Darlene Nicholson asked:


On quick glance, the south beach diet seems fairly safe and overall, pretty healthy cuisine. It does offer a way to eat healthy for life which is not the norm for fad diets. Support is also available through online communities and direct advice from the doctor who formed the diet and his nutritionists. Sounds good, right? But look a little closer and you’ll see its pitfalls.

The biggest pitfall of the south beach diet is found right at the beginning. The first two weeks of the south beach diet are excruciating. Absolutely no fruit, bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, sugar, alcohol or baked goods are allowed. If the dieter is accustomed to eating these things, this will be extremely difficult to get through. This fact alone makes the south beach diet a potential failure.

In addition, the south beach diet in the first two weeks puts the body in a state of ketosis. Ketosis occurs when adequate carbohydrates are not taken in and ketone bodies are produced. If ketosis continues, then ketoacidosis can occur leading to coma and death. This will be amplified in anyone with kidney problems, but is certainly a problem even in healthy people. Moreover, the majority of weight lost in a state of ketosis is water weight and it will be regained when normal eating resumes. Lowering calories to this extreme also reduces metabolism thereby making weight loss more difficult in the future.

Designed for lowering cholesterol in heart patients and also for diabetics, the south beach diet is basically a low carb diet. After the initial two weeks, healthy carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables are gradually added back in. The potential for gaining back pounds lost in the first two weeks is high at this point. It’s very difficult for a person to deny themselves of something and not go overboard when the item is reintroduced. Again, a great deal of self-resolve will be needed.

Another pitfall to the south beach diet is rather subjective, but nevertheless, an issue. The south beach diet offers books and advice by the ton creating somewhat of a complicated plan. A lot of people will simply not make it through learning the diet and become frustrated when things become too complicated. If a person has a difficult time understanding a diet, he or she will have an even more difficult time sticking to it.

The south beach diet, overall, is just too strict. Eating healthy for life doesn’t have to mean giving everything up. There aren’t many allowances for occasional indulgence. This, in and of itself, will make it difficult for a person to stick to the south beach diet.

Though it’s not the worst fad diet ever, the south beach diet just isn’t the best way to achieve healthy weight loss and keep it off for life. The best way to achieve healthy weight loss is by learning the basics of nutrition, some of which we learned quite simply in kindergarten with the food guide pyramid. Seems a bit simpler than memorizing the Glycemic Index, doesn’t it?

Rather than following the south beach diet, try a more straightforward approach. Make a list of all the items you eat that are high in fat and sugar. Eliminate most of these from your daily intake and only allow a small amount now and again. Read food labels and try to understand portion sizes. You may be surprised at what you find. For instance, a serving of ice cream is only half a cup for a total of about 300 calories. Can you see how easy it would be to serve up a cup or even a cup and a half? Now that “serving” of ice cream is 600 to 750 calories! Try to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. This could be a standard exercise such as running mixed up with some fun like dancing.

Remember the key to a healthy diet: Everything in moderation! The south beach diet may work for some people, but it certainly won’t work for everyone. Following a generally healthy diet and exercising regularly is a less complicated approach to weight loss.



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Ryan Cote asked:


The claim made by the South Beach Diet is that it is a scientifically proven plan that will definitely assist you in fulfilling your goals to lose weight safely. The South Beach Diet will help you to drop pounds quickly as well as increase your heart health. Most individuals average a weight loss between eight and thirteen pounds after the first two weeks of participating in this diet.

Because the South Beach Diet is neither low fat or low carb, it is totally different from the famous Atkin’s Diet. Rather, the South Beach Diet encourages you to depend on the correct carbs and the right fats. This is made easy to do by implementing a three phase process that starts with eliminating your cravings and concludes by making a lifestyle change that incorporates the ideals of this diet.

What is most valuable about the South Beach Diet is that it gives you sound nutritional advice. While the diet retains eating meat, the most important part of the Atkin’s Diet, it discards the philosophy that you can only have low carb foods. Rather, you are advised to eat a proper, well-balanced diet for the rest of your life. That seems rather simple, doesn’t it?

The South Beach diet should consist of lots of fruits, whole grains, vegetables, nuts and healthy oils. Numerous people all over America are raving about the successful way this diet has enabled them to lose weight. The program is effortless to learn and put into practice and because of the dietary freedom it provides along with its success ratio, it is rapidly becoming one of of the most popular forms of dieting available.

