South Beach Diet

[TSIAS]

Anybody have any opinions / success (unsuccessful) stories about this diet? I don't know much about it, but I am hesitant of programs that exclude certain foods from the diet.

It's not for me personally, rather an older friend (around age 45). They're having a difficult time losing weight on the traditional Weight Watchers structure.

Also, if not the South Beach, what programs have helped you lose weight?

[Richardo]

1. SB is very sustainable - that's why I'm on it.

Lost 20+ so far in about 2 months.

It requires a pretty restrictive Phase I to get off the carboload/insulin dump merry-so-round (no carbs, fruits, sugars, alcohol etc) but that only lasts two weeks. Then in Phase II (weight loss to your target) you can reintroduce some of the above. The maintenance Phase III has no "restricted" foods - by that time you know what will cause weight gain, and if you fall off the wagon, you can go through Phases I and II again.

Also, there are no strict portion controls, and unlike Atkins the meat based protein is expected to be in the form of LEAN meats, not brisket and keilbasa. :( But overall you get the tools and education to figure it out for yourself.

[TSIAS]

3. Thanks

I'm off to the library today in search of the actual book.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Have your friend consult a doctor

That's what I did about two years ago. She is a holistic phyiscian who believes in taking complete health histories and doing blood work. She crafted a diet that is for me, specifically. There are foods I'm not to eat-but she also explained why, and the long term consequences of eating them. I have found that this diet is one I can live with. In fact, I don't want to cheat! The few times when I have mistakenly eaten one of the forbidden foods (usually mixed up in a cassarole or something), my blood sugar has gone wanky and other problems ensued, making it so I don't want to eat those foods! She also recommended minerals, herbs, and vitamins, which have helped stabilize blood sugar, stop the pain in my legs, and thinned my blood, and prescribed thyroid for my hypothyroidism. Reading a diet from the internet or from a book will not get you the insight a good holistic physician can give you.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Google "South Beach Diet" and "recipes" to get more ideas for your

meals.