South Beach Diet

[reeddi]

I have just come over here looking today. I have tried Atkins and lost weight but no one else in the house is on it so I found it too hard to stay on by myself. I have also done Weight Watchers - same problem. I have received e-mails about a South Beach Diet that I think counts carbs and fat. I was wondering if anyone here has tried it.
I think whatever I do it will take awhile because I only really want to lose about 25 pounds. I am at 160 now and want to get close to 135. (5'6")
Any suggestions would be helpful.

 

[s&k'smom]

Hey my sister got the book and now I have been reading and following the plan since Sunday. It's actually not that hard and it's made me take a look at how and what I eat. It's in 3 phases with the first being the strictest. For two weeks no bread, white flower, rice, fruit, sugar, dairy. Then Phase two is adding "good carbs back" and 3 being the one you stay with the rest of your life. I actually really like it and feel a different even after only a week. It's working very well for my sister too. The book is not out in paperback yet (I think). I have spent a little extra money in groceries than I usually do adding more fresh vegetables to my diet which just goes to show you I wasn't really eating that great to begin with. Hope this helps.

 

[reeddi]

s&k's mom,

Have you ever tried Aktins? What you described sounds very similar. Are you allowed more choices than Atkins?

 

[jsmith]

South Beach looks a lot like Atkins at first glance-however it focuses more on "good" fats and and "good" carbs and is overall lower in fat than Atkins with out being what you would consider "lowfat". It is also somewhat higher in carbs with out encouraging a lot of carb consumption. The book is an excellent read and really explains why reduced carb diets are the way to go. South Beach does not rely on keeping you in ketosis as a way to loose weight. He does say that he believes the dangers of long term ketosis have been overstated, but that is the only discussion of ketosis in the entire book.

 

[reeddi]

I think I will have to try this then. Thank you so much

 

[LKS]

I am doing the South Beach Diet and I like it. I aslo enjoyed reading the book. It was developed by Agatson, a cardiologist, to help people with their blood chemistry (cholesterol, triglycerides, bood sugar), more than just a weight loss plan. He feels that the Heart Association Diet, Pritikin etc.... are too hard to stay on. He has respect for Atkins and feels that he was on the right track by coming up with a diet that satisfies hunger, but feels that there is not enough emphasis there on avoiding bad fats and sticking with the monounsaturated fats.

While the first two weeks are strict, it's still not NO carb. You are supposed to eat fish, poulty and less fatty meats plus vegetables, low-fat cheese, an ounce of nuts each day and use cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, etc... You can still eat certain legumes. After the first two weeks when you have supposedly eliminated the worst carb cravings, you start adding back the carbs that are lower on the glycemic index. He likes real, not instant, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, whole grain breads, etc.... He points out that white bread and baked potatoes are two of the worst on the glycemic index.

It suits me, as I am a moderation type person, but tired of counting Weight Watcher Points. While WW worked well for me, I found myself always thinking about food ... What I had eaten, what I'd eat next etc... I don't think I'd do Atkins because I want to watch my cholesterol, though you could certainly do Atkins using the South Beach healthy fat principles. I just choose to have some carbs and don't like to eliminate whole food groups from my diet. I also would be happy to lose 25 -30 pounds and hope that this will just be some life-long better eating principles that I can follow.

 

[s&k'smom]

REEDI, hi again, I don't know anything about Atkins but I totally agree with the others. It's been nearly a week and I notice a difference already. Because I know how easy I can over do it I plan to do the Phase 2 (that's after the first strict 2 weeks which aren't really that strict). The book makes a lot of sense and you really don't have to count anything. As I am in the last year of my 30's (boo hoo) I've noticed that the last time I had to watch what I eat doesn't work this time so my body has definately changed especially since I had my DD two years ago. I know you'll do great, keep us informed.

 

[sueg]

I am new to the WISH Bd. I posted a question about following South Beach at WDW on the Restaurant Bd. & someone suggested I visit WISH. DH & I just started So. Beach & so far, so good. DH is really doing well, seeing results after just a few days. I'm going a little slower, maybe because I just lost 50 lbs. last yr, using no real diet at all. I decided to lose the post birth-menopause lbs. Just kept a food diary, ate less & exercised. But losing 50 lbs. only got me to the 170s, where I sort of stalled, so I was glad to join DH on So.Beach. We're going to WDW & HH(DVC) at the end of Aug., so we'll we well into our second phase & we'll probably relax a little, at least at WDW. Glad I found out about this Bd. I'll be back!

 

[Mattsmom]

I started the South Beach Diet yesterday. So far so good.

DH is doing Atkins. He's doing well which is great! I was having problems staying with a low fat/low glycemic diet. To hard combining with Atkins. I was having too much fat creeping in. I'm a SAHM and do all the family cooking.

With South Beach I can cook for the whole family much easier.

I decided not to do Atkins because I don't like alot of fatty foods. I only eat lean meat, never put butter on vegs, don't like eggs much, not a mayo person etc I do like the fats allowed on the South Beach Diet. I've cooked with olive oil for years. Over all I think it's a diet I can stick with.

 

[s&k'smom]

Hey Sueg, I'd love to hear how you did on southbeach when you get back from your trip. I'm a little safer as we are not going until Oct. 2004. Thanks

 

[reeddi]

Can you guys help me out with the dos and donts?
I have looked in 2 different Wal-marts, Sams club and 3 bookstores and can't find this. I plan on ordering it but I was hoping to start this Monday after my birthday.
I have read the program layout on the prevention site but I was looking for the list of acceptable carbs/fats for the first phase.
Thanks for the help and information.

