Common Problems and FAQ

This page is for common issues and frequently asked questions. Some of these are already talked about in other areas of the website, but I thought they were worth repeating in this section for ease of finding them.

I'm feeling constipated. what can I do?

Constipation can happen, due to your new diet. Any change in the way you eat can cause problems, and it's important to monitor changes in your body as you make such a drastic diet change. If you are getting constipated, you are probably getting too much protein and not enough fiber to counteract it. There are a couple of things you can do to clear up this problem: drink more water, or take a fiber supplement such as benefiber. I never needed the supplement, due to great amounts of water intake and plenty of natural fiber through my vegetable intake.

I'm having headaches. Why am I getting them?

This is again something I never had any problems with. It seems to be most prevalent in women. My understanding is that it is caused early in the diet due to sugar withdrawal and goes away in a few days on its own. Your body is used to certain things and we are retraining it in Phase I. Just like trying to give up caffeine or any other drugs, the body demands the sugars it's missing. Stay strong and you will win the battle.

I'm getting extremely hungry. Why?

This usually happens in Phase II as you start reintroducing carbohydrates to your body. Normally, that hunger is caused by a carb that you are not ready for yet. This is why we need to add the carbs back slowly and monitor anything that gives us cravings. If a particular carb causes hunger for you, stay away from it for awhile longer and try a different type of carb. When the hunger pains do hit you, grab some celery or another vegetable and don't worry about it. You can pretty much eat veggies anytime you want - regardless of the clock.

Can I stay on Phase I longer than 2 weeks?

This is so common it's pathetic. I wanted to stay on Phase I forever! The weight drop was so great and I didn't want to "ruin" my progress by putting carbs back into my diet. The newsgroups and the book talk about this phenomenon. In both cases they say that you can add one more week if you really have to, but NOT to go any longer than that. Quite frankly, after moving on to the second phase, it proved the hypothesis that the weight loss would continue. As long as you add only good carbs back in (whole grains and safe fruits) the weight loss continues.

How come I'm doing everything right and not losing weight?

A couple of things can be at play here. Perhaps you also started a rigorous exercise routine at the same time you went on South Beach. Muscle weighs more than fat. You are taking your fat cells and burning them up, but are also replacing them with muscle. Don't fret, ease up a bit on the exercise routine and you will see the weight loss begin. Another possible reason may be that you are redistributing your weight, but not losing it yet. Be patient - the weight loss will come. I've seen people not lose any weight at all, but when measuring their stomach and waist, find they have lost inches. Keep in mind that this isn't about losing weight, it's about getting healthy. Once your body has redistributed it's weight from the belly area, you will start seeing the pounds drop.

Have a question or a problem not mentioned here? Go to my comments section and leave me a message. I'll research and post something here. If you leave an email address, I'll also personally respond to you.