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.

[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 ( )
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.

[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.

[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 ( )
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?

[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.

[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 ) 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!)

[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]

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 ( )
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 ( ) 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!