Rating: 
Summary: Modified Atkins - which is fine
Review: South Beach Diet is basically a modification of the Atkins plan, making it a bit easier to follow, minimizing Atkins' emphasis on saturated fats. I know several people who've followed the plan successfully, and the divergences may make it usable for some who can't/won't do the full Atkins induction.BTW, why do some reviewers post the same review several times over several days? Is there some sort of prize? Of the 40 most recent reviews (at this writing), about 20% are the same review posted with a different title every day. This is less than useful, it's rude and gets in the way of reading divergent "real" feedback posts.
Rating: 
Summary: Good start. Finish??? Well....we'll see...
Review: I too had very impressive results with this diet. I lost nearly 26lbs. in a very short period of time. Now, however, after 5 months of struggling to strictly adhere to the diet I am ready to cry uncle. More than anything in the world I'd like to stuff my face with a big mac!
Don't get me wrong - I really did learn a great deal about nutrition from the book, and I'm sure it's a sound diet that does work (it worked for me). Also, I haven't put back on ALL the weight I lost and I'm sure I'm healthier, so I still feel as though the book has helped me. I do admit though, that I'm struggling which I'm sure is normal, but I haven't thrown in the towel just yet. In conclusion, I do like the diet and think it's worth giving it a try. I just think that any diet is hard to indefinitely adhere to.
Rating: 
Summary: all previous reviews are as valid as the book itself
Review: The Purina (TM)Company makes several kinds of "Chows" --- Dog Chow, Cat Chow, Mouse Chow, etc. Why haven't they come out with a Human Chow -- little biscuits of complete nutrition for humans who don't want to cook? It could put an end to books like these that are two thirds recipes and meal plans. For those who are comfortable in the kitchen the recipes don't seem that complex. If you're like I am and your cooking skills don't go much beyond omelettes and pancakes, most of the recipes will go untested.
If you aren't familiar with the term "glycemic index" and how it affects insulin production you will find some useful information. Also you will learn how the glycemic index of a food or meal can be lowered by including fiber and/or fat. Also, the doctor includes descriptions of newer tests that should be helpful in diagnosing heart disease as well as in evaluating the effectivenes of treatments. For the doctor's information Metamucil (TM) is primarily soluble fiber, not nonsoluble fiber. Other reviewers picked up other inconsistencies.
When it comes to exercise, the doctor is out of his realm. Running is one of the worst forms of exercise for most people especially if they are overweight or orthopedically unsuited (bowed legs, knock-knees, etc.)for running. Running puts huge G-forces on the joints. While cartilage is a shock absorber, it has limits and if the rate of wear exceeds the rate of repair then the cartilage gets thin and frayed and the result is osteoarthritis. I know; running did it for me and others I have known. According to my othopaedic surgeon it appears that as we age our bodies lose the ability to make certain proteins in sufficient quantity to maintain cartilage. Run if you must, but at least keep the mileage at a reasonable level and do not run on hard surfaces. And have a physician check the health the thickness of your cartilage -- first for a baseline and then periodically to catch any thinning. A couple of simple inexpensive X-rays will do the trick. Even George W. Bush is now experiencing knee pains that are interfering with his running.
Speaking of George W. Bush, watch him as he walks. His palms face backwards rather than inward towards his legs and parallel to the direction of travel. This indicates a posture problem that is probably correctable. Poor posture is probably is reponsible for many of the aches and pains of "aging". A good exercise program should include posture assessment. The doctor makes no mention of this.
The doctor recommends a good stretching routine. What constitutes a good routine or where one can be found is up to the reader. Everyone knows stretching is important, but which form -- PNF, Active Isolation, MicroStretching (TM), Contract-Relax, etc. -- is best is an ongoing debate. Also, many traditional stretches are dangerous for many people, especially those with osteoporosis.
Finally, the function of eating is nutrition. At the minimum all the essential nutrients in the proper quantities should be present in the diet. It would be interesting for someone to analyze the diet plan to see if it meets that standard. Roy Walford's books meet this standard.
