Anyone do their own thing but based on SB?

[ChicagoGirl007]

I'm not sure where I fit in on this website. I kinda go by my own plan but it resembles the SB, not a lot of carbs and I mainly eat veggies and lean meat. Does anyone else do this or should I look somewhere else for like-minded super cool people?

I'll go ahead and introduce myself: I am from Tennessee, moved to Chicago for a few years but now we're back.

Over the years I've tried to lose weight but to no avail. I've been overweight my entire life, I remember weighing 98 pounds in second grade. I'm just so tired of it, I'm living a great life but must admit that my weight really depresses me and I think about it every day. I won't do this anymore to my body, it's the only one I have for pete's sake!

I'm 32 and have been married to a wonderful man for almost 4 years. We don't have kids, only two kitty kats. I work in marketing and like what I do but the stress sometimes gets me - I am a total STRESS eater. I also have food issues, my entire family is overweight and not just chubby weight. I've been stuffing my face for my entire life. I often sneak food, I hate to admit that but I do. I have zero willpower and I can talk myself into Taco Bell no problem.

I really want to have children but want to lose weight before. At this point in time I weigh 251 pounds, devastating. I weigh more than most people I know and my upper arm is the size of my best friend's calf! I have an inner athlete that wants to get out. I often walk in 5K races but I would love to be a runner in a race, I don't have to win but just being able to go without stopping would be a huge milestone for me.

I love to look at the before and afters, I wonder how I'll look if I can get rid of these layers.

So there you go - Hi, it's nice meeting everyone.

[rose1]

I think you'll fit in fine here. (By the way, I'm another Chicago, Tennessee person ) So many people have had great success with this way of eating. We do a vegetarian version of South Beach, so it is possible to tweak it to fit your way of life. The closer you stick to the book, of course, the better it will work. Just ask any questions you have and there will be plenty of help. We are full of ideas.

Emily's Mom

[zeraspride]

Here's another welcome! I sort of do my own thing now mixed with the basic SBD principles but admit that I lost the majority of my weight following the program strictly. I would suggest that you at least do the first two weeks of Phase 1 though. It will detox your system and you will see the greatest amount of weight lost in that period. After that, I say, go wild with whatever suits your needs. Right now I count calories, weigh my food and measure iet too. I know you don't have to on this program but I find that being so close to goal, I have to and I'm always surprised at how little a serving or a cup of something is so I'm still learning portion control.

I started off this program at a weight greater than yours and your post sounds so much like me. I had this inner athelete busting to get out and she has done a pretty good job! I started running several months ago and now I can run 20 minutes straight. I'm working on doing a 15 minute mile so I can run in the Disney 1/2 marathon in 2007. That's my goal. I also work out at the gym everyday and in addition I do core secrets, pilates and Cathe Friedrich work outs at home plus ride my exercise bike.

You can do this program, even with tweaks to fit your lifestyle. We would love to have you join us! You will find this is a super group of ladies who will cheer you on to victory! Please join our "Get your kix in 2006" challenge. All you have to do is list the top 5 things you are going to work on in 2006 to get you to your goal. We would love to have you! We also have a weekly exercise thread where we encourage each other to work out. Please join us there too!

I look forward to getting to know you!

[redqueen]

Chicago, great to have you here!

You'll find a warm welcome from everyone! We all have to tweek the plan some to make it fit our particular bodies & lifestyles. Also, no matter which plan you are following, the challenges can be similar. The collective knowledge, pep talks, sympathy and humor can help us all to succeed!

Now, about that "inner athlete'...

I am pretty sure that what I have is an "inner couch potato"

[zeraspride]

Chris - that's too funny! I hope my inner couch potatoe stays far far away from me. I feel like I fight her most days when I want to lay in bed and not get in an early work out. You are too funny girlie!!

[ChicagoGirl007]

VERY COOL - you guys are so nice and I can feel the support already!

I'll join the group you mentioned, I have a list of things I'm working on so why not have it out there in the open? I'll be accountable to you guys.

FYI, since this Tuesday I've been awesome. I've eaten well and exercised every day. I should mention that I am mainly a calorie counter but I eat like SB. It's all about the math for me (3500 calories is a pound, words to live by). Does anyone else bother counting calories?

So I'll figure out the protocal, it looks like a lot of people write about exercise on a certain thread. Thanks for all of your help!

Jen

[zeraspride]

Jen - so glad you joined us on the get your kix thread! We are having such a good time and everyone is doing very well. I mentioned on the thread that I count calories using fitday. It was an eye opener to say the least and seeing how many calories I was consuming each day. I used a formula in the Body for Life for Women book to figure out how many calories I can eat per day and then subject a certain number of calories based on how many pounds I want to lose per week. I am actually allowed a pretty high number considering my work outs but I strive to stay somewhere bewteen 1500 and 1700 - although according to fitday my BMR # is 2700. Interesting, but I'm not that serious about all the figures. I just need to know how many calories I need to eat less to lose a pound per week. I'm with you in that 3,500 calories equals a pound. If I can eat that many less calories per week, I'm good.

[ChicagoGirl007]

I use Fitday every day, too! It helps me see exactly what I'm putting in my body. I also have the B4L book at home, my husband actually did that program several years ago before our wedding and he looked awesome. I followed the workout plan and while I didn't lose any weight, I definitely saw my body parts move around, ha!

I'll post my fitday log in my signature so people can view if (if they like).

Have a great day!

[zeraspride]

Jen - it seems we have quite a bit in common! I'm a big big fan of fitday. I enter my food for the day first thing in the morning and don't deviate from that eating plan. For instance today I'm already at my limit of 1700 calories so I know I can't do any additional or unplanned snacking. It's just that simple for me. It seemed like a pain at first but I love it now and it's the efirst thing I do in the morning when I get to work is log in my food for the day. I did a BFL exercise challenge that ended at the end of December. I didn't lose a lot of weight but I just had a gal tell me at the gym just yesterday that she can tell a big difference in my hips and thighs since I joined the gym a few months ago. That really made me smile. Let's both keep plugging away!!

[vessel of prayer]

Hi Chicago Girl and welcome. If I can be any help at all, just ask. I think you will like South Beach. I have been where you are, and it has taken a while to get to here. BUT it can be done!!!

Sheila