The original clamor abut the South Beach Diet original with celebrities, who seem to love this diet as well as swear about it. Its popularity and notoriety does not mean, however, that the South Beach Diet does not work. Even everyday people are finding that that this program is one of the simpler, less expensive diets to maintain because it is based upon balanced eating habits as opposed to denial and deprivation. This may be the main reason that so many people remain on this diet for the rest of their lives.

What is wonderful about the South Beach Diet is that there is a wide variety of foods you can eat and you can really enjoy your meals and leave the table without that hungry feeling. It is worth taking a little bit of time of learn this diet because it is really easy to follow over the long haul. When you incorporate this diet permanently into your current fitness regime, you will ultimately find that you have increased energy and your metabolism will receive the boost you were looking for.



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Jason Cox asked:


Everyone wants to look great for the summer. One way to be able to reach your ideal weight that will help you look good in a bikini is to use the South Beach Diet.

In order for the South-Beach Diet to work for you it needs to be followed exactly how it was designed. Furthermore, each individual South Beach-Diet that you follow needs to be tailored to your specific body. This will help you lose weight safely in a way that was meant for you.

The South beach diet is very similar to the Atkins diet in that it is a low carbohydrate diet. Dr. Arthur Agatston originally designed this diet with some of his heart patients in mind. These patients had a condition called the insulin resistance syndrome, most commonly known as the metabolic syndrome.

People with insulin resistance syndrome are people who have a combination of symptoms including high blood pressure, signs of obesity (especially in the belly), elevated blood glucose, high triglycerides, and low HDL.

These people do not respond as well to the traditional low fat diets that contain quite a few carbohydrates. Therefore, the South-Beach Diet became the alternative. Since then it also have become a popular diet alternative for those of the general public wanting to lose weight, even if the reason is to look good in a bikini.

The South Beach-Diet is divided into four phases. These four phases are as follows:

Phase One: This phase excludes most carbohydrates including all fruit, most dairy products, and most sources of saturated fat. What you can eat during this phase of the South Beach diet include lean meats, eggs and egg whites, seafood, soy foods, fat free and low fat dairy products, one serving of beans, and low starch vegetables (carrots, broccoli, lettuce greens, leeks, cauliflower, etc.).

The starchier vegetables such as potatoes, corn, and peas should be avoided during this initial diet phase. This is the most rapid stage of weight loss and lasts approximately two weeks.

Phase Two: This is the stage that the dieter continues until he or she reaches desired weight loss. During this phase of the South-Beach Diet the dieter will start to add one carb a week that was disallowed during the first two weeks of the diet. Usually dieters will start with a low glycemic fruit such as berries or grapefruit during this phase, and then continue to add more and more carbs.

This also is the phase in which the dieter tests the waters and finds foods that are a fit. If there is no negative reaction to the foods tried during this phase the dieter continues to add more and more carbs. This phase lasts until the dieter reaches the desired weight goal.

Phase Three: This is the maintenance stage of the diet. This stage is very similar to Phase Two of the South Beach-Diet. The big difference between this stage and the stage two is that in this stage, carbs are allowed to be eaten more often. Otherwise, this stage is a continuation of the previous stage, which is to just eat the foods that the dieter has defined as right for them in the previous stage.

This stage of the diet lasts for the dieters lifetime and contains mostly lean proteins, fruits, whole grains, and sources of mono and polyunsaturated fats such as avocado, nuts, and olives.

There is no cut and dry way to succeed at the South Beach Diet. However, those who are determined to make it work for them can find this diet to be a great alternative. Therefore, if you are a person who has a desire to lose weight in order to fit into that bikini you have always wanted to wear you can learn the South-Beach-Diet plan and make it work for you.

If you want more information regarding the South-Beach-Diet you can read other articles such as this one or contact your doctor or dietician for more information. You can also refer to the South Beach Diet book, as well. You can also read more articles such as this or contact a health care professional for more information about nutrition and dieting.

One more thing you always need to remember when dieting: aerobic exercise will help you reach your weight goal faster if it is done along with proper dieting. This is the case more than just dieting alone, no matter what type of diet you are on.



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Echo asked:


Thinking about going on the South Beach diet and was wondering how well it worked. I really dont want to go on weight watchers and worry about adding up points and stuff since I dont have that much time,even though its summer. Thanx
Oh, and soccers starting up in a week or so, so I will be doing a lot of running and exercises {well, up into october when it ends}.

