South Beach - Phase One - Day Two

Commericals are evil. Between the radio and tv commericals that bombard you throughout the day it makes anyone trying to be a good South Beacher a bit rough around the edges. Aside from the rare South Beach commercial it was a sea of fast food, pizza, and carbs. It doesn’t actually shake my resolve any, but what it does do is make whatever I am eating appear much less appealing.

Lunch was interesting. I tried a South Beach entree that is Phase one approved - basically just chicken and green beans. It was ok...basically like a lean cuisine - but without any pasta or potatoes. I had no trouble sticking to my plan, there was a time in the afternoon when I really got hungry but I lasted through til my snack and was ok the rest of the night. I made certain to have my fudgesicle for dessert and that was a surprisingly good change of taste for being no-sugar.

The rest of the bunch also seemed to do well enough...though the work bunch wanted to eat anything in sight by mid-afternoon. So far so good.

South Beach - Phase One - Day One

No matter how much preparation you go through - starting a new diet on a Monday morning is just NOT the best way to begin a work week. But at least you have the newness factor going for you. The wanting to get everything right... to have just what you are supposed to have time that is always at the start of any plan. Hopefully we stay vigilant and not fall into complacency when you stop measuring and start "eyeballing" things and rationalizing that M&M’s must fit into phase 2 somewhere....

Overall the day went well. I was not overly hungry, but did realize that I was not eating in the usual patterns. Had my snacks and was even all ready for dessert....but was too tired to eat it...but it will wait for tomorrow.

My rag tag group of South Beachers joining me had differing reactions. The ones that had been through it before were ok, the newbies most definitely NOT embracing the South Beach lifestyle...but it’s early yet, and once the weight starts to drop, they will whistle a different tune I am certain.

My Journey to South Beach

Weight has always been the major disruptor in the otherwise fairly normal progression of my life. I believe for a combination of reasons, that it was destined to become one of the most difficult addictions to affect me as an adult.

Growing up I was tempted by all of the usual vices, smoking, alcohol, recreational drugs, and frankly I did experiment as many young people do. The results of my experiments were as follows:

Smoking: as much as I wanted to be cool, cigarettes and or marijuana both made me choke and cough and that coupled with watching my father smoke like a chimney, made for a quick flirtation with smoking.

Alcohol: this one I seemed to fare better with - no choking at least. But I honestly discovered shortly after trying alcohol, that I could have just as much fun having one drink as I could having 5 or 6. To this day I am nothing more than a social drinker.

Recreational Drugs: These just plain scared me....being in athletics I didn’t want to do anything that might hurt my performance, and steroids were not yet a part of the scene except for bodybuilders...so the appeal was just not there for me. Besides, I never have liked the feeling of not being in control of my actions - so chalk up another one for "not my deal".

Ah....but food. Food was a different story. You had to eat. It’s a part of life. In my family both my parents were avid cooks and created in me a love of food, and cooking, and eating that goes back as far as I can remember. I have always associated food with good times, smiles and laughter, the many parties my parents threw, the huge family get together’s centered around a holiday meal. It was my childhood and adolescence and as an adult still is a part of my life that I treasure.

I don’t eat to live. I watch the Food Network. I am a good cook. I bear the mark of these three items in my waist size and shirt size and each and every time I look in the mirror. Like the many others in my position, I have yo-yo dieted up and down the scale too many times to count. I do posess the ability to lose weight - the will power, and the drive to keep it off though have all been for reasons that seem to never last. To be more specific, the reasons haven’t been for me they all seem to have been for someone else.

So..I embark on the journey once again. South Beach worked well for me before, so I bought the new book, read it, and am ready to give it a try. But this journey IS for me. It is for my health, it is for those I love and care about, it is for all the right reasons and for this reason I think I will have better success. I am joined by a rag tag group of friends, loved ones, and co-workers, each on their own journey, but nice enough to give me some support in my own.

I will use this blog to chronicle my journey good or bad in hopes that it may bring a shred of hope or laughter or understanding in your own.

Uncluttering My Mind

Another Easter has come and gone and spring has sprung. I wish the spring cleaning bug would bite me a bit harder, but slowly I am getting into the spirit of the time honored tradition. As I approach the task of cleaning out the dust of winter and opening up for springtime I have begun to notice a difference in my normal approach. I guess time and age do indeed cause changes in your point of view - it’s interesting to me that I seem to be entering into a new phase in my life.

Early on as with many people I was squarely focused on the acquisition of "stuff". Electronic gadgets, furniture to fill up every room, and seemingly every kitchen gadget known to man. My closets and cupboards and patio and garage over time became dumping grounds for these treasures and even though I had plenty of items by now..the quest for more was seemingly not quenched. New fads, the latest model - I fell into the trap of capitalism.

I think I’m full. I may have reached that saturation point with acquiring and entered into a new period of streamlined living.

Out shopping recently looking for nothing in particular, but ready to pick up that latest whatever it might be, I actually found myself picking things up..looking at them....and wondering aloud to my shopping companion "but where would I put this, I don’t have any room". Now THAT is a paradigm shift.

Another startling example for me was when I was gathering together items to set out for the disabled American veteran’s truck to come and pick up. Normally I can find enough to fill a bag or small box...doing my part but not parting with a lot. This year, after getting everything onto the front porch I had amassed 5 boxes and two bags worth.

Spring cleaning 2008 may just lighten more than just the dust in my house..it may take on some additional meaning. Besides the cleaning of the clutter it will also be a chance for me to start a healthier lifestyle. I suppose it’s the same reason why meditation and yoga studios are always so plain. When you are in a room that has clutter your brain will have mental clutter. I think its impossible to relax in a dirty home.

May everyone’s spring be happy and rewarding in its own way.