Rating: 
Summary: A noteworthy change of life
Review: First off, if you want to save money, check this book out from your friendly local library. Only about a third of this book is information--useful information, but information you are not going to need to refer back to, if you understand it upon the first reading.The other two thirds of the books are meal plans and food lists--all of which are available for free at many places on the internet. also, the menus, while delicious, are impossible to follow, even for people like myself with loads of free time. if you use them, you will use every pot and pan in your house in days, and your fridge will be stocked full of 50 varieties of produce you only use once. That being said, the SBD seems to make sense to me. I've only followed it for a couple of weeks and I have not lost weight--I'm getting the impression that this entirely dependant on the individual and those mysterious forces of nature--but I have noticed that for the first time I am planning meals, eating regualar doses of veggies and proteins. for the first time in my life, I am not feeling an urge to put every sugar-laden item that is in the house directly into my mouth. This alone makes it worth it to me. also, if you check it out, there's a forum online with fellow dieter's recipes, questions, foibles, journals, etc. it's pretty helpful when the rest of the world seems to be following Atkins (which is NOT the same thing).
Rating: 
Summary: My first ever negative review
Review: I feel a little silly writing a negative review of this book, especially since there are so many 5 star ratings already listed. In fact, I doubt many people will find their way to this review, but I'm glad that you're reading this now... maybe I can save you $15... First of all, the book is just over 300 pages, but only the first 100 are "about" the eating plan. The remaining 200 are just pages and pages of daily menus and recipes. Personally, I don't need or want menus... I just want to know what I can and cannot eat. I understand that these are just suggestions to give you an idea of the type of day eating plans you can have... but, I don't know... these daily plans sure look an awful like any other Weight Watchers type of diet plan. Please don't tell me to eat orange roughy one day, and then sirloin burgers the next. Just tell me that I can eat FISH, or LEAN BEEF. Also, I find that there are contradictions between the 'written book' part the and the menus. In the body of the book, you are told that there is really no limit to real eggs, and that you may eat egg substitutes IF YOU WISH. But, in the menus.. you see egg substitute primarily (if not only). The same goes with caffenated coffee. He tells you, in the book, that, there is really no problem, diet-wise with the caffeine except that, for some, caffeine enhances the appetite. But, in the menus, only decaf is suggested. To me, it looks like two different people wrote the two sections of the book, and didn't even find a chance to discuss it with each other first. I look at this as a mistake, which makes the whole book seem worthless to me. Afterall, if you see dirty ashtrays on an airplane, it makes you wonder if the engines are well-maintained. I would rather have seen the 200 pages be listings of good and bad carbs and fats, instead of menus... but, of course, that information comes in a separate book... hmmmm, wonder why the good doctor would do that? I'm not saying that the basic plan is bad... it's probably very good, and I'm almost doing it already, as I've been on a low-carb plan for a while. It's just that, it could have been said in about 5 pages.
Rating: 
Summary: Finally, a diet book with results!
Review: I'm sick of all the usual diet baloney about eating in moderation, getting physical excercise, and all that yada yada. It's never worked for me. But this book was totally different. There's a lot of information in this book: sciency stuff about blood sugar and carbohydrates, specific diet plans and recipes, and a long-term schedule to follow. Whatever. All I care about is whether it works, and boy, did it ever. I weighed myself before I read the book, and I tipped the scales at 285. I weighed myself after, and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw 281! Yes! At that rate, I just need to read this thing another twenty or so times and my weight will finally be under control. Thank you Dr. Agatston.
Rating:
Summary: Will the first 2 weeks ever end??
Review: I have two days left of phase 1 and I am dying for some chocolate or a piece of toast! Abolish the cravings? No way. I went on this diet to get healthy. I could stand to lose a few pounds (I lost 4 pounds) but the idea of "heart health" appealled to me more than the weight loss. I enjoyed reading this book and getting educated about how sugar and carbs affect your system but it was pure torture not having my beloved whole grain bread and chocolate. And NO the mocha dessert did not hit the spot for me. Lunch, snack and dinner were filling but breakfast and snack just never seemed to satisfy my hunger. In a few days phase 1 will be over and I will indulge in some DARK chocolate. I CAN'T WAIT!
