The South Beach Diet works, for most people. Its low fat, low carb approach helps you lose weight quickly and easily. Health benefits are great too.
But there's some easy mistakes you must avoid.
Gain Weight in Phase 2
Most people do well being strict in Phase 1. But what happens when you switch into Phase 2 ? Often, you put some weight back on again. Why ? Because your body's starved of carbs for 2 or 3 weeks. At the start of Phase 2 it grabs at every carb you give it, and turns them into fat. I learned this lesson the hard way, gaining 2 lbs in my first Phase 2 week. So reintroduce carbs slowly when you go into Phase 2, and make sure they're good carbs.
Feel Hungry
Yes, if South Beach makes you hungry, you're doing it wrong. You don't need to feel hungry. Eat 3 meals a day, with snacks in between, choosing from the foods allowed in your current phase.
Stay in Phase 1 for too Long
Isn't Phase 1 great ? You can lose from 8 to 13 lbs in just 2 weeks, without being hungry. So why leave Phase 1 ? Why not keep up your rapid weight loss ? Because you must start adding some carbs back in. A healthy diet includes some good carbs like wholemeal bread, porridge and fruit. A permanent Phase 1 also gets a little boring, and you'll start to cheat. Yes you will. A few biscuits here, a few biscuits there, and soon you're cheating rather than dieting. It's better to switch into Phase 2 after 2-3 weeks, and accept a slower healthier weight loss.
Fall Victim to Bread Craving
How many people list 'bread' as an addiction ? Seriously, there's a lot. Unfortunately, white bread is right near the top of the Glycemic index, and about the worst food you can eat on your diet. When you get into Phase 2 you're allowed to eat bread, but only slices of wholemeal. Same with rice and pasta. Small amounts, and ideally whole grain versions. Bad carbs add weight.
Ignore the Health Benefits
Most people start a diet to lose weight. I guess that's what a diet is for. But some diets, particularly South Beach, have major health benefits. In fact, it's worth going on the South Beach Diet just for the health benefits, even if you don't lose weight (but you do). My blood pressure was high when I started. After 3 weeks it was back to normal. People with pre-diabetes, or potential heart problems, can much reduce their risk by following this diet. So there's lots of beneficial internal changes in your blood chemistry happening while you're losing weight.
So if you follow the South Beach Diet properly, you'll get great results. You'll lose weight quickly, keep it off, and get some major health benefits.
========================================================== Discover easy to follow weight loss secrets with a free mini-series of South Beach Diet Tips. And learn how to get your own 'virtual personal trainer' video. Click http://www.south-beach-diet-video.com/ata or send blank email to mailto:southbeachtips@digilectual.com?subject=subscribe
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.
Both Neil Stelling & Jason Cox are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Neil Stelling has sinced written about articles on various topics from south beach diet, Stress Management. Neil Stelling is Marketing Manager of DigiLectual Inc., and a successful follower of the South Beach Diet.. Neil Stelling's top article generates over 1300 views. to your Favourites.
Jason Cox has sinced written about articles on various topics from The Internet, Video and Engagement Rings. For several years now, Jason has been reviewing hundreds of online products and services. Many consider his reviews to be very insightful and reliable. Visit his website. Jason Cox's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.