So I keep reading about Dr. Oz's B.E.A.C.H diet, and it has me curious as to whether or not it works... so I have to try it... I've never tried a "fad" diet... but something about this one sounds like it's not bad at all... so I will test it out for the next six weeks. I will post my starting weight and once a week I will post that weeks weight...

I will be exercising too... I promise that if it gets to be too much I will stop.

Here are what the letters stand for:

eat Breakfast
Eliminate simple sugars and for Exercise
add Antioxidants to your plate
indulge in dark Chocolate (not my favorite... but I can deal iwth it)
Hydrate

Water will be my new best friend for the next six weeks... As will tea, which I love tea... I'll get some green tea as soon as I most possibly can. The water will be good for me any ways since I have from now till September to condition my voice for choir try outs.

Is there anyone out there who would like to take part in this? Doesn't have to be for the full six weeks...

I'm looking for encouragement and support... I promise to keep this healthy.

It sounds like a very reasonable and healthy way to lose weight :D:D:D
You Go Girl!!! 8-)8-)8-)

Thank you! I hope to make progress and not end up disappointed that it's all a lie... but thats what this experiment is all about...

There are a few things I'd love to try... like Zumba... the info mercial for the Zumba dance work out says you can lose up to a dress size in 2 weeks... I'd like to test that theory... I doubt it highly... I'm on the wait list for it at the library.

I think he just throws the chocolate in there for some of the ladies ;-)

It is sensible, and yes, it works if that is how you want to live. Pick a sustainable lifestyle change that works for you in the long run for true success.

My daughter does Zumba...she loves it. She didnt lose much weight, but really toned up...if you have a community college nearby, they might have the classes, and its cheap too. I think she pays 3 dollars a class?

That doesn't sound like a fad diet- it sounds very sensible!
My sister lost weight just by eating healthy food, smaller portions, and exercise. She's kept it off over 3 years and she doesn't deny herself when she has a craving.
Good luck!!!!!! :D:D:D

Oh and plenty of water !!

Dr. Oz is a legit guy. He doesn't do 'fad'. So, yes...I think you're in good hands. Another thing I'd add is taking a multivitamin. I scoffed at the idea, because my diet was "not THAT bad!" but it's really made a difference in how I feel. Just regular ole generic women's multi from wal-mart and DHA.

Eliminating the simple sugars and white flour will do WONDERS for your energy as well.

Good points- I take vitamins also and your advice on simple sugars and flour is right on!!!!!!!! My sister initially eliminated "anything white" and she was a potato freak before. Think of all the white foods and most are very low in value to a healthy diet.
Once she lost the weight she started giving herself the occasional treat and she still looks and feels great
But she also lost her cravings for a lot of the foods that she used to crave :D

Yes, but dark chocolate is really good for you :D I don't really like it but if's it 70% I can eat it once in awhile

have fun

Sounds like something I could do. I can't do alot of excersize but I do walk alot. My back won't let me get on the floor or anything like that. I need to loose weight so my back will feel better. :thumbup:

I have gone to a Zumba class at the local gym... it is just so packed in there though so I stopped going. For a dance class you couldn't move there were so many people squished into that little studio. But when I did go it was fun just to watch the others in the class....

I will join in, I need the push. I am trying to reduce sugars, they make me sluggish. I love dark chocolate, I just have to go easy on it. we will have to compare notes.

I like Dr. Oz - gotten kinda addicted to his shows. I don't watch each one, but I will at least check out the listings to see if it's a subject that I would like to see.

"Eliminate simple sugars" so what is the substitute for sweeteners? sorry, but I can't have my tea without a sweetener.

I will make adjustments as I go along if I need to... for example... the simple sugar will be in my coffee, I cannot stomach coffee with out cream and sugar... but it's okay to cheat every once in awhile... hehe... And I don't drink coffee all that often! I don't trust the substitute sweeteners, plus I have a huge problem with them anyways... found that out with Sugar free creamer, jelly beans, and some of the different chocolates...

did you know it takes 21 days to form a habit?

ooooooooooh - I could drink the water and eat the chocolate - it stops there!

It sounds like a great diet to me.

You could use honey or agave nectar or stevia. They are all natural and not artificial. I use all three, depends upon what I am using it for. Gave up "white" foods years ago, don't miss them at all.

One of our fabric sales reps does Zumba. Or some sort of salsa dancing. She really likes it!