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Brooke Hayles asked:


The South Beach Diet is far more than just a diet. It is life changing. Unlike many other diets that are often only undertaken for a short period of time it needs a lot of will-power and determination to succeed. If you are prepared to change what you eat for the long term it will not only help you to lose weight but it will also help prevent the pounds from creeping back too. The secret behind its success is that your cravings for foods that are high in unhealthy carbohydrates are reduced as you eat only those that are good for you.

Is this diet right for everyone?

Put simply, no. As with any type of diet, the South Beach Diet is not ideally suited to everyone. The main reason that many people find that the diet does not work for them is because it requires a huge amount of will-power and determination to succeed, especially in the beginning of the plan. This is the first of the three stages that make up the diet.

There are a small number of foods that are prohibited on the diet and there are also strict guidelines that need to be followed if the diet is going to prove successful. Many people who start the diet find that they cannot adhere to the plan for long and give up.

Dr. Arthur Agatston, a cardiologist, developed the South Beach Diet. The main emphasis of the diet is to cut down the amount of carbohydrates that are consumed. Although a few foods are banned from the beginning of the diet, the majority of foods can be eaten. However, Dr. Agatston stresses the benefits of eating ‘good fats’ and explains the effects of processed foods on our blood sugar levels and insulin responses. Although the diet plan might not be one that everyone can adhere to, its philosophy plays an important role in educating us about the value of good nutrition. The diet’s website is full of information to help us eat better and also includes recipes and meal plans, including some for vegetarians.

How to maximise your diet success

There are a number of points that can help increase the benefits of the South Beach Diet. Here are three of the most important:

Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water daily

Water is essential for many of the body’s functions and the recommended minimum daily amount that we should drink is 8 glasses. Sipping water, if you are feeling hungry, can also alleviate your craving for food. One tip for people who do not enjoy drinking water in its natural form is to flavour it with a small amount of juice. Watered down tea or coffee can also form part of your daily intake. Remember that water also helps your hair and skin look healthier as well as curbing your appetite.

Limit the daily caffeine intake

The recommended daily intake of caffeine is one cup of tea or coffee a day. If you love your morning tea or coffee you can still drink them to count towards your daily water intake but limit it to one. Throughout the rest of the day why not try herbal teas or decaffeinated coffee. You will probably find that you feel far less stressed too with your caffeine levels lowered.

Take one multivitamin supplement daily

No matter how well-balanced your diet is the majority of people do not get the full amount of the essential vitamins and minerals from the food that they eat. This can be accentuated when you are on any dietary plan. The simplest way to ensure that you are not deficient in any vitamins or minerals is to take a multivitamin supplement daily.

The South Beach Diet is reasonably simple to adhere to if you are determined to succeed and have enough willpower. There are lots of recipes that you can try out, both in the book of the diet and on the Internet. The choice is sufficient that even the fussiest of eaters is bound to find something that takes their fancy.

The weight loss achieved on the diet can be very rapid, especially in the initial two weeks. This is the first stage of the South Beach Diet and the target weight loss is 8-13 pounds. If you achieve this then it is likely to motivate you even further to continue the diet. By the end of the first stage your cravings for any banned foods should also have lessened considerably. The aim of Stage Two is to achieve your target weight. Once you have reached this, you move into Stage Three where you maintain your ideal weight and prevent the weight from piling back on. This is where the lifestyle change that the South Beach Diet incorporates takes effect and why it has a high rate of success for people who reach the final stage.

Summary:

The South Beach Diet is far more than just a diet. It is life changing. Unlike many other diets that are often only undertaken for a short period of time, it needs a lot of willpower and determination to succeed. If you are prepared to change what you eat for the long term, it will not only help you to lose weight but it will also help prevent the pounds from creeping back too.



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Stephanie Larkin asked:


The South Beach Diet is one of the most popular diets in decades. All over the world, people are taking off weight by stripping carbs and, in the process, learning to eat healthier meals. One of the true beauties of South Beach is that it teaches you a whole new way of eating for a healthier, happier lifestyle. Eating healthy the South Beach way requires an adjustment in your cooking styles, too, though. Once you learn to cook low-carb, you’ll find it easier to maintain your new weight and your new healthier lifestyle. Here are some tips to help you put it all together.

1. Invest in a good cookbook.

The third phase of the South Beach diet is a lifetime maintenance plan that lets you eat a wide variety of healthy foods. If your recipe repertoire was based on high-fat meals with creamy sauces and processed foods, you’ll need to build up a stock of new recipes. The South Beach Diet book is a good start. It contains a lot of easy to cook recipes that will get you started on building a new repertoire of healthy meals. You’ll also find dozens of South Beach cookbooks on the market that will give you some ideas on the best ways to put your new-found food savvy to use.

