This diet is DISGUSTING!

[kathyp12]

I am disappointed in the South Beach diet! I barely made it through Phase 1, and this is my first day on Phase 2. I'm not sure how much longer I can last!
Anyone have a similar experience?
First off, the Phase 1 recipes in the book (original S.B. diet book, not cookbook) are DISGUSTING. All of the food tastes either bland, sour, salty or some combination of those 3 adjectives.
I can't stand tomatoes, olives or tunafish, and I am really sick of spinach.
Lots of the ingredients are EXPENSIVE, and many are hard to find (at least here in Oklahoma).
The recipes are time-consuming to make. I work for a living! I don't have 2 hours a day to cook.
Does the S.B. diet assume that all dieters are wealthy and have hired help to grocery-shop and cook for them??
I guess limiting your food choices to things that are so revolting you start gagging is one approach to losing weight.
I have swung from one extreme to the other - from being so grossed out by the food I was supposed to eat on this diet, to being incredibly hungry and obsessed with the foods I can't have - white potatoes, in particular.
I love to cook and used to pride myself on it. But now I feel lost in my own kitchen. I can't use any of the cookbooks I have collected and enjoyed so much over the years.
Do I have to shell out yet MORE money to buy the separate South Beach cookbook, and hope that its recipes are more palatable?
The official South Beach site was disappointing! 5 bucks a week in perpetuity for advice and support that may not be worth anything??
Do I just need to stick with Phase 2 a little longer?
I did lose 9.5 lbs. on Phase 1. I need to lose 16 more.
I'm just not sure I can take 8-16 more weeks of Phase 2!!
I'm REALLY tempted to just drive to the nearest all-you-can-eat buffet and take a "carb break" by eating as much as I want of every refined starch I see.
I'm scared to death to stray from the diet because if I gain weight, I know it's back to Phase 1 and inedible slop.
Thanks for letting me blow off some steam.

[wbahn]

There's good news and bad news. The bad news is that, if you are going to attain and maintain your desired goal, you will have to make permanent changes in how you eat and act - and that is going to mean giving up some of the foods that you have always loved - and that have returned the favor by making you fat (although "fat" may or may not be a good description for you).

The good news is that the South Beach diet may not be the best program for you - and it is far from being the only one you can try.

If you click on the "Plans" link in the top tool bar (at least on my browser) it will let you get an idea of what each of several different plans entail.

Good luck.

[A_Team_Gal]

You may just need a place to vent and if that is so, well then....happy venting.

However, if you mean what you say here then I suggest that you get into your car, take a nice drive playing music you really like, and go directly to that "all you can eat" buffet and just enjoy!

If you wish to lose weight - and keep it off - you need to evaluate what you have been doing that got the weight on and then change it. Forever. Permanently. Always. If you are not committed to that, then those 16 pounds will be bouncing on and off.

It sounds to me as if South Beach may not be for you. And if you want to maintain a high quantity of refined carbs in your diet, then you might want to consider Weight Watchers. If you feel this way of eating is not for you, that's cool. You just need to find a plan that does work. And it just may not be any of those on this board.

I wish you the best in your journey.

[llabonte]

Kathyp12- sorry to hear you are feeling so frustrated. I myself follow the Atkins plan. I am lurking in your SB website while waiting for an answer to my thread about diet soda (for my daughter who started sb yesterday). I hope you find a plan that works for you. I have sometimes thought of switching from atkins to sb but I find atkins works well for me. Good luck to you and don't give up! AND DON"T PIG OUT!!!! That is only a short term answer, not a solution, you will only send your body into shock wondering where all the heck these carbs and sugars came from :) !
Good luck kiddo!

[KoKo]

Well I don't have the SB diet book or cookbook, but from what I understand Phase 2 is only introducing more foods - it dosen't mean that you have to use the recipes, or even eat all the foods listed - there are choices - and all you have to do is choose the foods you do like out of what is allowed - as for cooking them - well if the basics are meat, some green veggies, and whatever carbs are allowed in level 2 - the cooking could be as simple as broiling/grilling a steak or chicken breast or lean beef pattie - making a salad, steaming some brocolli - baking a potato - no recipes needed. Just because they list sample menus or recipes dosent mean you HAVE to eat them to follow the diet - how did you cook your meat and veggies before you were on a plan?

