South Beach Diet Review

"The South Beach Diet is a system compiled by Dr Agaston, a noted cardiologist and is a doctor-designed low-carb weight loss plan!"

This diet is unique, successful, easy, and works in a three-phase process. This diet is not low fat or low-carb but is a lifetime change, lifetime commitment, and a lifetime of health and vitality.

Unlike a number of other low-carb diets, this diet is based on principles of nutrition that are generally accepted and is based around the Glycemic Index, and carbs are chosen according to this index.The South Beach Diet emphasizes the use of the right carbohydrates and the right fats. This diet is nutritionally sound, however the more expensive food items could make the cost difficult to meet for some. Many people believe that the South Beach Diet is better than the Atkins diet.

One of the best things about this diet is that it's easy to dine out-and still eat well while following the principles of the program, it isn’t complicated, delicious and doesn't require that you go hungry. This eating plan is broken up into three phases and promotes complex carbohydrates, lean meats and healthy fats. If you have diabetes, get tested to make sure that your kidneys are not impaired before starting this diet.

The Diet

Phase one is the strictest part of diet. For two weeks, you'll be totally eliminating fruit, bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, sugar, alcohol, and baked goods from your diet.  Eggs and cheese plus oils like canola and olive oils are also allowed in the Phase 1 diet.  However, after the initial two weeks are up, you can begin adding the excluded foods back into your diet. The projected weight loss during the initial phase of the diet (which lasts 14 days) is 8-14 pounds, but like all low-carb, high protein diets, a good proportion of this is water loss rather than fat loss. 

Avoid going to the shopping mall during your Phase 1 stage of the diet.  You lose 8 to 13 pounds in the first two weeks on this diet—and mostly from your midsection. 

Phase 2 introduces some of these banned foods back into the diet, while Phase 2 is different from the first in that it will last as long as it takes you to lose your desired weight.  The first two phases introduces the gradual changes in your diet while the third phase is the diet that you will use for maintenance after going through the first two phases. Phase 3 is designed to include foods from all the food groups and lasts for life. 

According to Agatston, at the end of two weeks, most participants on the South Beach Diet are 8 to 14 pounds lighter. Phase 3 begins when you have hit your target weight.  Phase three is the final and least restrictive phase of the diet.

The final phase of the diet gives sound advice on long term healthy, balanced eating and if followed, like any healthy eating plan will help maintain good health and weight for life.   

To compensate for the overall cut in carbohydrates, the South Beach diet allows ample fats and animal proteins in the meal.  This weight loss eating plan incorporates plenty of healthy monounsaturated fats such as olive and canola oils in the diet regimen.  In clinical trials, people on the South Beach diet see dramatic reductions in LDL (bad) cholesterol and increases in HDL (good) cholesterol. 

Although you may have started the South Beach Diet as a way to lose weight, when finished, you will see that you achieved so much more. Going on this diet is a lifetime change, lifetime commitment, and a lifetime of health and vitality.  The best thing about this diet is that you will get your three, normal size meals everyday and you can even enjoy your snacks and deserts. 

South Beach dieters get most of what experts agree people should eat: good carbs, healthy fats, lots of fruits and vegetables, and limited alcohol.  The diet was originally developed for overweight heart patients.

I don’t think you could go wrong-you would enjoy this book yourself even if you didn’t need to lose weight-if only to just maintain-this book is for you.  This diet is a weight-loss plan that encourages people to eat a variety of foods, such as lean sources of protein, reduced fat cheeses and dairy products, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and right fats like olive and canola oil.  And remember that physical activity is an important part of any weight loss program and is particularly vital in maintaining weight. Find about other diet other than the South Beach Diet.