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Summary: It Does Work
Review: I've tried many diets over the years, stopping eating, Weight Watchers, Soup Diet, Cabbage Diet, Hospital Diet, and the Atkins Diet.All had one big problem, they were very hard to stick to, I felt like I was starving myself and the results weren't satisfying. Atkins was torture. Its my opinion that we all have different body types and different metabolisms so we all react differently to different diets. On the South Beach, I've lost 33 pounds in almost four months. Cutting Carbs, Sugar and reducing Fat, have worked for me following the South Beach plan. I don't find myself hungry between meals, find that I don't miss the carbs, in fact when I eat carbs I get tired, they sap the strength right out of me. I don't have cravings, I'm eating normal size, healthy meals, and I enjoy whats happened to my body since I started. I also find that when I eat out with family, friends and co-workers that I can always find something on the menu to have, I'm not limited. My goal weight loss was 50 pounds and I'm well on my way. This diet may not be for everyone, but for me, its been fantastic.
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Summary: What Body Type Are You?
Review: I think a very important part that is missing from the reviews is that no really goes into painting the differences in body type. You need to understand the heavier/out of shape you are, the more likely you will lose a lot of weight. Losing weight however is not the bottome line. A lot of people assoicate losing weight with feeling better about themselves. This book should teach you how to feel better about yourself while boosting energy (which means for you motivation to work out), lowered sugar levels (which means for you less naps or episodes of sleepiness), decreased risk of diabetes and cardiovasular problems (perhaps the greatest benefit of all), and what about learining the differences between both good and bad foods. Going to the italian pastry shop will never be the same---maybe because you learned something from reading this. Read this or Atkins---you are bound to have the results I have listed. The key here is that you need to believe in something. Take it to the bank and convince yourself you are going to do it to see it through. I am in shape and lost only a few pounds, but I am not tired, and my energy has soured. Before reading this, I was going to the gym about 6 times a week. Now I can continue a much more intense regimen and for someone like myself, you can beneift from it by becomoing more tone. I consider myself to be in excellent shape before this and this diet really helped me, maybe becasue I wasn't obsessed with losing the weight. However a few pounds for an in shape me, may mean losing a lot for an out of shape you. We can all benefit from the book. The writings can be confusing, but use what you have learned and apply it. That is the key in life anyway isn't it? Learning then applying.
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Summary: Here we go again...
Review: As other reveiwers have stated, this is basically the Atkins diet revisited. Those who think this diet is superior to Atkins because it allows complex carb intake, haven't fully read the Atkins plan. This diet is bascially the same as Atkins, just marketed a little more classily. Like Atkins, this diet advertises (mostly on the web) that you can lose weight without exercise! Maybe, but are you truly building a better body (by losing fat and gaining muscle) that way or just losing weight? For a truly comprehensive diet & EXERCISE program, I would recommend Body-for-Life by Bill Phillips. No gimmicks here! You are going to have work hard and eat right. No cutting carbs in the first two weeks to "maximize" weight loss. Just sensible eating and exercise--ALL THE TIME!
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Summary: I don't like the food choices
Review: The problem I would have is like with Cilantro Mayonnaise. I don't like cilantro. If fish is a staple in your diet, you should enjoy the meals. I don't care for tuna or much of the other forms of fish. I did prepare the salmon, but had to go out and buy red miso. I didn't even know what miso was, but I bought it and prepared the salmon and found it only okay. I also learned miso is a soy paste. wow! I think I could have lived forever without knowing that. I would not enjoy a smoked salmon frittata for breakfast. And hummus! Now that sounds wonderful. And yes, I am being facetious. I didn't know what that one was either. Fish kabobs -- no thank you! And, lunch with a Salad nicoise, is a salad with yet more tuna and now we must also add anchovies. I don't think so. Why can't someone create diet menus which include many of the foods we already enjoy, excluding breads, pastas and other white flour products. Beef and chicken are already commonly used by most people, so we need to learn to prepare those items in a manner that is less harmful to us. Most of the items on the 14 day menus are items that I either have never purchased, nor care to purchase and that is mostly because I am fairly certain that I would not like them. Anyone want to buy my book?
