South Beach Diet Day 28 - Review

Today's South Beach Diet Tips:

* When it comes to men, try to find the human equivalent of The South Beach Diet: Something positive, sustainable, and that lets you be a little naughty every so often.

And now, here are the details of my 28th day on the South Beach Diet...

What I Weighed Today: 191 lbs. (8am)

Congratulate me! Please? I made it. It's my 28th day on South Beach and I achieved my monthly weight loss goal. I feel awesome!!

For those of you who have no interest in my social life, please skip down to the important South Beach tips and comments at the bottom of this page.

Today was an interesting day because I went to an interracial dating seminar. Don’t judge -- you know by now that I need a good man and I don’t care what pool he comes from, I just need him to have some quality. I have always been an equal opportunity dater but I must admit that my dealings outside my race have been limited to guys who expressly showed interest in me and made it 100% clear that they wanted to date me. I would never have the courage to flirt with a non-African American man the same way I do with bruthas. For me it is pretty easy to tell when most black men are interested in me. But when men of other cultures, especially white men, are nice to me I tend to assume they are just being…well, nice. I never assume there is a sexual interest. I must admit that the weight thing is a factor. What we have been taught by the media is that the quintessential perfect woman to a white male is thin. Therefore, I prefer to assume that I am not within the parameters of what white men find attractive.

 Latin men would be in my ballpark but I don’t even know where to hang out with them or how to relate to them. Asian men always seem to be with skinny women, and I wouldn’t know where to hook up with one anyway. At any rate, this seminar was to give African American women a chance to ask questions of men of other cultures and also to speak with black women who have married them. It was quite the eye-opening experience. I'd like to open myself up and be able to let men of other cultures know that I am approachable.

According to the people I told that I was going to this seminar, they see men all the time (mostly white) who seem intrigued by me at my shows. Now either that is untrue or I am completely missing the signals. I’m so used to the swagger and blatant signs of appreciation that are offered from an African American man that I can’t pick up on the more subtle mating signals of men of other cultures.

There is also another problem: I’m so sick of being crapped on by men that I’m tuned out to all of them half the time. I can’t remember the last time I was truly excited about a guy or believed their overtures. Most of the time my thought process is, “I’ll at least get a free drink and maybe a meal before all his bullshit comes to light.” Sad but true. Maybe it is a self-fulfilling prophecy but I am usually completely correct. They start showing their true colors on about the 2nd date. Maybe it’s me. Over the years I have gone outside my race to date and actually one of the loves of my life was a big, snow white, ginger-haired man with freckles. It’s only been the last few years that I seem to have gravitated toward the familiarity of men of color. The times when I have pondered this, I have had to admit to myself that it is because I am uncomfortable with my body and don’t think it could be attractive to men of other races.

The funny thing is that I seem to have been dating the same guy for the last 151 pounds. He has come to me in a spectrum of colors, cultures, religions, heights, weights, and economic backgrounds. The story always ends the same, though. Maybe it’s me, but I refuse to give up hope. I have been pretty closed off the last few years and I think it is time to open up again. After I left the seminar I went to the grocery store and found myself smiling and holding eye contact with a rainbow of men…they probably thought I was crazy!

What I Ate Today:
Breakfast: Homemade Skinny Vanilla Latte, South Beach Chocolate Peanut Butter Chocolate Meal Bar
Lunch: Caesar Salad, Non-Fat Cappuccino
Snack: Steamed Mixed Veggies
Dinner: Weight Watchers Meatloaf and Asparagus Frozen Dinner

EXERCISE:
None

HOT TIPS:
1. Read the book first. Not the Super-Charged (that’s for the intermediate user). Get the original South Beach Diet book.
2. Make sure you clearly understand the phases of the program. Understanding what you will be eating in each phase and how long it lasts will help you stick to the plan.
3. Once you’ve got a grip on the diet, use the eTools. The message boards will be a savior for you on this plan, too.
4. Plan, plan, plan. Chop up enough fresh veggies for a couple of days and throw some chicken meat into a plastic baggie with seasonings to marinate. You would be surprised how quickly you can whip up a meal with these prep steps out of the way.
5. According to the message boards there are recipes that can be found that freeze well and can substitute for the lack of grab n’ go frozen entrées. I wasn’t able to find any but try doing a little research.
6. Go for cold soups instead of hot. With the elimination of having to cook the ingredients, these recipes can be ready to eat in a jiffy.
7. Make a big bowl of tuna at the top of the week. When you are dying for something, have a few spoonfuls. Shockingly satisfying.
8. Go for ‘half-caffs’ (½ decaf, ½ caffeinated) at coffee houses. The baristas know what to do and the message boards say it is permissible.
9. Make an attempt at some of the simpler recipes. They may sound complex but they really aren’t.
10. Keep your eye out for eating establishments that will adjust your food choice to fit into the plan. It’s easier than you think (with the exception of any place with a drive-thru).

PROS:
It works. Following the plan results in weight loss.
You are in complete control of what you eat.
It’s an extremely healthy, well-balanced plan that has proven to bring about health benefits for diabetics and heart patients.
You can eat until you are satiated.
No measuring, no counting.

CONS:
Giving up white rice, bread, and sugar.
Some of us are not good at being in complete control. That’s why we are fat.
You have to have some cooking talent to get the most out of the program.
No grab n’go frozen entrées.
Getting used to the diet and working it properly requires a lot of thought and planning.

Who should give South Beach a try:
If you are a person who loves to cook and experiment with recipes.
If you are a person who can’t cook but is not bothered by the idea of really simple meals like a chicken breast, steamed veggies, and brown rice.
If you have decided to seriously commit to a healthier lifestyle.

Who should avoid South Beach:
If you simply can’t give up processed foods forever.
If you can’t cook or don't like to cook.
If you are too busy to prep and cook your meals (and can’t afford a delivery service).
If you don’t want to change the way you eat on a long term basis.

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