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SubscribeSouth Beach Diet – Phase 1 – First Week Without Chocolate
So I’m at work the other day, shuffling papers and talking to my customers when out of the blue one of the sales managers shows up at my desk with some files she’d borrowed.
No big deal, right?
Wrong!
Chocolate Temptation #1
On top of those files she had this big piece of CHOCOLATE…
I know, I know, I can hear you now, “Since when has this been a problem for you, Laura?”
Since I started the South Beach Diet the day before, that’s WHEN!!! (SIDE NOTE: If you’re a new reader at GotChocolate.com be sure to read my South Beach Diet announcement to understand the Chocolaty challenge before me.)
Needless to say, I didn’t tell my co-worker I couldn’t eat the Chocolate treat she’d given me. That would’ve been rude, don’t you think? So I just laughed and thanked her for her generosity.
After she left I wrapped up the Chocolate in a paper towel and stuck it on top of my purse, which was tucked away in one of my desk drawers.
Yes, you read that right… I did NOT eat the Chocolate!
The fact that I didn’t wolf down on this Chocolaty treat right in front of my co-worker (believe me, I’ve done it MANY times… complete with chocolate crumbs on my paperwork – PIG!) is an absolute miracle! I thank the South Beach Diet for this – the sugar urges were already subsiding! Wow!
Chocolate Temptation #2
Well, they subsided until a few days later when my flippin’ “hormones” kicked in. Grrr!!! Why do women have to put up with that crap for so long anyway? ANNOYING!!!
My cravings for Chocolate were SO bad, I was about to cave in and eat that piece of Chocolate I had tucked away in my desk. (SIDE NOTE: A TRUE Chocoholic NEVER forgets where the Chocolate is stashed! ) Instead, I emailed my co-worker at our satellite office (who knew I was on the South Beach Diet) and told her I was about to sabotage my diet. She suggested sugar-free jello, pudding or even some sugar-free hot Chocolate as a solution. Great idea, although I didn’t have the first two items, so I scoured the break room for the sugar-free hot Chocolate, only to come up dry. I was S.O.L.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
I thought to myself, “I want freakin’ Chocolate and I want it NOW!!!!”
I kept telling myself to NOT cave in and eat the Chocolate in my drawer, “Don’t do it! Don’t do it!”
I kept saying this as I munched on some almonds I had in my drawer, the SAME drawer the Chocolate treat was in. Yes, I had reached for the almonds, NOT the Chocolate – believe it or not! Surprisingly, it wasn’t too long and the Chocolate urge was gone! The almonds worked! Whew! Another miracle! Thank goodness for healthy snacks to curb those sugar cravings! Next time I’ll be better prepared with some sugar free snacks.
I ended up taking the Chocolate home with me to avoid further temptation. I then put it in a ziplock bag, then the freezer (yes, I know freezing Chocolate ruins it, that’s why it has those little water drops are all over it) in case I want to eat it later as a reward. I think I ruined it though. Crap! :(
Nobody ever said Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet was easy. Boy, they weren’t kidding!
Oops! The Fudgesicle Wasn’t Sugarless?
I have to admit I accidentally ate one Skinny Cow (LOVE that brand… yum!) low-fat fudgesicle a few days ago. I was thinking since it was low-fat, I was covered… until I read the ingredients you see below…
I personally don’t see a problem with eating these Skinny Cow Fudge Pops – they’re low in fat and better than eating REAL ice cream. BUT because I’m currently in Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet, which eliminates the cravings for sugar and refined starches, I’m going to follow this phase as closely as I can.
I didn’t let that slight “accidental” deviation get me down though. I just told myself I could eat them when I moved to Phase 2 or 3, then went about my business. After all, the calorie count was so low there really wasn’t any harm in that respect. I have to add, however, I did notice within 30 minutes of eating the fudge pop that I was wanting another one. I wasn’t hungry, it was the sugar talking, “Mooore!”
BAD SUGAR!!!
What Energy!
Yes! FINALLY, I have my energy back!
I noticed within hours of starting the South Beach Diet I was already starting to feel better. My head even seemed clearer! I was thinking and remembering things with great ease! Every day thereafter, my energy level just kept improving. It helps that in addition to eating healthy foods, I started walking 2-1/2 miles 3 days a week as well as swimming 2 or 3 times a week. Although I’ve been swimming for a few months now, the addition of walking and eating healthy foods has made all the difference.
Most days I’m so full of energy I’m running up the stairs in my house! OK, I’m not REALLY running, but I’ve got my old “spring in my step” back and can move up the stairs like they don’t even exist. I’ve always hated all the stairs in our house. We even have them going off the back deck – all 18 of them! Ugh! Before I started the South Beach Diet I felt so heavy-footed, almost like I was punching holes in the steps. Not anymore!
In addition to a tremendous increase in my energy level, I notice I haven’t suffered from the usual “sugar withdrawal” headaches. It’s true what the South Beach Diet states – Phase 1 eliminates the cravings for sugar and refined starches. What they don’t tell you is that you WON’T have any withdrawal symptoms either.
I Lost 5 pounds!
I’m VERY happy to report that I lost 5 pounds after completing the first week of Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet!!! How awesome is that?!?
I can’t say enough good things about this diet/lifestyle. I highly recommend it! I am absolutely NOT one to follow fad diets, but I strongly feel the South Beach Diet, while popular and most certainly a fad, is a safe and practical approach to healthy eating that will last a lifetime. This was the ONLY reason I started THIS diet in the first place!
