South Beach Diet??

[Dunk]

What do you guys think of this diet?

Much of our excess weight comes from the carbohydrates we eat, especially the highly processed ones. Decrease the consumption of those “bad” carbs, studies show, and you begin losing weight and metabolizing carbs properly. Even the craving for carbs disappears once you cut down on their consumption.


The South Beach Diet permits good carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) and curtails the intake of bad carbohydrates (the highly processed ones, like white flour and white sugar). As you’re guided through the diet’s flexible three-phase system, you’ll lose weight, alter your metabolism, and improve your blood chemistry. Here’s how:

Phase 1: The Strict Phase
For the first two weeks, you’ll eat normal-size helpings of meat, fish, vegetables, eggs, cheese, and nuts. You’ll have three meals a day, plus snacks, and it will be your job to eat until your hunger is satisfied. During this period, you'll start shedding weight, changing your body chemistry, and end your cravings for sugars and starches.

Phase 2: The Weight-Loss Phase
In the second phase, you’ll gradually reintroduce "good" carbs into your diet (like fruit, whole-grain bread, and whole-wheat pasta). Using the Glycemic Index as your guide, you’ll learn to avoid the carbs that increase your blood sugar and make you gain weight. You'll stay in Phase 2 until you reach your ideal weight.

Phase 3: The Maintenance Phase
By the time you reach the final phase of the diet, you’ll have lost weight and significantly improved your blood chemistry to the long-term benefit of your cardiovascular system. You’ll continue to eat normal-size helpings of wholesome foods you enjoy, while maintaining the health benefits you earned by following Phase 1 and Phase 2.

 

[Clean]

It's kind of a no=brainer. Just find a good ratio, like 40/30/30, or whatever. Try the Zone diet if you are going to buy a book. If you are going for gradual weight loss, you don't need any strict ratios in the very beginning, but you can do this and then take it down a notch. I think the South Beach diet is for those who don't read or get advice on this board, as the diet is nothing out of the ordinary.

 

[JoBu]

I loved phase 1 when I did it back in January for 3 weeks. I lost about 14 lbs in 3 weeks and have kept if off easily for the past 6 moths with little effort. My standard diet is very similar to phase 2 but high enough calories to maintain weight rather then lose more. If you're looking for a good jump start to drop some BF quickly then I'd say give it a shot.

 

[napoli235]

south beach diet=crap

this can be said for any ketogenic diet in regards to bodybuilding. these diets are only useful for obese individuals, they have no place in bodybuilding.

 

[JoBu]

Maybe he's not interested in a bodybuilding diet...maybe he actually wants to cut some BF with a relatively healthy intelligent diet. I think you're definitely in the minority with your opinion of keto-type diets on these forums. It's your opinion and you're entitled to it but it's not a particularly helpful response to the question.

 

[NJRipped]

What is your purpose for doing the SB diet (just weight loss)?

What do you guys think of this diet?

Much of our excess weight comes from the carbohydrates we eat, especially the highly processed ones. Decrease the consumption of those “bad” carbs, studies show, and you begin losing weight and metabolizing carbs properly. Even the craving for carbs disappears once you cut down on their consumption.


The South Beach Diet permits good carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) and curtails the intake of bad carbohydrates (the highly processed ones, like white flour and white sugar). As you’re guided through the diet’s flexible three-phase system, you’ll lose weight, alter your metabolism, and improve your blood chemistry. Here’s how:

Phase 1: The Strict Phase
For the first two weeks, you’ll eat normal-size helpings of meat, fish, vegetables, eggs, cheese, and nuts. You’ll have three meals a day, plus snacks, and it will be your job to eat until your hunger is satisfied. During this period, you'll start shedding weight, changing your body chemistry, and end your cravings for sugars and starches.

Phase 2: The Weight-Loss Phase
In the second phase, you’ll gradually reintroduce "good" carbs into your diet (like fruit, whole-grain bread, and whole-wheat pasta). Using the Glycemic Index as your guide, you’ll learn to avoid the carbs that increase your blood sugar and make you gain weight. You'll stay in Phase 2 until you reach your ideal weight.

Phase 3: The Maintenance Phase
By the time you reach the final phase of the diet, you’ll have lost weight and significantly improved your blood chemistry to the long-term benefit of your cardiovascular system. You’ll continue to eat normal-size helpings of wholesome foods you enjoy, while maintaining the health benefits you earned by following Phase 1 and Phase 2.

 

[ZKaudio]

BOTTOM LINE

some people don't like to do research and choose the best option, they simply like to be told what to do and how to do it. For those people, So. Beach Diet and "Atkins Diet" are fine.

on the other hand, some people (like the majority of our board) like to educate themselves as to WHY this stuff works and can construct a faster acting, more effective, healthier, and more customizable diet plan.

I say go with option b.