Brand New to LC

Hi,
I am very new to LC, in fact so new, I haven't quite started yet : - ). I
don't have much to lose, maybe about 15 lbs or so. I'm female, 5'7", and I
carry my weight fairly well, to the degree where most people think it's
ludicrous that I am even considering a diet. Clothes are good for covering
flaws and fat pockets, though! I have become intrigued by the South Beach
Diet - it just seemed to make sense to me. Got the book and want to begin
to implement the LC approach. I also work out, primarily with weights
(although I took a hiatus over the holidays) and find that makes a big
difference in how I feel. I've always heard that if you just decrease
calories and exercise, i.e., burn more calories than you ingest, you will
lose weight. In other words, it's not so much about carbs or fat, but total
intake that one needs to consider, basically just eat portion controlled
meals in moderation. But I also know that I like carbs but have found that
when I indulge (especially if I indulge alot), I feel heavy, bloated,
sluggish, etc. (the answer to my last question below probably lies in this
statement). I'm sure I don't have to explain the sensation to any of you
: - ). I want to feel lighter and stronger. I want my flat belly back
again too! How does the SB Diet compare to Atkins? Has anyone here done
the SB diet? Is it realistic to anticipate a jumpstart, i.e., about ten
pounds loss in the first couple of weeks of no carbs. And after that, how
stringent do I need to be about my carb intake - I really like the
occasional brownie with cold milk! And finally, can I get there just by
decreasing my total caloric intake while continuing to exercise, or is the
LC path the way to go to feel better and be healthy?

Thanks for listening. I know I raised a lot of questions. Some of you seem
to be very successful at losing and maintaining weight on the Atkins and
that seems worth noting.

TB

: Hi,
: I am very new to LC, in fact so new, I haven't quite started yet : - ).
I
: don't have much to lose, maybe about 15 lbs or so.

Welcome to the ASDLC Newsgroup!

:How does the SB Diet compare to Atkins? Has anyone here done
: the SB diet? Is it realistic to anticipate a jumpstart, i.e., about ten
: pounds loss in the first couple of weeks of no carbs.

Huh? Recommendation: Read the books. I haven't seen any low carb plan
that completely eliminates carbs.

~Carol Ann
www.lowcarblosers.com ~ Home of the FREE Monthly Weightloss Challenge

In article m,
says...
Hi,
I am very new to LC, in fact so new, I haven't quite started yet : - ). I

Hi Thea, welcome to the group! I've only done Atkins, so I can't answer your
question re SB, but you'll find a wealth of info, inspiration and support here!

--
Saffire
205/178/125
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

I'm sure she meant "low" and not "no".
dot

"Carol Ann" wrote in message
k.net...

: Hi,
: I am very new to LC, in fact so new, I haven't quite started yet : - ).
I
: don't have much to lose, maybe about 15 lbs or so.

Welcome to the ASDLC Newsgroup!

:How does the SB Diet compare to Atkins? Has anyone here done
: the SB diet? Is it realistic to anticipate a jumpstart, i.e., about ten
: pounds loss in the first couple of weeks of no carbs.

Huh? Recommendation: Read the books. I haven't seen any low carb plan
that completely eliminates carbs.

~Carol Ann
www.lowcarblosers.com ~ Home of the FREE Monthly Weightloss Challenge

Hi Thea-
I haven't tried South Beach but in many ways it is much closer to how I ate
when I was on Weight Watchers.
I lost my weight on W.W. but switched to Atkins (more like Protein Power,
really) to maintain, which I have been doing for 8 months now and it works
beautifully. I've lost all of the bingeing urges that I used to have when I
ate low-fat. I do NOT eat high-protein. I eat about 70-75 grams of protein
per day (and that includes ALL sources, including vegetables, so that's
probably right at the low end of the acceptable protein range), probably
20-28 net carbs a day (lots of fiber, though and also a lot of sugar
alcohols--so the "gross" carbs, including sugar alcohols and fiber is often
as high as 90 grams a day)....and the rest of the calories come from fat. I
therefore tend to eat cuts of meat/fish/fowl that are higher in fat than
what I used to eat, and I eat a fair amount of cream and cheese in my diet,
as well as loads of veggies and some high-fiber grains and nuts. Soy
Slender is also a great food for ANY diet due to its nutrient content.
You will lose fastest at the beginning but beware that it's mostly all water
weight.

I have found that I can (and indeed do!) eat more calories that I did on
Weight Watchers, and excercise less (when I'm busy and have no time I don't
worry about it any more), but after the first month I lowered my calories
down to where they're only 50-100 more per day than on Weight Watchers. If
I eat too much protein or too many carbs I can easily put on weight, so I
try to be pretty consistent there.

Good luck, and let me know what you do and how it works for you!



