The South Beach Diet

There are so many diets that Americans can choose from. A diet includes certain

rules and regulations which make it unique or more or less complicated than another diet.

In the end, they all promise the same results – a healthier lifestyle or a weight loss. In this

paper, I will discuss the history, outline, and positive and negative aspects of the South

Beach Diet.

History of the South Beach Diet

The South Beach Diet is a book called The South Beach Diet: The Delicious,

Doctor-Designed, Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Loss. It was written by

Doctor Arthur Agatston, a cardiologist and professor at the University of Miami Medical

School, during the 1990’s in South Florida. Doctor Arthur Agatston was inspired to write

his South Beach Diet book after believing that the low fat diet in which the American

Heart Association recommended, didn’t work effectively, and after seeing results in his

patients who had used some of his advice. Dr. Agatston promises that one can lose

between eight and thirteen pounds within the first two weeks of following his South

Beach Diet.

How the South Beach Diet Works

The South Beach diet is broken up into three phases. Phase one is the strictest part

of the diet. It lasts two weeks. In this phase one eats three balanced meals per day (and

also mid-morning, mid-afternoon snacks and a dessert) consisting of vegetables, eggs,

nuts, reduced-fat cheese and lean meats like turkey, chicken and fish. However, in this

phase, one cannot consume yogurt, pasta, potatoes, sugar, fruits (and fruit juices), baked

goods, alcohol, ice cream, sugar, or any starchy foods like bread. According to Dr.

Agatston, phase one helps us to put an end to cravings for foods that cause us to store fat.

Phase two is similar to phase one but not as strict. One is able to eat certain foods

that were banned in phase one. One is in control and can bring back cereal, fruits, pasta

and bread but with moderation and not eat them all at once or as often. Phase two lasts

until one reaches his or her weight loss goal.

Phase three, the final stage, is also called the maintenance stage. One tries to