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Summary: I lost 14 pounds in 2 weeks
Review: This book works and I will use the information for the rest of my life. I also recommend 8 minutes in the Morning for a balanced approach to diet and exercise.
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Summary: Can't Argue With Results
Review: This book is not Atkins, no matter how many times people say it is, but I won't waste the space explaining again the differences, as I've read several reviews that already cover that. Was the book a masterpiece of literature? No, but he isn't a professional writer, he's a cardiologist. I'm sure in time and future editions they will clean up typos and inconsistencies. The point isn't if it was written to perfection but if it's sound and effective. I enjoyed reading the book, I did not find it difficult to realize that the first half was the theory behind it and the second half was the plan and recipes. Seemed pretty evident to me. The theory made perfect sense to me, and I was happy to hear moderation. Bad fats are not good for you, good fats are, in moderation. (Mr. Atkins could take note of that considering it's a MAJOR difference in their plans). I like that I don't have to worry about portions or calories. I like it that I can have my Diet Coke/Pepsi/coffee. I found the recipes to be really good for the most part, and I can't cook-I never have-but I started with this diet and found the recipes to be simple and very tasty! (That Ginger Chicken is excellent.)
I've found some recipes I will use forever just from their taste! The hardest part of this diet for me was finding some of the stuff in the grocery store. But once I passed the first week and figured out where things were, I was in the groove and doing fine. My junk food cravings went away almost immediately and it has been easy healthily on this plan. I feel good, have energy, and sure enough, lost 12 pounds in the first 2 weeks. My stomach went down, my face became thinner, my pants fit better after 4 days, and water or not I was glad to have it gone! The First Phase passed easily for me, and as of Phase 2 I have not regained any weight by reintroducing some of the restricted foods, I have continued to lose 1-2 pounds per week as was claimed. It's not hard to follow, it's a lifestyle I can maintain, not a temporary diet. I have 40 pounds to go and have no doubt I will be able to achieve that. Should we exercise? Of course. This wasn't about exercise, it was about the healthiest way to eat. Should you eat 50 chicken breasts in one sitting? Of course not. Common sense. Just because he doesn't spell out portion sizes doesn't give carte blanche to eat stupidly. I think he figured people would be smart enough to figure these things out, but I'm sure he will learn differently soon and revise some things in future editions of his book. All in all I found it to be a solid eating plan that has been easy for me to implement in my busy lifestyle. I'm not spending 3 hours a day in the kitchen and nobody is cooking my meals. It takes me a whole 4 minutes to put some egg beaters in a pan and scramble them instead of pouring a bowl of cereal. Takes another 4 minutes at lunch to throw some turkey and lettuce with the mayo sauce. I'm doing more dishes but I'm cooking and eating more healthily, so I can't complain there! I can throw some nuts in a plastic baggie for a snack, pick up a cheesestick at any gas station that has food, and eating out at restaraunts is fairly easy. Fast food...not so easy, but as he says, who out here doesn't know that fast food is bad for you?! Bottom line? Yes, the book could have some additional editing done, yes we should exercise, no this isn't atkins though they share some characteristcs (don't most diets?), and YES, it's effective! Try it! I am VERY happy to be getting my life and health back. Blood pressure down, cholesterol down, pre-diabetes problems disappearing. And my husband lost 3 pounds the first week and he wasn't even following the diet, he was just eating the same suppers I was. :) So if you can't do it on your own by just counting calories and exercising religiously, then give this a try to give you a boost to a healthier lifestyle! (Then go exercise ;))
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Summary: Healthy sustainable diet
