South Beach Diet:  Intro To The 3 Phases

"The South Beach Diet is a three-phase program. Each phase of the diet has its own purpose and by the time you enters the third phase, you will be able to enjoy long-term weight loss, which also means long-term sexy body!"

The theory behind phase one is that there is a "switch" inside us that affects the way our bodies react to the foods we eat that make us overweight.  Phase one is the strictest part of the diet and it last for two weeks.

Avoid going to the shopping mall during your Phase 1 stage of the diet. Instead, stay home and eat those meals provided by the diet’s phase 1 recipes. The change you will make during this phase is that you will cut out all bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, baked goods, fruit, candy, cake, cookies, ice cream, or sugar. Keep in mind that these eliminated foods will be added back into your diet, starting in Phase 2.

During this first phase of the south beach diet, you will eat normal meals of chicken, beef, turkey, fish, and shellfish, lots of vegetables, eggs, cheese, nuts, and garden salads using 100% olive oil for your salad dressing. Starches: Avoid all starchy food during Phase 1, including all types of bread, cereal, matzo, oatmeal, rice, pasta, pastry, potatoes, and baked goods. 

In order to encourage people to get on with the plan, many South Beach diet Phase 1 recipes have been published not only in books but also in the Internet, which makes it easier for dieters to access. 

Beyond Phase 1, have a glass of red or white wine along with your food -- this is a form of alcohol that's not only acceptable but also good for you.  Fruit: Avoid all fruits and fruit juices during Phase 1.

Once you're on Phase2 or 3, you can indulge in a slice from the breadbasket as long as it is made from whole grains.  Do not forget that by the time you start this phase, you will already be 8 to 13 pounds lighter. 

Once you get through phase one of the south beach diet, however, you can start eating foods such as apples, oatmeal or whole grain bread, with more flexibility than other low-carb plans offer.  Phase 2 introduces some of these banned foods back into the diet, while Phase 3 is designed to include foods from all the food groups and lasts for life. Phase 2 stage is a breather as compared with Phase 1 and it widens the menu quite a bit.

Phase 2, which lasts until you get to your goal weight, promises a weight loss of 1-2 pounds per week.  If you regain some weight, switch back to Phase 1 until you lose it.  You'll go on that cautious way as long as you're in Phase 2, eating the most beneficial carbs and paying attention to how they affect you.  Phase 2 of the South Beach diet has a slower rate of weight reduction; this phase is also called reintroducing the right carbs. 

Phase three is the final and least restrictive phase of The South Beach Diet. Phase three is called Diet for Life; it's a diet for life lifetime maintenance strategy. The foods recommended are mostly protein, vegetables, and fruit, with small portions of whole grains and sources of healthy fats like mono and polyunsaturated fats Avocado, flex seed oil and olive oil. Not to forget some delicious healthy nuts as well.

No matter what phase you're on, you can continue to lose weight and improve your health, whether you’re grabbing a take-out order or enjoying dinner with family, friends, or business associates at a fine restaurant.

There are some who get discouraged to go through the rest of the plan because the first phase alone is hard to get past by. This is the average weight loss recommended by health experts, so weight loss on the South Beach Diet is no faster or slower than most weight loss plans on the market.