P.S. She's thin...

I bet there are Zumba Dvds around, maybe even at the library, so it would be free to learn. My DD loves to get out and exercise with others. NOT ME, LOL, I want NO ONE to see me huff n puffin!

I'm on the wait list for the Zumba DVD's from the library. So I'll have to deal with whats on Demand on Comcast.

So, I weighed my self this week... My starting weight is 252. So that leaves me with 102 pounds to lose to get to the goal weight. (My actual weight should be around 101-125... I'm big boned that will not look good on me.) My goal at the end of this 6 week trial, which starts on Monday, will be 25 pounds. Which is a safe amount of weight to lose in that amount of time.

I'm trying to switch my self over to just water. I have come up with a way to get in 8 glasses of water (or more) a day.

Wake up: Drink a full glass of water
Get ready for the day: Another Glass
With Breakfast: Water
Morning Snack: Water
Lunch: Water
Mid Afternoon: More water
Dinner: Water

And having water on you when you work out and just to drink. This way I'll get the amount I need per day.

Please Alu - do research on your diet. Yes, we all need water, but not just water - it would trick your body to think it is in starvation mode and you will end up gaining BIG TIME when you do have food. Eating 6 SMALL meals a day will actually help you lose MORE weight FASTER, Starches, sugar, dairy products are the culpret. Eat more fruits and veggies (fresh) PLEASE do not JUST drink water. Good luck with it!

^^^I think what she's saying is drinking only water instead of other things like soda, juice, etc. And making sure she gets her water in for the day by having a glass with meals, snacks at those times.

But yes...do your research. 25# of fat weight in 6 weeks is NOT a healthy amount to lose. That kinda averages out to 4# a week. The generally recognized number is 1-2# per week for permanent weight loss. You may find in the first few weeks you lose a big number but that is because you change your diet and cut down on salt, and (TMI, get ready for it) when you eat cr@p like chips, cakes, treats, sugar, non-nutritive food...your gut is PACKED with the stuff. Your digestive system is probably holding 15-20# of waste as we speak. So, when you start eating fresh things like veggies and fruit and "real food" your intestines will clear and you will be lighter from that. Which is good, but just don't be illusioned thinking you've lost 15# of fat in the first week. ;)

"The truth is that nothing is wrong with losing weight rapidly -- as long you do it the right way," says Michael Dansinger, MD.

"You can safely lose 3 or more pounds a week at home with a healthy diet and lots of exercise," says weight loss counselor Katherine Tallmadge, RD.

Working out, eating right, and drinking water.

I lost 30 pounds one time in about week and a half but I can tell you now that it was'nt safely done, I was sick and was unable to eat or a sit for that matter.

Another time I lost 14 pounds in a week... but that was due to a change in my diet. I counted fat grams and sugar grams, like my doctor told me to, plus I drank a lot of water.

I'm doing this the right way, and 25 pounds is not as much as 50.

I also know what I personally need to stay away from... anything listed as sugar free... My body can not digest them properly. My doctor said that this is an allergic reaction to something that is in the food. Sort of like my weird allergy to sun screen. OR rather anything with an spf rating, I know spf is not what the allergy is with, but what ever is in it to give it that rating. I can handle chap stick with the rating and that is about it.

The first weight you lose IS water weight. I know that. The second week is usually the sabotage week since you probably will not see any results on the scale.

I've already spoken with my doctor about this as well and she says that this is safe.

And I'm not really a cr@p eater. I'm not a fan of chips at all unless I've got a taste for them, which is about once or twice a year. I prefer tortilla chips anyways. As for cake, I only eat that at birthday parties or celebrations with cake. We rarely have junk in the house. My downfall, of course, is Swiss Cake Rolls (or Ho Ho's depending on what product you buy) and my mom no longer buys them due to the one time I went way over board and was sick for two days. I haven't really had a taste for those in a long while.

We are cutting fast food out of our diet as well.

I happen to like chicken, baked. I also like turkey. I love to make ground turkey, turkey cutlets, and we only get a whole turkey at Thanksgiving.

My doctor is only allowing me to have 50 grams each of fat and sugar a day. Which means, natural foods are the best route. I will be eating more apples, oranges, bananas, mango's and other fruit. I'm not really a veggie person, I do like carrots, corn, and green beans. I despise spinach, I try every so often, and still don't like the taste, but I will eat it if mixed in with something or if in salad form.

