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Summary: This is REAL
Review: If you could tolerate the Atkins diet for two weeks, you are going to "love" this diet. It's real food, healthy food, but not 1 cup of beets and a boiled egg. Egg quiche for breakfast, lots of greens and veggies with shrimp or tuna and olive oil/balsamic vinegar for lunch, even a sugar-free Fudgsicle to help you through your sugar cravings. I've been on the diet for 10 days and I've lost 8 pounds. I feel good!
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Summary: The perfect companion to the "Cake Mix Doctor"
Review: I bought my wife the "Cake Mix Doctor" book and now find that I must buy her this book. I rated this book based on an interview of the author. I will upgrade the rating depending on the results I see. Frankly, I think a bicycle will ultimately be necessary.
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Summary: Low carbs
Review: You can call it South Beach but its still the same concepts that Atkins evangelized for years.
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Summary: This is just Induction and Maintenance of Atkins
Review: For the person who wrote that Atkins was unhealthy because of lack of vegetables, they didn't read Atkins' book or follow the plan at all (maybe you had the old '70s version). Vegetables are supposed to be the main source of carbs on Atkins, then eventually *tada* you add back "good carbs" such as whole grain breads, fruits, and pastas. This is basically Atkins. It skips the On-Going Weight Loss (OWL) section where you add back good carbs (usually about 5gm/week) until you stop losing, then goes straight to the Maintenance phase. It's just that so many people stop Atkins after the first 2 weeks that they just assume they must continue induction (which, by the way, you should be getting plenty of vegetables at this time also). Or they just hear from friends that they can eat all the meats and fats they want and end up eating a pound of bacon and calling the diet unhealthy. If you already have the Atkins book, save yourself some $$. Just do Induction and then go straight to Maintenance. Same plan.
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Summary: The Other Reviewers are Obviously On the Take
Review: I gave the book 2 stars because Agatston obviously means well. That said, I didn't get back (yes I said get back) to my original weight until liposuction operation #4. I gained 36 lbs. in a little over 2 months. Around day 30 the whispering began--"Hey, look at that fatass" or "Hey, there's the South Beach Whale". Suffice to say, these comments motivated me to make more money so I could afford more liposuction sugeries. Like they say, there's always a silver lining. I did make more money and despite blowing a few thousand on a drug/alcohol bender that lasted for a couple of weeks, I was able to afford Dr. Van Velvo's lipo fees. The point I'm trying to make is that these books think that exercise is the "way to go". I'm too busy to exercise. Lipo is the bomb. Obviously, Agatston is biased against lipo doctors. Does he come out and say that? No. My question throughout was what are you hiding from me Agatston? Huh? I mean the audio version was just some jerk reading the SAME book. What's that all about?
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Summary: Great methodology to beginning low-carb dieting!
Review: Dr. Atkins, who recently passed away, was without question the pioneer of the low-carb diet. His work showed us conclusively that it wasn't the fat persey but the carbs in our food that were causing so many of us to retain weight, keeping us from losing it without great difficulty. Since then, the big dilema has been how does one come off carbs if they've been so dependant upon them for years. Many found Dr. Atkins' methods to restrictive and unreasonable. His princepals were good, but his methods needed work. Many have offered their own plans and diets based on Dr. Atkins' research. Most notably was "Sugar Busters," but even celebrities like Suzzanne Summers offered their own versions of the Atkins diet. I think Dr. Agatston's 'The South Beach Diet' has gotten it right. Yes, the first two weeks will be tough but overall the plan is easy and it works! If you're already familiar with the Atkins plan but can't seem to get it working for you, here's the diet book for you! If you've never studied the Atkins plan but would like to, this book will be a great start.
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Summary: When All Else Fails.....
Review: I've never been a big fan of "Diet Books" and have never really tried to follow a "diet book" plan but I give this one 2 thumbs up! Be aware though, it is not a quick fix. It is a lifestyle change.
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Summary: Good, sensible eating and oh by the way YOU LOSE WEIGHT!!!
Review: I bought this book because in addition to wanting to lose a little weight, I really wanted the healther long-term lifestyle Dr. Agatson describes in his book. I just finished the first 2 weeks, and I've lost 8 pounds and an inch off my waist but more importantly I've drastically changed my eating habits for the better. In order to simplify the cooking, my husband agreed to participate, and he's very pleased too -- lost between 10 and 15 pounds but more importantly he's really lost his cravings for food between meals and after dinner. SBD is not just a diet, it's a lifestyle change.
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Summary: finally, a diet that should improve cardiac health
Review: Arthur has done it again! Dr.Agatston's contribution to technology (electron beam tomography "heartscan") for the early detection of coronary disease is well known to many clinicians. His work in the early 1980s has helped revolutionize our understanding about the detection and prevention of cardiac disease. In his usual self-effacing style, he now tackles a problem that has troubled many doctors---how to develop a rational program of weight loss which will ultimately keep the coronary arteries in good shape. Over the years, the "Diet" he developed has been shown to be easy to follow, logical and exposes the coronary arteries to less cholesterol and fat than other diets like Atkins which seem similar on first glance. His discussions about glycemic index and other less publicized aspects of weight management are especially clear. At my prevention centers, I will be recommending "the South Beach Diet" without reservations.
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Summary: What a wonderful book!
Review: Finally a diet, that doesn't feel like a diet. Its plan is more of a healthy lifestyle, and Dr. Agatston's findings are brilliant. The text is clear, concise, and very easy to follow. It works, no two ways about it.
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