Oh my carbs, where have you gone?????

On Monday Bob and I both started the South Beach diet (or as they like to call it, the "lifestyle"). Both of us truly need to lose weight, but neither of us really has the energy or willpower for massive exercising. We KNOW that we need to change our eating habits (can anyone say pasta???) but have been reluctant to do so. Over the holiday, Bob bought the South Beach Diet Super Charged book - basically the newer edition - and I jump started us on Monday. Basically, the first two weeks of the diet is devoid of any kind of carbs or sugar, including fruit.

Can I just say now. . . this sucks!!!!! Ok, that was a mite crude, but I believe it accurately states my feelings on the subject. Let me better explain:

1) I now find myself cooking everyday - literally, for hours everyday. Most of you know how much I do not enjoy cooking - in fact, I loathe it. I have been very fortunate to have a husband who actually enjoys cooking, and I must admit, I have exploited that fact. Most days Bob would come home from work and cook us dinner. Breakfast or lunch for me was usually cereal or eating out. Before you think that I am some evil, pampered spouse, I did always cook one or two days every week and we'd usually order out once. But, those days are long over as I find myself trying (and I do mean trying, I'll explain more later) to cook breakfast and dinner for both of us and lunch for myself.

2) The receipes in South Beach are actually quite good, if you can find the ingredients in Shanghai. That is a BIG if. We've always relied mostly on imports for our cooking and because we weren't really sticklers about the health nut lifestyle (yes, you should chuckle here), I never really thought about what we don't have. [Well, not for the last two years, after my initial adjustment period was over. And, I guess, not after I immediately return from the States where I am overwhelmed by all the food choices available. Let me just say I understand after living in China, why America is a fat country (myself included, of course).] Anyway, while searching for the ingredients for the receipes in South Beach, I came away with less than half of what I needed. Low fat ricotta or cottage cheese? Yeah right - I'm lucky if the full fat variety is imported. Same goes with any type of cheese. Day three called for Salmon Florentine - are you kidding me??? Now, I suppose if I even knew what the hell salmon florentine was, I perhaps could make it because seafood is abundant here. But, one - I don't like seafood and two - I've already stated how much more time I'm spending in the kitchen; I'm not about to increase it! The book does state that you do not have to follow each receipe/day exactly; you can make improvisations. I imagine that I am doing that for roughly half of the meals/snacks. Needless to say, it does not make it easier to follow this diet.

3) I am really, really tired of eggs and vegetables. Eggs seem to be on the menu for every breakfast. Back home, all of you can run to the supermarket and get a nice carton of EggBeaters. Here I am trying to make some sort of combo with the whole egg and egg whites only. Thank goodness this is only for two weeks because I can't imagine what all those eggs are doing to our cholesterol levels. :-) My other peeve is all the bell peppers. I mildly like bell peppers. If they are set in front of me with some huumus or dip, they are ok. Somebody else cooks them and puts them in my meal, I'll eat them. But, come on folks - South Beach has you eating peppers almost everyday! I know, good vitamins and all that stuff. But, frankly, I've had enough and I'm only on day 5! Granted, I know some of this problem relates back to the previous item - lack of ingredients in Shanghai. So, I tend to redo many of the receipes we do have ingredients for. Guess what those usually include????

4) Carb shock - it's the only way I can describe what immediately and completely eliminating carbs and sugar does to your body in the first few days. Day two and three for both Bob and I was filled with a strange headache and lightheadedness. Admittedly, this probably reinforces the idea that we really did need to cut back on our carb and sugar (for me, especially) intake. But, it was a little disconcerting.

After all that, I am happy to report that the diet is actually working. My cravings have definitely been reduced, I'm drinking more water, and best of all, we're losing weight. Bob is already down 3 pounds and I am down almost 5. So, I lift my water cup to you, South Beach - here's to more weight loss!