South Beach Diet Review
Overview
The South Beach Diet is based on the theory that carbohydrates and sugars are the biggest culprits when it comes to weight gain. In this weight-loss program you remove almost all sugars and carbohydrates from your diet for two weeks, then slowly reintroduce some of them in limited amounts. The South Beach website includes detailed information about the diet as well as message boards and a buddy system for support and questions. The site also offers a separate Fitness Club for exercises every day.
Diet
The South Beach Diet is broken up into three phases. In the first phase you remove all sugar, grains, starchy vegetables, fruits and fruit juice from your diet. This goes on for two weeks, jump-starting your weight loss. After the first phase is over, the second one kicks in. During the second phase you are allowed a limited amount of whole grains, fruits, more vegetables such as pumpkin and sweet potatotes, as well as the occasional piece of dark chocolate. After you reach your goal weight you graduate to the third phase, which is meant to be followed for life. It’s based on the principles from the first two phases but is a bit more lenient.
Exercise
The South Beach Diet Fitness Club is a separate part of the website which offers a daily exercise routine. The Fitness Club features daily walking routines and Pilates-based exercises with video instructions and picture diagrams. You must sign up the for Fitness Club separately from the diet itself. The exercises claim to be for every fitness level and are advertised as an add-on for faster weight loss, not an integral part of the program.
Advantages
- Wide variety of formerly forbidden diet foods, including whole eggs, bacon, fats and steak
- A large amount of recipes and food suggestions on the site
- Three meals, two snacks and one dessert a day can add up to not feeling deprived while dieting
- Vibrant online community for diet support
Disadvantages
- Diets that cut out one food group entirely tend to make some people feel deprived
- Lumps all carbohydrates together as bad: fruit and vegetables are in the same category as cookies and pasta
- Higher fat content in daily diet may be a problem for the cholesterol-conscious
- Exercise is an afterthought, not a part of the weight-loss program
Overall Rating
The South Beach Diet has been around for decades with proven results. If you are able to give up most of the white foods in your life, you will have a large and tasty variety of foods from which to choose. Many people feel they are indulging themselves while on this diet, which can help them to be successful in their weight-loss goals.
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