The South Beach Diet was designed by a cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Miami named Dr. Arthur Agatston. This diet was initially meant to control weight, but later on additional health benefits were discovered, and the diet was improved.
Basic Ideas
The South Beach Diet is based on three phases, which are much like those of any other diet.
- Dispose of cravings and begin weight loss.
- Lose weight steadily.
- Maintain the form you reached for life.
The first phase takes 2 weeks and works by eliminating cravings for sugar and refined starches – this is done by consuming foods that are rich in fiberm such as lean meats, low-fat dairy, vegetables, fruit, and eggs.
In the second phase, good carbohydrates are incorporated into the diet. The meals can either be bought and prepared at home, or purchased from the South Beach diet website. The second phase lasts until your weight goals have been reached.
The third phase is basically the same as the second phase, only less restrictive. It depends on you developing habits to make smart food choices.
There is a website, which allows you to join discussion groups, find a diet buddy, and read success stories. The site also allows you to consult dieticians online.
Exercise Component
The South Beach Diet plan provides you with a fitness routine, which does not require expensive equipment or a gym membership, even though this would be beneficial as well.
Food
The food part of the South Beach Diet is great. On the website, you will get meal plans and food suggestions every day. The website also provides a large number of recipes for all courses of the day, including desserts. Another great thing about the meals in this diet is that more or less every required product can found in a regular grocery store and includes meals that do not require a lot of effort.
Practicality
Once you read about the diet and understand the phase you are about to undertake, the diet is easy to follow. You rarely feel hungry. The downsides:
- You have to cook your own meals, rather than buy commercially prepared diet foods, but there are shortcuts which can be easily found.
- Learning what is a good and bad carb, counting those carbs.