Rating:
Summary: It will work, but for how long?
Review: In a few words, this diet plan will work. I'm on a very similar plan and have lost some fat (I'm at 7% now) and put on about 10 pounds of muscle over the past few months. It's simply a matter of limiting your caloric intake, maximizing protein consumption, and avoiding insulin spikes that come when you eat quickly burning carbs. Where this diet plan falls short is its failure to address an exercise routine. No, you don't have to kill yourself with cardio. You're really not burning that many calories unless you're swimming or running at a very intense level for an hour or so. With that said, the natural high you get off of an exercise routine combined with the knowledge that you're eating well and working towards a goal is what changes your life. Diets are a temporary fix. You won't stay on them forever (as many of you know) unless you have something motivating you to continue--namely the results you see from even a very modest exercise routine. Lift weights even twice per week. Ladies, you will not become ripped by doing this. Trust me, you'd have to go extremely out of your way to have that happen. When it comes down to it, I'd recommend Body for Life over this book anyday. The South Beach Diet is only half of the equation--one many of you won't stick with because it promotes the wrong goals. BFL presents a plan that can transform you and leave you looking forward to remaining healthy for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Not too good to be true - Lost over 50 lbs
Review: In a six month period, I went from 215 lbs and a 38 waist to 158 lbs and a 32 waist. Even more impressive is that I have been able to keep the weight off, even during the recent Holiday season.This program did more for me in a few months thanw hat I was able to do with Doctors, Nutritionists, health clubs etc. my whole life.What a great program! Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: The South Beach Diet: The Delicious, Doctor-Designed...
Review: I lost 13 pounds in two weeks. I stopped the diet after that to see if the weight would come back, it did not but I did start to crave the junk food again. So I am starting the diet again now that I am sure that once I start adding good carbs, I won't explode like a watermelon. It is really easy to follow. I love candy, cakes, bread, cookies, and lots of junk food so if I can do this diet. Anybody can! When I am on the diet I don't even crave the sweets.
Rating:
Summary: Is It Good or Is It Bad?
Review: I received a glorious, full-color brochure about the South Beach Diet from Prevention. It all sounded too good to be true, even the price of the book was unreal ($30.00 plus postage and handling.) So I decided to check the reviews on Amazon.com. There are many glowing recommendations plus a few negative reviews. Most of the naysayers also have valid points to make. I understand about severely restricting the carb intake, but what if (like me) a person doesn't like fish and seafood, doesn't like yogurt, doesn't like tofu, etc. And, will never eat fat-free cheese (that is really an oxymoron, don't you think?), then what? Is this diet of any use to someone with those types of restrictions? Can you make a success of this diet even though you eliminate the above foods from the diet? Just wondering. Would like to know thoughts on that before buying and trying this book.
Rating:
Summary: Yep, this diet works all right!
Review: This diet DOES work. I went from 196 lbs. to 172 lbs. in a period of about 3 months. No exercise, either! Now I plan to exercise/lift weights to tone up now that I've dropped over 20 lbs. The book is great.. detailed, informative, and the diet works. GET THIS BOOK!
Rating: 
Summary: nothing new
Review: This book has some helpful recipes, but it is basically the same low carb diet that can be found in less complicated form elsewhere. It's not all that different than Dr. Atkins work, really, particularly if you read his newest book, Atkins for Life.
Rating:
Summary: I lost 27 pounds and am making the most of my life!
Review: The South Beach Diet is a wonderful book because it explains which foods are good for us and how others keep us in a never-ending blood sugar cycle which leads to more food and despair. The diet works if we have dealt with our tendency to self-sabotage. So I recommend Optimal Thinking: How to Be Your Best Self, endorsed by leading experts, to eliminate whatever is stopping you from being your best. You will learn how to consistently make the most of any situation and will optimize your emotional intelligence. Once this is working for you, the South Beach Diet is a cinch!
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