I decided to give the South Beach Diet a try last year after following a weight loss blogger who dropped over 150 pounds on it. She raved about how it helped curb her sweet tooth. Sweets have long been my biggest challenge in following a healthy diet, so I was excited to give it a go.
I have a tendency to jump into things wholeheartedly and then become overwhelmed and quit after just a few days. I decided to take things slowly this time. I started off by reading the South Beach Diet book. I also flipped through the companion cookbook. I checked these items out of the library, since my husband is always complaining about the amount of money I’ve spent on weight loss endeavors that I’ve quickly abandoned.
I made lists of items I’d need to purchase. I cleared out my refrigerator, freezer and cabinets of the foods I knew would be the biggest temptation to me, such as ice cream, cookies and chips. I finished eating the fresh fruits and yogurt I had in the house, as these items aren’t permitted in phase one of the South Beach Diet.
Once I was organized and stocked with the right foods, I started following the plan. The first two weeks were really hard for me. Phase one limits carbohydrates and is heavy on protein and vegetables. I’m not a vegetarian, but I’m also not a big fan of meat. Nuts, peanut butter, cottage cheese, eggs and low fat cheeses are allowed, but I still got bored. I enjoy eating vegetables, but really missed fruit.
Luckily, phase two incorporates fruit back into your diet. Beans, potatoes and whole grains are also allowed. Phase two lasts until you have achieved your goal weight. Then you start phase three which brings in an even greater variety of food and is how you will eat for the rest of your life if you stay on the plan.
Since I started the plan with over a hundred pounds to lose, I’m still on phase two. After eight months of following the South Beach Diet, I’ve seen many positive changes. I’ve lost fifty pounds. My energy has increased, I sleep better and feel healthier overall. My blood sugar levels, cholesterol and blood pressure have all gone down. It really has helped me control my cravings for sweet foods.
A few habits have really helped me stay on track. I plan all of my meals and grocery shop regularly. I carry bags of nuts with me in case I need a snack when I’m away from home. I strive to eat a wide variety of the permitted foods to avoid boredom.
Failing to plan and following into boredom have caused me to get off track a couple of times, so I learned the importance of avoiding these issues the hard way. I got off track for a couple of weeks about three months into the plan. I gained back several pounds. I started back at phase one to get myself used to the plan again.
