Myrtle Beach takes on ‘Biggest Loser’ challenge
MYRTLE BEACH-Myrtle Beach is ‘slimming down’ as it gets ready to kick off it’s first ever “Biggest Loser” challenge, based on the popular weight-loss reality show.”It really is about kick starting the rest of your life on a healthy note,” said Robert Pozo, president of Continental Event and Sports Management Group, which is organizing the event Saturday, “It’s a matter of going out there walking …

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The South Beach Diet does work for those who stick to it. The best way to avoid South Beach diet disasters is to make sure you follow the plan the way it was designed.

The best way to learn about the South Beach Diet is to read about this diet either from the book that this diet was first introduced in or articles such as this one. The general consensus is the same no matter where you learn about the South Beach Diet. Most reliable sources will tell you it can work for you if you let it. That is not a guarantee that it will work for most people, but it can for those who try.

This diet was originally designed for those who have symptoms that could lead to heart disease, diabetes, or other potentially dangerous condition. These were people who did not respond well to the traditional low fat and high carbohydrates diet. This diet was made up into three diet phases.

Phase one of the diet would eliminate a majority of all carbs that a person would normally eat, as well as all sources of saturated fat. These carbs would be those that are in most fruits, starchy vegetables, and refined breads. In place they would eat leaner meats, non-starchy vegetables, and no fruits.

Then, during phase two and three more and more carbs would be added. Then, the dieter would reach the point in which eating lean protein foods, whole grains rather than processed breads, a variety of lower carb fruits and vegetables, and a moderate supply of certain types of poly and monosaturated fat sources such as olive oil, nuts, and avocadoes.

This diet plan had become very popular mainly because it had worked in many cases. However, in order to avoid disaster, there are quite a few things a person should understand about this diet. Some of these things include as follows:

This diet is based on eating the right carbohydrates and the right types of fats. Many people label this diet a low carb diet primarily because of the first two weeks when most carbs are removed from the diet.

The first two weeks of the diet, which is called Phase I, is the strictest part of the diet. Once you get past the few days of this initial period, you are on your way to a healthier you. During this phase no baked goods, rich deserts, or alcohol is allowed. That is also in addition to no rice, breads, potatoes and other foods.

This diet gets easier after the first two weeks. Also, this is the stage in which you lose the most weight, so do not lose heart in Phase II and three when you only lose 1-2 pounds a weak. This is the way the diet was designed so do not give up.

You need to be patient as your body adjusts to the good carbs you are eating. It takes time to be comfortable with change no matter how good that change is. However, once you have adjusted to eating the new carbs in your diet you will become just as satisfied as if you had eaten the old ones.

This diet plan does allow you to eat until you are totally satisfied. However, keep in mind not to get carried away eating whatever you want, because that could get you into trouble.

Those who want to continue Phase I for longer can do so, and those who want to go back to a previous phase after advancing to the next phase of the diet can do so.

All of the above points are important to remember when deciding to commit to the South Beach Diet plan. In order for this diet to work for you, it is best to follow this diet the way it was designed to work. That is the best way to ensure that you will succeed at it.

Also, keep in mind that eventually during the diet you will be able to eat most of what you want, but during the initial stages, especially during Phase I it is best that you adhere to the instructions given to you during this phase.

The South Beach Diet provides three phases of diet programs that allow an individual to enjoy the indulgences of eating good tasting and healthy foods while still losing weight and obtaining the slim figure everybody would love to have.

Created by a cardiologist, Dr. Arthur Agatston, the South Beach Diet is becoming popular with its diet program that is unique and different from the rest of the dieting regimen programs online.

Centered under the principles of eating the right kind of carbohydrates and fats, the South Beach Diet promotes a new eating lifestyle that will let an individual feel contented with eating healthy food without compromising the experience of eating delicious and good tasting foods.

The dieting approach used in the South Beach Diet is established under three phases, the first of two of which involves a time framed dieting programs and the third is for a satisfying dieting routine for life.

The first phase of the South Beach Diet commences within the first two weeks of the dieting program and is centered with the goal of eliminating sugar cravings and to avoid starchy foods. This will be the initial step in order to jump off the weight loss program of the South Beach Diet.

The elimination of cravings for sugar will basically stabilize the blood sugar which is also responsible for craving to eat more foods making this an ideal diet regimen for the diabetics and obese individuals.

