Rating: 
Summary: Poorly edited.
Review: I was disappointed when I found the publisher was Rodale. Shame on you. The index was minimal and I couldn't find what I was looking for. What is 1 wedge of Laughing Cow Light Cheese? I don't want to read every word in the book to find this. Yet many of the recipes have this. I saw this as a revamped Atkins and nothing more. There is no "true" instruction for the diet. Just follow the recipes for 2 weeks. The book is sort of divided in half. The first half follows a lot of the Atkins mind-set. Then ends. The second half has sceduled meals and recipes for Phase one, two, and three. Sounds like Atkins doesn't it - only with less clarity. I'm disappointed. I think this HAD the potential to be a good book, but the editor didn't edit or suggest.
Rating: 
Summary: Haven't I read this book before?
Review: Eh. Just another Atkins copycat. It's nice to get a variety of perspectives on low-carb dieting, and this book does add a couple good suggestions not covered in Atkin's book, but by and large it's simply an uncredited duplicate of the same plan.
Rating: 
Summary: Complex, Costly, Time-Consuming, and It Works!!
Review: Having been on the South Beach Diet for a month, I've lost 17 pounds and feel wonderful. The diet, very restrctive meal plans for each day, results in REALLY tasty meals and one certainly doesn't get hungry. There are many things about this diet, and this book, that I highly recommend.However: 1) No one warns you that fixing all of these complex meals means that you [in South Beach it would be your maid?] will be spending about three hours a day in the kitchen, meticulously making these complex menus, many of which have rather unusual chi-chi ingredients. 2) Speaking of chi-chi, it's easy to see why this came from South Beach Miami; the food for this diet is expensive! Many people will be buying a whole range of foods they've NEVER bought before, including rather exotic things like a wide variety of vinegars, fresh spices, tahini, hummus, Edamama soybeans and on and on. If you've got lots of time to cook and money, this diet is tasty, complex to prepare, and very satisfying ... as is the easy loss of weight.
Rating: 
Summary: It Works for Me!
Review: I have been on the SBD for 5 weeks and have lost 23#. I have tremendous energy, never hungry, and find the plan easy to follow. The book has been an invaluable tool to me. It explained why my body fat accumulated around my abdomen and what I need to do to get rid of it. It is full of meal plans and recipes. Not a day goes by that I don't refer back to it.
So, take the plunge and join the rest of us losers on the Beach!
Rating:
Summary: It works
Review: I have been following The South Beach Diet for a week now, and have already lost eight pounds. Yes, a lot of the loss is indeed coming from my abdominal area, and I feel SO much healthier. This is an easy and healthy eating plan to follow. The book is very easy to understand and has some great recipes included from top chefs. I highly recommend the book, and the program.
Rating:
Summary: I am on my way to the rest of my life...and good eating....
Review: I have been diabetic for 7 years. I have been to 3 dieticians and tried the last 10 years to follow some form of diet. I have most recently been on xenical. I have tried everything. This diet was my last hope before admitting I need surgery. I tried Atkins and could not stick with the regimend. I have made it through the first 2 weeks, which is the hardest with ease. I have lowered my blood pressure, which I was diagnosed at high...and basically in the first days I lowered my glucose numbers. And most of all, I truly get the whole issue with carbs-sugar- to synethetic foods. I believe every person, even if you do not follow the diet....should read this book to get an understanding of how food works with our bodies. A big light bulb went on for me..... As for the organization the previous review indicates. The book is organized to present background information first. Basically once I read the book, and I was not even interested in the recipes...I could follow it. No counting carbs, nothing...just eat what is on the acceptable list and you know it works. I have already lost belly fat so that my stomach no longer hits the steering wheel.... This is a cardiologist that writes this book. Very sound and informative....>Not scary and no gimicks...the real deal!
Rating:
Summary: Diet excellent, like "Sugar Busters" diet, book so-so
Review: I reduced my cholesterol reading dramatically (about 230 down to 179)in about 5 weeks with this diet despite the fact that I was really only trying to lose weight and had no faith that I could "fix" my cholesterol. I have a good HDL/LDL ratio and really hadn't been told to worry too much about it. Anyway, I've studied nutrition for many years and found that this diet made sense. Following these recommendations does make it easier to "diet". However I found what I felt were inconsistencies in the text, maybe even some contradictions. [For example, recipes in Phase I which included ingredients on the 'to avoid' list in Phase I.] I also felt the book was poorly edited and had a few typos. The diet is somewhat formless and ill defined. All it gives you is short lists of foods you can have and those you should avoid, nothing specific about portion sizes, for example. I have had enough experience with studying other diets that I simply filled in the blanks from my own knowledge of what it takes to lose weight. I have ordered the "Sugar Busters" diet book and have hopes that it will be more explicit. Everything I've heard (and comments from my doctor after the fact) tells me that the two diets are substantially the same. This book leaves you to figure out a lot of it yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Don't let negative reviews sway you - it really works!
Review: I've been on the diet for 8 days and have dropped a total of 8 pounds (20 more to go). I know 6 other people currently on the diet and all are having great success. While the first Phase is restrictive, it has done wonderful things to eliminate this self-proclaimed carb-addict's cravings - but you have to follow the guidelines (though not necessarily the meal plans)exactly. I finally feel like I'm in control of my diet, my health and my self. It's an amazing feeling... If you're reading this review, you're considering the diet. If you're considering the diet, you should take a chance on what just might be the answer you've been looking for!
Rating:
Summary: Awful Meal Plans
Review: This book seemed ok until i actually started a diet. I'm 14and overweight. THe book said the meals were godd and that u wouldnt be hungry. That was definetly not true. I did lose some belly fat though. This is a godd diet to lose alittle weight but as for the meal plans they just suck!
Rating: 
Summary: Atkins Variation
Review: I agree that The South Beach diet is basically a slightly modified Atkins! Here's a comparison: South Beach (SB): Start with a two-week "Phase I" - eat all the lean meat, low-glycemic vegetables, low-fat cheese, tofu, and mono- or polyunsaturated fats you want, plus limited nuts. Atkins (A): Start with a two-week "induction" - eat all the meat, fat (any type), cheese you want, plus 3 cups of very low glycemic vegetables (no more than 20g carbs a day). SB: After Phase I, move to Phase II. Reintroduce more low-glycemic carbs -- fruit, whole grains, sweet potatoes. Observe body's response to these carbs and adjust intake so that you can keep losing at a safe rate. This level will vary person to person. A: After Induction, reintroduce more low-glycemic carbs in a specified category order, 5g at a time, until you find the level at which you can continue to lose. This level will vary person to person. The two diets are nearly identical. Dr. Agatston says he respects Dr. Atkins, but criticizes his use of saturated fats and carb restriction in his diet. And yet, really, Atkins slowly reintroduces carbs just like Agatston, and Agatson suggests bacon and cheeseburgers once in a while as well. I think it's a good idea choose more "good" fats, but you can just make that choice in Atkins and you essentially have the South Beach Diet.
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