starting Phase I before new years?

Hi almost40!

I just joined SB online today.  I have done the plan before (in 2008 - 25 pounds). 

I have been over-eating and eating junk during the holidays.  I justified this because planned to start SB January 1st.  Silly!  I ended up gaining seven pounds since Thanksgiving.

I am a very busy mom too.  Maybe we'd be good buddies?!  I especially need support because I am a stress eater and my life is quite hectic these days.

:)

Hi there!  It is 2am.  Can’t sleep.  This has been happening for a few weeks now.  I wake up between 1 & 3am.  It is so frustrating because my kids are sleeping through the night.  And, it is making me so tired midday. 

Just a side note – my X and I have joint custody - so Trevor & Luke sleep at his house every Sun & Mon nights & every other Fri & Sat nights.  That makes tonight one of my non-parenting nights which is even more reason that I should be sleeping soundly with no worries!

Anyway I tried to read myself back to sleep and came across 2 quotes to share with you.  I figured since you & I are serious about this diet this time I should reread some of the SB diet book that I have been ignoring!  J   

1. “You may start on the SB Diet hoping to just lose weight but you’ll also do a lot more for yourself.  I’m not exaggerating when I say that this diet can save your life.”

This is huge for me because there have been quite a few strokes and heart disease in my family.

1. “The psychological lift that comes from an improved appearance benefits the entire person, and keeps many from backsliding.”

First of all both of us need a “psychological lift.”  Secondly we just have to help each other get through Phase 1, get over the hump of not exercising…start to see results!!!

>food - its a coping mechanism. Sadness, joy, insecurity - its all connected to food
Isn't that true?  Baby born - bring Mom food.  Someone dies - bring mourners food.  Achieve a milestone - go out to dinner to celebrate . . .
 
>that is why I started to work out
That is what I HAVE to do too!  What are you doing for exercise?  I think our Boflex machine will address toning but I still need a cardo to go along with it.  Regardless of why I am being a sloth, I need to cancel my Pity Party though.  It isn't getting me anywhere.

Somehow I gave you the impression that I have 3 babes.  Thank goodness that is not the case!  I have only 2 (boys 6 and 4yrs).  I can't imagine having a 2 yr. old as well.  You must be so so so tired.  Twos are into everything and require constant attention.

I am so afraid of moving to two as I feel my head might spin off!!

No, you’ll be fine.  Yes, you’ll be busier but you will be experienced this time.  That means all the new baby’s “firsts” won’t freak you out…teething, vaccinations, fever, solid foods etc.  Plus you’ll have your husband to help so you can go into man-on-man defense, divide & conquer, 1 of you with each child!

>hard to be at home with a kid all the time.
I recommend a book called "Surrendering to Motherhood" by Iris Krasnow.  It helped me accept that a successful day may be simply feeling my child nutritious food and running 1 load of laundry INSTEAD of teaching 20 fifth graders about the revolutionary war, attending a grade level meeting and tutoring a student in math.  Now don’t get me wrong, I still missed adult interaction after reading her book but it gave me confirmation that others felt the exact way I did & had identity crises like you described (and I have too!)

Ok, this message is getting long.  I babble.  I will send it off!

:)  Amy

Hello my West Coast Buddy!

I just accepted your Buddy invitation!  How cool are we?? I like all you have added to your site and that you are journaling.  I haven't done that yet.  I can tell you are committed - keep inspiring me!

I weigh 186 lbs and I am 5’6.  Sounds like you and I are similarly sized proportional to our height.  According to SB website I should be between 115 lbs and 155 lbs.  So even on the low end, I need to lose 30 pounds just to be considered “normal” weight and healthy.

Gestational diabetes is a pain in the tush.  I was misdiagnosed with it & treated it for 2 weeks until they changed their mind.  I didn’t have to take insulin though – you poor thing.  Is it likely you’ll have it again with Baby #2?

>Unlike my friends who are all thin

Hate them!  One close girlfriend of mine just became a Pilates teacher (after having 2 kids).  She is so in shape it is ridiculous.  Zero body fat.  My other best friend is naturally beautiful and thin…has trouble gaining enough weight to be healthy.  

>South Beach was the only thing that helped me to start moving the scale. How sad that I stopped.

No kidding!  I had to be in my X’s sister’s wedding when I did SB last.  I knew the divorce was coming but no one else did so I was a wreck (faking happiness in front of his family and trying to be the smiling bridesmaid and believe in marriage when mine was crumbling) .  The only thing I could control was looking thin.  It was so nice not to have those extra 25 pounds on.  But, as soon as the wedding was over…I stopped SB entirely & gained it all back.

I am basically starting South Beach today –

OK, so how did it go????????  Headaches????  Any cheating???  My challenges will be beer and sugar in my coffee.  I love a nice Cold-One after my boys go to bed (or leave for their dad’s) and I heap the sugar into my multiple cups of coffee each day.

>sugar/carb cravings - hard to stay patient with the kid when they hit.

Yes it is hard to stay patient.  But, if you aren’t as bubbly as usual that is OK.  It is OK for mom to be a human being.  Think about how unpleasant we would be when they are hormonal teenagers driving us nuts and our self esteem is rock bottom because we’ve NEVER lost the weight.  It is worth our effort now!  Plus we want to be a healthy role model for them.

>starting South Beach -- You might want to wait till Sunday – start knocking out the carbs now

Great!  Done.  Sunday it is.  I also thought I could start exercising this week, to maybe start that healthy routine before Sunday.  Everything I read says Phase 1 is much more successful when paired with exercise.

>up until today just the thought of starting south beach was making me eat waaaay too much

You’re not alone.  I have been way overdoing it.  That is normal I bet.  My portion sizes are bigger than usual and I am eating my kid’s leftovers (like mac & cheese).  Geez!  

OK, gonna try to sleep now.  My boys will be here in 5 hours when their Dad drops them off.  

So glad we connected.  It helps to articulate these thoughts and concerns doesn’t it?  I don’t think anyone who isn’t doing our diet will really want to chat about it as much as we’ll need to.  Even if your hubby & my boyfriend are good listeners, they are men J and they aren’t following the SB plan.

Talk to you soon!  Amy

OK – it is 3:20am.  I really have to go to bed.

Just wanted to tell you I am taking the, “2010 South Beach Diet New Year's Challenge!”  Wanna do it with me??

Look under the “Community” tab.

Click on “New Year’s Challenge Entry Form” and see what you think.

 There is another tab, “2010 New Year's Challenge Official Rules” which gives more details.  

It is free!  What do you think????  Sounds inspirational and not too much of a time committment.  Need to take a "Before" photo this weekend (oh doesn't that sound fun) and will need to participate in 2 online discussions per week. 

Take care!
Amy