2. Think fresh!

Processed foods are the very antithesis of healthy low-carb eating. Even processed meats are packed with fillers that add in carbs and calories without offering anything in the way of nutrition. Try to shop the outside aisles of the supermarket - fresh fruits and veggies, meats and dairy - and avoid all the filler meals in between.

3. Learn simple cooking methods.

Learning to cook the South Beach way is surprisingly simple - a lot simpler than the techniques you probably use for cooking now. Steaming, poaching, braising, roasting and grilling involve very little prep time. If a recipe calls for dredging in flour or dusting with breadcrumbs, throw it out. You’ll learn a whole new appreciation for real, whole foods when you cook them simply.

4. Color your plate pretty.

A healthy plate is full of vibrant, brilliant colors. When you prepare a plate for yourself, think in color. Deep green, dark orange and bright red vegetables are low in healthy carbohydrates, minerals and vegetables. White potatoes, rice and breads are not. Your best bet is to eat your veggies when they’re at their peak of color - before overcooking robs them of their minerals and vitamins.

5. Spice it up!

Spices are a great way to brighten up flavors in your foods. There’s a whole world of spices at your fingertips, and learning to use them can really wake up your plate and your palate. Learning about the spices used in various regional cuisines can help you turn a meal from bland to POW with just a few shakes of the spice bottle. Some spices and spice combinations to try are:

Curry isn’t just for Indian food anymore. A sprinkle of curry (use a light hand!) can really wake up the flavor in a fresh fruit salad, especially when you add a dab of vanilla.

Cinnamon is an unusual and delicious spice addition to chicken dishes.

Lemon grass oil adds a tart edge to salads and vegetables. Just a dash added to the olive oil when you sauté chicken also brightens the flavor and really wakes up your taste buds.

Rosemary gives everything an earthy, sharp flavor that is the perfect foil for poultry and pork.

6. Add a little garnish to your life.

Garnishes are more than just pretty things on your plate. Fresh herbs, slices of fruit and strips of raw vegetable are more than a treat for your eyes. They add a healthy balance to your diet as well. Choose edible garnishes - a slice of lemon can be squeezed over fish or chicken to brighten flavors, for instance.

The most important things to remember about cooking low-carb for the long term are these:

Skip the white foods. They’re almost always processed

Cook simply. Cooking low carb is usually quick, easy and uncomplicated.

Use olive oil for dressings and sautéing.

Get colorful. The more color there is on your plate, the healthier your meal will be.



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ronspistol asked:


any good tips and tricks would be appreciated. I still have to feed my husband and 3 kids while I’m on this diet. and their not.

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Jason Cox asked:


The South Beach Diet does work for those who stick to it. The best way to avoid South Beach diet disasters is to make sure you follow the plan the way it was designed.

The best way to learn about the South Beach Diet is to read about this diet either from the book that this diet was first introduced in or articles such as this one. The general consensus is the same no matter where you learn about the South Beach Diet. Most reliable sources will tell you it can work for you if you let it. That is not a guarantee that it will work for most people, but it can for those who try.

This diet was originally designed for those who have symptoms that could lead to heart disease, diabetes, or other potentially dangerous condition. These were people who did not respond well to the traditional low fat and high carbohydrates diet. This diet was made up into three diet phases.

Phase one of the diet would eliminate a majority of all carbs that a person would normally eat, as well as all sources of saturated fat. These carbs would be those that are in most fruits, starchy vegetables, and refined breads. In place they would eat leaner meats, non-starchy vegetables, and no fruits.

Then, during phase two and three more and more carbs would be added. Then, the dieter would reach the point in which eating lean protein foods, whole grains rather than processed breads, a variety of lower carb fruits and vegetables, and a moderate supply of certain types of poly and monosaturated fat sources such as olive oil, nuts, and avocadoes.

This diet plan had become very popular mainly because it had worked in many cases. However, in order to avoid disaster, there are quite a few things a person should understand about this diet. Some of these things include as follows:

This diet is based on eating the right carbohydrates and the right types of fats. Many people label this diet a low carb diet primarily because of the first two weeks when most carbs are removed from the diet.

