South Beach Diet? Diets in General?

Parent Cafe
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<p>So I’m overweight and really want to/need to lose it in the next couple of months. Quite frankly, I’m obese. I’m 5’8, 250. But I want to change that. I want to look decent when I begin college (I’m a rising Junior, so I have some time). I want to look great when I go to prom in the Spring. And in the long term, I don’t want to have diabetes. I don’t want to have heart disease. I’m tired of being fat.</p>

<p>Many people have recommended me the South Beach Diet, but I’m clueless. A google search showed me what it is and it seems efficient, but I wanted to know what you parents could do for me. Is this a good plan? Should I start this or are there better diets out there?</p>

<p>Thanks for this!!</p>

2

<p>Hi, not a parent, but I will add my opinion. =)</p>

<p>When I was in my sophomore year in HS I was about 190 pounds. Today I am 126 pounds. I managed to lose this weight by the end of my senior year. The last few pounds have been coming off very slowly however. I’m now a junior and college and am happy to say that keeping the weight off has gone very well. I used to have high blood pressure and all of that jazz… even a very minor asthma condition, but all of that has gone.</p>

<p>Losing weight isn’t magic. Don’t expect to lose all the weight you need to in a couple of months. I highly recommend using weight watchers. My body thought it needed so much more to eat than it did, and my idea of a serving of food was very skewed. I was also quite addicted to food (many junk foods have addictive ingredients) and I was depressed for a bit easing off of them.</p>

<p>I think the most important thing (even more so than exercising) is watching your calories. Weight watchers helps you do this. I’ve stopped the program, but it was extremely useful. I also recommend starting a food log/journal/blog. Be completely honest… if you ate two huge brownies, write it down, don’t forget to add it. Also don’t underestimate portions (a kitchen scale may be useful). I used to do that in my first failed attempts at losing weight. Being honest is important. Also get a scale and try to weigh in every week to see if what you are doing is working or not. If its not, mix it up.</p>

<p>Another thing, don’t stop eating pleasure foods like cake, brownies, cookies. This will lead you to binge. You can have cookies and all the good stuff (try to make your own, or get ones with wholesome ingredients), just portion them. I have a dessert item everyday. </p>

<p>Another thing, don’t have unrealistic ideas of how you will look. The weight won’t melt off, there may be some problem areas, but be happy with what you accomplish. I didn’t notice the weight I lost. I never thought I was losing weight. Even though the scale kept going down and clothes got looser, i saw no difference, other than what people told me. Looking back on it, I can only tell by pictures.</p>

<p>Also, this little mind thing worked with me, don’t know if it will help but, rather than telling myself “I shouldn’t have those McDonalds fries” I told myself “I CAN’T have those McDonald’s fries.” I don’t know why, but it really helped me. Telling myself shouldn’t meant that I still could, telling myself you can’t have those, left no room for choice.</p>

<p>If you have any more specific questions, I’d be happy to try and help if I can.</p>

<p>Good luck to you. Researching is the first step. =-)</p>

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<p>I know people who were very happy with the South Beach Diet and did very well on it.</p>

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<p>I suggest thedailyplate.com… if I ever feel like I overindulged one day, I track my food the next day to balance things out.</p>

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<p>Keep a food log- count calories- exercise. </p>

<p>The food log should show a wide range of healthy food as entries. You will be shocked at how much you can eat if you eat good, healthy food. Make sure to eat at least 2,000 to 2,500 calories per day. Try to get in at least an hour of exercise 5 times per week. Try to add weight lifting to your exercise routine since muscle burns calories throughout the day- even when you are asleep.</p>

<p>Do not let set backs discourage you- you will have them. Good luck.</p>

6

<p>I didn’t like South Beach because it talked about ‘unlimited portions’ of certain foods.</p>

<p>What I’ve found keeps me on track is recording everything I eat & the calorie amount (subtracting it as I go from total permitted calories for the day–similar to what tom mentioned, above). I usually go over my amount, but it’s not big deal. This is a similar idea as that put out by weight watchers. It’s pretty easy–just use a notebook paper and divide into 3 columns, keeping a running ‘total’ of calories remaining. </p>

<p>I do eat (low cal) chocolate (e.g. diet hot cocoa, low-fat choc icecream or sugar free fudgesicles). That way I don’t feel deprived.</p>

<p>Good luck!! You can do it!</p>

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<p>I suggest a visit with a registered dietician to find out a good solid eating plan that will take you through life. Exercise, exercise, exercise.</p>

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<p>The one great thing about the South Beach diet is that you lose a quick 10 pounds of belly fat the first 2 weeks and that is a great incentive. The first few days are really hard until you get all the carbs out of your system. After that you can go back to a more healthy diet and if you stick with it, it really works. (believe it or not - the no sugar added fudgesicles are really good)</p>

<p>Good luck and think how great you will look in that new prom dress!</p>

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<p>Check with your DR before you begin, make sure they know what diet you will be using.
Good Luck, you can do this!</p>

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<p>If you are going to do the South Beach diet, I strongly recommend you read the book so you truly understand it. Otherwise, it will just be another in a long line of “diets” you do.</p>

<p>It’s a healthy diet once you get to phase 2. Phase 1 is not fun, and is boring and restrictive. But you must understand that eating healthy must be a lifelong habit, not a “diet” that you do until you lose weight, then go back to the old ways. If you ever stop doing what works, it won’t work anymore.</p>

<p>Exercise is the key. Anything else you do without it will not give you the best results and will likely be temporary in any case.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

