Looking for answers to better dieting, cardiologist Arthur Agatson and dietician Marie Almon created the South Beach Diet to help patients successfully lose weight and keep it off.
What once was purposed for reducing the risk of heart disease, the South Beach Diet has become a well-known approach to weight loss since its creation in the early 2000s by cardiologist Arthur Agatston and dietician Marie Almon. The South Beach Diet focuses on instructing dieters to learn the difference between good fats vs. bad fats and good carbs vs. bad carbs. With this knowledge, Agatston wanted to empower both men and women with the ability manage their diet in a healthier way.
Why the South Beach Diet is different
Before the South Beach Diet came into existence, during the 1980’s Dr. Agatston noticed that his patients had a hard time following low-fat diets that were heavily recommended by cardiologists in an attempt to lower weight gain, cholesterol and heart disease. Such popular diets included the Ornish Diet and the Pritkin Diet. After much study of insulin resistance, Agatston figured that low-fat diets were causing weightwatchers to make up for the fat by consuming refined sugars and carbs. These “bad carbs” increased the release of insulin in the body, thus dropping the level of blood sugar and producing the sense of hunger. This hunger was then apt to be satisfied by dieters and eventually led to failed dieting and weight gain.
Three phases for dieting success
The South Beach Diet implements 3 phases to follow to help the body overcome blood-sugar spikes and drops and help reduce hunger pangs.
Phase 1 of the diet is to learn to eliminate cravings and promote rapid weight loss in 2 weeks. The idea of eliminating cravings comes from an ability to stabilize blood-sugar levels which helps get rid of a need to feast on refined carbs and starches. The rapid weight loss is designed for women that want to lose 10 pounds or more. After establishing a routine of eating specified, nutritious foods and cutting out the “bad fats” and “bad carbs” dieters will be ready for Phase 2.
Phase 2 includes bringing in nutritious food to the diet plan that was avoided in Phase 1, including whole grains, fruits and vegetables. And instead of focusing on rapid weight loss, Phase 2 accommodates for steady weight loss that is easier to keep off. Unlike Phase 1 that can be completed in 2 weeks, Phase 2 lasts for as long as it takes for the dieter to reach their weight goal.
Phase 3 is all about maintenance and using your acquired knowledge to keep the weight off. Here dieters will have already learned which foods they can or should not eat, how to return to a different phase if needed and how to keep the weight off forever.
Recipes
Our thanks to Janie G. – a writer for Holtorf Medical Group for such a fantastic explanation of what the South Beach Diet is all about. If you’re looking for a way to lose weight, their medical professionals can help you get great results.