Rating: 
Summary: DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK
Review: This diet is the worst diet I have ever tried. First of all, the menu plans are extremely complicated. I had to go to seven different grocery stores to find everything I needed for the two weeks. Preparing the food was time-consuming - I spent about 2 hours a night just preparing different foods for this plan. I followed the recipes, but the food tasted terrible; no wonder people lose weight - half the food ends up in the garbage instead of your belly. Dr. Agatston does a wonderful job of contradicting himself through the entire book - by the end my head was spinning with confusion. I suspect that this is his feeble way of protecting himself - you know, leave some grey areas, so that he can claim that he meant something else when the law suits start piling up.After about four days on the diet, I felt [really bad]. I was constipated, dizzy, and extremely agitated. My told me that my breath smelled like an old dog's breath (not just a dog, but an old dog). I ate certs and gargled listerine like a freak and still my wife complained about my breath. On the seventh day, I took the scale and found that I was 9 pounds heavier! I couldn't believe it. My wife kept telling me that I looked fatter, but I didn't really believe it until I stepped on that scale. I felt so betrayed! I actually wrote a letter to Dr. Angatson, but, surprisingly, he failed to respond to my demands that he immediately recall his book and apologize for misleading the public in his persuit of the all-mighty dollar. So, in sum, if you like feeling like you been hit by a truck, smelling like a dog, spending a ton of money and time, only to gain weight, then...buy this book!
Rating:
Summary: Another diet book
Review: Here we go again, another doc telling us what to eat and not to eat. The recipes looked good and I might even give some a try. However, I will never give up my carbohydrates! They get me moving, I feel happy and although too much is bad I manage to balance it all out with a little exercise. thanks, but no thanks, in the bin with Atkins it goes.
Rating: 
Summary: This I can live with!
Review: Diets are horrible! This is a way of life that can be followed without deprivation. I call it 'eating smarter'!
Rating: 
Summary: better than atkins? NOT!
Review: I read and reread this book and see that it could be beneficial to some, but found it to be simply a tweak of the Atkins diet. And a slower one at that.
I lost 80 lbs on the Atkins plan and picked this book up to see if it made sense as a maintenance modality. I won't go into details, but this diet is based on a couple experiments whereas the Atkins approach has a very convincing corpus of scientific and experimental data to back it up.
If you like the South Beach diet, you'll prefer the Atkins diet as it is A.) faster, B.) better for your triglyceride and sugar maintenance, and C.) based on empirical data.
But someone always gripes that their cholesterol went up on Adkins (usually from way too much fat, hidden carbs, and not enough protein), and others may just prefer to exacerbate their sugar cravings by eating fruit too early. With Atkins, you begin to lose your taste for sugar. With this diet, you'll likely always have cravings. So, while on this diet, avoid the Ben and Jerry's section!
Rating: 
Summary: Better than Atkins
Review: I have recently read 2 life-changing books: The South Beach Diet by Agatston, and Make Every Girl Want You by Fate and Reil. They both show you how to change your life, without changing your lifestyle. The great thing about this diet is that you can still eat the good stuff: meat, fish, eggs, cheese! I lost 9 pounds in a week & a half. I found out about this from my cousin who lives in Miami, and said it's the hottest thing going down there... for great reason! The other important thing about this diet, unlike many other diets I've tried, is that it never left me hungry!! This diet is good for you too - no high cholesterol, unlike many other diets. The first two weeks are tough - I'll tell you that. You won't go hungry during those first 2 weeks, but the first two weeks are kind of restrictive. But once you see the results of this first 2 weeks, and once you realize it's all downhill from there, this is one diet you'll stick with for sure!!
Rating:
Summary: SBD Working Well for Me. . .
Review: Since I have a LOT of weight to lose, I found the quick start very encouraging. I probably lost close to a lb. a day. I do agree that the transition from week two to week three is misleading. I'm going to try and take a middle ground. Another reviewer commented that they lost energy after about 4 days. That is common on Atkins too, since that is when the body starts having to burn fat because of the low carbohydrates. The biggest problem with the book is that all the recipies are for four. That's great if you are putting your whole family on a diet, but not very practical for someone who lives alone. For example, if you make the Oven Roasted Vegetables, you have to eat it for four days. It doesn't appear back in the diet for several days, so do you let it go bad? No, you work it in. That eliminates a lot of the variety. But, I am going to stick with it because I am seeing really good results. . .I have also learned that I can go out to dinner and order Salmon or Steak and Steamed or Grilled Vegetables and not go off the diet and still lose weight.
Rating:
Summary: Good read, Great book, and Fantastic results
Review: I stumbled on this book. Read it, loved it and am following it!! I have lost several inches around my belly. I feel empowered and am confident that I will be able to sustain this diet. I am a semi-vegetarian (I do eat sea food). I started on Phase II and have been losing a pound or so a week. I have recommended this book to many. In addition to this book, I also liked "Sugar Buster". Both these books gives one plenty of background about the role of carb in our body. Even if one does not want to embrace good carb diet, these books are worth reading to understand how our body responds to certain type of foods.
Rating:
Summary: A great guide to a great dietary strategy
Review: I've read a lot of books about dieting and nutrition, and would rank this as one of the best. The ideas are sound and consistent with current medical advice. The "diet" which is more of a lifestyle guide, is easy to follow and implement. The recipes are easy and taste great. And, it works.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Carb Plan
Review: This is not just another low-carb diet, but a good carb way of eating. There's no counting calories or carbs with this WOE. The 1st 2 weeks are a little strict, but that is so your body can get rid of it's dependence on sugar and white flour. Your body does go through some adjustments, but that is because it wants to hang on to the bad carb dependence. Dr. A is not just another Atkins in disguise, he has us eating healthy fats and good carbs even in Phase I. There are 3 phases with this WOE and it makes this "diet" easy to adhere to. In my opinion, it's not just a diet, but a way of eating that will help you to make healthy choices for the rest of your life. It has helped me to overcome my cravings for sugar and chocolate (this coming from a chocoholic!) I didn't lose the 8 lbs in the first 2 weeks, but I did lose 3 lbs. And, I'm continuing to lose pounds as well as inches. This WOE really does work - it helps eliminate all the bad stuff while incorporating good nutritious food. I've eaten foods I never would've touched on a low calorie plan! Thanks Dr. A!
Rating:
Summary: Yes, the "Belly Fat" did go first!
Review: In my 62 years this is the first time I have ever had to diet. I have been on the South Beach Diet for about two weeks (weight loss, 12 pounds. I started on Atkins, but after a couple of weeks I felt so nauseous from all the saturated fat I got off that diet....definitely not heart healthy! South Beach is a healthy way of eating..........yes, it is similar to Atkins in many respects; however, as Dr. Agatston states, it is not low-carb or low fat once you are beyond the first phase. This way of eating (not dieting) is based on eating the "good" carbs and fat and eliminating the "bad" carbs and fat. He states that this way of eating works mainly for people that have gained their weight in their adult lives and that it does not work for all severely obese patients. You will lose sufficient weight fast during the first phase (just like Atkins). Most of this will be water loss, as with any diet, but then your weight loss slows down to a healthy 1-2 pounds a week. I did not follow the menus in the book but instead used the list of foods to eat and avoid and put my own meal plans together with food easily bought at the supermarket. You do lose the belly fat first and that is a given. I highly recommend this book as a healthy way of eating for the rest of your life, whether your goal is to lose weight or just eat right.
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