- Who here is not doing South Beach?
- What are those of you doing?
- And for everyone, do you follow a specific exercise plan, or just do whatever?
I’ll answer my own questions. I am not. I looked into it once a few years ago, but they wanted money. 
I am doing what I guess you’d call the common sense diet. I don’t have a list of food I can or can’t have, but I try to make wise choices. I sort of count calories, in that I look at something and think, “How much nutrition am I getting for those calories?” and if the answer is “Not much,” I choose something else. I am using SlimFast for breakfast and lunch because it fills me up and it’s fast, but I could just as easily have a bowl of oatmeal or cereal. I guess I was already in some pretty good habits, like eating whole wheat bread and pasta, I was just eating too much of all of it. So portion control is a big thing for me. But I try to be laid back about it because if I get too strict on myself, I’ll quit. 
During the healthy heart thing, I was just running on the treadmill every day. But I did Body for Life six years ago, and I loved the exercise plan. If you aren’t familiar, it’s alternating days of weight training and cardio, taking about 20 minutes a day. Yes, 20 minutes. And it really works. I lost 10 pounds right quick when I did it before. So I think I might go back to just the exercise portion of that plan, because honestly, working out an hour a day does not fit into my schedule. AT.ALL.
So, let’s hear it! I really want to know what’s working for people!
UPDATED TO ADD: I was just over at Body For Life’s website, and the entire exercise plan is there in minute detail. And it’s free! You can even download Excel pages for tracking your progress. Awesome!
I’m not doing any diet plan. But, when possible, I’m trying to avoid white sugar, hydrogenated oils, and corn syrup specifically and anything else that doesn’t look “natural” and go for whole grains, unprocessed or low processed foods. I avoid boxed, frozen, and pre-packaged foods and really try to read the ingredients list on everything. My biggest struggle has been snacking and portion control. So I’m trying to only eat when I’m hungry. I’m really trying to make a lifestyle change rather than lose the weight quick.
As for exercise, right now I’m riding a stationary bike for about 30 minutes, walk on the treadmill between 15-20 minutes and then about 15 minutes of core exercises using the exercise ball 4 times a week. I’m following this plan right now because the health club I use is having a fitness challenge and that’s what’s working for me at the moment.
But it would be nice to have some guidance or direction for more specific goals and results. At least I’m getting more exercise than I was 6 months ago and I figure that’s a start!
Comment by Anita — February 16, 2007 @ 7:18 pm
I am doing South Beach. Right now, I have to be told what not to eat, and I like the menu planner and the vegetarian option. This comes closest to the way I naturally choose to eat, so it made sense. I am hoping I will have enough ideas and recipes after the initial 12 weeks, that I won’t have to sign back up.
My exercise plan - shoveling snow. I asked for help, God provided!
Comment by missy — February 16, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
Don’t worry Missy. You won’t need to sign back up. Buy the cookbooks, maybe…but all three of them together is less money than 13 weeks on the website. I’m glad I did it for that first three mos though.
I’ll put more vegetarian recipes up, too.
Comment by blestwithsons — February 16, 2007 @ 7:49 pm
I’ve been trying to follow the Weight Watchers plan and count points. I’m pretty good during the week but Friday’s when I get home, I fall apart and I don’t usually count points until the following Monday. I’ve been following the Body for Life work out plan for the last 2 months, that really works for me.
3 years ago I did Body for Life, I followed their eating plan and work out routine. I did that for 2 years and lost about 60lbs. Then I got pregnant and gained it all back and now I’m trying to get it back off.
My problem is snacking and portion control. I’m diligent with working out, but my eating habits have got to change. So, this Monday I’m thinking that I will go back on Body for Life…eating plan and workout plan. I’m looking forward to it!
Comment by Cristina — February 16, 2007 @ 8:26 pm
I’m doing WW with low-carb choices. Flex plan at this point, though I am thinking about trying out Core later. Right now, I desperately need the wake up call that Flex plan and counting points has been giving me.
Comment by Tracy — February 16, 2007 @ 9:17 pm
I am on the Lady Laura plan
My diet is overall healthy: whole grains, no transfats, no corn syrup, lots of legumes and veggies, etc. Mostly working on portion control and “boredom” eating.
My exercise routine is quite unorthodox. Two times a week I race-clean which involves hand-scrubbing floors, vacuuming, and sweeping as fast and hard as I can in a race against myself. That is my sweaty exercise. Other days I do pilates on the Bean or use an exercise band and hand weights, crunches, etc. I cannot wait for spring so I can hike and bike again!
