SP is a healing program, and you essentially eat the same way when on the healing portion of the plan as you do in the maint. portion.
Our bodies, especially ones that have yo-yo dieted a lot, or even just recently, will need time to heal.
I was not really a yo-yo dieter, but rather a carbohydrate consumer. I yo-yo'd a couple of times in my teens and twenties, but after that, it was pretty much a steady gain, carbing out the whole way. After all, pasta and bread is *ehem* good for us, right?
But I haven't yo-yo'd in the recent years, just gained a tremedous amount of weight in the past 8 years. And in that time, I grew accepting of the way I looked, though hated the way I felt and the limitations I was faced with being over 350 pounds! I am/was (I guess "was" is the better choice now?) insulin resistant, and no doubt on my way to diabetes.
When the Good Lord led me to Dr. S's book, I knew my answer had finally come! YES! I needed to HEAL FIRST--my weight wasn't really my first consideration. I was actually just concerned with not letting the food control me anymore. I wanted to eat "unto the Lord." At least that's my perspective.
I went full-force on the SP (see journal for details) and, as a result, the weight started coming off immediately. Perhaps it's b/c I am so large, it cain't help but come off? Or perhaps it's b/c I've never really restricted my fat intake, save a time or two in my 20s.
For whatever reason, this program is helping me to shed the pounds so that I can have my life back again.
I had a stall for a long time a few weeks ago. It was like hovering inthe same place for like 2 months I think. Yikes! Yeah, the measurements dropped a bit, but I was thinking to myself I hope this isn't where my body wants to be!
But 2-3 weeks ago, the scale moved again. And the body is again beginning to shrink!
And it will happen for you, too.
But if losing the weight is you main concern (understandably so, we all have different priorities, that's what makes us individuals), then perhaps trying the SP without the addition of the starchy carbs for a week or two will jump start your weight loss.
The one thing I love about SP is that she encourages WHOLE FOODS, not processed crap. Atkins allows low-carb, but processed foods and things with artificial sweeteners (which for those sensitive folks like myself wreaks havoc with cravings and weight gain!). I would recommend eating whole foods as much as ya can, friend. You can do a modified SP program by simply NOT adding any "extra" carbs, just eating the "allowed carbs" as you wish. After all, it was the veggies you miss, right? There ya go.
I'm sorry to be so long, but I wanted to share that with you. I know you will get more input here over this week. I wish you well, looking forward to sharing ideas and inspirations with you.