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The South Beach Diet: A Doctor's Plan for Fast and Lasting Weight Loss | 
 enlarge | Author: Arthur Agatston
Publisher: Headline
Category: Book
List Price: £8.99
Buy New: £6.29
You Save: £2.70 (30%)
Media: Paperback
Edition: New Ed
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.1 x 1
ISBN: 0755311302
EAN: 9780755311309
ASIN: 0755311302
Publication Date: April 4, 2005
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
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Amazon.co.uk Review
The verdict is in: those simple carbohydrates we've been living on are killing us. For good health, we've got to get our blood sugar under control and stop the incessant cravings. Or so says Dr Arthur Agatston, author of The South Beach Diet. The first half of the book details the science behind the diet. Most of the explanations revolve around why things you thought were healthy--orange juice, wholemeal bread, carrots--are actually evil. To avoid blood sugar surges, Agatston created a modified carbohydrate plan, recommending plenty of high-fibre food, lean protein and healthy fat and reducing bread, rice, pasta and fruit. Major differences from other diets include a lack of concern over portion size and a serious indifference to exercise. Feeling full while on a diet is a beautiful thing, but it seems odd that a cardiologist buries his exercise recommendations in a solitary sentence. The last half of the book covers his three-stage plan; daily diets are mixed with recipes, some of which are from South Beach restaurant chefs. The most restrictive period lasts just two weeks, enough time to stabilise your urges and lose a few pounds; stage two adds fruits and a handful of other carbs, while stage three is meant to last the remainder of your life, with occasional lapses for white bread or birthday cake. While the diet is sound, the book could be better organised. The first half mixes scientific study with anecdote in a seemingly random way, while the mix of meal plans and recipes can be confusing. Still, the recipes are varied and tasty and you'll never feel deprived, unless you currently happen to live by bread alone. --Jill Lightner
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| Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
 South Beach vs. regular low calorie diet.....and the winner is.......... September 30, 2008
21 out of 21 found this review helpful
This is a diet book whose plan is to get you to lose weight by limiting your carbohydrates- essentially another low-carbohydrate diet. It has 3 phases where your carbohydrates are severely restricted at first, and then re-introduced.
I have personally read three controlled trials comparing low carb diets to your regular calorie restricted diets that were published in scientific journals. The results? Low carb diets produce more weight loss during the first 6 months, but at one year follow-up, both groups had lost THE SAME amount of weight.
Therefore, it really doesn't matter which diet plan you choose, the South Beach diet or your standard low calorie diet, because if you can stay on either of them for a year, you'll lose the same amount of weight. To that end, then, the South Beach diet is a fairly healthy diet plan and a good one to choose from- but the bottom line if you want to lose weight is to cut your calories with ANY diet plan and absolutely stick with it and make it a part of your lifestyle.
Readers who can't seem to stick with a diet plan long enough to see results might also want to check out The Sixty-Second Motivator. Good luck!
 Bad science: April 7, 2007
28 out of 35 found this review helpful
A friend of mine bought this book to have something to read before boarding his plane. He not only read it and tried it he had me read it to hear my thoughts, given my education and work. Since my friend seriously needed to lose weight, and he was enthusiastic about this book, I was positive. But I had to be honest with him as well.
I liked the fact the author promoted exercise. My friend chose walking/jogging. Other people can choose other exercises. I also liked the fact it was not a very-low-calorie diet. Diets where you lose weight by starving result in losing lean-body mass, while keeping the fat. Obviously, people want to lose fat, not muscle, water and bone density. So, exercising and getting enough calories, as advised in this book, is the way to go. I also liked it was not high in fat and animal protein (e.g., Atkins Diet).
What I did not like was the misapplication of the Glycemic index, i.e., the "science" behind the South Beach Diet. I'll explain why.
The reason this book works, as experts apart from this author have published, is because it safely combines exercise without overly limiting calories. It does not work because certain foods were eliminated, based on their Glycemic ratings. I'll explain.