The foods to eat during the first phase of the South Beach Diet are more fiber rich yet delicious meal plans that will continue to satisfy the dieter’s appetite. Moreover, the great thing about the South Beach Diet is that the person continues to eat three meals a day plus two snacks making a person under the South Beach Diet program not feeling deprived or hungry at all.

The phase two of the South Beach Diet program involves a long term diet regimen which is perfect for people with less than 10 pounds of weight to lose. They get to eat foods that are on the phase one diet with the addition of foods with good carbohydrates plus desserts. People with less weight to lose and those without too much excess belly fats fall under the phase two category dieting program.

The phase three of the South Beach Diet is basically for maintenance once the ideal weight is achieved by the person which they need to keep for life. The individuals under this phase are able to choose options on the kind of food that will fit their lifestyle.

These are naturally healthy and deliciously tasting foods. Under this phase the individual will continue to follow their dieting regimen from the first and second phase of the South Beach Diet and will continue to maintain their weight for life.

Following this diet means always eating healthy meal plans while enjoying the indulgences of good tasting but healthy food as the long term goal of the South Beach Diet.

As a practicing cardiologist Dr Arthur Agatson was getting more and more frustrated when his patients failed to lose weight. They were faithfully following the standard, low-fat American Heart Association diet on his advice, with no results. He noticed that, not only didn’t they lose weight, but their blood chemistry did not improve. The results he was looking for was an increase in HDL (good cholesterol) and a decrease in LDL (bad cholesterol). Eventually, he developed a new diet specifically for his patients, which later became the basis for his best seller book, The South Beach Diet, which was first published in April 2003. The South Beach Diet was on the New York Times best seller list for more than 96 consecutive weeks, and in excess of 8.5 million copies have been printed. The book was listed as #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list for 38 weeks.

Like many other so-called “low carb” diets, the South Beach Diet assumes that many of us are addicted to carbohydrate-rich foods. The South Beach Diet is very similar to the Atkins Diet. They are so similar that many people believe the South Beach Diet is just a revised version of the Atkins Diet. The first phases for both diets are designed to get rid of the body’s addition to carbohydrates. Where the Atkins Diet has four phases, the South Beach Diet only has three, with a single phase replacing the second and third phases of Atkins. The last phases of both diets, again, are very similar. Since greater variety of foods are introduced earlier on in the South Beach Diet Plan, dieters tend to lose weight at a slightly slower pace than those on Atkins, but many find the South Beach Diet easier to follow because it is less restrictive.

This diet focuses heavily on balancing the blood sugar levels, and as such, the Glycemic Index plays a very important role in this diet. The Glycemic Index is a ranking system for carbohydrates based on their effect on blood sugar. On the South Beach Diet, carbohydrates are selected using the Glycemic Index tables; the lower the ranking the better. This also leads us to one of the South Beach Diet’s major differences from the Atkins diet. The South Beach Diet allows most carbohydrates (preferably only those high in fiber, like multi-grain bread and wild rice), while these products are typically just too high in carbohydrates for an Atkins follower, even on the maintenance phase.

Another area where the approaches of Atkins and Agatston differ quite drastically is on the healthy intake of fats. Atkins followers are encouraged to ingest saturated and monounsaturated fats in the first phase, and then gradually reduce the saturated fat content of meals during later phases as more carbohydrates are introduced. Dr. Agatston advocates mostly monounsaturated fats, like those found in olive oil, nuts and oily fish like salmon, throughout his diet. You will not find butter, bacon or anything fried in the South Beach meal plans, whereas they are positively encouraged during the first Atkins phases.

One of the benefits of the South Beach Diet over many of its competitors is that Kraft Foods entered into an alliance with Dr Agatston. Together they launched a whole range of South Beach Diet convenience products, which covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and even snacks. Examples of the convenience food on offer include breakfast cereal, meal replacement bars, frozen pizzas and frozen entrees. Dr Agatston once stated “My goal is to help change the way America eats, and these great-tasting, nutrient-rich products from Kraft are convenient, making it easier for people to follow The South Beach Diet – whether for a healthy lifestyle or weight loss.”

As with many of the other popular diet books on the market, it is very difficult to find specific scientific proof for the South Beach Diet. Some aspects of the diet may have been scientifically studied and reviewed, for example the benefits of monounsaturated fats, or the benefits of regulating your blood sugar. In general though, it is safe to say that the South Beach Diet is based on sound principles, and can offer you a well-balanced and sustainable way of life.