[Elsah]

Sorry to say but if you can't find anything on this list that doesn't disgust you than you are going to have serious problems on any diet. SBD is pretty liberal as low carb diets go and if you are in phase 2 there is a whole list of fruits, veggies, beans, grains you get to add back. I mean the only things you are really giving up is sugar, "white" flours and potatoes. If you can't live with that then best of luck with pizza and twinkies.

Jenn






MEAT PROTEIN



BEEF Lean cuts, such as:

Eye of Round

Sirloin (including ground)

Tenderloin

Top Loin

Top Round



POULTRY (SKINLESS)

Cornish hen
Turkey bacon (2 slices per day)
Turkey and chicken breast

SEAFOOD

All types of fish and shellfish

PORK

Boiled ham
Canadian bacon
Loin
Tenderloin

VEAL

Chop
Cutlet, leg
Top round

LAMB (Remove all visible fat)

Center cut
Chop
Loin

LUNCHMEAT

Fat-free or low-fat only


DAIRY (added in Good Fats Good Carbs Guide released in December 2003)



Low-fat (1 percent) or fat-free (skim) milk

Soy milk, low fat

Plain or sugar-free, low-fat, or fat-free yogurt

Fat-free half & half (allowed for coffee)



SOY PROTEIN

Soy bacon - limit to 2 slices per day
Soy burger (less than 3 grams fat per 2 to 3-oz portion)
Soy chicken patties & Nuggets (less than 3 grams fat per 2- 3-oz portion)
Soy hot dogs (less than 3 gms fat per 2- 3-oz portion)
Soy sausage patty - Limit 1 patty per day
Seiten
Soy crumbles
Soy nuts - 1/4 cup for a protein snack is

suggested serving
Tempeh

Tofu (use soft, low-fat or light varieties)

CHEESE PROTEIN (FAT-FREE OR LOW-FAT)

American
Cheddar
Cottage cheese, 1-2% or fat-free
Cream cheese substitute, dairy-free
Feta
Mozzarella
Parmesan
Provolone
Ricotta
String


NUTS AND SEEDS PROTEIN (Limit to one serving of nuts per day as specified)

Nuts:

Almonds - 15 (dry roasted recommended)
Brazil nuts - 4
Cashews - 15 (dry roasted recommended)

Flax seeds - 3 tablespoons
Pecans - 15 (dry roasted recommended)
Macadamia - 8 (dry roasted recommended)
Peanut butter, natural - 2 tablespoons
Peanuts, 20 small (may use dry roasted or boiled)
Pine nuts (pignolia) - 1 ounce
Pistachios - 30 (dry roasted recommended)
Walnuts - 15 (dry roasted recommended)



Seeds: Pine nuts (pignolia), pumpkin, sesame, sunflower (1 ounce)



In place of nuts, may use Flax Seed - 3 TBS



EGGS

The use of whole eggs is not limited unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Use egg whites and egg substitute as desired.

VEGETABLE CHOICES
(May use fresh, frozen, or canned without added sugar)


Artichokes
Asparagus
Beans, green
Beans, Italian
Beans, wax

Bok choy

Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Capers
Cauliflower
Celery
Cucumbers
Eggplant

Greens (collard, turnip, mustard, kale)
Hearts of palm
Kale
Leeks
Lettuce (All varieties)
Mushrooms (All varieties)
Mustard greens
Okra
Onions
Parsley
Peppers (all varieties)
Pickles - dill or those sweetened with Splenda
Raddicchio
Radishes (All varieties)
Rhubarb
Sauerkraut
Scallions (green onions)
Sea vegetables
Snow peas
Spinach
Sprouts, alfalfa
Squash, spaghetti
Squash, summer
Squash, yellow
Squash, zucchini
Swiss Chard
Tomatoes
Tomato juice or V-8 (limit to 6 oz per day)
Turnip greens
Turnips
Water chestnuts


