How the South Beach Diet works for weight loss
The South Beach diet is a modified version of the Adkins diet. The South Beach weight loss diet is a three phase weight loss diet. The first phase of the South Beach diet is two weeks long and during those two weeks carbohydrates are severely restricted. The theory behind this is that during the first two weeks, a person's cravings for carbohydrates will disappear. The second phase of the South Beach diet consists of reintroducing "good carbohydrates", which are found in whole grains, fruit, and vegetables, into a person's diet. Weight loss will continue during phase two because the cravings for carbohydrates are suppose to be gone, so not as many carbohydrates will be consumed. A person should remain in phase two until they have reached their goal weight. Once a person achieves their ideal weight, they should go into phase three of the South Beach diet where they should remain for the rest of their life. In phase three a person will be eating normal foods in normal-size portions and they continue to live by the few basic rules of the South Beach diet.
Advantages of the South Beach Diet for weight loss
The South Beach diet is fairly balanced after the first two weeks (phase one). On the South Beach diet there is no counting calories or fat. The South Beach diet encourages 3 meals and snacks. The South Beach diet also includes a phase to be adopted as a life-long plan for the maintenance of the lost weight.
Disadvantages of the South Beach Diet for weight loss
The South Beach diet may be hard to follow for people who are familiar with diets that contain high carbohydrates. Meal planning while on the South Beach diet may be difficult and time consuming especially in the first phase. If a person returns to a carbohydrate-rich diet after being on the South Beach diet, it may result in rapid weight gain. In order to keep the weight off, the South Beach diet must become a new way of life.
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