South Beach Diet: At a Glance
The book entitled “The South Beach Diet ” was very popular during the 1990′s and it is the basis for this diet. There are still many who hail this diet plan as a way to permanently shed weight in a healthy manner.
Food is the primary focus of the South Beach Diet and how to permanently change one’s eating habits for the better. Actually, the first thing you see when you arrive at the website is a scrumptious looking chocolate dessert along with links to various recipes. On the South Beach website, you will find lots of recipes and menu planners in addition to links to Kraft’s line of South Beach pre-packaged foods.
There is quite a bit of information on the site regarding Dr. Arthur Agatson, the cardiologist who developed the diet plan in order to help his patients. Eventually this led to the South Beach Diet Book as well as additional books and DVD’s.
South Beach Diet: Facts
The enrollment fee for the South Beach Diet is reasonable, but it does not provide as much as some other popular weight loss sites, like Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig. Customers can access the entire website, including personalized meal plans, weight trackers, community forums and advice from experts, if they pay $5 per week (but they must sign up for a minimum of 4 weeks).
Currently there is a 7-day free trial offer, but this does not provide enough time to evaluate the site. As is the case with some other plans, the South Beach Diet consists of three phases. The user begins by strictly adhering to the plan with the goal of jump-starting their weight loss; as they become more familiar with the plan, they continue to lose weight, until they finally are able to intelligently choose food and lifestyle selections on their own. The initial phase should last for two weeks, but people who want to lose less than ten pounds can skip this phase and begin directly with phase two.
The South Beach Diet does not emphasize fitness and exercise even though it is, of course, part of a healthy lifestyle. The ‘Fitness Club,’ an online collection of exercise videos and tips, is available to subscribers.
South Beach Diet: Positive Features
- Many people follow the South Beach Diet faithfully and it has a reputation for being successful.
- The plan does not cost much.
- Lifestyle changes are promoted by this diet, so that weight loss can be maintained.
- Consuming a low fat/high fiber diet makes sense as a way to lose weight and many foods are available from which to choose.
- A physician devised this diet and it has been proven successful in clinical tests.
- The media and press have provided favorable coverage for the South Beach Diet.
- The website has a professional appearance and is user-friendly.
South Beach Diet: Negative Features
- Food choices are emphasized, while fitness is hardly mentioned.
- The subscriber is solely responsible for adhering to the diet without the encouragement of counseling or meetings.
South Beach Diet: Conclusion
The South Beach Diet seems to have garnered an excellent reputation as a way to modify one’s lifestyle while eating well, losing weight and sustaining weight loss effects. The plan has been designed to help eliminate cravings and re-educate the taste buds so that as time goes on, dieters eventually begin to use these techniques on their own until they become ingrained in their lives. When one realizes how much tasty food is permitted on this plan, it is plain to see why the site refers to it as a ‘food lover’s diet’.