LEGUMES
Black Beans
Butter Beans
Chickpeas or Garbanzo
Kidney
Lentils
Lima
Pigeon Peas
Soy Beans
Split Peas


FATS
The following monounsaturated oils are recommended to be consumed daily:

Oil, canola
Oil, olive
Other oil choices that may be chosen (Polyunsaturated or a blend of Monounsaturated):
Corn
Enova
Grapeseed
Peanut
Safflower
Sesame
Soybean
Sunflower


Other Fat Choices:
Avocado - 1/3 whole = 1 TBS oil
Guacamole - ½ cup = 1 TBS oil
Margarine - choose those that do not contain

trans fatty acids

Premium olive oil or Smart Balance
Mayonnaise - regular or low fat
Olives (green or ripe) 15 = 1/2 TBS oil
Salad Dressing (use those < 3 gms sugar

per serving


SPICES AND SEASONINGS

All spices that contain no added sugar
Broth
Extracts (almond, vanilla, or others)
Horseradish sauce
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spray
Lemon juice
Lime juice
Pepper (black, cayenne, red, white)
Use the following toppings and sauces sparingly (check labels for added sugar)
Hot sauce
Salsa - Limit to 2 TBS during phase 1
Soy sauce - 1/2 TBS
Steak sauce - 1/2 TBS

Vinegar
Worcestershire sauce - 1 TBS
Whipped topping (light) - 2 TBS

(such as RediWhip)

SWEET TREATS (Limit to 75 calories per day)

Candies, hard, sugar-free
Chocolate powder, no-added-sugar
Cocoa powder, baking type
Fudgsicles, sugar-free
Gelatin, sugar-free
Gum, sugar-free
Popsicles, sugar-free


Some sugar-free products may be made with sugar alcohols (isomalt, lactitol, mannitol, sorbitol or xylitol) and are permitted on the SBD. They may have associated side effects of GI distress (abdominal pain, diarrhea & gas) if consumed in excessive amounts.

SUGAR SUBSTITUTES

Acesulfame K
Fructose (needs to be counted as

Sweet Treats, Calorie Limit)
Nutrasweet (Equal)
Saccharin (Sweet & Low)

Splenda (natural sweetener)
Sucralose (Splenda)
Stevia (Not approved by FDA)

phase 2

Here are the recommendations for easing into Phase 2, according to Dr. Agatston:



FRUIT:
1 fruit serving allowed daily to begin, gradually increased to 3 total servings for the day.


Fruit Choices (with suggested serving sizes):

Apples, 1 small

Apricots, 4 fresh or 7 dried halves

Banana, small to medium

Blueberries, 3/4 cup

Cantaloupe, 1/4 or 1 cup chunks

Cherries, 12

Grapefruit, 1/2

Grapes, 15

Kiwi, 1

Mangoes, 1/2

Oranges, 1

Peaches, 1 medium

Pears, 1 medium

Plums, 2

Strawberries, 3/4 cup


Grains and other starches:
1 serving allowed daily at first, gradually increased to 2 or 3 total servings for the day.



- Bagel, small, whole-grain, 1/2 small

- Bread, 1 slice (multigrain, oat and bran, rye, whole-wheat)

- Cereal: 1/2 cup cooked Kasha, 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal (regular, not instant), 1/2 cup Muesli (toasted), 1/2 cup Fiber One or All Bran, 1 1/4 cups Shredded Wheat ‘N Bran, 1 cup Multi-Bran Chex, 1 cup Kashi GoLean, 1 cup Uncle Sam Cereal

- Couscous, 1/2 cup

- Crackers: read labels and select only those that are whole grain with no hydrogenated oils/trans fats), that contain a good amount of fiber and no sugar (serving sizes are on the boxes)

- Muffins, bran, 1 (sugar-free, no raisins)

- Pasta, whole-wheat only, 1/2 cup cooked

- Peas, green, 1/2 cup

- Pita, 1 small (stone-ground, whole-wheat)

