Teddygirl,
Thanks for the tip on saving on Splenda. It is more pricey than the others.....but sure worth it to me. I'll check at our Sam's store here.
Shopgirl -
If you look at South Beach Diet in simple terms...it's just getting the sugar out of your system. Problem is, the first 3 or 4 days are not fun cause of cravings and low energy. After that, at least for me anyway, it gets a lot easier. The first two weeks....nothing white at all, not even oatmeal. No fruit either (UGH!)
I eat a 2 egg omlette for breakfast with some red bell peppers, then no sugar protein shake about 10:00, then a HUGE salad with Chicken for lunch. About 2:00 is my snack of non fat cottage chese with sugar free jello (at this point, the concoction is welcome), about 30 pistachio nuts and another no sugar protein shake when I get home from work about 6:00. For dinner is the huge veggie platter covered with an ounce, or ounce and a half of low fat cheddar cheese and some sort of protein (fish, pork, turkey...etc). My treat after dinner is part skim riccotta cheese mixed with a couple packets of Splenda and some sort of no calorie flavoring, like cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice or maple flavoring mixed in. Sounds kind of weird until you remember the Italian Cannoli pastry fillings are made with ricotta and sugar. Last but not least...a sugar free fudgecicle or pop cicle.
The book gives meal plans and recipies but the above is working fine for me with a lot less work. As you can see, I'm eating all day long pretty much. I'll only restrict myself like this for 2-3 weeks but it seems to be the only diet that works for me anymore. Phase 2 you start adding in whole grains and fruits.
Oops, one more thing. Because of the low carb intake, it takes a toll on energy levels. I only find that to be true day 1 through 3. After that...I am just fine. I keep telling myself that anyway.
Shopgirl - I don't believe that about your caboose, either
:+ . It's a good thing DH thinks a full butt looks attractive on a woman...he hit the jackpot with me:7 .