I know it will be hard, but I have to do this. I'm tired of being this size and tired of having to go to specialty stores. Plus my health is my number one priority.

I would never replace a meal with just water. Thats not safe!

When I was in high school I carried around a big water bottle (can be bought at wal-mart). I did this due to being in choir and I had my voice to take care of, one of the reasons I never took up smoking, the other was I know the ramifications if I do, the toll nicotine takes on the body is horrible.

My friend dubbed the bottle, the "Pee-Much Bottle". I was in the bathroom all the time but my skin was clearer and my voice was not "tired". I stopped that after leaving high school, and now I must start taking care of myself again.

The quotes about are from here: http://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/lose...o-do-it-safely

I didn't search it, I just happen to stumble across it when I was researching.

Yes you may "indulge" in dark chocolate as long as it is 70 percent and you don't eat more than one ounce.

I would not call this a fad diet. This diet is what most nutritionist's would probably recommend. It is in essence what everyone is encouraged to eat to stay healthy. One you can eat for the rest of your life, not for 2weeks or 6 weeks or whatever.

Try Stevia. This is a plant that is naturally very sweet. It comes in packets or small jars. You should be able to find it at your local market. When a friend had a gastric by-pass it was what her doctor recommended. I use it and it works great for me.

The Superfoods: High in Antioxidents and great for the body.

Apples
Avocado
Beans
Blueberries
Broccoli
Cinnamon
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Garlic
Honey
Kiwi
Low Fat Yogurt
Oats
Onions
Oranges
Pumpkin
Soy
Spinach
Tea
Tomatoes
Turkey
Walnuts
Wild Salmon

Not bad if you ask me!

I also know what I personally need to stay away from... anything listed as sugar free... My body can not digest them properly. My doctor said that this is an allergic reaction to something that is in the food. Sort of like my weird allergy to sun screen.

Aspartame is another "chemical" you would want to stay away from. Did your doc mention that?? Google it - you will be shocked at all the side effects there are!

Grrr... it's so hard to stay away from CRAP! lol So, I officially start monday (I know, I said that last week). I think what I'll do to get in the excersice (there is no way I'm going out into that out door oven) I'll do some the work outs available via Comcast On Demand, which I'll start tuesday, I have advising and what not on Monday. Monday night I can do some stretches or something... And maybe, if I can get my self up in the early morning hours... I'll start training to run... I have a whole program that will ease me in... Couch to 5K... When I say early, I mean 5 am... it won't be as hot! lol

My Pastor lost 70#. Two of the things he did was cut out everything white. The other thing he did was drink hot water before and after each meal. The hot water prevents things from "setting up". He lost weight the right way, not the fast way.
On a side note, I had my second bone denisity scan. With excerise and Boniva my bone scan improved 20% YEA

That is awesome!!! Strong bones are a great thing to have!!!!

I'm trying to cut down one the white stuff... but my biggest problem is soda... I really like it... but it's not like its all I drink...

I like to make things that are more home made, cause then I can control whats in it... A great and healthy alternative to traditional home made fries is Sweet Potato fries... also, just by cooking them in olive oil instead of veggie oil, is better!

Too much water flushes more out of the body than should be flushed out. You have to be moderate.

Thats why they say 8 to 12 glasses of water, but they also count a persons weight. I don't remember the exact formula, but I'll look for it.

I think it's half your weight. I drink over a 100 oz per day, but I've been doing this for years. I rarely drink anything but water except for 2 cups of hot tea in the morning.

I do not like dark chocolate either but we were in Costco over the weekend and one of the things they had for you to taste were blueberries with Acai and covered with dark chocolate. I took a sample but was prepared to hand them over to hubby. I ate one, then another, then another. While we were in line to check out I sent hubby back to get a packet to buy. They are wonderful!

YEah, that sounds about right. I'm supposed to drink 126 oz of water... which is equal to about 8 pounds of water... 16 cups a day.

GOOD LUCK

BE CAREFUL ...drinking TOOO much water is very dangerous. It can deplete your body of electrolytes and can even lead to death. You need electrolytes...potassium, sodium, etc for the heart and kidneys to function properly!

I knwo... I was looking up the stuff about that kind of thing... The amount of water a person should drink is based on on their weight... as you lose you adjust accordingly. Also, you add in the extra vitamins and what not to be sure you get what you need...