On quick glance, the south beach diet seems fairly safe and
overall, pretty healthy cuisine. It does offer a way to
eat healthy for life which is not the norm for fad diets.
Support is also available through online communities and
direct advice from the doctor who formed the diet and his
nutritionists. Sounds good, right? But look a little closer
and you'll see its pitfalls.
The biggest pitfall of the south beach diet is found right
at the beginning. The first two weeks of the south beach
diet are excruciating. Absolutely no fruit, bread, rice,
potatoes, pasta, sugar, alcohol or baked goods are allowed.
If the dieter is accustomed to eating these things, this
will be extremely difficult to get through. This fact
alone makes the south beach diet a potential failure.
In addition, the south beach diet in the first two weeks
puts the body in a state of ketosis. Ketosis occurs when
adequate carbohydrates are not taken in and ketone bodies
are produced. If ketosis continues, then ketoacidosis can
occur leading to coma and death. This will be amplified in
anyone with kidney problems, but is certainly a problem
even in healthy people. Moreover, the majority of weight
lost in a state of ketosis is water weight and it will be
regained when normal eating resumes. Lowering calories to
this extreme also reduces metabolism thereby making weight
loss more difficult in the future.
Designed for lowering cholesterol in heart patients and
also for diabetics, the south beach diet is basically a low
carb diet. After the initial two weeks, healthy
carbohydrates such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables
are gradually added back in. The potential for gaining
back pounds lost in the first two weeks is high at this
point. It's very difficult for a person to deny themselves
of something and not go overboard when the item is
reintroduced. Again, a great deal of self-resolve will be
needed.
Another pitfall to the south beach diet is rather
subjective, but nevertheless, an issue. The south beach
diet offers books and advice by the ton creating somewhat
of a complicated plan. A lot of people will simply not
make it through learning the diet and become frustrated
when things become too complicated. If a person has a
difficult time understanding a diet, he or she will have an
even more difficult time sticking to it.
The south beach diet, overall, is just too strict. Eating
healthy for life doesn't have to mean giving everything up.
There aren't many allowances for occasional indulgence.
This, in and of itself, will make it difficult for a person
to stick to the south beach diet.
Though it's not the worst fad diet ever, the south beach
diet just isn't the best way to achieve healthy weight loss
and keep it off for life. The best way to achieve healthy
weight loss is by learning the basics of nutrition, some of
which we learned quite simply in kindergarten with the food
guide pyramid. Seems a bit simpler than memorizing the
Glycemic Index, doesn't it?
Rather than following the south beach diet, try a more
straightforward approach. Make a list of all the items you
eat that are high in fat and sugar. Eliminate most of
these from your daily intake and only allow a small amount
now and again. Read food labels and try to understand
portion sizes. You may be surprised at what you find. For
instance, a serving of ice cream is only half a cup for a
total of about 300 calories. Can you see how easy it would
be to serve up a cup or even a cup and a half? Now that
"serving" of ice cream is 600 to 750 calories! Try to get
at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. This
could be a standard exercise such as running mixed up with
some fun like dancing.
Remember the key to a healthy diet: Everything in
moderation! The south beach diet may work for some people,
but it certainly won't work for everyone. Following a
generally healthy diet and exercising regularly is a less
complicated approach to weight loss.
----------------------------------------------------
From a sickly little girl to a healthy chef to the stars,
Darlene Nicholson transformed herself into The "Kick in the
Butt" Healthy Lifestyle Expert and creator of the popular
DVD "The Healthy Grocery Store Tour". Visit her website
http://www.lifechanginghealthysoutions.com or grab a copy
of her free ebook "4 Steps to Permanent Weight
Loss"...guaranteed to open your eyes to how easy weight
loss can be with the right plan of attack.
http://free-weightloss-book.com/
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