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<p>I get bored with calorie counting, I think the critical thing is to be more aware of portion size. We Americans have a very skewed idea about how much we should eat. Meat should be a pack of cards max. Vegetables or fruit can be tennis ball size. Eat more salad, but go easy on the dressing. Cut way back on grains, and when you eat them switch to whole grains. Don’t eat dessert on weekdays, but allow yourself some indulgences on weekends. Exercise more. That’s my prescription. :)</p>

<p>If you like counting calories, vitamins and exercise there are some helpful sites on the web including one from the USDA (though I think too much politics went into the creation of the food pyramid). [USDA</a> - CNPP - MyPyramid Tracker](<a href=“http://www.mypyramidtracker.gov/]USDA”>http://www.mypyramidtracker.gov/)</p>

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<p>Doesn’t look bad. Carb restricted diets are win for losing fat. Up the fat and the protein and you are golden. Hell, just follow the general principle and you can save reading up on it…</p>

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<p>I’ve tried almost every diet around and in the end, my advice is very old-fashioned. If I were you, I would join Weight Watchers. You could go to meetings for the summer and then continue with the online program and tools when you go to school. My hard-earned conclusion is that you are wasting your time if you follow any kind of diet that you can’t stick to for the rest of your life. That’s why extreme diets that cut out entire categories of food or the ones that mail you your meals dont’ work in the long run. On Weight Watchers you eat normal food, there is flexibility to allow for eating out, etc., etc. The weight loss is slower than on a crash diet but it is real and if you stick to the program it is steady. Good luck to you.</p>

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<p>A second recommendation for mydailyplate.com.</p>

<p>What helped me:
Make better food choices - thing about each item before you put it on your plate/hand.
Eat less - just take 25% less of each thing when you are getting portions.
Exercise more - doesn’t have to be hardcore - just get out and do something every day if you can for 15 minutes.
Drink lots of water. Every time you go to get a meal or snack drink a small (at least) glass of water first. </p>

<p>And, as said above, don’t deny yourself any foods. Just think small portion and eat slow and savor it.</p>

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<p>CIA - “Diets” in general don’t work, because most of them are based on depriving us, rather than finding out how we got to where we are (and I speak from experience). There’s an old saying, “it’s not what you’re eating, it’s what’s eating you”. There’s a lot of truth to that statement.</p>

<p>6 years ago I was at my heaviest, 175, on a 5’2" frame. I had heard of Dr. Phil’s book “The Ultimate Weight Solution” and the concepts behind it. Food was the last of it. The book is self discovery by “unpeeling” ourselves one layer at a time, by answering audits and journaling our responses. His son Jay, followed with the same concept for teens. </p>

<p>I went through Dr. Phil’s book, and it wasn’t until I was 73 pages into it and answering every question and writing my heart out that the 10 ton anvil struck. Then, one by one, it all started falling into place, and things started to kick in. It took from 9/20/03 to 6/30/04 to shed 50 pounds. It was hard work, but for the first time ever I have remained at my “get real weight” (well, not really, because as it turns out my “get real weight”, the weight I can reasonably manage at any given time, is 10 pounds more than I thought - so 10 pounds came back, and THAT is where I have been and continue to remain).</p>

<p>Consider borrowing the book from the library or buy a copy for a $6 (or less) plus shipping at Amazon. It’s well worth it and I don’t say that lightly. </p>

<p>Weight loss is a commitment. It’s not something that can be done overnight (well, it could be, but it won’t last), but I believe you sound like you have a good head on your shoulders. I like the idea of combining Weight Watcher’s with Dr. Phil’s exploration. Go to meetings, don’t do it online. You’ll need and want the in person support! I’m a fan of WW as compared to the other weight loss programs out there. </p>

<p>Biggest key is to remember that whatever you do to lose the excess weight you will need to change your lifestyle forever. This is why diets fail because we simply cannot do them forever. </p>

<p>I’m rooting for you!</p>

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<p>Not familiar with the South Beach Diet, but in the past my doctor has recommended the Mediterranean Diet, also the Dr John McDougall program.</p>

<p>The McDougall program is for the hard-core healthy so many can’t handle it, but my girlfriend cured herself of rheumatoid arthritis on this program and many others have cured themselves of all kinds of ailments on it. One good thing about it is you can lose weight without starving yourself. </p>

<p>Plus exercise!</p>

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<p>I did the McDougall prgm (identical to the Pritikin prgm, I think) years ago (when I was 18!). You definitely lose weight & it’s uber healthy. I just found recording the calorie content of my foods was easier, but I mainly follow the Pritikin principles, with some exceptions.</p>

<p>Agree w/the above poster that WW has some very good guidelines, support an accountability which is great for the person who is starting out and could use an extra boost. :-)</p>

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<p>Others have said this, of course, but I’m going to repeat it because I think it is crucial: no matter which diet plan you follow, get on a treadmill or an elliptical, or out on the street and get in shape. I am very happy to see that you mentioned avoiding developing diabetes as one of your incentives–regular exercise is an important part of that.</p>

<p>I’m with mathmom on portion control. Basically, put less of everything on your plate than you think you want. As for desserts, I’d recommend avoiding them, or at least not indulging on a daily basis. </p>

<p>Do not eat until you feel full. It takes about 20 minutes to feel the effects of a meal (so I have read). </p>

<p>A woman I volunteer with (middle-aged) lost 30 pounds a year ago on the South Beach Diet over a period of a few months. She spoke highly of it.</p>

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<p>I have lost 80lb over 2 years doing WeightWatchers online. Keeping track of everything I eat, portion control and lots of exercise(you want that cookie-go to the gym first) is the gist of it.</p>

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<p>Im not a parent, but, IMO, you should see a nutritionist. They’re professionals, and know how to get you losing weight, while still getting all your vitamins, etc. :smiley: good luck, and don’t rush it! If you eat better and exercise, the weight will come off eventually :)</p>