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The South Beach Diet: The Delicious, Doctor-Designed, Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Loss
Books: CookBooks: Healthy: Item 4
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The South Beach Diet: The Delicious, Doctor-Designed, Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Lossby Arthur Agatston
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1161 of 1337 people found the following review helpful: Updated version of ATKINS, June 5, 2003 Reviewer:Lee Mellott (Frederick, Maryland) - Basically the South Beach diet is the Atkins program with some modifications. Sadly Agatston does not give Atkins credit. In fact on page 10 he states, "the Atkins Diet, for instance which bans virtually all carbohydrates and leaves the dieters to exist mostly on protein." Anyone who is familiar with Atkins knows that though Atkins plan does ban carbs for the first two weeks in the induction phase it later allows carbs back into the diet and the individual works up to a carb allowance where he/she will not gain back weight. And yes with Atkins whole grains, pasta and potatos are allowed according to the individuals metabolism of carbs. So this quote indicated that the author was either unfamiliar with Atkins or just twisting things so his own diet was more appealing. Agatston also claims his diet is not low carb. But in the first two weeks you eat very limited carbs and after that you add carbs back to your diet according to what you can handle (without gaining weight) so if you consider Atkins low carb, which does the same thing you will consider The South Beach Diet low carb. You begin the diet with a two week period where you do not eat rice, pasta, bread, fruit, potatoes, etc. After the 2 week period you will according to Agatston lose between 8 and 13 pounds. When your 2 weeks are up, you go to Phase 2. In Phase 2 you add back carbs that are good carbs like whole grains, fruits etc. You continue to lose and then when you have reached your goal you switch to Phase 3. This is where you eat your foods in normal portions, but live by simple rules. There are two main differences between Atkins and Agatston. Agatston does not suggest you go into ketosis as Atkins does. And Agatston suggest you limit saturated fats unlike Atkins. Other than that, the diet is essentially the same. Agatston suggests eating fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, unproceessed foods and fat etc. just like Atkins. Agatston's book is not well written either. He skips around in the book and doesn't clearly spell out the plan. The reader is left to infer what the diet is as he reads the book. A much better book choice would be to get "Atkins for Life" where everything is spelled out and eat less saturated fat. Agatston also states you don't have to worry about counting calories. Sadly no matter what diet you are on, as I found out the hard way, calories count. The reason low carb diets don't require you to count calories or watch portions is because protein is very satiating and naturally suppresses the appetite. So most folks will not overeat. But there are some who will. And if you cheat just with some carbohydrates and are eating the fats and proteins that low carbing allows you may very well gain weight. Bottom line calories count. Agatston gives menu plans in the back of his book. These are cut and dried with no substitutions listed. And when you add up the calories, menu plans are approx. 1200 or so. No wonder you will lose weight! One good point Agatston does make is if you add fiber right before you eat a meal in the form of say a spoonful of Metamucil you will slow down the processing of your food and feel fuller. If you want to lose weight, eat protein to help you feel full. Eat healthy fats. Eat unprocessed carbs (fruits and veggies) and eat few starchy carbs (rice, potatos). And eat moderate portions. Agatston tells you this but its already been said before.
Product Review
The verdict is in: those simple carbs we've been living on are killing us. For good health, we've got to get our blood sugar under control and stop the incessant cravings. Or so says Dr. Arthur Agatston, author of The South Beach Diet. The first half of the book details the science behind the diet. Most of the explanations revolve around why things you thought were healthy—-orange juice, wheat toast, carrots—-are actually evil. To avoid blood sugar surges, Agatston created a modified carbohydrate plan, recommending plenty of high-fiber foods, lean proteins, and healthy fats, while cutting bread, rice, pastas, and fruits. Major differences from other diets include a lack of concern over portion size and a serious indifference to exercise. Feeling full while on a diet is a beautiful thing, but it seems odd that a cardiologist buries his exercise recommendations in a solitary sentence.
The last half of the book covers his three-stage plan; daily diets are mixed with recipes, some of which are from South Beach restaurant chefs. The most restrictive period lasts just two weeks, enough time to stabilize your urges and lose a few pounds; stage two adds fruits and a handful of other carbs, while stage three is meant to last the remainder of your life, with occasional lapses for white bread or birthday cake. While the diet is sound, the book could be better organized. The first half mixes scientific study with anecdote in a seemingly random way, while the mix of meal plans and recipes can be confusing. Still, the recipes are varied and tasty, and you'll never feel deprived, unless you currently happen to live by bread alone. --Jill Lightner
From Publishers Weekly
Despite the glitzy title, this is one of the more appealing diet books among the new "anti-carb" programs. Agatston, a doctor based at Miami Beach's Mt. Sinai medical Center, found that his patients not only were unable to stay on various popular diets but their cholesterol and blood sugar levels remained dangerously high after trying these plans. The doctor chose to alter his own diet-first avoiding all carbohydrates and fruit and then reintroducing these foods in moderation. Feeling better and losing weight, he then consulted a nutritionist to modify his strategy to devise a sound method for his patients. The South Beach diet begins with a somewhat restrictive two-week program, generally producing a weight loss of from eight to 13 pounds. The initial phase may be difficult for those who crave bread, pasta and fruit. But there are still choices, and snacks (cheese, hummus, vegetables) are a necessary part of the diet. People shouldn't feel hungry on this part of the diet, stresses the author. The second phase offers somewhat more choices, including whole wheat bread and other selected carbohydrates. Agatston advocates combining the "bad" with the "good." For example, take whole wheat bread and dip it into olive oil, rather than using butter. Eat a very small amount of pasta with lots of vegetables, meat and healthy oils. Complete meal plans along with simple recipes comprise roughly half the book. Of course, there's no perfect diet that works for everyone but the enthusiasm of the conversational tone and the inviting manner make the book more appealing than many other diet tomes.
Copyright 2003 Reed business Information, Inc.
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