are you finding this terribly time consuming? I mosied on over to the paleo thinking it might be simpler. I'm usually too busy with work to look up carb counts on everything.

Hi Bear,

I am finding that the plan requires a bit more planning. I think it is because I'm not used to it. Adkins took me a while before it became second nature. For me, to have a plan that is more balance may be worth the extra effort. I hope you decide to stay on the SP plan. It's nice to have someone to compare notes.

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Kelli (LCing since 01/01/03)
Restarted 02/09/04 @ 155.5

I'm teetering between this and the neanderthal plan, simply for the ease of it. I am trying to learn more about both and which fits into my lifestyle (very active) better.

I'll compare notes you anytime.

Hi Bear,

I am having such a tough time getting started with SP. I am trying to eat according to the plan, but have made a few alterations in order to fit in meals. I am also very active and I am finding it difficult to prepare my meals with ALL the components that are needed; however I'm still eating LC. Hummmm...what to do ...what to do.?

Do you have any suggestions that may help me?

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Kelli (LCing since 01/01/03)
Restarted 02/09/04 @ 155.5

Hi Girls.
I have been following your thread for a couple weeks. I'm interested because I followed SP about 1 year ago for 6 months. I never felt better, but didn't lose any weight.
I decided this morning to try it again. I just got back from a short vacation, and didn't follow any LC plan. I just went hog wild.
This morning I had 2 eggs, about 1/2 oz cheese, mushrooms, and a slice of Ezekiel bread. And , of course, water. And eggs and mushrooms were w/o salt, or course.
I have to start back up on my suppliments too.

I was glad to see this thread because it helped me to commit back to SP eating again. It does take a little more work and planning than Atkins or CALP, but feeling so good is well worth it!

CrazeeKat, the one thing that I found easier the first time in making meals easier, and getting all the components in was to have food there and ready to eat. In other words, have lettuce clean and ready for a salad, have cheese grated, have fresh meat defrosted when you come home to start dinner. Have lots of fresh veggies on hand. Leaving stuff to chance was a downfall for me the last time. Maybe even planning out your meals (at least dinners) one week in advance, having all that you need in the fridge and pantry to make the meals.
Because this LC plan is more work, you have to be conscious of having what you can eat available, or you start to feel deprived.
Hope that helped. I hope you girls can help me too.

Teri

Teri,

Thank you for the tips. I have noticed the increase in my energy level, but I haven't lost anything. I keep thinking that I may do a variation of this plan with lesser amount of carbs. What do you thinK? I am very active. I'm usually in the gym anywhere from 4 to 6 times a week. I know the added carbs and the variety of food have helped me feel better, but I haven't seen a loss. I may be expecting a loss too soon.

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Kelli (LCing since 01/01/03)
Restarted 02/09/04 @ 155.5

Kelli,
Wow, I wish I could get to the gym that much. Some weeks it's 3-4 times, some weeks it's nothing. I finally did enroll my 12 year old daughter at the same gym that I go to. That makes it easier, but she keeps injuring herself (not at the gym-once sprained ankle on a hike, the other a sprained wrist/forearm from a car accident), so we are finding it hard to get there. I would go at night, but we have church 2 nights a week and DH goes to school 2 nights a week.

I understand wanting to make the carbs less to speed up the weight loss, but it takes away from the "wellness" part of her plan. That's why I only stuck with it for 6 months the first time. Before that I was on Atkins for 1 year (6 months of that stalled after 30 lbs loss). It was Atkins first, then SP, then I tried CALP for a while, and that made my carb cravings go totally haywire. I like the easiness of Atkins, but found that my adreneline and cortisol levels remained high and that's why I started with heart palps and weight stall.
And regarding your comment on expecting a loss too soon: I know that we all want to see immediate results on the scale, but her plan is about over-all wellness, so that's why the weight loss takes so long.
It's just so frustrating waiting, isn't it? But then, I had stalled on Atkins and CALP too, so that's why I decided to go back to SP. At least I was stalled, but felt so much better. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to be forever fat.

