I started on it last January. I lost 20 lbs on in it 10 weeks. the first week I lost 8 lbs. I fell off the wagon in Sept and gained back 5 lbs. Starting it again today. The first week was the hardest, but after that it was easy to sick with it. I was never hungry and after 2 weeks the sweet and carb cravings were gone. Like you I was seriously addicted to carbs and sweets.

Not to be a downer, but that is one problem I have with some of these diets. They work very well as long as you are on it, then when you go back to eating "real" food, the weight comes back on. I guess if you plan on eating this way the rest of your life, it is great. I think it is better for us to learn how to prepare, and portion regular food. ***Sigh*** now if I could only practice what I preach. I do wish you good luck in your efforts, Marita. Dottie

Yes, if you go back to what you call real food, the weight comes back on, cause "real" food is usually junky food. It is a good plan and it helps break those cravings. My DD went on it and lost her excess weight, and yes, she went back to eating junk food and lots of carbs and started to gain it back. She is now back to eating good carbs and the weight is coming off again. It really isn't a diet, but a lifestyle change that has to occur to keep the weight off. That and exercise. You can eat more if you exercise.

That is the problem when people think they can eat the same old stuff they always ate and wonder why the diet failed? it didn't fail, you failed to continue eating a healthy way.

I was on it a few years ago and lost 25 lbs without feeling deprived. I fell off the wagon when I had to do radiation for a brain tumor. After the radiation I craved sugar so bad. Needless to say all those pounds found me again and brought friends.

Dot - on South Beach you eat "real" food. Just not sugar, processed carbs and junk. It does require some planning but it's not that hard after you get started.

Linda

I'm not on any particular diet, but what I do falls in the same category of the South Beach diet. I dropped all sugar (except whole fruits, no fruit juices) and most all starches. And I lost weight. Slowly, but it's easy to follow.

My husband wants something, and he gets a baked potato or french bread, but most dinners are protein plus salad plus veggie. Used to be protein plus starch plus salad or veggie. Lunches are leftovers for me, or a salad when I'm out. Sure, I break down sometimes, and have french fries or whatever, but this diet is easy to know what you can/can't have.

And we eat very little processed foods.

I've gone it a couple of times. I've lost 10-15 pounds each time and kept it off for a while. My biggest downfall has been stress eating. I don't ever follow the strict South Beach diet. I work other foods into my meal, but just do them in moderation. I find I don't need as much food when I've been following the basic diet. For instance, I will normally eat 3-4 pieces of pizza at a meal. Pizza is not South Beach food, but if I go someplace and pizza is the meal for the night, I'll find that 1-2 pieces will satisfy me.

Yes, dotmom, the Southbeach diet is "real food." Some carbs are restricted the first two weeks, but then slowly integrated back into the diet. There's a stress on the adequate protein and the good carbs of veggies, fruits, and whole grains. For me, it is a lifestyle matter, not merely a diet. This is how I know I should be eating in the first place.

I'm like sushipup, it is not a 'diet,', per say. But it follows south beach closer than any other. Complex carbs, all foods as near unprocessed as possible. Heavy on fresh fruit & vegs, and lean protein. No sugar product of ANY kind: anything sweet puts me right back into that addiction...and it is an addiction. I quit smoking and replaced one addiction with another: empty carbs.

Even a slight detour and I see it on the scales the next day. I had about 3 oz of dh's cornbread a few days ago. Not healthy cornbread, the standard jiffy stuff with a packet of stevia added. Not only did I crave empty carbs for three days, I gained weight.

Like smoking, I've found it is less painful to stay off the stuff entirely than keep going through withdrawal. No exceptions.

This has to be a for-the-rest-of-my-life change, I know that. Otherwise I'm back to carrying 210 lbs on a 5'3" frame. Very painful, that.

Started on 7-8-08 at 210.6
Today I'm 169: actually should be 167, I ate far too much yesterday & haven't exercised properly in two weeks.

I'm losing a pound a week, which sounds slow. But that's still 52 lbs in a year: not too shabby. Oh, and that's WITH hypothyroidism. It's the only think I've found that works at all.

j

I lost 40 lbs on it a year or so ago.
It's a very well balanced diet, and very close to the Zone diet and the diet proscribed by the American Diabetes Assn.

A diet should be a way of eating, not a limited time period of deprivation.

Anyone will regain weight if they're "normal" diet was over 60% carbs. As an experiment, record your intake of "normal" food, and you may be shocked to see how high the percentage of carbs is.

Oh, Jerri, that is terrific and inspirational. Now that my cold is about gone I have got to start exercising and cut the carbs. Do you have before and after pics?

Linda

I'm not going to get in a yelling match with you-all over this, but my idea of "real"food is not fast food or junk food. I have tried the SB diet, and if a person can eat this way, more power to you. I have to watch carbs being diabetic, but I never got past the first two weeks because my blood sugar kept going too low and I would bottom out. I guess any one diet isn't going to be right for every person. For those of you doing this or any serious diet, I say may the pounds and ounces fall off fast. Dottie

Any way of eating works only if you stick with it, whether you are on it for weight loss or just good general health. Go off plan and revert to your old ways and bad stuff happens. I live Low Carb. I feel better eating this way. Initially I lost 40 lbs. Now I eat Low Carb (not No Carb) to stay at a healthy weight and feel good. It takes awhile and lots of patience to discover what causes you problems and what you can eat to stay feeling good.
If it's South Beach, Atkins, Protein Power or maybe even Low Fat, whatever works for you, you must make it a life style change and not a short term diet!

Since doing SB, and since staying with a lower carb (low GI) lifestyle...

I lost the sugar cravings, I no longer have the mid-afternoon carb slump, and I no longer have migraines.

thanks Linda. No, I don't have any before and after pictures because I'm not 'after' yet, I'm only half way to my target weight. Then there is the every day job of maintaining it. Also, I don't know how to post pictures :~)

Mush:"...It takes awhile and lots of patience to discover what causes you problems and what you can eat to stay feeling good..." I vow, truer words were never spoken. My Dr said it took him 40 years to find out what works for him, and he drinks two big glasses of instant breakfast every morning! ( first ingredient? sugar.) I'd be 310 if I tried that.

Every body is different. What works for me is to eliminate any kind of sweetener, some protein each time I eat along with some healthy oil because it keeps you satisfied for such a long time in addition to the other health benefits.

Everything I eat I want it to be nutrient dense. So that means the most vivid colors I can eat in fruits and veggies, add healthy nuts, avocados, olives. Funny how your tastes really do change, and what used to look good just looks like super glue for the veins now...and doesn't even look like it would taste good.

The smell of food was my biggest obstacle. Fried foods, sweet foods, they smelled wonderful. That doesn't bother me too much any more, as long as I'm not past due to eat.

Everyone just has to find their own way. Normal people can moderate amounts of not-so-good stuff. I can't. I guess that is an all or nothing kind of personality. My Dr is addicted to exercise so can eat more freely. That just isn't going to happen for me in this life. I hate it, always have, always will. Nasty stuff, exercise. Blaugh!!
j