South Beach Diet Plan
Perhaps you've had them too, nightmares about rice cakes, granola, and eight glasses of water a day. Do visions of diet supplements, green tea and mechanical scales dance through your head? If so, you are not alone. The hardest part of committing to a diet program is the fear of giving up your favorite foods in favor of dry, tasteless "diet foods." With the South Beach diet, however, there is a plethora of delicious, healthy meals that can fit into your daily routine without forcing you to take out your taste buds.
While your grocery list may change at first, committing to the South Beach diet does not mean giving up eating, or giving up eating well. During the first two weeks, all carbs are forbidden, but that doesn't mean you can only eat steak and chicken. Stocking up on things like eggs, broccoli, zucchini, low-fat cheeses, and nuts is a great way to combat cravings for breads and cereals. No doubt, that the first two weeks breakfast is the biggest challenge to surmount, but replacing your usual bowl of cereal or bagel with eggs and a low fat cheese, or cottage cheese is a great way to start the day. Don't forget that in phase two fruits and some sugar are introduced back into your diet, so that cup of cottage cheese can easily be sweetened with some strawberries. Also, eating some lean bacon with your poached eggs or throwing some cheese and veggies into an omelet can mix things up.
Pack some veggies and a cottage cheese dip or peanut butter for a mid-morning snack, and some nuts or cheese for late afternoon. Use the prohibition of bread for your first two weeks as a way to throw some variety into your usual sandwich routine. A pepper stuffed with feta and mixed veggies is easily reheated in the break room, and tuna salad does not need to go on a sandwich. In phase two, whole grains are re-introduced, so a whole grain pita with your salad is a good way to keep you going until your afternoon snack. Dinner time may well be the easiest time to maintain your South Beach diet program, as you can play with the shopping list, developing savory sauces and seasonings to compliment healthy meat, vegetable, and tofu dishes.
Don't be discouraged if after your first two weeks, your weight loss slows to a crawl of about two pounds a week. This is normal and healthy, and as you change your lifestyle through the South Beach diet program, you will continue to lose weight and keep it off. There are a ton of online tips and how to programs, as well as meal plans and suggested supplements based around the South Beach diet program. If you find yourself getting bored with the same old choices, get online and find some more recipes. Don't forget, unlike other low carb diet programs, the South Beach diet doesn’t make you commit to a carb-free life. What it does do is help you develop a healthy balance between good carbs and fats which in turn won’t just melt off water weight that will return. Instead, it creates a life-long system of healthy living.
Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet
Phase 1, the shortest Phase, lasts for just two weeks and is designed to eliminate cravings for sugar and refined starches - and to jump-start your weight loss. The purpose of Phase 1 is to stabilize blood sugar (which minimizes cravings), making it ideal for people who are prediabetic or diabetic, as well as for those who need to lose a lot of weight. The focus of this two-week period is on eating plenty of nutrient-dense, fiber-rich (and guaranteed delicious!) foods that satisfy your appetite. Your meals include lean protein, such as fish and other seafood; skinless white-meat poultry, and lean cuts of beef (vegetarians can enjoy meat substitutes, tofu, and beans); high-fiber veggies; reduced-fat cheeses; eggs; low-fat dairy; and healthy, unsaturated fats, such as those found in avocados, nuts and seeds, and extra-virgin olive and canola oils. During Phase 1, you'll fill up on dishes like Chicken Breasts Stuffed With Spinach and Goat Cheese, Seared Pecan Salmon With Lentils, Garlic and Soy Grilled Pork Chops, and more. The South Beach Diet encourages snacking, so you'll also get to choose two tasty snacks each day, like Spicy Nut Mix, reduced-fat cheese, and veggies with our zesty Peanut Dip. Plus, you'll dine on delicious desserts (every day!), including Chilled Espresso Custard, Heavenly Lemon Mousse, and our famed Ricotta Crème. With all the options - from gourmet meals to on-the-go snacks to quick weeknight dinners - you won't feel hungry or deprived!
Phase 2 of the South Beach Diet
Phase 2 is the long-term weight-loss Phase of the plan. It's also the perfect place to start for those people who have 10 pounds or less to lose, who don't have problems with cravings, who don't have excess belly fat, or who simply want to improve their health. In Phase 2, you'll eat everything in Phase 1 plus good carbs, such as whole-grain bread, brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, fruits, and even more veggies, like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and peas. Of course, you'll continue to enjoy snacks and dessert too, including dark chocolate! In fact, you'll eat delicious meals, like Coconut Chicken, Shrimp Scampi, Pesto Pasta Salad, and Pork and Black Bean Quesadillas. Side dishes include Nutty Brown Rice and Baked Sweet Potato Fries. And don't forget snacks: Smoked Salmon Canapés With Horseradish Cream, Peppery Cheese Popcorn, and black bean dip with baked whole-grain tortilla chips are a few of the many snacks you'll choose from. Then, cap off your dinner with a decadent dessert, like Green Tea Truffles, Chocolate Berry Cups, or Dark Chocolate Bark With Walnuts. Best of all, you'll eat all these delicious foods and still lose weight and get healthier.
Phase 3 of the South Beach Diet
By now, you've adopted the South Beach Diet lifestyle, making smart food choices that fit the way you live. That's what Phase 3 is all about, and it begins once you reach your healthy weight. In Phase 3, you'll continue to follow the principles you learned in Phases 1 and 2, but because it's the lifelong stage of the plan, it includes almost every kind of food and it allows for additional occasional indulgences. It is the key to maintaining a healthy weight for life.