How to stay in the game

[jmr410]

Hello, I have tried four times to do South Beach. Each time I start to feel really good but for some reason have never made it through the first two weeks (phase one) until now. I am now four days into phase two. I have lost a good amount of weight to start but I still have a long way to go. So far the only things I have added back are berries and for the past two days 85% cocoa dark chocolate (two small squares). I'm feeling good but a little carb deprived and I'm trying to figure out a way to remind myself that if I really want this weight loss, which I really, really do, I will not be reintroducing any of the old cr~p I love so much. In the back of my head I keep thinking that when I'm finally at goal I can have that stuff again, but I know it doesn't work that way. So my question to all of you is: How long before I can accept this as a WOL and not just temporary? Does that ever happen? Does anyone ever feel satisfied only having junk a couple times a year on special occassions?

[jbirds1210]

You can accept it as a way of life today! There are MANY fabulous foods you can eat and still keep away from the bad carbs/simple sugars....you do not have to feel cheated.

I have found variety to be my best friend on this journey. The same food day after day gets old very quickly.

Good job on getting through phase I! IMO, you should focus on keeping the grain out of your diet for at least two months. I have not had any bread in 2008.....and I really love(d) bread.

Good luck!

Jason

[jmr410]

Thanks you for your positive words. Hopefully I can feel that confident about this WOL soon. The good news is that I love to cook and try all kinds of things. The bad news is that I have a three year old and a six month old that prevent me having much time to do it. Maybe I'll take out the crock pot and check out some LC compatible recipes? I am going to take your advice. I will not set any kind of weight loss goal at the moment. My new goal will be to go grain free for two months. My progress will depend on whether or not I add it in at that point.

[jbirds1210]

Get yourself an Indian cookbook :yum: If you like to cook.....the possibilities are endless with Indian :cool:

Once again....congrats on getting through Phase I.

Jason

[jmr410]

Thanks for the suggestion. I have an Indian friend that can probably give me some pointers. I was just checking out your stats. Have you really lost all of that weight since 01/08 or had you lost some prior to LCing? Either way, conratulations! Very impressive.

[jbirds1210]

Thank you.

I actually lost about 30 pounds prior to learning about South Beach by exercise and portion control. I did weigh about 300 pounds in October 2007.

My daughter was born and I made the choice to live long enough to watch her grow up. I also enrolled in the Police Academy earlier this year so my level of activity is pretty high. That said, I had always been an active guy that remained obese due to a poor diet.

South Beach for me is a way of life that had to be customized for me. I am not very strict on myself with portion control, but I do not get away from the things I need to eat for my health. Once I learned to dump the ideas of "reward eating" and Weight Watchers....things are getting better and better each day :wave:

You can do this...I promise.

Jason