Anyone try the South Beach Diet?

[romantico]

My Mom who is diabetic has been told by her Doctor to go on it. Has anyone tried it? I told her this is the worst time to try a diet(the holidays that is) By the way, Bill & Hillary Clinton both were on this diet & they both look great!Any comments?

[romantico]

1. No one?

[Sperk]

2. I was wondering the same thing....I've been on Atkins and lost

some weight but I'd really like to be able to eat more fruit. Can't any Duer save us from having to buy the book and educate us on this diet. :-)

[romantico]

3. South Beach is confusing

becasue some foods you can have, but they through phases.For example, she can't drink milk for the 1st 2 weeks.Thats why I hope someone here who's tried it can weigh in (no pun intended)

[toddzilla]

4. the name would be enough to drive me away.

Sounds too much like a fad, and not something with any type of science involved.

[Atman]

12. Just the opposite...

Science IS involve. It is based upon what foods cause the most insulin production, the excess of which is stored as fat.

The first two weeks are almost Atkins, the idea being to go for the quick reduction to get you motivated and keep you enthused. But most people who do Atkins actually get sick of not being able to eat fruit and bread, so SB gradually phases in that kind of food once your weight has stabilized and you body adjusted to the diet change. From there the weight loss is less dramatic, but you get to eat real food, not just steak. Ugh. I couldn't do it, but my wife, an APRN, just started it precisely because there was some science to it.

Me? I lost 50 a few years ago (still lost it...hasn't come back) through the radical ELEM diet...


...Eat Less, Excercise More.



What a concept!

[hlthe2b]

5. Here's an article summary from Prevention magazine

http://www.prevention.com/cda/feature2002/0,4780,5345,00.html

I seem to only lose on low carb diets, but have only done atkins in the past. I slipped badly when I lost total control of what I ate (ankle surgery-- dependent on others for food!) and then threw up my hands long enough to undo what benefit I'd gained. Atkins is so rigid in the first induction phase, but South Beach appears to be fairly strict as well, at least in the first two weeks. My first thing will have to be to find an alternative for my morning latte (no appreciable milk allowed for first two weeks).

It seems to be one of those modified low carb diets which does emphasize the more healthy forms of protein and fat, and with inclusion of low glycemic index veggies and some fruit. On the other hand, I don't find the description to be much different from Sugar Busters. Both were developed by cardiologists, btw.

[MissMillie]

6. I'm trying it

I lost 7 lbs in the first week.

[grasswire]

7. be careful

My sister ended up in the ER Friday night, severely dehydrated and suffering from hives. She'd been on the South Beach diet for a week. We don't know why the hives came, but the dehydration is from the diet. Her lips were swelling and she got really hoarse. If you are taking any meds at all, be sure to check with your doctor.

[politicat]

11. allergies to fish and shellfish can crop up suddenly.... but that seems

really strange. My sister just had a rash of unexplained hives.

Care to compare notes in private messages?

Politicat

[MaryBear]

8. It is a good, common sense weight loss plan.

One eliminates carbos for 2 weeks, consumes a ton of vegis, lots of water, and protein. Then adds back fruits and limited complex carbs.

Dehydration is caused by not drinking enough water, not by the diet!

My problem is in avoiding carbs. But I figure even one day of good eating without carbs is a successful day. I've yet to get through the two weeks, but I've lost 5 pounds.

The diet is available online, as well as in print.

[grasswire]

9. sorry

I beg to differ. The weight loss in the first week is fluids -- 5-8 pounds of it.

[politicat]

10. Mr. Politicat was recommended it by Dr; read it and refused it. Fish.

Lots and lots of fish.

Tons of Fish.

fish until your eyes pop out.

Mr. Politicat does not especially like fish. (I can get 3 Tuna fish sandwiches down him a week if I'm lucky and remind him that he needs the omega-3 acids.)

The South Beach diet is very fish based. If your mom does not like fish, or if, like us, you live where fish is impractical and expensive, find something else. Talk to the Doc.

Rutgers, I believe, just released a study comparing Atkins to Weight Watchers to the Vegan to a 4th one I'd not heard of and the study concludes that

all diets will help you lose weight, no matter the "hook" they use, provided that:

you stick with it,

exercise,

and do not consume more calories than your body uses.

Maintenence and long term results, of course are the key.

Personally, I consider the high animal protein diets to be very ecologically irresponsible, and with the state of the oceans, fish might be a bad idea.

You might try looking into insulin resistance - this works on a principle of balancing carbs with proteins to prevent insulin spikes, eating small meals throughout the day, and maintaining a low-fat, high fibre diet. Mr. Politicat has lost 14 pounds in 2 months, and i've lost 10 in the same time period.

Politicat (who also recommends a nutritionist.)