The South Beach Diet is far more than just a diet. It is life changing. Unlike many other diets that are often only undertaken for a short period of time it needs a lot of will-power and determination to succeed. If you are prepared to change what you eat for the long term it will not only help you to lose weight but it will also help prevent the pounds from creeping back too. The secret behind its success is that your cravings for foods that are high in unhealthy carbohydrates are reduced as you eat only those that are good for you.

Is this diet right for everyone?

Put simply, no. As with any type of diet, the South Beach Diet is not ideally suited to everyone. The main reason that many people find that the diet does not work for them is because it requires a huge amount of will-power and determination to succeed, especially in the beginning of the plan. This is the first of the three stages that make up the diet.

There are a small number of foods that are prohibited on the diet and there are also strict guidelines that need to be followed if the diet is going to prove successful. Many people who start the diet find that they cannot adhere to the plan for long and give up.

Dr. Arthur Agatston, a cardiologist, developed the South Beach Diet. The main emphasis of the diet is to cut down the amount of carbohydrates that are consumed. Although a few foods are banned from the beginning of the diet, the majority of foods can be eaten. However, Dr. Agatston stresses the benefits of eating 'good fats' and explains the effects of processed foods on our blood sugar levels and insulin responses. Although the diet plan might not be one that everyone can adhere to, its philosophy plays an important role in educating us about the value of good nutrition. The diet's website is full of information to help us eat better and also includes recipes and meal plans, including some for vegetarians.

How to maximise your diet success

There are a number of points that can help increase the benefits of the South Beach Diet. Here are three of the most important:

* Drink a minimum of 8 glasses of water daily

Water is essential for many of the body's functions and the recommended minimum daily amount that we should drink is 8 glasses. Sipping water, if you are feeling hungry, can also alleviate your craving for food. One tip for people who do not enjoy drinking water in its natural form is to flavour it with a small amount of juice. Watered down tea or coffee can also form part of your daily intake. Remember that water also helps your hair and skin look healthier as well as curbing your appetite.

* Limit the daily caffeine intake

The recommended daily intake of caffeine is one cup of tea or coffee a day. If you love your morning tea or coffee you can still drink them to count towards your daily water intake but limit it to one. Throughout the rest of the day why not try herbal teas or decaffeinated coffee. You will probably find that you feel far less stressed too with your caffeine levels lowered.

* Take one multivitamin supplement daily

No matter how well-balanced your diet is the majority of people do not get the full amount of the essential vitamins and minerals from the food that they eat. This can be accentuated when you are on any dietary plan. The simplest way to ensure that you are not deficient in any vitamins or minerals is to take a multivitamin supplement daily.

The South Beach Diet is reasonably simple to adhere to if you are determined to succeed and have enough willpower. There are lots of recipes that you can try out, both in the book of the diet and on the Internet. The choice is sufficient that even the fussiest of eaters is bound to find something that takes their fancy.

The weight loss achieved on the diet can be very rapid, especially in the initial two weeks. This is the first stage of the South Beach Diet and the target weight loss is 8-13 pounds. If you achieve this then it is likely to motivate you even further to continue the diet. By the end of the first stage your cravings for any banned foods should also have lessened considerably. The aim of Stage Two is to achieve your target weight. Once you have reached this, you move into Stage Three where you maintain your ideal weight and prevent the weight from piling back on. This is where the lifestyle change that the South Beach Diet incorporates takes effect and why it has a high rate of success for people who reach the final stage.

Summary:

The South Beach Diet is far more than just a diet. It is life changing. Unlike many other diets that are often only undertaken for a short period of time, it needs a lot of willpower and determination to succeed. If you are prepared to change what you eat for the long term, it will not only help you to lose weight but it will also help prevent the pounds from creeping back too.

Source: dietarticles.info By: Brooke Hayles