Rating: 
Summary: A good book for those starting or looking for a new diet
Review: I've read the other reviews, and to a certain extent they make valid points. This book might be either boring or oversell to those who have read The Atkins Diet book, or other books on Low Carb dieting.On the other hand, I must credit the book with this: I actually read it. Maybe that's because a friend of mine lost 40 pounds on this diet, or maybe because the metallic aqua/blue cover caught my attention, or maybe the name "South Beach Diet" by a Miami Beach cardiologist sounded a bit exotic to my ears. But for whatever reason, I read this book and learned a good bit about how some carbs are a lot worse than other carbs, and that unfortunately I tended to favor the bad carbs. Is the book well organized (No, IMO) and is it confusing at times (Yes)? You really learn the "diet" by osmosis by reading the recipes and brief testimonials of those who have participated in it. The South Beach Diet is a lot like the Atkins diet, with some modifications. Dr. Agatston is a bit concerned that the Atkins rule (at least as practiced by my wife and brother in law) of "eat all the protein and fats you want--just avoid all carbs" can be a bit unhealthy. I know that I've tried the Atkins diet, and it works miserably (you'll actually GAIN weight) if you don't cut out just about all carbs. This book leans more to a "leaner protein"/low glycemic index carb diet, cutting out high fat proteins, bad fats, and high glycemic index carbs. In practice and emergencies, it works a bit like Atkins though (rushed to eat breakfast at a McDonald's this am, I ordered a McMuffin and ate the cheese slice, egg and canadian bacon and ditched the bread)...while Atkins wants you to avoid most all carbs, on this diet, you really need to avoid the high glycemic index carbs, but a lot of low glycemic index veggies are actually encouraged. In any event all of these low carb diets work on the principle that foods that raise your blood sugar quickly also cause your blood sugar to later fall quickly, establishing carbo cravings and vicious cycles which lead to weight gain, and that higher protein--lower carb diets can help us get around these cycles. I suspect the Atkins diet--if strictly adhered to--loses more weight up front, but this diet plan may work better for the long haul. Having failed at Atkins because I couldn't resist putting on BBQ sauce on the pork, ketchup on a breadless cheeseburger, or having the wrong salad dressing plus croutons with my salad, plus seeing my friend lose 40 lbs, I've decided to give this one a try.
Rating: 
Summary: Simple and Easy
Review: I think that this book is fairly simple and to the point. I also think that some of the criticisms of it are unfair and inaccurate. They puzzled me. Perhaps some readers are just in a fury over the concept of giving up bread, potatoes and dessert. Ha. It most certainly is not "Atkins Redux." Distinctions are drawn between bad fat and good fat as well as between good carbs and bad carbs. One reader complained that the first 100 pages were a waste and that the diet, recipes, etc. didn't start until page 100. I frankly enjoyed reading about the philosophy behind the diet and would regard it as an insult to my intelligence if only the menus were presented without any explanation. Guess this quick fix just isn't enough for some people who will continue looking for an even quicker fix. That is why fat is an epidemic in this country.
Rating: 
Summary: How to lose weight and make the most of life
Review: The South Beach Diet makes total sense. I now understand how carbs affect us and how to make food serve me instead of control me. I recommend this great book and another brilliant book called Optimal Thinking-How to be Your Best Self by Dr. Rosalene Glickman. Optimal Thinking is the "mental software" to make choices that are in our best interest and make the best of any situation. Read every word in each of these books and you'll have it all. You'll never need to read another self-help book!
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommended and long awaited!
Review: I turned 30 last year and to my dismay, suddenly all my old dieting tricks no longer worked. I always considered myself a healthy eater, never indulging very much in foods that I knew were bad for me. However, my weight continued to creep up (20 pounds over my goal) and would not budge. I never embraced the Atkins diet because so many people abused it and misunderstood it (skipping on bread but eating high fat foods without understanding the health risks involved). The South Beach diet while, addressing some of the same issues, was very different in its overall message promoting instead LOW CARBOHYDRATE, LOW FAT, WHOLE FOODS, and LEAN PROTEINS. So I tried it. After reading this book and following the plan suggested I lost 8 pounds in the first two weeks as promised. The weight continues to melt off, almost without any effort at this point (into phase two and up to 11 pounds off- pounds that would not budge for months). I'm ashamed to admit it, but I rarely exercise and yet I'm still losing weight and have dropped a pant size. I feel great. Friends are trying it with great success as well. Thank you Dr. Agatston!
Rating:
Summary: it's been working for me
Review: I have been on the diet for about three months now, and have lost 25 lbs. It works well for me, as a busy working person, to be able to have a breakfast I make ahead of time and grab a salad at lunch, and pick and choose from menu options.
I was really strict for the first two weeks, and have stayed fairly strict since, but have by no means followed it religiously. Cravings disappear after a couple days, just like the book says. After the first few weeks, I wanted to add exercise to my diet, because if just changing my eating habits worked this well, imagine what kind of transformation my body would be capable of if I also worked out a few times a week! It's really paying off, as I have dropped 2 dress sizes.
I agree that the editing could be improved. Over all, though, I recommend this diet highly.
