The South Beach Diet Plan
There are three phases.
1. The 14-day induction phase bans bread, rice, potatoes, pasta,
baked goods, and fruit. And you can't have even a drop of beer,
wine, or other alcohol. The diet promises that after a couple
of days, you really won't miss this stuff.
In the first phase of the South Beach diet you eat normal-sized
helpings of lean meats, such as chicken, turkey, fish, and shellfish.
Vegetables are also allowed, as are nuts, cheese, and eggs. A
salad with real olive oil dressing is fine. Coffee and tea are
OK, and lots and lots of water is required.
Forbidden in those first 14 days, however, are fruit, bread,
rice, potatoes, pasta, or baked goods. No sugar, ice cream, cookies,
or cake. And no alcoholic drinks of any kind (wine, fruit and
whole-grain breads may be added back to the diet in subsequent
phases)
During the induction phase, much of the lost weight is water
weight. Losing this much water can throw your electrolyte balance
off. So if you're following the diet, it's a good idea to work
closely with a registered dietitian or your doctor.
According to Agatston, at the end of two weeks, most South Beach
dieters are eight to 14 pounds lighter. He says the weight loss
doesn't happen because you're eating less, but rather because
eliminating simple carbohydrates has broken a bad eating cycle.
As a result, you'll continue to lose weight after the initial
two-week period ends.
It's a well-established fact that rapid weight loss can be achieved
when your body does not have carbohydrates to digest. This state
is called ketosis.
