The South Beach Diet was developed by Cardiologist, Arthur Agatston, of Miami, Florida. He originally developed this diet to help his patients, who were suffering from heart related ailments, in hopes to improve their eating habits and subsequently their physical condition. I personally asked him if i can do the diet and use bodybuilding supplements and he said, "No Problem".

What is The Premise of This Diet

The proponents of the South Beach Diet claim that you can lose weight and maintain the weight loss without counting calories, weighing portions or depriving oneself of good-tasting, satisfying foods. This is achieved by dieters cutting out empty, high-carbohydrate foods, like sugars, potatoes, rice and white bread. The South Beach Diet is self-described as “neither low-fat nor low-carb,” but rather emphasizes the consumption of “good carbs” and “good fats.”

The South Beach Diet is divided into three phases especially designed to accomplish a particular goal.

Phase One –Adjusting your metabolism --Phase One last 14 days, and is the strictest phase of the diet. Normal sized portions of lean protein, such as lean beef, pork, veal, skinless chicken breast, turkey and shellfish are allowed, as are vegetables, nuts, low-fat cheese and eggs. The goal of this phase is to eat three meals a day so that participants are not left feeling hungry, and to eliminate cravings for starches and sweets. 

However, during this phase dieters will have to give up the following foods: Fatty cuts of beef, prime rib, dark meat chicken or turkey and honey-baked ham. They will also have to give up certain veggies such as beets, carrots, corn and green peas and all starches, including bread, potatoes, cereal, pasta and rice. All fruits and fruit juices are off limit on this diet, as well as all alcohol, and all sweets, including ice cream, baked goods and candy. South Beach acclaims that during this phase, dieters should expect to lose about 8 – 12 pounds.

Phase Two – Concentrates on weight loss--This phase lasts until individuals reach their weight-loss goal. Dieters continue to follow the plan of phase one continuing to eat only acceptable foods. However, G.I. foods that were banned in Phase One, such as whole grain breads, pasta, and dairy foods are now reintroduced into the diet plan. Dieters should continue to lose around 1-2 pounds per week on the South Beach Diet.

Phase Three – Focuses on a Life-time Maintenance Plan--By the time you enter this phase, you have lost the weight you needed to and now can focus on the maintenance aspect of this plan. You can determine the amount of carbs you want back into your diet without gaining weight. If you see that your weight is going up, cut back on carbs, or if you need to lose weight, start phases over again. The South Beach diet is to be followed for life.

South Beach is very adamant about participants following the plan as to what they should eat and foods they should avoid. They promise individuals that they do not have to give up delicious foods to lose weight, and points out that top restaurants in Miami and other states, cater to those following the South Beach credo. 

On the South Beach Diet plan, eating out is allowed, snacks are required, and flexibility is emphasized. To make up for the carbohydrates that are eliminated with this plan, the program allows ample fats and animal proteins in meals.

Exercise Recommendations 

Unlike many programs, exercise is not one of the requirements for success in the South Beach diet. The South Beach Diet program prides itself with achieving their goals without exercise, but rather focuses on balanced meals of “good carbs” and “good fats”. 

Post Diet weight Maintenance Plans

Although the first two phases of the South Beach Diet emphasize changing the way that most people in our culture eat, the maintenance stage allows a wider range of foods and latitude to occasionally indulge on restricted foods.

The South Beach Diet program is rated one of the top five diets in the country; and boost an average weight loss of dieters of 13.6 pounds as compared to the 7.5 pound loss by those of the “step 11’American Heart Association diet. Clinical trials have shown that individuals see dramatic reductions in bad cholesterol and increases in good cholesterol when they follow the South Beach Diet.