How MUCH to a tee do you need to follow?

This may be a stupid question, but I'm a newbie (started yesterday) so be kind!

My schedule sometimes does not allow me to have a real "dinner" for dinner. I work nights sometimes at a place that doesn't have any heating devices so I'm pretty much limited to salads. So if I decided that I wanted to make a dinner recipe for lunch, and then have lunch for dinner is that ok? I've read that you need to follow this diet exactly the way it's layed out or it won't be effective. I figure it's ok but just wanted to make sure.
REPLY

I've done South Beach for a while now after reading the book, and I think so long as you stick to the guidelines you will be ok. Make sure you do stick to the initial first 2 weeks that are strict as far as basically eating no carbs at all. If you just stick to those rules you can eat dinner for lunch or whatever. Also what motivated me to actually stick to this diet was literally seeing it work the first 2 weeks. I bought these ketone test strips (you can find them in the diabetic section of the pharmacy or you might have to ask the pharmacist for them since they keep them back there in some) which measure the amount of ketones discharged in your urine. When your body burns fat, it produces ketones, so you will be able to see the strips change from no ketones, to pink or purple, the darker the more fat you're burning. It took me about 3 days to see the strip change to pink when starting the initial 2 weeks strict phase. When that happens your body goes from burning the carbs you eat to burning the fat you already have on your body. This is a great diet...if you can stick to it. I do it off and on, but since I am a medical sales rep and always on the road its hard to stick to since I don't always have to time to go somewhere where they offer lo carb alternatives. Its had to eat a salad while driving. lol

I have been on this since January 5th and have followed it almost to a tee..I also work shifts, so I try to make sure that I pack celery, sticks, cheese sticks, and hard boiled eggs...I also will slice up some cucumber, I find these are handy in a pinch...I have also in the past made mini meatloaf with extra lean ground beef and these are also handy as they are already cooked and I dont find they need to be reheated. I have lost 13 pounds already..I have also been working out every night. I don't even miss the carbs or sugar..

cheers
B.

What so great about this diet is that, it does not matter when you work. All you have to do is avoid eating carbs & sugar and you will lose weight.

Callah
weightlossafter.com

I have worked atkins in the past, too much to keep up with for me... if it works for you that is great.  I just always worry about any diet that drops a complete product group from your diet.  

I have found for myself that it is not necessary eliminating a food from my diet, but more to monitor portions of foods, and always start off with fruits, vegetables, and soups to fill myself more with low fat options and slowly eat the remaining reasonable portioned meal.

Like I said if it works for you great!  but I just can't cut it out of my life, just had to control the amounts and types.