South Beach Diet Review: New Weight Loss Diet

The South Beach Diet is and a commercial popular weight-loss diet. The South Beach Diet, which is named after a glamorous area of Miami, is sometimes called a modified low-carbohydrate diet. This diet is lower in carbs (carbohydrates) and higher in protein and healthy fats than is a typical eating plan. But it’s not a strict low-carb diet, and you don’t have to count carbs.

The purpose of the South Beach Diet is to change the overall balance of the foods you eat to encourage weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. This Diet says it’s a healthy way of eating whether you want to lose weight or not.

How Does South Beach Diet Work?

The South Beach Diet is now a home-delivery program broken into three phrases. There’s no counting calories, fat grams, carbohydrates or anything else – the bulk of your food shows up at your door. You’ll receive three meals a day, plus snacks if you’ve ordered the “tier 2” program. The diet lasts as long as you want – it depends on your weight-loss goal.

Phase one, aka “Body Reboot,” includes seven days’ worth of food: three meals and two snacks (a bar and shake). You’ll eat lean protein (fish, shellfish, chicken, turkey, and soy) and healthy fats, and add in your own fresh grocery vegetables and non-starchy vegetables. You won’t touch fruit, fruit juice, starches (including pasta, rice, and bread), whole grains, sugary foods or alcohol.

In phase two, aka “steady weight loss,” you’ll reintroduce “good” carbs, such as whole-grain bread, brown rice, whole-wheat pasta and fruit. You’ll eat three meals and three snacks a day; all meals are delivered and the snacks can be, though you’ll need to purchase some of your own fresh grocery foods to complete the plan. You also have the option of adding in two DIY meals each week, which can be cooked at home or eaten out. A glass or two of wine or other alcohol each week is OK. You’ll stick with this phase until you reach your weight goal.

Phase three, the maintenance phase, is your lifelong healthy way to eat. No food is off-limits, but you can continue ordering South Beach products a la cart. You’re encouraged to use portion-control containers and the program guide to transition to this stage.

What You Can Eat and What You Can’t

That depends on the phase you’re in. Phase 1 is the strictest and includes:

  • A lot of protein, such as beef, poultry, seafood, eggs, and cheese
  • Some fats, including canola oil, extra-virgin olive oil, and avocado
  • Carbs with the lowest glycemic index, including vegetables such as broccoli, tomatoes, spinach, and eggplant

What’s off-limits in Phase 1: Fruit, fruit juices, starchy foods, dairy products, and alcohol.

In Phase 2, you slowly reintroduce healthy carbs into your diet — fruit, whole-grain bread, whole-grain rice, whole wheat pasta, and sweet potatoes. Expect weight loss to slow to 1 to 2 pounds a week, on average.

Phase 3 is about maintaining your weight. There’s no food list to follow. By this time, you’ll know how to make good food choices and how to get back on track if you overindulge once in a while. If cravings return or your eating gets off track, the plan recommends going back to Phase 1 or 2.

Benefits South Beach Diet

The South Beach Diet, while mainly directed at weight loss, may promote certain healthy changes. Research shows that following a long-term eating plan that’s rich in healthy carbohydrates and dietary fats, such as whole grains, unsaturated fats, vegetables and fruits, can improve your health. For example, lower carbohydrate diets with healthy fats may improve your blood cholesterol levels.

he South Beach Diet, while mainly directed at weight loss, may promote certain healthy changes. Research shows that following a long-term eating plan that’s rich in healthy carbohydrates and dietary fats, such as whole grains, unsaturated fats, vegetables and fruits, can improve your health. For example, lower carbohydrate diets with healthy fats may improve your blood cholesterol levels.

The Final Word

The South Beach Diet is a nutritious diet plan that offers a wide variety of delicious food and a practical exercise plan — at least in the Supercharged version.

And it relies on proven ways to lose weight: eating smart carbs, healthy fats, lean protein, low-fat dairy, and plenty of fiber to keep hunger at bay.

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