Teri

Okay, I'm convinced. You've made some very good and valid points. I chose the SP plan because of the balance it offered. I was also aware that weight loss may not happen until your body has been healed, but I got so anxious.

Okay Teri. I'm back in. We can keep each other straight and on track.

Thank you

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Kelli (LCing since 01/01/03)
Restarted 02/09/04 @ 155.5

I need some ideas myself. This weekend was terrible for my eating. I am on the run so much and don't have too much time to think out my meals. I try to eat one carb, a good protein and a good vegetable at each meal but it's not been easy. Snacks are bad too. I just ate cheese and crackers tonight. The crackers are bad for me but I came in late and didn't even think about it, just grabbed it. I guess I need to clean out my shelves of all the junk and refill them with appropriate foods.
Sam

Sam,

Do you have Akmak crackers on hand. They are permitted. Also, Wasa crackers are permitted.

I remember also that having veggies prepared was easier than cooking them and waiting for them when you are hungry. I know that when you are on the run and HUNGRY, it's easy to eat the wrong thing. Sometimes in the morning I will have veggies leftover from the night before. This morning it was brussel sprouts. I usually try to make extra amounts of veggies the night before so that I could eat them either in the morning or for lunch.

Also, having protien ready and prepared, like chicken or hard boiled eggs, leftover roast beef or roast pork from the night before.

This diet really does take more time to stay on it. It's just a matter of a little more planning, and even planning for the unknown or stuff that comes up. Also, it takes a little more determination when you are out at a restaurant or having dinner at a friends house. A friend might interpret all rice as healthy, but we can only have brown rice.

I think my problem is and always has been dairy. I love cheese and H & H and heavy cream. And I know that she limits dairy.

I have been making my own salad dressings lately. I don't know if I am saving any money, but they taste SO much better.

I am so glad that both of you are on board. I feel like this WOE really needs support. It's hard enough to make the commitment. Shoot! It's hard enough to get through her whole book the first time and understand more than 60% of it. I loved both her books, but had to read certain parts of them a couple times before I got it. I really love her cookbook.

I'm following the plan in book 2, only because my Book 1 is lent out to a friend. Then it's going to be lent out again when I get it back.

Today I have to get some fish at Costco. Usually I get salmon, but might get some Talapia too. I'm not a huge fan of fish, but really came to enjoy it more when I followed her diet. I think after I read about all the healthy benefits from eating fish, that made me enjoy it more. Her cookbook helped too. She has a fabulous recipe for Greek style fish. I found the cookbook for $2.95 at a thriftstore! What a great buy.

Teri

Everyone! I havent been on this board in a few weeks. I am glad to see this thread is keeping up!

Wanted to share a few things with you. After reading the SP1 and 2 it got me thinking so I did a search on google. I typed in adrenal stress, adrenal fatigue and so forth. I got so much info about adrenal burnout. I also came across a book called The Cortisol Connection by Shawn Talbott. I am waiting for the book to come in yet have found some interesting articles on google that talk about the issues he talks about. It talks about how the high cortisol levels can and will increase the fat around the abdomen area and the butt thigh area. How no matter how much exercising you do or weightloss, such as Atkins or low glycemic low carb, it is hard to reduce this area or get rid of the weight. I will learn more when I get his book in. Maybe tomorrow it will come in.

Now this is why I have researched this more. I have been on Atkins since Aug 2003. I have only shed 15lbs. I went up 5lbs and have no idea why. Maybe some of the weight training I am doing? Anyway, I took this test and it showed that I am Very High in cortisol output. (Now I have not taken any test but if I could, it cost anywhere from $150-200, I would. I will be able to next month. Its a saliva test. I have really looked hard into this so its not a joke.) I have so many of the symptoms of adrenal burnout just like Diana described. I am waiting on this other book to come in to help me more with what I can do to help with weight and health. Not sure if anyone else is dealing with some common problems that come along with adrenal burnout along with the weight but if you do I would love to know so I dont feel so alone in all this. I am also taking a few supplements that I found to help with lowering the cortisol levels and stress that I have read about. I really believe that I have found the very thing that has stopped me from seeing my normal weight and it will take some time as Diana Schwarzbeing has stated in her books but I am very optimistic that it will eventually come. Now that doest say I wont have my down times as I am not a very patient person at times but knowing that we share in a common goal to loose weight and be healthy is a HUGE PLUS for me!