"Thea Barbato" wrote in message
news
Hi,
I am very new to LC, in fact so new, I haven't quite started yet : - ).
I
don't have much to lose, maybe about 15 lbs or so. I'm female, 5'7", and
I
carry my weight fairly well, to the degree where most people think it's
ludicrous that I am even considering a diet. Clothes are good for
covering
flaws and fat pockets, though! I have become intrigued by the South
Beach
Diet - it just seemed to make sense to me. Got the book and want to begin
to implement the LC approach. I also work out, primarily with weights
(although I took a hiatus over the holidays) and find that makes a big
difference in how I feel. I've always heard that if you just decrease
calories and exercise, i.e., burn more calories than you ingest, you will
lose weight. In other words, it's not so much about carbs or fat, but
total
intake that one needs to consider, basically just eat portion controlled
meals in moderation. But I also know that I like carbs but have found
that
when I indulge (especially if I indulge alot), I feel heavy, bloated,
sluggish, etc. (the answer to my last question below probably lies in this
statement). I'm sure I don't have to explain the sensation to any of you
: - ). I want to feel lighter and stronger. I want my flat belly back
again too! How does the SB Diet compare to Atkins? Has anyone here done
the SB diet? Is it realistic to anticipate a jumpstart, i.e., about ten
pounds loss in the first couple of weeks of no carbs. And after that, how
stringent do I need to be about my carb intake - I really like the
occasional brownie with cold milk! And finally, can I get there just by
decreasing my total caloric intake while continuing to exercise, or is the
LC path the way to go to feel better and be healthy?

Thanks for listening. I know I raised a lot of questions. Some of you
seem
to be very successful at losing and maintaining weight on the Atkins and
that seems worth noting.

TB

Thanks to everyone for their responses. Re the South Beach diet, I did
read it and it did take the carbs really down to a very low level those
first two weeks, there were a lot on 'no-no's in the eating department - in
any case, I feel like cutting back on carbs and calories in general,
combined with regular workouts, can only be helpful so I'm eager to get into
the habit of better habits, as it were : - ). As with everything it's
usually taking that first step that is the hardest. I find that once I
commit to something, it becomes self-motivating and it's easier to maintain
usually than it is to get going in the first place!

Thanks for the encouragement and I look forward to hearing more from you
more seasoned LC'ers.

Thea


"Laurie" wrote in message
news:3d0Jb.34623$xX.112971@attbi_s02...
Hi Thea-
I haven't tried South Beach but in many ways it is much closer to how I
ate
when I was on Weight Watchers.
I lost my weight on W.W. but switched to Atkins (more like Protein
Power,
really) to maintain, which I have been doing for 8 months now and it
works
beautifully. I've lost all of the bingeing urges that I used to have
when I
ate low-fat. I do NOT eat high-protein. I eat about 70-75 grams of
protein
per day (and that includes ALL sources, including vegetables, so that's
probably right at the low end of the acceptable protein range), probably
20-28 net carbs a day (lots of fiber, though and also a lot of sugar
alcohols--so the "gross" carbs, including sugar alcohols and fiber is
often
as high as 90 grams a day)....and the rest of the calories come from
fat. I
therefore tend to eat cuts of meat/fish/fowl that are higher in fat than
what I used to eat, and I eat a fair amount of cream and cheese in my
diet,
as well as loads of veggies and some high-fiber grains and nuts. Soy
Slender is also a great food for ANY diet due to its nutrient content.
You will lose fastest at the beginning but beware that it's mostly all
water
weight.

I have found that I can (and indeed do!) eat more calories that I did on
Weight Watchers, and excercise less (when I'm busy and have no time I
don't
worry about it any more), but after the first month I lowered my
calories
down to where they're only 50-100 more per day than on Weight Watchers.
If
I eat too much protein or too many carbs I can easily put on weight, so
I
try to be pretty consistent there.

Good luck, and let me know what you do and how it works for you!



"Thea Barbato" wrote in message
news
Hi,
I am very new to LC, in fact so new, I haven't quite started yet
: - ).
I
don't have much to lose, maybe about 15 lbs or so. I'm female, 5'7",
and
I
carry my weight fairly well, to the degree where most people think
it's
ludicrous that I am even considering a diet. Clothes are good for
covering
flaws and fat pockets, though! I have become intrigued by the South
Beach
Diet - it just seemed to make sense to me. Got the book and want to
begin
to implement the LC approach. I also work out, primarily with weights
(although I took a hiatus over the holidays) and find that makes a big
difference in how I feel. I've always heard that if you just
decrease
calories and exercise, i.e., burn more calories than you ingest, you
will
lose weight. In other words, it's not so much about carbs or fat, but
total
intake that one needs to consider, basically just eat portion
controlled
meals in moderation. But I also know that I like carbs but have found
that
when I indulge (especially if I indulge alot), I feel heavy, bloated,
sluggish, etc. (the answer to my last question below probably lies in
this
statement). I'm sure I don't have to explain the sensation to any of
you
: - ). I want to feel lighter and stronger. I want my flat belly
back
again too! How does the SB Diet compare to Atkins? Has anyone here
done
the SB diet? Is it realistic to anticipate a jumpstart, i.e., about
ten
pounds loss in the first couple of weeks of no carbs. And after that,
how
stringent do I need to be about my carb intake - I really like the
occasional brownie with cold milk! And finally, can I get there just
by
decreasing my total caloric intake while continuing to exercise, or is
the
LC path the way to go to feel better and be healthy?

Thanks for listening. I know I raised a lot of questions. Some of
you
seem
to be very successful at losing and maintaining weight on the Atkins
and
that seems worth noting.

TB