ever add corn back in? i LOVE LOVE LOVE corn... and REALLY miss it... but it's another of those high glycemic ones!

i love sweet potatoes.. high calorie.. but SO healthy! i eat them with sugar free syrup and a bit of low fat whipped topping! YUM!

and i have a terrific muffin recipe using kashi cereal that i can find and post inf anyone wants it... it's a phase... hmmmmm 3 i think? cuz of the honey? i need to make me a batch... i haven't had them for a while!!!!