South Beach Diet

Eating a low-fat and low-carbohydrates diet is different from eating good fat and good carbohydrates. This is an edge that separates South Beach Diet from other diet plans. Originally, South Beach Diet was created by cardiologist Arthur Agatston and dietician Marie Almon with the aim of preventing heart diseases. But eventually it gained popularity in allowing the dieter to lose weight.

Carbohydrate-rich foods that we eat are easily digested by our body. This results to spiking up of the blood sugar, furthermore resulting to hyper- energy of the person. After a few hours, our sugar level will drop, and we will tend to eat more with the goal of gaining energy. For Agatston, the South Beach Diet provides a better alternative of carbohydrate-sources such as whole grains, beans and unprocessed vegetables.

Bad fats must also be removed from the body because of its unhealthy benefits. Too much trans-fat and saturated fat in the body will lead to heart problems and clogging of arteries. The goal of South Beach Diet is to replace the saturated fat with unsaturated fat and omega-3 fatty acids. Fatty portions of poultry products and red meat are excluded from the diet. It is replaced with lean meats, nuts and oily fishes.

The South Beach Diet is divided into three phases. Phase 1 is the part where you are expected to lose weight. It will last for two weeks and the goal is for you to eat 3 balanced meals a day. This will eliminate unnecessary hunger cycles of your body. During Phase 1, you are allowed to eat normal servings of chicken, turkey and fish. You can also eat vegetables, nuts and poultry products such as eggs and cheese.

Phase 2 starts at the 15th day of your diet and it will last as long as you still want to lose weight. During this diet stage, more varieties of foods are introduced to you. Some of these are whole-grain bread, more fruits, low-fat milk and cheese.

The last phase is the maintenance phase. Because it is a maintenance period, it means that it lasts for life. There are no specific prohibitions on foods. Instead, the dieter is expected to continue eating the right kinds of food, and in proper amounts.

The first part of the diet may be very hard because this is the stage where you have to alter your eating habits. During the first two weeks, you may lose 8- 14 pounds. You just have to be careful with your carbohydrate intake because you might regain those pounds if the diet is not properly followed.