Phase II

We have completed Phase I of the South Beach diet, as of yesterday, and the results were beyond my wildest expectations.

I lost a total of 18 pounds over the two weeks, and my wife lost 15.  We celebrated briefly by "splurging" at first a cookout at my parents and then a pot luck at church.  

This morning, we began re-introducting limited carbohydrates to our diet.  Breakfast this morning was whole wheat pancakes (interestingly, my kids didn't notice the difference), with fresh fruit in lieu of syrup.  We had strawberries, blueberries and bananas.

I have never avoided fresh fruit, but never really sought it out either, with one exception.  In the early 80's on a backpacking trip, when all the food was freeze-dried, I began craving a fresh apple.   The craving lasted for days, until I finally had the opportunity to give in to it at the end of our trek.   This fruit was almost as good as that was.

The boys have been asking for tacos for dinner for the better part of a week, so that's what we are doing tonight.  One small change, though, for the dieters.  Tortillias, even corn or whole wheat, are still off-limits in Phase II of the South Beach diet.  Whole wheat pitas are accaptable though, so now I'm apparently now a "Middle-Eastern/Mexican Fusion" cook.  I'll let you know how it works.