- Popcorn, 1/2 cup (popped)

- Quinoa, cooked, 1/2 cup

- Rice, 1/2 cup cooked (brown rice or wild rice only)

- Sweet Potato, 1 small

- Wheat germ, 3 tablespoons







Official Phase 2 Foods List (includes recent changes)


FOODS YOU CAN REINTRODUCE TO YOUR DIET

FRUIT (see above list for serving sizes)
Apples
Apricots, dried or fresh

Banana
Blueberries
Cantaloupe
Cherries
Grapefruit
Grapes
Kiwi
Mangoes
Oranges
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Strawberries

DAIRY
Light, fruited yogurt (low-fat or fat-free)

STARCHES (USE SPARINGLY)
- Bagels, small (whole grain/whole wheat)
- Bread, (multigrain, oat and bran, rye, 100% whole wheat)
- Cereal, high fiber, such as Fiber One, All Bran, and other high fiber such as Uncle Sam, Kashi GoLean, Shredded Wheat 'N Bran, Multi-Bran Chex

- Oatmeal (not instant)
- Muffins, bran, sugar-free (no raisins)
- Pasta, whole wheat
- Pita, stone-ground whole wheat
- Popcorn
- Rice (brown, wild)

- Sweet potato, small


VEGETABLES AND LEGUMES
Barley

Black-eyed peas
Carrots
Green peas

Pinto beans


MISCELLANEOUS
Chocolate (sparingly) bittersweet, semisweet
Pudding (fat-free, sugar free)
Wine, red

[Judynyc]

Sorry you are having so much trouble. We really do have to committ to this WOE to make it work.
I have been doing the SBD now for the past 2 months. I have lost a total of 20 lbs and will plan to lose 10 lbs a month until I get to my goal. It may not go the way I intend it to, but that is my plan.

For me, I do not allow my mind to think about what I can't have but rather to focus on what I can have...it does help to control the thoughts you allow your mind to dwell in.
I also do not make a big deal about cooking. I make a lovely dish of fresh veggies, either grilled or sauteed and use lots of onions and garlic, lemon juice and balsamic vinegar...it alwasy tastes wonderful! I got an indoor grill, Hamilton Beach, and use it every day...throw on a nice piece of salmon in a yummy glaze and 6 minutes later, my dinner is ready!!
If you click on my jouranl, you can see what Ive been eating. I find that planning ahead and having foods I can have in my home, helps me alot. I found a fish store near me and I stop in there on my way home from work to get a nice fresh filet of something. Tonight I grilled turkey cutlets that were just fair BUT the asparagus and mushrooms( w/ tarragon, hot red pepper, lemon juice, vinegar) I made were amazing!!

Some days are better than others but I really like this food plan. Eventhough I can have certain carbs now, I have chosen to not have any flour porducts at all until I reach a certain weight, as I have alot to go!! I do not eat any sugar at all, and potatoes are a thing of the past...maybe someday but not today!! No more white rice at all and if I do have any rice, its brown and its a very small amount, like a heaping tablespoon.

I hope this helps!! :wave:

[bellybuton]

kathyp12,

I also am having a hard time with Phase one.....actually on my third or fourth attempt.

So needless to say...I thought that maybe this diet isn't for me. And then I thought about it again and finally decided that I just am not cut out for Phase one...so I have just taken what I have learned from the SB book and went straight to Phase two and modified it to myself. I like what this book has taught me about what I eat and why. This I can live with.....I just can't live with that first phase. Best of luck to you in whatever you decide!!

[elijaeger]

The SB diet recipes are pretty difficult if you don't have a lot of time or don't have money for some of the "exotic" ingredients."

Just make your own recipes using foods on the list. Options are endless.

[kathyp12]

First of all, THANKS to all for your thoughtful replies. You were all respectful, no ridicule, even if you didn't agree with what I said, and offered genuine help.

After having more time to think about it, (and a GREAT dinner and dessert on Phase 2, day 1), I think my frustration is caused more by the S.B. diet book itself than the diet.

