YES- you do!:cool:

I got a massage there last night. Wow. Just, wow.

I have decided to incorporate it into my workout plans- reward system!

I am addicted....
 

You guys that are actually actively trying to lose weight, how are you calculating calories and activity levels?

And what is your macro nutrient breakdown?

some of us are on Weight Watchers and use an online resource for all that.
Sparkpeople.

I like the weight watchers point system. Although I think it tends to be a bit low in protein.

There is something called the thermic effect (TEF) of food. Which is basically the calorie cost to break down the food you take in.

It takes negligible energy to break down carbs and fat, but supposedly it takes up to 30% of the value of the protein calorie to break down.

Small increases of protein isn't going to yield much effect, but replacing a lot of carb calories with protein calories may yield more fat loss over time.

Yes, I just gave you a shout out!! :p

I finally logged into my free two week membership to Weight Watchers eTools.
I have to admit it's pretty amazing.

I loved WW and even liked counting points but I couldn't get rid of my uncontrollable cravings for carbs and sweets. Since then I have been losing weight steadily on South Beach for over a month and I feel great. In fact, I lost 7 lbs. in my first week. The big problem that a lot of people have and many don't know it, is that they are sensitive or addicted to sugar and processed carbs. So telling these people to just have a little or a smaller serving does nothing for their cravings which will usually lead them to abandon their diet at some point or lose weight and gain it right back. My own doctor has been trying to get me for years to lower my carb intake and omit the processed carbs but I wouldn't listen. Before I tried SB I wouldn't even consider a lower carb plan because I just loved my sweets and carbs a little too much (which is why I gained weight in the first place) but I am so glad I decided to try it. I can't believe the difference your body can feel when you're not putting heavy starches in it. SB advocates eating lots of veggies, low sugar fruits, whole grain products, and lean protein, but the miracle happens in Phase 1. In Phase 1 (which lasts 2 weeks) you eat no fruit, juice, sugar, or starchy carbs but you do get carbs from veggies so don't worry that you aren't getting enough to sustain your energy. It's a big misconception out there where many people think that because you omit starchy foods and processed carbs from your diet, that you're not eating carbs but that's not true. For example, a cup of green beans is about 7-8 grams of carbs and fruit has even more carbs per serving.

Anyway, in Phase 1 you don't even eat fruit because you are trying to get rid of your cravings for sweets and processed carbs. The first 3 -4 days is hard to get through because you crave sugar and carbs and some people crave more than others because they are really addicted or sensitive to carbs and sugar. But once you get passed the 3rd or 4th day, you will feel so wonderful. You will notice that you have so much energy and you don't feel bloated and overly stuffed after meals, like we do when we eat a heavy starchy meal. Miraculously you will also notice that your cravings have been greatly reduced or no longer exist. And without cravings, sticking to a diet or way of life is a lot easier. Also, without the cravings most people report that their appetite gets cut in half and that's exactly what happened to me. For the first time in a long time, I am eating smaller servings automatically because I am not as hungry and don't even think much about eating.

So I started thinking...if all it takes to get rid of cravings is to omit or reduce processed carbs, why isn't everyone doing the lower carb thing? The answer is the same reason that I refused to try low carb in the past. Many of us feel that we need to be able to eat everything to have a balanced diet but this is not true. We don't have to eat everything but we do have to eat the "right" things. Processed carbs are not what nature intended for our bodies but carbs from fruit, veggies, and whole grains are. These are the carbs that we need and thrive on. In Phase 2, you will be able to add low sugar fruits and whole grain products back to your diet, but slowly. In Phase 3 (the maintenance phase), you can have some of your old treats occasionally but if you're carb sensitive and prone to addiction, I would recommend not adding these things back in, even occasionally. What's working for me is staying in Phase 1 (although it's not really recommended) because I'm so carb sensitive. It's been a little over a month and I've lost 25 lbs. without counting carbs, calories, being hungry, or being controlled by cravings. Aside from cravings, some people's bodies may not be metabolizing processed carbs well also since whole foods are best for the body. I highly recommend SB or a lower carb plan like it.