Comment by lady laura — February 16, 2007 @ 9:33 pm
I am doing the Weight Watchers “Core” plan. I started out on the point-counting “Flex” plan and, well, got tired of counting points after a month and just quit doing it. So I switched to the non-point-counting “Core” plan. Tracy, when you’re ready to start thinking about switching plans, shoot me an email. I really do love Core (thus far). It’s been a lot of reinforcing healthy choices and learning to choose healthy portions.
Jana, I tried South Beach for a while… but just did the phase 1 (lost ~5 pounds!) and then kind of went back to my old ways/weighs (back up ~7 pounds!) It works if you make it work… which I wasn’t ready to commit to at that point.
Right now I’m just trying to exercise. This week it’s been 2 days of waterwalking (25-45 min), 1 day on the exercise bike (40 min), 1 day pilates (20 min), and 1 day of leg strengthening exercises. I’m just starting to add weight-bearing exercise back into my routine, and I want to add some walking and some time on the elliptical trainer into my exercise in the next month. I also need to be doing weights/strengthening much more consistently.
Comment by Anne — February 17, 2007 @ 12:05 am
Just wanted to say that although my mum, my sister and I are all doing south beach the only thing we’ve spent money on is buying one of the books from amazon marketplace. I never signed up for the online stuff, although did do the profile thing, and as a result do get daily south beach emails. Some of these are just trying to get me to sign up for south beach, but some are useful information or recipes.
I pretty much just absorbed what info I could about south beach from people like Blest and Kaylin (link on the side bar) and from really the one book I got, and then took it from there.
Just wanted to say that in case it was the money that put you off south beach - I’m sure us south beachers would be willing to rally round and give you some ideas if wanted to do it and needed some help getting started - in fact, that goes to anyone wanting to know more, not just Jana
Comment by Debs — February 17, 2007 @ 6:26 am
I’m not doing South Beach (although I love their frozen meals). I’m doing a mix between Protein Power and Body for Life - it’s how I lost over 100 lbs before so I went back to it. I call it “moderate carb” lol. I agree Jana, BFL’s workout plan is awesome! That’s the workout schedule I followed to a “T” with I lost all that weight before too…I had a wt bench (got it for mother’s day one year lol) and a treadmill. Both are in storage at the moment so I’m doing a combo of workout taps (cardio) and pilates now…trying to keep the same concept of alternating workouts (upper, lower, cardio)….during the HHC I did mainly cardio though…ready to get back to more strength training again.
Comment by Blair — February 17, 2007 @ 6:46 am
Y’know…there’s actually not that many South Beachers on here. Me, Debs&Family, Kat, Bethany. Now we have Missy here - so that’s one more. LeighAnn said she and her husband were switching to SB, but we don’t see her much.
If you look at the Meet the Team page, it tells you what all the official members are doing.
I think it just seems like there’s a lot on the beach because some of us (cough cough) are pretty verbose.
Comment by blestwithsons — February 17, 2007 @ 7:48 am
Blest - that’s why I asked the question, because I know there are people doing other than SB, but we don’t hear much from them!
And for anyone interested in BFL, not only does the website include the eating and exercise plans, but there are hundreds of recipes as well. All for free. Did I mention I like free?
Comment by Jana — February 17, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
I have been using Walk Away the Pounds, but am finding that it doesn’t challenge me very much. I did Slim in 6 yesterday and I can really feel it in my thighs and midsection. Since several of you have mentioned liking the Body for Life exercise routine, I think I will check that out. As far as dieting, I am doing Weight Watcher’s flex plan and so far its going very well.
Comment by Gina — February 18, 2007 @ 2:13 pm
I need an exercise plan. At the moment all the exercise I get is cycling to work (about 15 minutes each way). My main problem is lack of time. I could go for a walk at lunchtime, but there’s a lack of interesting places to go. Or I could get up early and swimming, which might be an option, expecially now it’s lighter in the mornings. I hate getting up in the dark.
Comment by Bekki — February 19, 2007 @ 4:05 am
The BFL website is fantastic. Gina - I’m using Leslie Sansone’s walk videos too…which ones do you have…I’ve got the 5 mile, 1 mile jog and the entire Walk Slim Series (which has jogging and strength training in it too).
Comment by Blair — February 19, 2007 @ 6:28 am
Blair,
I have the three pack with the 1, 2 and 3 mile workouts. I am not sure the name of it without looking at the box. I also have a 4 mile super challenge.
Comment by Gina — February 20, 2007 @ 5:59 pm