Is The South Beach Diet For Me?

By: Ken Black

The South Beach Diet is one in which the user must have the
right balance of carbohydrates and fats in order to lose weight.
Dieters, who are looking to lose weight, must eat only good
carbohydrates and fats. All other forms should be avoided. The
diet is made up of three basic phases.

Phase one consists of a 14 day period. The dieter needs to eat
three balanced meals, consisting of beef, fish, turkey, chicken,
eggs, vegetables, nuts, salad and cheese. You can have a
healthy, no carb snack in between your breakfast and your lunch.
As with any diet, you need to drink as much water as possible.

During phase 1, you cannot have certain foods that are high in
carbohydrates. For instance, rice, bread, fruit, pasta and baked
goods are completely off limits. Also off limits are sweets. So
cookies, cakes or ice cream should be avoided.

After the 14 day period, you then move into phase 2. With phase
2, there is no set period of time. Phase 2 continues until you
have the lost all of the weight you want to lose. Phase 2 will
vary from person to person, depending on the exact number of
pounds you wish to lose. For some, the phase may only last a
couple of weeks. While others, the phase may last several months.

For most people, by the time they have entered the second phase
of the diet, they should have lost around 10 pounds. This, of
course, all hinges on the notion that phase 1 was followed
correctly. Wavering from phase 1 can have a negative impact on
the other phases.

During phase 2, weight loss will be slowed down and be more
consistent. On average, dieters lose around 2 pounds a week.
During phase 2, some foods that were prohibited in phase 1, may
gradually be re-introduced. However, they need to be consumed in
moderation. Other foods, such as white rice should be avoided
all together. Replacing white rice with brown rice will assist
in the overall weight loss experience.

After you have lost all the weight you want, you then enter into
phase 3. Phase 3 is considered to be a maintenance phase. During
this phase, you are allowed to begin to eat more normally. Many
of the restrictions that were imposed during phase 1 and 2 are
lifted. However, you need to incorporate some of your diet
habits into your every day life.

Adapting to the new way of eating may be difficult for some.
However, it has been proven that doing so could dramatically
improve your cardiovascular system. Also, it could help to
reduce your risk of a heart attack.

As with any diet, results will vary from person to person. Also,
is important to see a physician before starting any diet
regimen. The South Beach diet requires the dieter to revamp
their way of thinking and eating for a lifetime. But following
the diet precisely has proven beneficial for the many who have
tried it.

About the author:
Ken Black is the founder of Weight Loss Discovery, a website all
about weight loss programs and more. Visit our blog to
discover the latest news on losing weight.