Good for you!1 I did SB a few years ago and yes, you are right..you drop a lot of weight by limiting your carb intake and the first two weeks is key to breaking your addiction to carbs. The only thing I didn't care for is that once you get into the other phases..and you add a bit of carb..even whole wheat carb..your addiction comes back (ok, maybe it's just my addiction).
But it's great for a "detox"

It sounds like you are highly sensitive to carbs, so am I which is why I stay in Phase 1 but eat low sugar fruit now. My doctor says this is the best way for me and that it doesn't mean that I will never be able to eat other carbs, but I need to give it some time...maybe 3 to 6 months to completely brake my addiction.

You may have a point there!!

It's hard to find the willpower to cut out starchy carbs and sweets. Especially when people just don't GET it- I have begged people I lived with in the past not to buy things like chips or juice because I just couldn't say no, and it was a real struggle. Right now I am moderately disciplined about it, but only because I never eat at home and I'm on a strict budget with no desire to spend the little I got on sweets!

The thing that has helped me get out from under carbs is changing the patterns in what I eat- no more meat-and-rice meals, I try to go for soups or salads instead with a piece of whole-grain bread. If I DO order something with rice I will pick brown rice (which I like just as much as white rice if it's cooked properly- which most people seem unable to do, including me). I used to have a sweet a day- one cookie or piece of cake or something, but I am trying to replace that with a piece of fruit- usually a banana.

Working farther away from Whole Foods helps a lot, lol.

I wish you all the best!

ETA: This weekend I found that I now fit into my old jeans and slacks again! They haven't fit in about a year!

alterations?
 

Hey y'all! Just PP&Din'.

Update:

No longer training for the marathon. Still a goal. Will most likely do the half marathon in Columbus in October and will walk it and not run any of it.

My exercise this summer left a little to be desired. Somehow I'm still at my FS weight (after going up and down and up and down... maintenance is no joke), but I've lost inches (no idea how). Little by little, the inches keep coming off. And I need it to stop cuz I'm still not weight training like I need to. *sigh* Just lazy but I'm gettin' it together.

That leads me to my question. Can pants be altered one size in the waist? The pants I wore today are too big. And I just bought them last spring. Granted, I only paid about $4 or $5 for them at the thrift store, that's beside the point. I LIKE them. They're black with pink pinstripes and I really like them. I need them altered. Is it possible? If not, try to break it to me easy, k? :o

Thanks for that suggestion...and it seems that you are doing well so congrats. As for the willpower thing, I know exactly what you mean and willpower has little to do with it when you have uncontrollable cravings as most carb/sugar sensitive people do. As for the South Beach Phase 1, you only have to really exercise willpower during the first 3 to 4 days. After that it's amazing how your cravings will greatly reduce and as you continue, your cravings will become less and less. You may want to try it just to see what I'm talking about. I was amazed at how easy things became after day 4. But remember you have to stick to eating only veggies and lean protein during Phase 1. Eating fruit at this time will conflict with your need to get sugar and those cravings out of your system.

*waves*

find yourself a tailor- of course they can take in the waist! You need not lose your favorite pants, lol.

*waving back at my soror*

YAY!!!! I know nothing about sewing/tailoring (though I wanna learn), so I didn't know if it was possible to do the waist or if it would mess up the legs or what. I know I'll be takin' them mugs to the cleaners around the corner!!! Very excited! :D

This morning, the scale gave me a new number: 171.5. This is the lowest number the scale has given me in a long, long, long, long time! HC walking to work and eating Subway for lunch (shout out to Jerod, is that his name?) must be workin'?! HC that puts me about 5lbs from a *healthy* weight. Wait until I roll up in here and am no longer overweight. Y'all ain't gon' be able to take it! LOL!!!

75lbs down, about 20 more to go. Some of my size 12's are too big and size 10's are fitting nicely. But. You. Must. Get. Toned. Cannot lose this last 20lbs and not tone up. Must get back to basics. Get it together, Monique. Who knew you could lose 75lbs? If you can do that, you can tone up for these last 20. Remember, LOOK BETTER NAKED.

(sometimes you gotta talk to yourself.)