The first two weeks of the diet, which is called Phase I, is the strictest part of the diet. Once you get past the few days of this initial period, you are on your way to a healthier you. During this phase no baked goods, rich deserts, or alcohol is allowed. That is also in addition to no rice, breads, potatoes and other foods.

This diet gets easier after the first two weeks. Also, this is the stage in which you lose the most weight, so do not lose heart in Phase II and three when you only lose 1-2 pounds a weak. This is the way the diet was designed so do not give up.

You need to be patient as your body adjusts to the good carbs you are eating. It takes time to be comfortable with change no matter how good that change is. However, once you have adjusted to eating the new carbs in your diet you will become just as satisfied as if you had eaten the old ones.

This diet plan does allow you to eat until you are totally satisfied. However, keep in mind not to get carried away eating whatever you want, because that could get you into trouble.

Those who want to continue Phase I for longer can do so, and those who want to go back to a previous phase after advancing to the next phase of the diet can do so.

All of the above points are important to remember when deciding to commit to the South Beach Diet plan. In order for this diet to work for you, it is best to follow this diet the way it was designed to work. That is the best way to ensure that you will succeed at it.

Also, keep in mind that eventually during the diet you will be able to eat most of what you want, but during the initial stages, especially during Phase I it is best that you adhere to the instructions given to you during this phase.



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jennalovesryan asked:


my dad is on the south beach diet and just wondering if any one had some tasty recipes?

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MN Nikk asked:


You can lose a little weight with any diet whatsoever and the famed South Beach Diet is no exception, of course. What is more important is whether you lose fat and how much of it. The initial weight loss caused by the South Beach Diet may be of water, and not actual fat. Phase 1 restricts most carbs, and without energy coming into the body in the form of carbs, the body will use energy that’s stored with water in the muscles, and as a result, the water loss may make you appear thinner.

The main problem with this diet is all the low-fat dairy snacks. The book doesn’t provide options for people who don’t like or can’t eat dairy products because the eating plan prohibits soy in the first two weeks. Two options that can make this plan work for you, if you have problems with dairy, are substituting those cheese snacks with healthy nuts, or substituting with whey protein shake and flaxseed oil. This way you still get a protein/healthy fat snack.

Some of the meals that are suggested in the book can take a lot of time to prepare and they are not really fit with an active person’s lifestyle. Some of the foods that the diet recommends can be quite costly, such as pistachios, mahi mahi, and chocolate-dipped apricots.

The diet is fairly new and doesn’t have years of support to back up its claims. Insufficiency of scientific data on the South Beach Diet – there is only one study that Dr. Agatston conducted with some of his own patients, but it was not a long-term study and the patient-sample was not very large. Dieters should be monitored long term, as high protein intake makes the kidneys work harder and strip the body of calcium.

Phase 1 is the most restrictive and has some inconveniences:

- Ketosis might occur due to the lack of carbs resulting in fat burn. Effects include weakness, gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, dizziness, glucose body depletion, dehydration.

- The lack of fruits results loss of vitamins and minerals.

- Eliminating all carbohydrate-rich foods during this phase will also cut out some other good sources of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Wholegrain breads and cereals are rich in fiber, B vitamins and iron, while milk is an excellent source of calcium and zinc.

Since there are no guidelines as to how much carbohydrates to eat, “carb crash” could also occur, depending upon the individual dieter’s food selections. This diet leaves a lot up to the individual, which is good in the long run, but is probably harder to handle by novices. Also, some people just aren’t all that tuned in to their bodies’ signals and might not be motivated to become so.

And quite a few aspects of the diet don’t really fit together well. Why is more saturated fat allowed in Phase Three? Why say that portion size of low carb foods should be left up to the individual, but then recommend counting individual nuts (and it’s a different number depending upon the nut). You might want what you can’t have. You may find yourself binging on the carbs you couldn’t have in Phase 1 by the time Phase 2 rolls around.

And what’s the deal with couscous? This is a highly processed, high glycemic form of wheat, and yet Agatston recommends it and has many recipes that include it. Other high glycemic foods are in his menus and recipes, which may send, at the least, a mixed message.

You can obtain results with this diet, no doubt. But a lot depends on your own dieting mentality.

If you already have a healthy lifestyle, you certainly don’t need a South Beach Diet to create imbalances in your metabolism by cutting good and bad foods altogether. If you want to achieve a healthy lifestyle, again this diet might not be the best idea after all. People cannot eat plain apples or tomatoes or skinless, boneless chicken *******. And the theoretic glycemic index of foods is changed by the real-life recipe you use.



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