It was about this time last year that I returned from a family vacation. I had a wonderful time, but I knew that when I saw the pictures, I wouldn't like how I looked. I had spent a week fishing, boating, swimming, and eating with my family — lots of good eating. I kept telling myself, "You're on vacation, go ahead and eat it." Well, I did, and the day we returned, I went online and The South Beach Diet™ ad popped up. It seemed like a godsend. I read about the diet, took the Web site tour, and signed up that day.
I have struggled with my weight since the birth of my second son 12 years ago. When I got married, I weighed 130 pounds. After the births of my sons, I got up to 180! I couldn't lose more than 10 to 20 pounds, and the tummy fat from pregnancy never budged. I tried aerobics and sit-ups, but that didn't do much. I tried Diet Workshop but quickly became discouraged because it took a long time to lose just 5 pounds. I tried cutting back portions, but my food choices were poor and only triggered cravings. The Zone Diet™ book was fascinating, but it was a little too tricky to be "in the Zone," and I was out of the Zone more often than in it! I knew there were healthy ways to eat, but something was always missing. When I discovered the glycemic index through The South Beach Diet™ and learned how it affected my body, digestion, and cravings, everything made sense!
When I started the diet, I was very successful: I lost 13 pounds the first two weeks. With this success, I was determined to continue but hesitant to move to Phase 2. I did so cautiously, adding only one carb per day. The biggest challenge was living with two young teenagers and a husband who like to have snacks and ice cream in the house. I resisted temptation, though, stocking up on no-sugar-added Popsicles, fudgsicles, and sugar-free hard candy. I also ate baked mocha ricotta cremes — they satisfied my desire for chocolate, and I liked the baked recipe better than the cold, pudding-like one. And I put sand pail and shovel stickers on my computers to remind myself to "stay on the Beach."
The lifelines for me, though, were the Message Boards and the support I received from the Web site. I logged on regularly and ended up joining a support group. We named ourselves the 40/40 club (anyone over 40 wanting to lose at least 40 pounds). This group supported me and encouraged me tremendously during each success or plateau. I don't think I could have done it without them.
After several months, I purchased Dr. Agatston's book and cookbook, and I still keep a binder of recipes that I got from the Web site and friends on the Message Boards. Another benefit of the site has been the meal plans. I copied them each week and adapted them to fit my tastes and needs. Then I wrote down everything I ate each day. This way I could discover foods that triggered cravings and the days that had the most satisfying combinations of foods. This helped me focus and create grocery lists each week.
My original goal was to lose 40 pounds in 40 weeks — and I did. That day I cried tears of joy. I have so much fun now buying new clothes and having my picture taken. We are leaving in less than a week for our annual family vacation at the lake. I can't wait. I have a new bathing suit and a whole new outlook. I feel better, and I know I am so much healthier. I exercise regularly and enjoy bike rides with my two sons and my husband. They are proud of me and I love to hear their compliments. Thank you, Dr. Agatston and all my friends at the South Beach Diet™!
Favorite exercise: Biking about 12 miles around the river.
Best compliment: When my husband says, "Hey skinny!" and smiles at me, I feel really happy about my accomplishments.
Temptation strategy: I keep a sack of hard, sugar-free candy in my purse and at my work area so I can grab one whenever I'm tempted by something unhealthy.
Favorite snack: Nuts (pecans, pistachios, walnuts, peanuts). I have to be careful or I eat too many, but I love these crunchy, tasty snacks.
Best advice for other SB dieters: Writing down what I ate each day helped me see what and how much I was eating.
