South Beach Diet Review

The South Beach Diet helps its followers stay fit and trim. Most South Beach diet reviews affirm the value of the right-carbs/right-fat/high-protein approach, and many dieters who posted on Amazon indicate they started the plan based on a doctor's recommendation. South Beach diet reviews on Amazon and Epinions tell of dieters having lost 40 pounds and more and keeping it off, although sticking with the diet is a must. The first couple of weeks are tough, but South Beach diet reviews proclaim that seeing it through has its own rewards.

Weight loss is quite rapid during the first phase of the diet, when food intake is limited to protein such as lean meats and low-fat cheese; an endocrinologist recommended the diet to one consumer who says a diet of mostly eggs and vegetables during the first phase caused the pounds to fall away. Indeed, some South Beach Diet reviews extol the regimen as a good route to rapid weight loss shortly before a big event when you want to look your best, while others call it a life-saver that teaches healthy eating habits and the importance of exercise for the long haul. Some South Beach Diet reviews, including one posted by a nutritionist at Weight Loss Resources, caution about the challenges of phase 1, when the absence of common carbs like pasta, bread, and fruit leaves some people feeling weak and hungry. On the other hand, this diet allows three regular meals a day plus snacks, with no limit on portion size.

Created by cardiologist Arthur Agatston and dietician Marie Almon, the South Beach Diet replaces "bad carbs" and "bad fats" with "good carbs" and "good fats". This means you trade out white pasta and bread for whole grain versions in addition to vegetables and fruit. Instead of foods laden with saturated fats, like certain red meat cuts, dieters opt for lean meats and fish and healthy fats like avocados and nuts. There are three phases to the plan, which can be followed in book form or with a weekly online membership (starting at $4/week). Phase 1 is the first two weeks, when you cut out all sugars (including fruits), processed carbohydrates, and certain higher-glycemic vegetables. Phase 2, the main phase, lasts as long as you're trying to lose weight and brings fruits and vegetables and some whole grains back into your diet. Phase 3 is maintenance. Dieters who read the South Beach Diet book praise its simple-to-understand explanations about how the body works and the underlying rationale for the plan.

We placed this diet into the "good" basket because it temporarily restricts certain foods and it may take a bit more focus to maintain weight loss than other cheap diet plans. If you can get past the early stages and stick to the diet long-term, your chances of getting on track to a healthier lifestyle are good.