I think I have tried every diet imaginable, and have tried every pill, drink, magic potion every promise and cure, including the quick fix but the only one I have ever had any results with were low carb. Atkins always made me nervous because I felt I did not get enough veggies, and ate too much fat.

My most success was on South Beach. The last time I was on it, I lost 40 lbs. It was right before my last pregnancy. The hardest part for me is the first 2 weeks of the phase 1. I have a very hard time starting off cutting out the sugar, and the refined carbs. I love sugar and breads. I know how bad they are for me, and they pack on the pounds so quickly. When I first cut them out, I get very bad headaches for the first 4 or 5 days, but they go away once they get out of my system and then I feel so much better. I also then have so much more energy. They also drop the weight very quickly on me. Once I make up my mind that I am starting I can do it, but I have to be very focused and commited. If I stop and start again all it does is mess me up and I yo yo back and forth.

I have found lots of diet foods that fit nicely with south beach. Many are low in sugar or no sugar at all. Kraft foods are making some, plus online stores are full of them. Many products are made with soy and made with either stevia or splenda and are perfect for it. Once you get past the first 2 weeks you even add back in some fruits witch also help with sweet cravings. I also love how Kraft and some of the online stores make some easy prepackaged easy to take along meals that fit into the meal plan. I love the wraps. They make perfect lunches for work, and the ‘tv dinners’ are really yummy. They even have pizza. I never feel deprived at all. I worry about cholesterol too and that is not a problem on this diet because it is taken into consideration in the meals that are prepared. I just really like it. I really never felt on a diet and can stay on it for life like I am supposed to. It is truly a way of life, not a diet.

Before I started I was always a slug. I felt so fat and disgusting.

After the first few dys. I had bad headches at first from the sugar withdrawal, but I am a sugar addict.

The results where HUGE. I lost 10 lbs in 7 days. 40 lbs in 3 months.

I became pregnant so I stopped losing but I still follow most of the same patterns.

I found it absolutly easy to find the products I need on this web site.

-Debi Gerhart