Until I read that several of you didn't use the recipes in the S.B. book and relied more on the foods to enjoy lists, I thought that I had to stick to only the menus and recipes in the book.

This is not stated ANYWHERE in the book (at least not that I could find when I re-read it last night) !!

I think the book is just not well-written. Some of the recipes have typos, too.

And if it's possible that 2 weeks on P1 is not enough for some people to "detox" - well, the book sure doesn't address that either!! Over and over again, it says P1 is too restrictive to stay on more than 2 weeks.

Also, the book should at least bring up the option of vegetarianism. I have flirted with lacto-ovo vegetarianism in the past. I just found out in the last week from the official S.B. website that it is possible to eat vegetarian on S.B. I had assumed (again, from reading the S.B. book) that it would be impossible for vegetarians of any stripe to use this diet because there's so much meat mentioned in the book.

My first glass of wine in 2 weeks, and the Chocolate-Covered Strawberries dessert, went a long way toward making me feel less deprived.

Maybe I should change my user name to "Carb-zilla" :D . I sure felt like rampaging through Tokyo yesterday in search of starchy stuff.

Sounds like I might need to visit this site occasionally for some advice and support!

Thanks again.

[Finestof07]

Sorry to hear you're having a hard time. I read one of the books to accompany the SB book I think it was called Good Carbs, Bad Fats, or something like that. I didn't really like the foods that they allowed you to eat, but I still thought the SB plan sounded like it was effective. But there's good news! You can always do another plan: Atkins, Protein Power, Neanderthin, or even make your own low carb plan . But whatever you decide I wish you loads of luck :) -KIM

[Nadz]

Most recently, South Beach has been embracing vegetarianism. You could probably scheck out the website.

[kisler]

I find this "diet" to be the easist I have ever done. I choose it because it is healthly. You do not have to make the recipes in the book. I have not made one recipe from the book. I eat lean cuts of all kinds of meats, eggs, low fat cheeses, nuts, etc. When I did Weight Watchers I lost a lot of weight but I feel low fat products are just not healthy. They are made with a lot of added stuff that is not healthy. I think dieting is a change of attitude. No diet will work until you are ready for it to work. In order to loss weight you have to make changes/sacrafices. I went from a size 16 to now a small 12 or 10. And I did not eating better than I have ever eaten before. Just my two bits.

[Elsah]

Here is a link with a list for vegetarian foods allowed in phase 1 and 2 ... I am pretty much veggie myself.

http://www.mizfrogspad.com/South_Beach_Diet/Ph1_Food_List-Vegetarian.htm

Jenn

[crista]

When I started the South Beach Diet, I said to myself, "If I can make it through one day, I'll give this an honest try for the next two weeks." Day one was ROUGH! So was the next day, and the next...

Things got better when, as someone else mentioned, I started to pay attention to the food list rather than the recipes. I found the book's recipes rather bland and some of the ingredients were a bit to pricey for me to take the chance of purchasing something I really hated-however, I do experiment now and then.

Using the food list as my reference tool, I began to alter the recipes to fit my personal taste. I know what spices I like, what veggies etc...

Then I used this site to find some interesting recipes that matched my taste. Also, there are several other free sites dedicated soley to low carb lifestyles/recipes. I found alot of great recipes on the net:

http://www.carb-lite.au.com/
www.lowcarbluxury.com/lowcarb-recipes.html (http://www.lowcarbluxury.com/lowcarb-recipes.html)
http://www.lowcarbcafe.com/

Another important key was food preparation. I'd often prepare meals, freeze them, then take them with me for lunch, or warm them up for dinner. Pure laziness is/was my downfall. If it was easier to order food than to prepare a South Beach compliant meal, I was at the nearest fast food joint right after work! I own a foodsaver (yes, I fell victim to the infomercial) and it makes it really easy to prepare several meals and store them.

Having written all of this, currently my diet has stalled. I'm hopeful that If I start to follow my own advice again, I'll start losing. Well, I hope some of this info is helpful to you.

