I have thoroughly researched this diet and am giving you every detail of south beach diet for information.
South beach diet book is founded on the premise that switching to good carbs stops insulin resistance and curbs appetite which leads to weight loss. Also, good fats protect the heart and prevent hunger.
But this is hardly true as you will learn after reading this article.
South beach diet book offers a simplistic solution to weight loss. All you need to do is eat good carbs like whole grains, vegetables and beans instead of eating bad carbs like sugar white breads and potatoes.
South beach diet says, fast sugars are worst for dieters and slow sugars are good.
And how are these foods classified as fast or slow? The Glycemic Index.
According to south beach diet, the food having a high Glycemic Index causes the blood sugar to spike (go up) immedietly after having the meal,whereas the food with a lower GI does not drastically shoot up the blood sugar levels.
But this theory is only partially true. Yes, the foods with high GI are good for diabetics in helping them to keep their blood sugar levels in check, but contrary to popular belief, the glycemic index of a certain food is not the same.i.e. it depends on how the food is processed, stored, ripened and cooked.
Further, south beach diet is formulated on the premise that good carbs like whole grains have a low glycemic index and bad carbs like sugars, white flour and refined grains have a higher GI.
BUT THE TRUTH IS....
Bread is high GI whether whole wheat or white because it is made from finely ground flour.
Pasta is low GI, whether whole or white(thin languine has a high GI as compared to the thick one)
"Instant white" rice is low GI whereas "Uncle bens converted white" rice is high GI.
Take the case of sugars...Glucose is high GI, Sucrose is medium GI and fructose is low GI
This illustrates that recommending foods based on GI is confusing as well as misleading. On top of it all, there is no research to support the claim that the rise in blood sugar by eating high GI foods leads to high blood insulin levels, and that this leads people to overeat.
To summarise...there is no evidence to suggest that eating low GI foods leads to weight loss.
Now lets have a look at the south beach diet menu.
South beach diet book claims that you won't feel hungry while on this diet. This is impossible considering the fact that some of the menus average only 1200 calories, which is too low not to feel hungry.
The diet encourages you to eat seafood, chicken breast, lean meat, vegetables,whole grains, some fruits, beans, low fat cheese, nuts, oils and whole grains. fatty meats, high fat cheese, refined grains, sweets, juice and potatoes.
The choice of foods in this diet plan are somewhat healthy compared to other leading diet plans like ATKINS but restricting the consumption of carrots, bananas, pineapple and watermelon is the worst part of south beach diet.
The meal plan consists of three phases :
Phase 1 of south beach diet :
You are allowed to eat normal size helpings of chicken, meat, turkey, fish and shellfish, vegetables, eggs, cheese and nuts. You can have three meals per day. Desserts, coffee and tea are also allowed.
But for the first 14 days you are not allowed to eat bread,rice,potatoes,pasta or baked goods and even fruits!
Phase 2 of south beach diet :
You can slowly begin to reintroduce carbs into your diet again. The diet advices you to take all the forbidden foods in phase 1 like bread, pasta, fruits etc. in moderate quantities but at the same time not as much as you were having before.
Phase 3 of south beach diet:
This part is the most relaxed. Dr.Agastson says that you can now forget that you are on a diet. He says that now onwards it is just a healthy lifestyle you are used to, and going to adhere for the rest of your life.
All in all, south beach diet is one more money spinning fad diet for the creator of this weight loss program and a phsychological prop(support) for people who are allways hopping from one diet to the other in search of a hollywood like sexy body.
The initial weight loss caused by this diet is on account of calorie restriction and not because of low Glycemic Index or an invisible switch as Dr. Agastson's marketing language wants you to believe.
Your health could be 100 times better without south beach diet weight loss program,if you choose healthy foods like green vegetables,whole grains,fiber rich foods and vegetables.
And if you are eager to lose those extra pounds,why not do it the most natural way with the weight loss principles of Ayurveda medicinal science?
This is the most effective long term,scientifically proven solution to excess fat.
You can get real cutting edge fat burning secrets of Ayurveda in my Free 5day email ecourse by subscribing to my newsletter at: www.eweightlosstips.com/weightlossltr.htm
Why
Your Diet May Not Be Working!
by: Nishanth Reddy
Jennifer, a middle-aged single mother with one
six-year-old daughter, has been skipping sweets for a few weeks now. She’s
also become a stickler for portion control. She feels as if she’s eating
less than ever, and she’s been diligently exercising for an hour at a time
at least four days a week. Yet, she hasn’t lost a single pound. The
question is, “Why?”
This is a dilemma which affects dieters the world over.
They think they are taking the steps necessary to lose weight, but nothing
seems to be happening. In essence, they are trapped in a dieting rut and
they don’t know how to free themselves. As a result, they become
frustrated and depressed and may then engage in binge eating.
One of the problems with diets is that they are often
standardized. As a result, they don’t take into consideration your
individual physiology and metabolism. They provide a cookie-cutter
approach to weight loss—an approach which may not work in your individual
case. As a result, an increasing number of people are turning to
dieticians to formulate a person weight loss strategy for them. This
process has been made easier through the Internet, where you can
correspond with a dietician any time of the day or night via e-mail. The
dietician can also act as your personal coach, helping you through your
dieting dilemmas.
Another reason that you may be failing at your diet is
because of a lack of support. You may have family members who can eat
whatever they want and seemingly not gain a pound. As a result, they may
fill your refrigerator with junk food, leading you into temptation. Also,
you may feel as if you have no one to turn to in order to discuss your
weight problems. In order to solve this problem, many individuals look to
psychotherapists to help them with their food-related issues. This can be
particularly important if an individual has turned to purging in an effort
to combat their weight problems. Bulimia is a serious disease which must
be treated in order to ensure the good health of the patient. Thankfully,
there are a number of treatment programs throughout the U.S. specifically
focusing on bulimia.
Yet another reason for diet failure is hidden calories.
You may literally be consuming calories and not even realize it. For
instance, the frappucinos that are so popular today are loaded with
calories—as many as 600 in a single serving! You may also be indulging in
sugary sodas—another source of extra calories. By taking a few simple
steps, such as eliminating the exotic coffee drinks from your diet and
substituting skim milk for whole milk, you may be able to eliminate the
hidden calories that are denying you dieting success.
Lack of consistency can also be a diet-killer. You might
go on a diet for a while, then quit before you’ve made any measurable
progress. It’s only natural to want to see quick results. The problem is
that healthy weight loss involves losing only a couple of pounds a week.
That means you’ll have to stay on your diet for months before you see
appreciable weight loss. Discouraging? It can be, but if you keep a
positive attitude you can achieve your ideal weight.
You may also be more successful in your dieting if you
consider it to be a lifestyle change. Therefore, your diet becomes a meal
plan for life. This means that you must change the way you look at food.
It is designed to be fuel for your body, and nothing more. As a result,
you should not turn to food to make you feel better or to provide you with
a sense of comfort. A lifestyle change implies commitment; it means that
you are prepared to follow the plan for the long haul. If you feel as if
you cannot be on your diet for any appreciable length of time, perhaps
it’s time to consider a different diet. Your aim ultimately should be not
simply to lose weight, but to become healthier. A fad diet will not allow
you to reach that milestone. Therefore, you must choose your diet
carefully.