Finally – the finish line.  Tonight is the final step and completion of Phase 1!

It's been quite a haul.  In some ways it took forever.  In another it was over before I knew it.  Last weekend sure was tough, but the results are great and I feel great.

A co-worker today even yelled down the hall that I was "looking skinny."  That was great to hear!

But I'm SO glad to be finished and able to move on to real food, as Phase 2 of south beach seems like a walk in the park compared to what I've just been through.

I purchased whole grain pasta and whole grain bread at Sprouts, and have had fun the last couple days planning what my "freedom" meal was going to be tomorrow.

For tomorrow morning, I plan on introducing oatmeal so it's not just eggs.  That's going to be sweet!  And those dreams of Frosted Mini Wheats- I can now act on them along with Skim Milk.  That's a small price to pay for being able to eat again, including fruit.  Now moving on to the glycemic index food list.

Now that Phase 1 is over (and don't be tempted to stay on it solely to lose a little extra weight, because the nutrition and limited diet is fine for 2 weeks but is not intended nor balanced enough for an extended time period – if not sure or worried, check with your doctor).

Final thoughts.  Difficulty to complete (0-10) = 7.  It wasn't easy, it also wasn't the hardest thing I've ever done.  I ended up losing 14#, and it was more evenly distributed than I experienced back in 2005.  Avoid temptations and having to prepare your kids meals if you can, and stay busy.  Be a contrarian and begin the diet when you have a packed/busy schedule, not when you're on vacation or have some extra availability at home.

Good luck!

Progress.  I made it through the weekend (barely) but have good results to show.

I was surprised when I got on the scale (I only get on every other morning) and I'm at 9.5# lost at the 10 day mark complete.  That's about on track for where I thought, and in the past week 2 goes faster (more weight loss and energy) than week 1.

That was a brutally tough weekend but I made it.  

That said, I did cheat and have to come clean.  I do eat barbeque sauce with my meat.  I just can't seem to stomach it any other way.  Yes, it has some carbs but in moderation and minimized I'm not too worried about it.

Yesterday was baked chicken, green beans, more salad.  I had conflicting information on whether I could make chili (it has chili beans and kidney beans and lean ground beef + tomato sauce) – would make it a nice Phase 1 diet variety giver — but the carb counts in the beans are really high and I couldn't get a clear read on if it was ok or not so I skipped it.  4 more days to go — I'm craving still but I know I'll make it and getting to that 10# point is a big emotional lift!

A few more days and I'll be on Phase 2 and mixing it with low glycemic index foods.

2 more days down, and an important lesson learned.

Overall, this 3rd time is a charm (my 3rd time doing South Beach since 2005) is by FAR the easiest.  I'm avoiding a lot of mistakes that I didn't know we're mistakes as far as making my life easier to get through phase 1.  

So what lesson and mistake am I referring to?  Tuesday night (day 5) was not really hard, but I did cause more pain to myself than I probably needed.  What did I do?  I had to prepare dinner.  And it was different meals, mine and the kids.  So the kids we're dying for grilled cheese sandwiches.  And Macaroni & Cheese.  Doh.  That was tough.  Seeing them eat hasn't been tough, but I realized it's been my wife doing to preparation while I just made my own.  We sat together, but I didn't actually prepare theirs (feeling, hearing, smelling the sizzle of grilling bread with butter and cheese, you get the torment….)

Sounds like a small thing and I guess it is, but avoiding situations like that is an obvious recommendation.  If you do prepare, it's obviously better that everyone eat the same thing — ok, I get that, the books say that, but come on — it's not always realistic is it?  

Just try and minimize it.  I suffered — a little, not a lot.

In the meantime, have kept up egg intake in the morning.  Not quite sick of them yet but getting there.  Adding lemon pepper helps, give it a little zing.  Have had lean turnkey patties too (Jenni-O lean low fat packaged) which I like – really good.  My mom made me some on her Foreman Grill (does that make us a little redneck?) and I remembered to try them.  Really good.  Mustard is ok, no carbs or sugar, minimal calories.  Last night tried as I was in a hurry the Tyson packaged chicken (precooked) that is in bite sized bits.  That was nasty, lots of fat and cleanup and bits so small you couldn't even manage them.  The Tyson that are in strips' rather than bite sized cubes was better, easier to clean up, but was still not nearly as good as cooking fresh.  I was desperate and short on time though.

I'm right at 5 pounds lost now and counting.  On pace (week 2 is when I usually really shed weight) to hit my goal of 15-20#.  Haven't cheated at all – so kudo's to me.  For some reason it continues to be very feasible and minimal cravings.  

No problems today on Day four of South Beach.

Staying busy still helps.  Today is a Monday,  began with eggs (3 of them).  Go figure…

Lunch was better today, with a prepackaged chicken salad from Wal-Mart for about $3.  Threw out the croutons and dressing of course.

Snacked liberally on cheese sticks and almonds and peanuts.

Dinner was a bit more salad + a rather sizable 90% lean hamburger with a little cheese on top (while everyone else had tacos).  Not too bad.  Picked up No Sugar Added Fudge Cicles and some Sugar Free popcicles.  That's the treat tonight.  

Surprisingly, this was the easiest day for the South Beach regimen so far for me. Had 2 people at work tell me my face looked thinner (cool!).  Weighed myself Sunday morning and was down 3.5# (first thing in the morning).  Feeling good!

Easter is here.  Food.  Lots of food.  Except for me.

Ok, so today will be a short post.  Just returned from a family dinner at my in laws.  I forgot to plan accordingly and paid for it, as all I could eat at dinner that was South Beach Diet Phase 1 compliant was the main course, a baked ham.  That was great, and I had 2 heaping portions.

Problem is, that as literally the only thing on the menu I could eat.  Carrots with honey?  Nope.  Mashed potatoes?  Sorry.  Those lovely, friendly and fluffy Grands (a double helping no less) we're out of the question.  Other potato dishes – nah.  Normally there is salad but not this time.  

I started the day off with eggs (how my wife makes them fluffy and tasty and I make them flat and bland I don't know) which continues to be my secret weapon.  Cravings we're actually quite minimal.

Now I'm hope and munching on salad.  Cravings actually not bad — just visions of those Grands are painful though.  Especially when I had to butter my 10-year old's Grand!

Day 2 – Progress Report.

Today was another easier than expected day.  I was in an all day class with my wife.  I remembered to bring my pistachio's, cheese sticks, and drinks.

More importantly, I started the day (despite having to get up at 5am and having to get us and the dogs and the kids ready) with 3 scrambled eggs.  Those eggs and their protein are key, as they help with a feeling of fullness.  These are important when doing the Phase 1 part of South Beach.

Classes today (a Saturday) went for over 9 hours.  We we're so busy I didn't really think about eating, though I did snack on the pistachio's.

Ok, i'm hungry now but not too bad.  My wife forgot to bring lunch so we stopped @ Walmart and she got Subway.  Ya, the bread smelled good, and I expected my cravings to kick in to where I wanted to jump acros the counter — but that didn't happen. I was fine actually.  Those carb cravings have been very tolerable so far – I'm really surprised.

Then home, salad, radishes, no dressing.  And of course more mozerella cheese sticks – and some more nuts.  I also ate the other half of the oven backed chicken.  I cheat a teeny tiny bit with my barbeque sauce (has carbs) — but it's minimal and keeps me going.

I'm a little scared — this is going easier than I expected!