ps...I forgot to add that the last few weeks that i have done my weight trainging workout from Kate and Grame Street that if I over do it I end up sick for 3 days or so. That really stinks! Have any of you experienced that? I know its also to much for my body from what I have been reading.

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Blessings,

Carol

Hi Teri

I read your post and see that I also stalled real bad after Atkins. I am sure its due to the adrenal burnout. I have not started Dianas eating plan but would like to. I am real nervous. I dont want to gain anything back. It was hard enough to loose 15lbs in say 6.5 months! I am so shocked that is all I lost. Now my allergies got a bit better and I have very little cravings except right before that TOM. When did you start seeing results from her woe? Do you fight cravings since the carbs are upped more? Have you noticed any difference between eating her way and say Atkins way?

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Blessings,

Carol

Thank you,Teri & Carol.

You've given so much information.

Carol, I experience the same reaction when I OVER exercise. I get real weak and almost have flu like symptoms...not a good feeling. I am also nervous about the SP & SPII plan. I was going to try doing plan, but with less carbs; however, after reading Teri's post, I may reconsider. I am suppose to have three meals with 17g of carbs and 2 snacks with 7g. Whew, that is so much more than I'm use to. I haven't stuck to that plan, but I've increase my carbs to 40g daily with just 3 meals. Snacks are a bit difficult. I've gain 2 pounds, but I think that's because of TOM. I'll see how my weight looks in a few days.

Carol, when you read "The Cortisol Connection," let us know if there is anything else we should know that wasn't covered in the SP or SPII.

Sam, as you can see, we've got some informed members here. I'm sure they'll able to help us. Hang in there.

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Kelli (LCing since 01/01/03)
Restarted 02/09/04 @ 155.5

Carol,
Yes, I did have several symptoms of adrenal burnout. That was the reason why I switched from Atkins to SP. I went to see a Cardiologist about heart palps, and he wanted to put me on a a beta blocker.
After reading about beta blockers, and after reading the good Dr.'s book, I realized that the heart palps were from an over-abundance of adrenaline and cortisol=stress. I found that word funny, because in my life, I have very little stress, but the way I was eating was stressing my body.
I did the same thing you did: I lost 30 lbs on Atkins, but stalled for 6 months. Even when I would change LC plans, I would lose up to the point that I originally stalled at.
I can't remember if The Cortisol Connection was recommended on this board. It sounds familiar. I think that Talbot guy is one of the Dr.'s that are selling the Cortislim pills on T.V.
Regardless of whether he is trying to sell pills or not, yes, I agree that the cortisol thing is definately our problem. When I see those commercials (as well as several other brands), it makes me think that people want an easy way to control this problem. Dr. S's diet will really help.
You asked how long it took to feel the effects: in about 1 week, maybe 2, the heart palps stopped, my BP went down. I didn't need the beta blockers after all. And boy, was that Dr. angry that I defied his orders! What a jerk! He would rather push pills on me to solve the symptom rather than find what the real problem was, and fix it through exercise, diet, or whatever means. Needless to say, I never went back to him. Jerk!
Let us know what that book tells you, if it's something different from SP. Her diet is so drastic by today's standards that it's hard for people to commit to doing it and doing it right. I have to admit that today I did have a little bacon. Bacon and dairy is my downfall. And it wasn't the nitrate free kind either. (sigh....)
I'm trying anyway.

Teri

Just out of curiosity, what are the symptoms of adrenal burnout? I am curious about SP, but I am a bit too busy to get and read the book now...

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Started Atkins on 9/20/03
235-->190; 150 goal