South Beach Diet
Not just a weight loss diet, but a way of life
Full Name: The South Beach Diet
Origin: Dr. Arthur Agatston, Cardiologist
Description: Non-traditional, low-carb diet - choose the right carbs, the right fats and the right proteins
Likes: Lean proteins, high-fiber foods and healthy fats
Dislikes: Bread, pasta, fruit, rice, potatoes
Looking for: People who fall for the "low-carb, high protein" dieting craze
Works Well With: Meal plans and recipes from Dr. Agatston's book, The Delicious, Doctor-Designed, Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Loss
The South Beach Diet was developed in the late 1990s by Dr. Arthur Agatston. He created this weight loss diet to help his heart disease patients.
The South Beach Diet claims to be different than all other low-carb diets on the market. Instead of cutting carbohydrates completely from your diet, you are encouraged to eat the right carbs (such as vegetables and grains), the right fats (such as canola and olive oil) and lean proteins.
There are three phases to the South Beach Diet. The first phase (the restriction phase) lasts for the first two weeks of the diet, and is designed to jumpstart your weight loss. During this phase you are to eliminate carbs, and instead eat normal-sized portions of fish, lean meat, low-fat cheese, eggs, fat-free yogurt, nuts and lots of vegetables. You are also to avoid sugar and sweets of any kind. This phase is where you'll quickly lose the most amount of weight.
During the second phase, you slowly reintroduce carbohydrates (and a few sweets) back in your diet by eating the right carbs, such as grains and some fruits. You stay in this phase until your weight loss goal has been achieved.
Finally it's phase three - the maintenance phase. You move to this phase once you have achieved your weight loss goal. Your goal then becomes maintaining your weight by sticking with your new healthy eating choices, and ensuring that these habits are lifelong.
The South Beach diet has been proven effective, producing results up to twice as fast as traditional low-fat diets. This is one weight loss diet that seems to have credibility, as it has proven results to back it up.
