South Beach Diet

Dr. Arthur Agatston is the original creator of the South Beach Diet which is highly recommended as an effective weight-loss solution by doctors and cardiologists as well as dieters themselves.

According to consumer reports, people who following through on this plan are able to lose weight.

Dr. Agatston, a Cardiologist by profession, claims that his system is easy to follow and healthy for the body overall because it is not based on prohibitions. Instead dieters are encouraged to eat regularly a variety of so called "good foods".

Overview:

The South Beach Diet can be thought of as the heart-friendly version of the Atkins diet.

Although both diets adopt some similar approaches, particularly in the first two weeks, the South Beach version has an approach unique to its own.

Dieters are not supposed to go hungry. They are encouraged to snack "strategically" during the day. The aim is to eat normal sized portions of the right foods frequently, without the hassle of counting calories.

The creators of this plan promote healthy living and eating habits even long after the "dieting" phase has completed. That's why this system is often regarded as one of the leading weight loss solutions by doctors, nutritionists, dieticians and consumers.

Company info:

The South Beach Diet originally came in book form, published by Rodale Press, but is currently also available as an online program on the official website www.southbeachdiet.com .

Diet specifications:

Dr. Agatston, a New York University graduate, claims his 3-phase fat loss plan was originally developed for his cardiac patients based upon his own study and scientific research on dieting.

He claims to help followers lose 8-12 pounds in the first two weeks, IF they stick to the guidelines.

Foods:

This diet is made up of three phases with the emphasis on "good carbohydrates" and "good fats".

The first phase lasts about two or three weeks, during which sugars are totally banned. One is still supposed to eat three balanced meals a day, preferably lean meats, fish and certain types of diary. Snacking is also allowed but should either be in the form of fresh vegetables, beans and nuts or eggs or low-fat cheese types.

The second phase consists of eating whole wheat breads, healthy cereal and some fruits that are being re-introduced gradually.

The third phase (maintenance phase), begins when the dieter has reached his / her goal weight. That's the reason why this phase is not restricted to a specific time-frame. As a matter of fact, this phase is intended to last a lifetime. Good health and keeping excess weight off should be a permanent goal.

Recipes:

The South Beach diet's official website contains plenty of recipes that allow followers to pick the right combination of foods for their everyday meals. Also, grocery stores now carry a wide range of South Beach ready foods - from cereals for breakfast to frozen meals. However, some snacks, like nutrition bars that contain artificial sweeteners, could in some cases allegedly trigger gastrointestinal irritations.

Pros:

- Supported by the medical science community
- Thousands of satisfied customers
- Provides maintenance plan to last a lifetime
- Puts emphasis on eating fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and heart-healthy - fats containing plenty vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids
- Promotes "clean" way of eating with the elimination of refined sugars and trans fats

Cons:

- A number of South Beach ready packed food products allegedly contain sugar-alcohols, which could be hard to tolerate
- Not designed for vegetarians because of the lean protein component
- May seem difficult to maintain because of the elimination of sugars, certain fruits like bananas and other carbohydrates
- Findings of Dr. Agatston that certain foods raise blood sugar levels leading to weight gain may be inaccurate
- No exercise guidelines outlined

Exercise:

The South Beach Diet does not provide any guidelines for exercise-aided weight loss.