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.
Rating: 
Summary: Got Google, anyone?
Review: If so, then I'd like to suggest you look up the word "saccharides" to determine for yourself what sugars are actually harmful for you to eat. When you finish that, I'd like you to move on to the word "homocysteine" to determine what happens to your body when too many proteins are comsumed on a regular basis. Take careful note of how to avoid such problems with eating too much protein. On the calorie-counting front: less IN is less ON. On the exercise front: move more, carry less around. Now, hopefully you are sufficiently armed for figuring out your own way of proper eating with sane ingredients and an even saner timetable for weight loss. Stick to monosaccharides, keep your homocysteines low, use the low glycemic index for carbs if you must have them, eat plenty of dark leafy greens and raw veggies, drink water and unsweetened fruit juices, and GET OFF THAT DAMNED COUCH!!! This should all pretty much be common sense. Why spend the money on this book when Google is so much more helpful? I get more knowledge out of reading the REVIEWS here and looking things up on Google than I do buying any of these schlocky diet books.
Rating:
Summary: Good Carbs Eating for Life
Review: I have looked into several low carb plans, was turned away from them because many advocate ketosis and all the fatty foods. Both seemed counter-productive to me...I want to be thinner AND healthier. I was intrigued by the South Beach idea...it seemed more like a Mediterranean diet concept to me. And no counting of carbs or points or calories.
After being slightly intimidated of the thick tome, once I picked up the book, I realized that the back half was devoted to recipe and suggested meal plans. This plan is not really a diet...its a way of life. The first 2 weeks are designed to help break you of carbohydrate cravings--but you can eat all the veggies & beans you want, so you're definitely not going no carb, and you can eat until you are satisfied. And it works. After that, you slowly add back in more carbs like grains, fruits, and dairy, noting which ones cause you to crave again. NO counting, no stress. The SB plan concentrates on whole grains, lean meats, low-fat cheeses, veggies and smart fats. I'm cooking more than I ever have, and I'm really enjoying doing so. I feel like a true gourmet cook! There are some menu ideas and recipes in the back of the book, but they are just ideas. The prevention.com website has a huge support group and more recipes. The book itself isn't as well put together as it could have been, and there are errors in the recipes and menus, which contradict the text. Hopefully they'll get this ironed out in future versions. I've been following the SB plan for 6 weeks, have lost some weight, but feel better than I ever have in my entire life. No headaches, no cravings, and lots of energy.
Rating:
Summary: No Carbs, but enjoy the spices and protein !
Review: Arthur Agaston did a very good job capturing the diet trend in South Beach. You can find a huge # of meals in local restaurants that seem to be made from the diet's main theme of cutting your carbs in favor lowering you weight. What many people don't realize but that Agaston has shown is that you can get fat even if you think you are eating healthy. Our bodies metabolize and convert what we eat and its important to realize that a bag of salt free, baked potato chips, can still make you gain weight even though you think it might not. This is an important book for people who really need to lose weight or use their figure in their work. Either way, you will look and feel better, and you will be surprised at how you do not have to give up taste ! Best Regards to all, MC - TheStickRules.Com
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