The South Beach Diet: Another View

The South Beach Diet: The Delicious, Doctor-Designed, Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Loss was written by Florida cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston. He wanted a dietary plan for his patients that would reduce cholesterol and prevent heart disease and diabetes, but was a reasonable enough approach that the patients could stick with it for the long term. He found that on low fat diets, his patients compensated for the lack of fat with excess carbohydrates, which often was causing them to actually gain weight. He found that low carb diets like Atkins were problematic for having too few carbohydrates, too much fat and too little fiber, which could actually increase the risk of heart disease.

And so The South Beach Diet was born. It is neither low fat nor low carb, it's about the "right" fats and the "right" carbs, and Agatston calls it "not just a diet, it is a way to eat for life." He has blended elements of all of the popular diet approaches to create program of complex (good) carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and good fats like olive oil and lean proteins like chicken and fish. The sugar-laden, simple (bad) carbohydrates (pasta, potatoes, bread) are almost entirely banned.

South Beach Diet is a three phase process - Phase One is the induction and weight loss kickoff, Phase Two is to reach the weight loss goal, and Phase Three is for life going forward. Phase One is strict - carbs are aggressively restricted. No alcohol is allowed. Portion-controlled servings of lean proteins, vegetables, nuts, cheese and eggs are allowed. The goal of this phase is to to eliminate the dreaded cravings for carbohydrates. Phase Two reintroduces some foods that are banned in Phase One, like breads (whole-grain) and dairy. Alcohol is allowed on a limited basis. Phase Three is sticking with the fundamentals of the program and maintaining your weight loss.

There is no calorie counting or rigid enforcement of portion sizes, only the heavy restriction on sugar-laden, simple carbohydrates. Healthy snacking is encouraged, so you don't feel hungry and driven to blow the program. It is disappointing that there is little emphasis on exercise, but you'll find that in Agatston's more recent bestselling sequel "The South Beach Diet Supercharged." Bottom line: the South Beach Diet is a little bit Atkins Diet, a little bit Sugar Buster, a little bit Body for Life. Though it is wildly popular, there is nothing really new here. But it does promote good nutrition, and provide good guidance to achieve it. And good nutrition (along with exercise!), if you have the commitment to stick with it, will help you lose weight and keep it off. FYI South Beach has expanded into an online program. Learn more