[luckyloser]

I didn't lose at all on Phase I of SB. Found out that there were
too many veggies for my metabolism ....so I switched to
Atkins. Meat is more my style. I plan to do a modified Atkins/SB
when I get closer to my goal.

Good Luck with whatever you decide. Sounds like you're doing
better since you realized you don't have to "go by the book",
but can choose to eat what you actually LIKE from the
permitted list!

[wbahn]

Crista,

You must have an extremely small-boned frame in order to be targeting 110lb as that is at the very bottom end of the small-framed recommended weight range for your height. Are you sure that you need to lose much more? Even if you do, I'd expect it to come off very slowly.

[orchidday]

If I felt like you do, I would definitely consider another low-carb plan. We can stand almost anything for awhile but you really need a plan you can stick with and enjoy. A lot of people really like South Beach and do very well with it. I like Atkins very well. You really need to find something you can stick with and feel good on. Good luck!

Orchid

[Scotje]

All of these posts have good things to say. The trick is to forget the recipes, have fun with the food list and the grill is your best friend on this woe. I grill every day, and look forward to dinner. Im not used to eating breakfast, so forcing myself to eat in the morning is my biggest challenge. I dont usually do the snacks on the sb, but i also dont crave food like most ppl. My biggest downfall has always been about the bread. Man, I love bread. I am almost finished with phase one and I feel a lot better with the way I am eating. It really is all about the balance. Life is too short not to enjoy what you are eating to a certain extent. I happen to love seafood, and this diet is good for that. Good luck

[magilicudy]

I kind of know what you mean, although I've been south beaching for 2 months now... I did binge tonight -- one of my kids ice cream cones... I actually felt stuffed afterwards. But since I live abroad in France, I've had to adapt a lot of things to what's available here. I don't follow the book religiously, and I improvise with the recipes. You don't need to "shell out" more money for a book, Mizfrogspad.com website has lots of recipes....I work too full time and I just improvise most of the time, while keeping in mind that this is my new WOL. No more cereals in the morning (except oatmeal twice a week), no fruit in the morning... although I only lost 10 pounds so far, it's 10 pounds more than I've ever lost before.... Like millions have said before me, if you really want to lose, you will find some program to stick to... I promised my 6 year old that I'd get into a nice dress for the summer, and I'm on my way....

[Scotje]

wow, i could never live in France and do a low carb lifestyle!! The bread there is waaaaay too amazing!!! ;) hehe Not to mention the amazing pattiserie's. Although, the lifestyle in general there is much easier when you realize that fast food is bread/cheese. We should all be so lucky! I lived in Holland for a year, and I lost weight there based on the fact that I rode my bicycle everyday(no car) Not to mention that was ten years ago, and my metabolism hadn't crept to a halt :) Plus, I didn't eat all the American food that I had grown up with. The sandwich there is litterally a small roll with one slice of meat, one slice of cheese and some butter(Called a Brodje). Its not like going to subway and getting a huge piece of bread, all the fixins, a bag of chips and a cookie and a drink for one low price ;) My ONLY indulgence in holland was a place in Amsterdam called "Gary's Muffins" where I would go a couple times a week to get "american style coffee" and a delicious muffin.... Ah the younger years ;)

[suzanneM]

I've been on /off Atkins for years. I've not lost much lately, but that's OK - I feel good and my boyfriend thinks I'm hot.

I can tell you that I've never yet made a single thing listed in any low-carb books. The only recipes I try are the ones here on the recipes forums - I know what I like & don't, and so I eat and / or cook what I want, tailoring and tinkering as I go.

I love italian food, so I've found many, many ways to easily create stuff I adore & can even re-heat at work the next day. And sometimes, I grab a big salad or a fast-food burger & peel the bread off.

And I never feel deprived!

I'm sorry you are so frustrated, but please remember that this way of eating requires a great deal of experimenting and tinkering on your part. It's just a sort of *shift* in your way of thinking. Go through the recipes boards, stopping on whatever suits your fancy and will fit into your current diet. You don't have to follow sample menus; this is supposed to be - and *can* be easy and enjoyable.