Rating:
Summary: Exercise? No kidding.
Review: Does Dr. Agatston really need to put that in the book? I think by now everyone should know that exercise is beneficial. This book outlines a dietary science and plan for a healthy body and slimmer waist... and does it well. I hardly think of this as a diet - Slim Fast is a diet - this is a nutritioal blueprint that outlines basic guidelines for healthy eating. I
Rating:
Summary: not just a diet but a life style
Review: I bought the SouthBeach diet about four weeks ago. I went on it right away and lost 11 pounds the first to weeks! When you read the book you realize its not just a diet, It teaches you how to eat healthier. Its not just a no carb diet you add into it like fruit later. By Phase three you should be a newer healtier health freak. So far I went from 217 to 203 in two and a half weeks!Norther
Rating:
Summary: Be wary of this FRUITLESS diet!
Review: I tried my hand at this diet, and I can't say that it worked for me. It may for some, but it's not exactly a sure thing.
Rating:
Summary: Good excuse for doing the diet
Review: The South Beach Diet is a multimedia blitz of various publications, along with website subscription plans, that quickly become redundant, especially since the program is both familiar and simple. But as much as I had tried to follow my grandmother's advice to limit sugar, refined foods, and cheap carbs, I've been more successful since this book. Unlike some of the other publications bearing the name of the same program, author and publisher, this one lays out a complete, totally prescriptive, no-brainer regimen of meals for every day of the program. Simply make a list of all of the ingredients (many of which I'd never heard of), buy them, and follow the script to the letter. Some people may do just as well trusting common sense which, in my case, proved not so common. As far as results, I experienced 5 percent loss of body weight during the first 4 days despite not exercising, and my carbohydrate cravings, for the most part, vanished. By the 5th day, however, I'd run out of pre-prepared meals and time and began to cheat with Snapple Meal Replacements and Zone Bars. The scale immediately punished me for my indiscretions and hasty improvising. The lesson: this isn't jazz; stick to the score.
Rating:
Summary: Falling off the wagon
Review: I have just begun the diet and find the first two weeks a challenge, however, I believe this is a good food plan (I do not like the word "diet")and one I can follow for the rest of my life. I was told many years ago by my teacher in a health club I belonged to that I should cut back on bread, potatoes, etc. I am wondering if any of you have slipped during the first two weeks and what effect it had. I will have no problem with Phase 2 but I miss my oatmeal, skim milk and wine in Phase 1. Anxious to hear from you.
Rating: 
Summary: plan is working, but shellfish and cold lunches a problem
Review: I have been having success on this diet. In the first week, I lost an inch in my waist. Also, I haven't have terrible carb cravings (chocolate at 3pm anyone?) But, I have some reservations about the menu plan in the book for Phase I. I am working on ways around it. First of all, I was really dissatisfied with the large number of lunch recipes using crab and shrimp, without including alternatives. As someone who is allergic to shellfish, this has made my lunches pretty boring. Gee, another chicken salad for lunch!!! Also, as someone who started this diet in a cold January in the midwest, I could really use a low-carb soup recipe for lunches. The only soup recipe I see included for Phase I was gazpacho, a cold soup! I have had to turn up the heat to keep from crawling back into bed. Can only drink so much tea!! Salads everyday may be great for people in warm climates but not for us snowbirds. The book also says that you won't be hungry on this diet. That hasn't been the case for me. Even with all the snacks, I have been very hungry about an hour before mealtimes. It has taken every bit of willpower not to eat the whole bag of nuts instead of the 10 (or 20 for pistachios.) But, all in all, I am doing well on it.
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