Friday’s Food Fun Fact

It’s a mini-victory, but it’s a victory all the same. Yesterday, I celebrated exactly one successful week on the South Beach Diet! Whoo-hoo!

I’ve tried the South Beach Diet two times before.

The first time was just a trial run before the holidays to see if I could do it. I was able to do it and liked it. The holidays were right around the corner however, so…

The second time, I did great the first two weeks (Phase 1) - where you go without carbs and sugar to help retrain your body’s insulin production. However, when I got to the third week (Phase 2), when you can add healthy carbs and sugars back in your diet, I threw the baby out with the bathwater. I quickly went back to my old habits of eating carbs (not necessarily the good ones) and non-natural sugars, and before I knew it – the weight came back with a vengeance.

I wanted to get back on SBD for a number of reasons. First, in the beginning two weeks, you lose belly fat almost immediately. I mean, so fast you can actually feel it in your clothes. Secondly, when I’m following the principles of SBD, I feel healthier. Dr. A. (the creator), in the SBD book, explains how the diet actually cleans up your blood chemistry

Also, on SBD, I’m forced to think about what I’m going to eat (the choices are wide and plentiful); I can’t just grab the closest thing and call it nutrition.

Lastly, SBD has five amazing cookbooks, so I can make delicious dinners for me and Brett (who loves. loves. loves. it when I cook) that fit in the plan. Thanks to SBD, we’ve also discovered some delicious meals I never would have attempted previously. We especially enjoy the Rustic Tomato Soup (super-fast and easy) and White Bean Turkey Chili!

This time I know what I am going to change. I learned from my mistake last time of adding too many carbs and sugars back in too fast. This go-around, I’m going to slowly add those carbs and natural sugars back in – I’m even thinking of just eating one per day until I feel I can handle it.

When I tell people about SBD, everyone says the same thing, “Well, I just couldn’t give up bread, potatoes, or rice. I love my carbs!” Well, you are talking to the QUEEN. That’s exactly what I would have said before trying SBD. I couldn’t imagine my life (even for two weeks) without bagels – my favorite thing ever.

Believe me; I was as skeptical as anyone. But what I didn’t know was that those carbs are addictive! As soon as you give carbs to your body, it burns them up quickly, and creates a craving for more. No wonder we can’t “give them up”…it’s a “natural” addiction.

The body – nature’s meth lab. Heh.

So, by following the SBD principles, your body’s craving for carbs automatically decreases. Even thought many delicious foods are available in unlimited portions on SBD, you find yourself getting fuller faster with carb cravings reduced to next to nothing.

Also, for the budget-conscious (where I am currently being dragged kicking and screaming), you simply eat less food. You can save your money on quantity and put it towards quality.

In the SBD book, Dr. A. compares it to snacking. If you are sitting in front of the TV, and someone hands you a bucket of popcorn, it would be no problem to polish it off in the course of an hour show.

But, if someone hands you the same size bucket of steak bites, you are probably not going to plow through that bucket at the same speed. (This, of course, assumes you are not eating these two buckets of food concurrently. Because that’s just gross. )

The steak will fill you up with nutrition, and you’ll be satisfied. The popcorn will be burned rapidly by your body which will then send those carbs coursing through your veins, creating your body’s desire for MORE.

The book does a much better job of explaining it than I do. I’ve still got one more week on to go on Phase 1, and I have to say I’m enjoying myself. I never used to like eggs (in fact, I HATED eggs), but I’ve been trying making different omelets and have discovered if I use a savory cheese filling, the omelet is actually pretty good.

I also HATED salads, but I tried different variations and found I liked plain old heart of romaine with a little onion, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber, tossed in olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and topped with grated Romano cheese and sunflower seeds.

Some of my favorite foods on SBD Phase 1 are low-fat and reduced cheeses, olive oil, any kind of nut, and savory grilled steak. I don’t feel deprived at all and just the knowledge I don’t have to be overly concerned with portions makes me feel better.

I’ve still got one more week on Phase 1 to go, but I’m excited at the possibilities.

Care to join me for a bucket of steak?