Rating: 
Summary: A poor Atkins imitation
Review: I'm glad I borrowed it from the library! This author basically plagarizes most of Atkins work. That wouldn't be so bad if he didn't also take a shot at Dr. Atkins and totally misrepresent the Atkins lifestyle. Shameful, in my opinion since he says basically the same things, except not nearly as well. He also attempts to make his diet a lower fat version of Atkins, no doubt to make his book more appealing and more acceptable to the medical establishment and the many people who remain convinced that dietary fat is evil. I gave this book 2 stars instead of one because it has a few good recipes in it. However, as others have stated, the editing is awful, the advice is inconsistent and it is just not written very well. If you are really intersted in lowering your carb intake for better health, get "Atkins New Diet Revolution" or "Atkins for Life" which is more moderate. Dr. Atkins is the one that did all the work and took all the heat for years when he was the lone voice against the high carb mania that has made this country number one in obesity in the world. His books remain the most informative and best written. The rest, including this one, are just poor imitations. If you are going to spend your money, get the real thing.
Rating:
Summary: Low-Carb with Low-Fat Principles
Review: The South Beach Diet is a good option for those who are convinced dietary fat is evil and makes you fat. While those of us who know low-carb eating know this is not true, some just cannot believe they really can eat fat and lose weight. Dr. Agatston misrepresents the Atkins diet in the hope to convince those reading his book his plan is better - there really was no need to do this at all since his plan has sufficient differences to distinguish itself from Atkins without the unnecessary and incorrect assessments of Atkins that he provides. Editorially the book has its flaws - tomatoes, for instance are on the "banned" list in Phase I, yet appear on the menus. Moving into Phase II fruits are to be slowly re-introduced, yet appear on the menu extensively. While these are "minor" editing problems, they can confuse readers. If you get this book, also read the website that is available and has more information. Lastly, keep in mind this plan - if you follow the menus provided - is extremely low-calorie....low enough that most people will go into "starvation mode" following it if they are not careful. While many will assert that this plan isn't about counting anything, but eating by portion size - the menus provided DO provide portions and when adding up the calories suggested each day, it's a measely 900 to 1200 calories! For most people this spells starvation mode and in a couple of weeks of starvation mode, weight loss stops.
Rating: 
Summary: ANOTHER BOGUS DIET
Review: if you buy this book you are throwing your money away -what is the use in getting this book? you probably would say ( to lose weight)- this isnt a healthy way to lose weight and isnt a solution to permanent weight loss. it makes me angry that the authors can come up with this bogus nonsense and sell all these books with thier diffrent opinions on how to lose weight when thier way isnt even healthy. I lost almost 18 pounds the past 1 month and about 13 days and i didnt do it by going on one of these stupid diets- i did it the real way and the healthiest way - eat low fat and healthy foods ( including carbohydrates ) and exercise for an hour a day or 5 days a week at least for one hour with an aerobic excercise that gets your heart going. - THATS ALL YOU NEED PEOPLE - its as simple as that. its just the fact that you cant just say you want it , u have to do it - once your to the point that you really want it and are willing to make a commitment to exercise and eating healthy low fat-low calorie you will get the results but you will never succeed long term on these crazy diets or just wanting to get a quick fix. if you want the weight to come off quicker just exercise longer and eat healthy - that means all food groups and normal exercise - trust me u will lose weight and as for this book its b.s.- its another fad. P.s.- I got the answer to weight loss right here for ya - eat 1 or 2 low fat lean cusine meals every day and you can have snacks like fruit or vegetable and dip/cereal/egg/etc.. dont eat before you go to bed and exercise daily or at least 5 days a week for an hour on a tredmill- THERE YOUR SOLUTION- U WONT FIND IT IN THIS BOOK.
Rating:
Summary: Isn't this Sugar Busters with a new title?
Review: Seems to me that this is nothing but Sugar Busters under a new name...
Rating:
Summary: Let's stop wasting our money
Review: This book is terrible. Listen, I understand that a lot of people want to lose weight, I can even stand to lose a little weight but please don't waste your time on this book. It is problematic in every area. The menu is impossible to follow and most of the food is disgusting. Besides most people work 40 hours a week and have families and it's impossible to cook for every meal. Plus it's not fair to deprive yourself of the food that you love. Keep eating it, just less. One good solution that has worked for me is supplements. Supplement your snacks by using any EMS product or go by a juicer. I can't stand the taste of most vegetables but grinding vegetables into juice tastes amazing and I can definitely see results. A much superior book is Bill Phillips' "Body for Life." Yes, that book changed my life forever. It's the only weight loss book that doesn't condescend and understands some of our lack of knowledge about fitness. If you want to lose those carbs, then just go with the Atkins' Diet or get some advice from your doctor. Please don't waste your money on this book. You don't deserve to be discouraged and lied to by a con artist. Which is what this Arthur Agatston is. I believe that anyone who has succeeded on this diet will go back to old habits. This diet isn't something I can imagine following for the rest of my life. It's just too gross for that. Eating healthy and looking great shouldn't be our quick destination but a journey we should all welcome into our lives.
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