According to cardiologist Arthur Agatson and to dietician Marie Almon, the creators of the South Beach Diet, in order for the body to lose weight, one must carefully select the food she eats by replacing bad carbohydrates and fats with the good ones. Initially, the South Beach Diet was designed to prevent cholesterol and heart disease but later on, it became popular as an effective method of losing weight.
When you eat foods that are actually classified as having bad carbohydrates and bad fats, you easily get hungry afterwards. As a result, you will have a continuous craving for food. It’s a vicious circle that makes you eat more, drive your calorie intake up and gain weight.
South Beach Diet Plan
South Beach Diet is a low glycemic index (GI) diet. Instead of focusing on low-carbohydrate foods, this diet centers on how certain foods stimulate your blood sugar levels, which can be measured by the glycemic index. Your blood sugar level spikes up whenever you eat foods that are rich in bad carbs and bad fats. And to cope with its sudden increase, you get hungry. To satisfy your hunger, you eat foods which have the same bad content. And so, your glycemic index never really stabilizes. You just get caught-up in this never-ending hunger cycle.
South Beach Diet puts an end to this, by replacing bad carbohydrates and fats with good carbohydrates and fats. Thus you break the vicious circle of hunger and you will be able to gain a level of control that enables in the end effective weight loss.
The South Beach Diet Plan can be divided into 3 phases:
South Beach Diet Phase 1
- This is the make-or-break phase of the South Beach Diet, as it is the most rigorous stage among the three.
- You will eat standard portions of food, but all processed carbohydrates, sugars, and even high-glycemic vegetables and fruits are strictly forbidden.
- This phase lasts for two weeks and should be closely monitored. Its aim isto stabilize your blood sugar level and avoid the awful hunger cycles. On average, you can lose 8-10 pounds while on this phase.
South Beach Diet Phase 2
- In this phase you are allowed to eat some of the previously forbidden foods, but only in small amounts.
- Most of your meals should include fruits and vegetables. You can stay on this phase until you have reached your desired weight.
South Beach Diet Phase 3
- This is the final stage in the South Beach Diet. By this time, you will be able to control cravings and you will have established discipline in your food selection. Making the right food choices will already feel natural.
- You may allow yourself to eat some sweets but keep it to the minimum.
- This phase is the maintenance one and should be followed for the rest of your life, should you wish to maintain your desired weight.
Go To Crash Diets or To South Beach Diet Plan or To South Beach Diet Phase 1 or to South Beach Diet Recipes
