The South Beach Diet Remains a Top Weight Management Plan

South Beach Diet Articles : The South Beach Diet Remains a Top Weight Management Plan by Shane Crafton

There has been an increasing interest in weight loss solutions and it stands to reason that it may be difficult to decide which product is right for you. On DietBlogTalk.com you can hear what real people are saying about The South Beach Diet To get up to date information on The South Beach Diet, check out the in-depth review on the respected Sensational.com For a 3rd opinion, click here to read another excellent review for The South Beach Diet

Review Summary

There was a period not too long ago when new weight loss plans were hitting the market at a faster rate than people could keep up with. These diet programs took advantage of the desperation that marked the needs of most dieters by promising quick and easy weight loss, often while forcing them to give up on all of their favorite foods. In the end, the vast majority of these diets failed people, leaving many miserable and again desperate for something that actually worked. According to experts, the problem with most of these plans was that they set unrealistic expectations for dieters, while constantly feeding them lies and advertising all sorts of expensive products that they purportedly could not live without. Then there are plans such as The South Beach Diet, which has stood the test of time, because of the practicality and sensibility that define its methods.

Diet at a Glance

The most basic idea of this weight loss plan is that people can shed the pounds and keep them off by following a practical and realistic program whose foundation hinges on promoting overall health and wellness. Unlike traditional diets that deprive dieters of tasty foods while forcing them to nibble on things that have the taste and texture of cardboard, this diet enables dieters to set out a menu stocked with foods that not only taste great but are good for you. In a nutshell, the basic principles of the diet encourage the consumption of fiber rich foods that are loaded with essential nutrients, in addition to lean protein sources, dairy products low in fat and the good fats typically found in fish and vegetable oils such as olive and canola oils. The plan lays out recipes and menus that can easily be followed, because they satisfy cravings for good food without leaving dieters feeling guilty.

Diet in Focus

The South Beach Diet may be divided into three distinct phases: Phase 1 lasts for two weeks and is the period during which dieters jump start their journey towards lasting weight loss. During this part of the diet, participants learn how to eliminate cravings without depending on unhealthy foods and stimulant laced supplements, while also stabilizing their blood sugar levels and getting their metabolism pumping. Foods that are typically found in this phase include vegetables high in fiber, lean beef and lean, white skin poultry and heart healthy oils.

In Phase 2 of the diet plan dieters are encouraged to get into the groove of dieting as a lifestyle, not as a temporary fix that ultimately leaves them right where they started. This phase could be looked at as the period during which dieters establish healthy eating habits and learn to be disciplined without necessarily depriving their bodies of their favorite delicious foods. On the contrary, foods that are typically consumed in this phase include pesto pasta salads, coconut chicken, shrimp scampi and even peppery cheese popcorn. The idea is to get into the habit of eating good carbs and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

In the third and final phase of The South Beach Diet, dieters are well in control of their eating habits after mastering the concepts in Phases 1 and 2, and are ready to establish the lifestyle plan that they will be sticking to moving forward. Phase 3 allows dieters to eat the same kinds of foods found in the first two phases, with the added benefit of cheating every now and then with their favorite indulgences. After all, dieters are not robots, and they deserve to reward themselves once in a while, especially if they intend to diet as a lifestyle and not as a temporary fix. In this phase, dieters eat foods like pepper spiked beef stew, chicken pot pie and even desserts like chocolate pie with crispy peanut butter crust.

Positives

• The diet encourages eating delicious foods
• There is no specific focus on carbs, sugars or fats; it's comprehensive
• The book on which this plan is based is a consistent bestseller in stores
• There are thousands of healthy, delicious and easy to follow recipes online
• The diet plan is geared towards providing long term weight loss support
• Following the heart healthy diet plan lays the foundation for good health
• The diet plan is not as expensive and difficult to follow as most others

Negatives

• There are many foods and recipes to choose from at any given time
• Those who demand to lose 20 pounds in a few days need not try this diet

Final Thoughts

The goal of any dieter is typically to burn fat and move down a few pant sizes, but the more important need is to ensure their long term health and well being. Being overweight or obese may lead to all kinds of diseases and conditions, ranging from diabetes to heart disease and more. That's why experts believe it is important to select a weight loss plan that you are able to stick with, as opposed to the conventional diet that lasts a few weeks or months until you move on to the next fad diet. Ever since it was first developed, The South Beach Diet has consistently ranked as one of the most sought after and successful diet plans, and the book's place among the New York Times bestsellers is evidence of that. According to the thousands of success stories seen online, this weight loss plan makes sense because it sets realistic, practical goals that reward dieters with a lifetime of manageable weight and good health. Additional resources on this popular diet program may be found by clicking on the links above.

About the Author
Shane Crafton is a diet editor, who's team specializes in health, fitness and weight loss reporting.

Source: South beach diet plan, Weight Management Plan, South beach diet articles at www.goarticles.com