A long time ago at the library, I picked up a copy of the South Beach Diet. I love reading diet books, not necessarily to follow them but more to learn about the different schools of thought around dieting and weight loss. The book ended up sitting on my shelf for a long time, but this weekend I finally got around to reading it… and I really liked it. It made perfect sense, and it seemed to match what I’ve noticed about my own body when I give up certain things.
The simplified version of explaining South Beach is that you avoid high glycemic carbs (like bread, pasta, potatoes) and sugars. If you have to eat one, make sure you eat it with some fat or protein, which helps to curb the effect on your blood sugar. This to me was genius – I’ve noticed that when I’ve avoided high glycemic foods in the past (not that I knew they were high glycemic – I just called them “processed carbs”), I’ve lost weight. So I decided I’d give the full-fledged diet a try.
For the strict two week induction phase, you’re supposed to basically eat just vegetables and lean protein. This was really easy for me, as it’s not too different than my normal diet – I just had to cut out fruit, and avoid the high glycemic carbs (but I don’t eat many of those anyway). I’ve only been on it for two days, but I already feel like I look a bit better, and it’s really not hard at all to stick to.
Then this morning I woke up and was sick as a dog. At first I thought I just needed to go to the bathroom, but once there, I got that tingly feeling you get in conjunction with the chills, and I felt like I needed to throw up. After ten minutes of lying there wanting to die, I finally threw up a few times, and actually felt a bit better. No more nausea, but I still have the chills and tingles.
However, now I’m at a loss for what to have for breakfast. I know the standard flu breakfast is toast, but that’s not really South Beach friendly. Anyone have any suggestions? Or should I just give it up while I’m sick and have toast anyway? I think my roommate has a loaf of bread…
SB Diet is really good in general, but that first two weeks can be REALLY rough on your system. When I did it, it was similar – the first couple days, no problem, felt great. Then I felt like crap, was seriously cranky (low sugar?), etc. If you’re sick, get your body what it needs and step back down to the diet when you’re better, especially if you’re sick enough to get tingly and vomitting. I’m not sure I agree with the first phase of SB at all – but the second and third are the way to go (and what I’ve sort of been doing for years).
Feel better!!
It’s the first day of your diet and you’re sick. Eat some comfort foods, get yourself well, then start the diet over. If you stick with South Beach while you’re sick you won’t know if it would work for you or not anyway.
(but that’s just my opinion, I could be wrong)
I’m terrible with any strict restriction, so I’m not much help with the suggestions. I’d eat whatever made me feel better, but I’m a wuss like that. :o)
I’m with the rest of the above. Go with what’s going to make you feel better and start over later.
I would abandon the diet while you’re sick, and then never go on a diet again, but that’s just me.
Hmm, that sucks. I would definitely eat some toast if I were you, you can always try again once you feel better. I don’t know if I could stick to that diet, I LOVE fruit and eat LOTS of it! Sounds interesting though..
I’ve done the SB diet and did have success with it. For me, it taught me a new way of eating…instead of always hitting the bread basket I learned that I didn’t really “want” it and that I was just as satisfied without it.
Ugh…as far as being sick…I say eat the toast. Your tummy will probably only allow you to eat certain foods and I bet it’s not wanting brocoli =). Feel better! Something is definitely going around.
If you aren’t going to listen to anyone and you aren’t going to eat toast, then just do some hard boiled eggs, with or without the yolk…or an egg white omelet, or cheese stick with some cut up avocadoe’s…it’s all pretty mild. I hope you feel better!
ugh. Vomiting sucks.
Hang in there. I hope you feel better soon!
great diet. get better and then start it. you don’t have much to lose anyway. If any.
Oh man…I had the flu last year and it was terrible. Make sure you keep drinking water or gatorade, etc.