 

[sueg]

I'm at work & the book is home. I'm not that experienced to offer the kind of help you need. However, I can tell you that Barnes & Nobles has the book. It is on the bestseller table & because it is a Times best seller, I got 30% off (& would have gotten another 10% off if I was a B&N frequent buyer!)

 

[HeatherPage]

Hey! I only got 25% off at my local Barnes & Noble (oh well). Hopefully I will be reporting success with it soon. (Going grocery shopping tomorrow to stock up). Good luck everyone!

 

[TINKTWINS]

Hello all

I am in desperate need to choose some way to start losing weight. About 5 years ago I lost almost 100lbs by cutting out fats and really eating small portions of everything. However I worked alot of hours then and didnt focus on food. Fast forward 5 yrs and I have added a set of twins to go along with the older 3 DS's I had, and now stay at home with them, and continuously gain weight. This winter was soooo long and cold it made things much worse.

Ive done WW many times but never reached goal, Ive thought about Atkins but am not a huge beef eater.

This is the first Ive ever hear of South Beach. Keep the updates coming, this is sounding like something I might be able to do.

Good luck

 

[sueg]

HeatherPage,
Maybe I only got 25% off. I'll may never know because I pulled the sticker off the book. I'll do the math if I can find my receipt. I'm new to the WISH bd. & already I'm losing credibility.LOL Susan

 

[HeatherPage]

You probably got 30% off (maybe they have different promotions in different areas). Good luck to everyone and keep us posted on your progress!

 

[s&k'smom]

Sorry my book (well my sister's book) is at home but here goes. For meat, lean cuts like top round and sirloin hamburger, chicken but no wings or thighs? (and no skin of course!) pork, veal but I'm sure likethe beef very lean cuts. You can have your morning cup of coffee but non-dairy creamer, you can have 20 peanuts or like 30 pistacios (ok I know I spelt that wrong). As for vegetables I know for the few bad things, no potatos, corn, beets or carrots but any lettuces, squash, eggplant, celery etc. You can have eggs, cheese (low fat and no fat i.e. low fat feta, Laughing Cow), You can use Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Canola, Balsamic Vinegrett type things and in the recipes they use lots of herbs and spices. I know this is a pretty brief overview but I hope you get the idea. good luck. Hey guys let's keep the post going!

 

[Mattsmom]

I managed to scan the food list for phase one out of the book. I'm very technically challanged so it doesn't look to great but I hope it helps someone.

FOODS TO ENJOY
BEEF Pecan halves, 15
Lean cuts, such as: Pistachios, 30
Sirloin (including ground) EGGS
Tenderloin
The use of whole eggs is not limited
Top round unless otherwise directed by your
doctor. Use egg whites and egg
POULTRY (SKINLESS) substitute as desired.
Cornish hen
TOFU
Turkey bacon (2 slices per day)
Use soft, low-fat or lite varieties
Turkey and chicken breast
VEGETABLES AND LEGUMES
SEAFOOD
Artichokes
All types of fish and shellfish
Asparagus
PORK Beans (black, butter, chickpeas, green,
Boiled ham Italian, kidney, lentils, lima, pigeon, soy,
Canadian bacon split peas, wax)
Tenderloin Broccoli
Cabbage
VEAL
Cauliflower
Chop
Celery
Cutlet, leg Collard greens
Top round Cucumbers
LUNCHMEAT Eggplant
Fat-free or low-fat only Lettuce (all varieties)
Mushrooms (all varieties)
CHEESE (FAT-FREE OR LOW-FAT)
Snow peas
American
Cheddar Spinach
Cottage cheese, 1—2% or fat-free Sprouts, alfalfa
Cream cheese substitute, dairy-free Turnips
Water chestnuts
Feta
Zucchini
Mozzarella
Parmesan FATS
Provolone Oil, canola
Ricotta Oil, olive
String SPICES AND SEASONINGS
NUTS All spices that contain no added sugar
Peanut butter, 1 tsp Broth
Peanuts, 20 small Extracts (almond, vanilla, or others)
Horseradish sauce
I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter! Spray
Pepper (black, cayenne, red, white)
SWEET TREATS (LIMIT TO 75
CALORIES PER DAY)
Candies, hard, sugar-free
Q powder, no-added-sugar
Cocoa powder, baking type
Fudgsicles, sugar-free
Gelatin, sugar-free
Gum, sugar-free
Popsicles, sugar-free
Sugar substitute

FOODS TO AVOID
BEEF
Biisket
Liver
Other fatty cuts Rib steaks
POULTRY
Chicken, wings and legs
Duck
Goose
Poultry products, processed
PORK
Honey-baked ham
VEAL
Breast
CHEESE
Brie
Edam
Nonreduced fat
VEGETABLES
Beets Carrots
Corn
Potatoes, white
Tomato (limit to 1 whole or 10 cherry per meal)
Potatoes, sweet
Yams
FRUIT
Avoid all fruits and fruit juices in
Phase 1, including:
Apples
Apricots
Berries
Cantaloupe
Grapefruit
Peaches
Pears
STARCHES AND CARBS
Avoid all starchy food in Phase 1, including:
Bread, all types
Cereal
Matzo
Oatmeal
Rice, all types
Pasta, all types
Pastry and baked goods, all types
DAIRY
Avoid all dairy in Phase I, including:
Yogurt, cup-style and frozen
Ice cream
Milk, low-fat, fat-free, whole
Milk, soy
MISCELLANEOUS
Alcohol of any kind, including beer
and wine

Btw, I got my book at Barnes and Noble. It still has it's 30% off sticker on.