If you’d like to try the South Beach Diet, I highly recommend checking out the South Beach Diet’s website as well as getting yourself the South Beach Diet book. I received my books from Amazon a few days ago and they arrived much quicker than I expected. Amazon is great! Be sure to stop by soon for my reviews on these two books. I also plan to share the South Beach Chocolate recipes with you!
So how about you, have you tried the South Beach Diet? I’d love to hear your story!
Congrats on the 5lbs! I’m ordering the books (through your links) from Amazon after I checked the first one out from the library. Between you, and my old friend who lost 70lbs on it, I think it’s worth giving it a go!
[Reply]
gotchocolate replied: — August 2nd, 2010 @ 6:22 PM
Thank you so much Kim! I’m VERY pleased with my results. I feel FANTASTIC and almost never get tired any more!!! Seriously!!! I’ve actually lost 7 lbs. now since I’m in the 2nd week, but this post was for the 1st week, so just talked about losing the 5 lbs.
I can’t wait to hear how you’re doing! You’ve already done a fantastic job of losing weight. The rest will be history before you know it!
I’m SO excited for you!
Good job
I’m going to check it out and may consider joining you once I finish my Cabbage Soup Diet lol
[Reply]
gotchocolate replied: — August 3rd, 2010 @ 7:08 PM
Sounds GREAT Kat! I hope your Cabbage soup diet is going well!
gotchocolate replied: — August 3rd, 2010 @ 7:09 PM
You CAN do it Kat! Just put your mind to it. Maybe give yourself a special treat when you have completed your goal!
Best of luck!
If it really increases energy and decreases sugar cravings I need to give it a try.
The only weight I am losing is through sweat.
I don’t have an in person support group, and I know that I need one.
Online support is great, but for some people, including me, that in your face personal touch is necessary in the beginning.
[Reply]
gotchocolate replied: — August 4th, 2010 @ 6:36 PM
Yes, the South Beach Diet DOES work. I was absolutely DYING from exhaustion prior to starting this diet. I can’t say enough how much better I feel. I am dead serious when i saw I almost NEVER get tired anymore. In fact, I’ve been staying up past my “bedtime” (I work FT) and usually this just KILLS me the next day. NOT ANY MORE!!! Tomorrow i start Phase 2 – the reintroduction of GOOD carbs, including healthy Chocolate I hope!!!
Feel free to email me ANYTIME if you need an online South Beach Diet buddy!
I’m going for a walk now!
Congrats on your poundage losses!
You’re doing great. Keep up the good work.
I’m still trucking. I’m losing and it’s nice to see the needle go down as well as feel better in my skin.
Here a chocolate tip your way: EMERALD brand has dark cocoa powdered almonds!!
enjoy
PS– We love Skinny Cow in this house.
[Reply]
gotchocolate replied: — August 8th, 2010 @ 6:23 PM
Congratulations to you as well! That’s awesome and that you are feeling better! That’s what it’s all about for me.
Emerald brand. Never heard of that. i’ll have to check those DARK cocoa powdered almonds out. They sound heavenly!
Yes, Skinny Cow rocks. I eat 2 or 3 wedges and a handful of almonds for breakfast each morning at work.
Thanks Kim!!!
she made us eat broccoli EVERY day! yuk! barf!
[Reply]
gotchocolate replied: — August 8th, 2010 @ 6:28 PM
Thank you Allison, my dear darling daughter, for your honesty!!! Phft!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
I lost over 80lbs on the South Beach Diet. Starting weighing over 200lbs. I had tried to do workouts and eat healthy but being that heavy was too exhausting working out and the weight if any would crawl by and I would eventually give up. After the first 20lbs working out became easier. I love to dance so I just started out doing that. After a while I had to add more to it. A longer time, then a dumbell. Before I knew it 8 months later I LOVED working out and was working out over an hour a day. I went from a size 20 to a six 6 and down to 132lbs. That was five years ago and I have kept the healthy habits in my every day life. I do go thru the holidays like everyone else but I just jump back on the first phase any time I want to drop a few pounds. I was over weight from the time I was 13 years old and had excepted the fact that I was just going to be that way. I was wrong. The hard part is changing your self image. I had to see a picture of myself to even realize what a drastic change my body had accomplished. I recommend this diet to everyone I know.
[Reply]
gotchocolate replied: — September 23rd, 2010 @ 8:33 PM
Wooooooooow Jeanie! Thank you SOOOO much for your comment. That’s amazing what you have accomplished! How inspiring! i can’t even imagine losing the amount of weight you have. You are the better person for accomplishing that and keeping it off.
YES! I love to read such positive feedback. I, too, LOVE the South Beach Diet and feel AMAZING when I’m on it!
Thanks again Jeanie. You made my day!
Try ricotta muffins for a tasty treat. Mix up 2 cups of ricotta cheese with a sugar substitute, like Splenda or Stevia, four eggs, vanilla extract and then bake in a muffin tin. This recipe is a versatile treat for those that are used to eating sweets like donuts for breakfast.
You can make variations of this muffin by adding in things like cocoa powder or pumpkin pie spice, or any sugarless foods you like.
[Reply]
gotchocolate replied: — November 1st, 2010 @ 9:45 PM
Awesome Melissa! I LOVE all those ingredients! I’ll definitely try this one. YUM!!!!!!!!
Thank you SOOOO much!!!