Developed by Dr. Arthur Agatston, The South Beach Diet touts itself as teaching dieters to eat the right carbs and the right fats. The diet has three phases.
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In the first dieters banish their bad
carb cravings and induce rapid weight loss. In the
second phase, some types of carbs are reintroduced
and weight loss is slower. The final phase is the
"Diet for Life" phase. This is the maintenance
diet and will be followed for the rest of the
dieter's life. If at any time the dieter begins to
gain unwanted pounds, then he simply goes through
the induction and pre-maintenance phases again.
The first phase emphasizes protein from
high-quality meat sources with lots of fresh
vegetables and salads with real olive oil
dressing. Bread, rice, pastas, potatoes, baked
goods, soy milk and cheese, yogurt, beets,
carrots, corn and all fruit are forbidden in the
14-day induction phase. This includes all candy,
cake, ice cream and sugar, plus meats that are
cured in sugar or molasses.
The diet encourages three meals a day with a
mid-morning and a mid-afternoon snack. There is
also a daily meal plan. This plan includes
strict portion control in the induction phase.
An example of a daily snack is 20 peanuts. And
30 pistachios is another snack option.
Unlike Atkins, unlimited protein consumption is
not advised or allowed on this diet. However,
during the later phases of the diet some of the
strict portion control does end and dieters are
able to eat until satiated.
Some of the forbidden foods can be slowly
reintroduced, sometimes in modified form in the
second phase of the diet. The second phase lasts
until the dieter's goal weight is reached.
However, white flour products, potatoes, corn,
carrots, beets and sweet fruits like banana and
pineapple are still forbidden.
After dieters reach their ideal weight, they
proceed on to their Diet for Life or maintenance
diet.
In this phase the forbidden foods are processed
foods, white flour products, sweet fruits, and
foods with a high glycemic index in general.
During the 14-day induction period, Dr. Agatston
predicts a weight loss of between eight and 13
pounds, with belly fat being the first to go. In
the second phase dieter should continue to lose
1-2 pounds each week as long as they do not go
overboard with the carb reintroduction.
