With increasing awareness of staying healthy by losing weight, dieting is more of a trend these days. But it is significant to choose the right kind of diet in order to obtain maximum benefits. Designed in the 1990s, this unique diet plan was developed by Dr. Agatston and Marie Almon.
The South Beach diet is unlike traditional low-carbohydrate diet plans with its main focus on selecting the right kind of carbohydrates, whole grains, lean protein sources, special fruits and appropriate fats. The South beach dieters are advised to stay on carbohydrate free diet by giving up food items like potatoes, fruit, bread, cereal, rice, bread, beets, and pasta in the first two weeks. To kick-start this long-term eating plan, it is important to follow three basic phases for desired weight loss.
- The first phase of South Beach diet: the dieters eat normal-sized portions of food items like chicken, eggs, lean meat, nuts, beans, turkey, reduced-fat cheese and vegetables. This phase lasts for two weeks and consists of three balanced meals and a snack. Carbohydrates like rice, potatoes, bread and so forth are not allowed. Snacking is encouraged to reduce hunger for the next meal.
- The second phase aims at desired weight loss by re-introducing the right kind of carbohydrates. You can monitor the results of re-introduction of carbohydrates in your diet and make changes accordingly. This stage can last as long as the dieter reaches the optimum weight level by eating whole grain pastas, fruits and whole grain breads.
- The phase three focuses on maintaining the weight achieved and adopting it as a lifestyle. It is all about making right food choices and maintaining an ideal body weight and enjoying a healthy life forever.
The long-term benefits achieved through South Beach Diet are second to none including ideal body weight, less chance of diabetes, cholesterol and hypertension. It works on the principle of reaching an appropriate glycemic index and encourages snacking to satisfy your hunger.
Celebrities who have followed the South Beach diet include Bette Midler, Nicole Kidman, Kim Cattrall and Hilary and Bill Clinton.
Find out more about the South Beach diet.
Other effective diets include the Spectrum diet, Sugar Busters, Volumetrics diet and the Ultra Metabolism diet.
Image: http://www.sxc.hu/browse.phtml?f=search&w=1&txt=vegetables&p=2,
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nicole_Kidman.02.jpg, originally posted to Flickr by Michael Albov (mikegoat)
Tags: diet obesity weight loss