South Beach Diet Review

South Beach Diet Related Links

South Beach Diet Review

By Rod Ferris B.A., CPT (YMCA, ACE), CFC, CPAFLA And Craig Coghlin B.A., CPT, CSCS, ART®, D.C. (cand.)

What is the South Beach Diet ?
The first stage of the south beach diet is to eliminate all starches, including alcohol and fruits. The authors of the diet say that 7-13 lbs. of weight loss can be expected in this two week stage. In the second phase, “good” carbs are reintroduced in the form of complex carbs and fruit.

They also encourage wine with meals in this stage. The final stage of the south beach diet is simply maintenance. The authors assume the dieter will be able to make better decisions now in their meal choices.

Similar Celebrity Diets include the 'Atkins diet', 'Zone diet' and 'South Beach diet'. Diets like these have one thing in common: they are high in proteins and fats and low in carbohydrates.

What are the benefits of a South Beach Diet?
Fast weight loss can be expected due to a chemical reaction in the body when an inadequate level of carbohydrates are available during the initial phase of the south beach diet. This allows an individual to burn fat at a much faster rate than a traditional diet and exercise program, for around 6 months that is... any user of the south beach diet should incorporate complex carbs and fruits/vegetables as soon as possible to prevent dietary ketosis.

What are the negative aspects to a South Beach Diet?
Well, after a while of having very little carbohydrates available for exercise or daily activities the body begins producing 'ketones'. These ketones are the leftovers from fats broken down in the body. With enough production of ketones the body starts to 'store' fat (a process called ketosis). In other words, that wonderful chemical reaction that gave you that great feeling of, "Oh wow, look how much weight I lost!" turns into, "Why am I gaining weight?!".

The South Beach and Jenny Craig diet plans are lacking in any sort of clinical evidence. As mentioned earlier, the biggest problem with all of these diets is simply the adherence. In many of the randomized studies, drop-out rates were as high as 45%. And those that did manage to stay with the diet were not very strict in following the diet exactly as it requests.

Why is the dropout rate so high with the South Beach Diet?
The south beach diet and like many other diets focus on adherance to their rules. Following nutritional rules is VERY difficult for anyone. Try to set clear goals when starting this type of diet and allow yourself to endulge on something that will curb your cravings. Simply starving yourself from the things you love will only lead to dissapointment and starting another type of diet with more dangerous effects to your body.

South Beach Diet Review Conclusion
South Beach diets are very effective in their early stages because of several reasons: satiety from fat and protein intake, a reduction in water weight and a chemical reaction to increase fat metabolism. If complex carbs and fruits are introduced very early on and maintenance and a properly following a set of clearly outlined goals for yourself are followed, the South Beach diet could be a very good diet to follow.

South Beach Diet Related Links