Review: Many reviewers have stated that this diet is similar to the Adkins diet. It does share several common characteristics, particularly in the first two weeks, but the differences are nonetheless very important. I won't try to itemize all the differences here, but extensive personal research convinces me that The South Beach Diet is far more nutritionally and medically sound than Adkins and other currently popular diets. Dr Agatson did not conceive a diet in which goal is simply to lose weight, but rather he approached diet from a cardiologist viewpoint with the emphasis on good nutrition and improvement in lab results. While many popular low carb diets do get the weight off quickly, they are very poor choices long term. Additionally, recent studies indicate that a large percentage of low carb dieters regain the lost weight and gain even more within a year because restricted carbohydrate diets are simply unsustainable for most of us. Dr Agatsons diet is nutritionally sound and phase 3 can be followed for life. My wife had been unable to stay with any of the fad diets including Adkins, but has enjoyed tremendous success with Dr Agatson's diet. We also purchased "The Good Carb Cookbook" for additional delicious recipes after moving into the maintenance phase and highly recommend it as well. My wife and I have lost a combined 68 pounds and have also experienced improved blood test results, increased energy, enhanced mental acuity (subjective), and simply feel better physically and emotionally (subjective again). This is not just another weight loss diet, it is a nutrition improvement plan for life and it accomplishes the goal. There will always be another fad diet every few months, but Dr Agatson has provided a true nutrition plan that I can live with indefinitely and enjoy the benefits of excellent health.
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Summary: Good Job Dr. Agatston
Review: The problem with the American diet is that we eat nothing but quick, overly processed and refined foods, period. This diet is simply a plan to return to whole foods, good oils, lean meats, etc. The plan works and works well b/c your body is being taught to simply take in the foods it needs. It is different from Dr. Atkins but, as he states, is built off of many of the same principles. Instead of being angry about this, maybe the reader should view this as a sign that both of these diets are moving Americans towards the right direction in the types of foods we should be eating. Thank you Dr. Agatston for helping me confirm my suspicions about my diet. I am losing weight but I know it is not b/c I am on a diet but b/c I am now taking in good food that is good for my body. My goal has never been to be thin but to be healthy. I am now both!
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Summary: Buyer Beware!
Review: I got my South Beach Diet CD today with great expectations!
Instead I recieved an Audio of a boring chattering. I wanted to see an actual plan and thought I was getting that. I did not wish to with-stand 3hours of blaaah!I hope to return this CD and let you know from what I could get from it, was that it is just the Atkins Diet going by a different name!!! I truly hope the book is better than the Audio that I did not order!
Rating: 
Summary: Great info but needs a good copy editor
Review: This book is basically a 100-page lecture on cardiovascular health, blood chemistry, and how a diet of "good fats" and "good carbs" can help. It is disguised, packaged and promoted as a fad diet that takes advantage our narcissistic desires to look good. Dr. Agatston is first and foremost a cardiologist and his ulterior motive is to promote good diet for cardiovascular health. If your vanity leads you to read the whole lecture to ferret out the diet instructions, his mission is accomplished. It is actually a good lecture and I learned a lot of things I didn't already know. The problem comes in figuring what you have to do to actually follow this diet. If you have carefully paid attention to the lecture, you should be able to construct your OWN diet from the four pages of broad outlines on foods you can and can't eat. It is really designed to be a very flexible diet; allowing for a lot of personal customization and providing some practical strategies for making it succeed. But the book then jumps from the overly vague to the overly detailed, providing a daily "meal plan" that is too complicated and time-consuming to prepare exactly as written. When compiling a grocery list for the first phase of the diet, I quickly realized simplifications were in order and I used the meal plan only as a set of suggested ideas. Somewhere in the 100-page lecture it says that you should follow the general guidelines and eat until you are satisfied, with no counting of calories, fats or carbs required. What I would have preferred is an in-between level of detail that described it as options for breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner that I could use to write my grocery list! Down the road I expect to see an entirely rewritten version of this book that will address these organizational and content problems and to make the diet less frustrating to deal with. I hope the publisher insists that the author cooperate with a tough-minded copy editor to overhaul it. My advice is to go ahead and read this, but do it to learn how to eat and how food affects you, not how to follow yet another magical diet.
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