The Glycemic index is based on the following: A subject fasts (eats & drinks nothing) for several hours. He then eats two cups of a single food, e.g., carrots. After which, his blood sugar is monitored. The food is then rated based on levels of blood sugar - under these conditions - and then placed in order from high to low on the Glycemic index.
Well, who breaks a fast by eating two cups of raw carrots (and nothing else)? Was this a common breakfast in South Beach, Florida?
When foods are eaten in combination, say carrots and a tuna-salad sandwich with a glass of 1% milk, the entry of sugar into the blood stream is slowed by the simultaneous digestion of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. The Glycemic rating of the combination is thus much lower; the blood-sugar levels remain steady.
If ones overall calorie intake is not excessive (does not exceed his metabolic requirements, i.e., the amount of energy he needs per day), he will not add to fat stores from any single food, regardless of its Glycemic rating (even if he did eat it alone).
What I really disliked about the book was the recommendation to eliminate nutrient-dense foods based on the common misuse of the Glycemic index. Such foods are valuable to health, as is exercise - just eat them in conjunction with foods containing protein and/or fat (such as Canola oil), to keep your blood sugar steady - don't eliminate them (even for two weeks).
I eat fruits, vegetables (including foods on his "don't eat" list) and all the grains (cereal, bread, rice and pasta). I have a low-percent body fat. Why? I do not consume an excessive amount of calories, I combine my carbohydrates with proteins and fats, and I am physically active.
So, I give The South Beach Diet one star for using bad science to sell books. If you're not already, you can get in shape - combine and limit calories and stay active. Now, that's all the "science" you need :-)
Since the advice to exercise is rather vague in this book, better to spend the money on a book with an easy-to-follow fitness program.
I hope that helps.
Check it out June 6, 2006
10 out of 14 found this review helpful
It takes determination to lose weight and I've always thought the formula to be relatively simple: eat less calories and burn more through exercise. However, it is very difficult to do so. So I turned to South Beach diet. I've found this to be a very practical diet. After the initial first two weeks (the strictest) I've lost about 5 pounds. But, I've done no exercise whatsoever and have eating quite a bit which accounts for the lower than the average weight loss.
Very helpful was also another book. The title is "Can We Live 150 Years?" In addition to longevity issues there is also a very good chapter on obesity, proper food combination, etc. It is a very good addition to "South Beach Diet".
Plan that works long-term! April 20, 2006
15 out of 19 found this review helpful
In February 2004 my wife and I started this diet, and after 3 weeks on the restricted phase (part 1), we moved on to the general principles: over the first 9 months we both lost 3 stones+ (not that we were both massively overweight but were at the top of our BMI without being obese). Following the basic principles we have kept the weight off. So it does work, and continues to work without yo-yoing. It is tough, but should losing weight be easy? The book supplies the principles, it does require a degree of willpower. Having kept the weight off, knowing how to manipulate one's diet healthly can only be a good thing. So give it a go - why not! This works and even allows a large glass of red wine every day. To recap: over the last 2 years the weight is still off. So, if you want a diet that works, and once one understands the basic idea, it is not overly harsh - try it; it has worked for everybody whom I know who have tried it. In short if you are weak then don't bother - instead go to the gym and dream. If you are indeed interested in diet, then providing you have any will-power the plan should work. Not for the weak-hearted, but should work for the strong-willed
I now feel like I'm in control of my weight December 30, 2005
12 out of 15 found this review helpful
I bought this book a year ago, when I was 11s 8 (162lbs). I was always feeling uncomfortable and bloated and constantly suffering from acid indigestion. My weight is now anywhere between 10s 4 (144lbs) and 10s 10 (150lbs). But what I weight is now up to me, I decide what I'm going to eat each day based on the lessons I learnt from this book. Some times I treat myself and don't feel guilty because I know that I'm eating food that is great for me the other 90% of the time. I even cook my low carb/low GI food for friends and they have no idea they are eating "diet food". I now read the labels on pretty much everything I buy, and if I can make it myself, then I will. It tastes better and you know it contains no rubbish.
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