Just wondering if anyone has tried the South Beach Diet, and if you experienced success or difficulties?
Personally I tried to do South Beach two years ago, then again one year ago, both times quitting for the same reason: stomach ache! I finally connected it to the cauliflower.

However, while in Japan this month I discovered a diet called the "Reset Diet". I decided to try it, since it is similar to South Beach (high protein, lots of veggies) but varies in that it allows fruit every morning, does not allow much fat (as South Beach does), does not require all that darn cauliflower, and best of all the strict phase is only one week!

It requires you to think carefully of your start date (consider what's on your schedule); to clearly state your weekly weight loss goal, to clearly decide to commit to the one week, and to clearly state your final weight loss goal (i.e. one month at X lbs, 2nd month at x lbs). Alot like Weight Watchers philosophy!

I decided to try it, and found that at the end of one week I'd lost exactly the 5 pounds that were my goal. Now I am adding back the healthy things that were not allowed in the strict phase (kinda like WW core plan now).

Anyway, sometimes we all need a kick in the rear of additional motivation, especially with the holidays pending!

A tidbit from the American Dietetic Association:

"Goals of weight management interventions may include:

prevention of weight gain or stopping weight gains in the individual who has been seeing a steady increase in his or her weight (51);

varying degrees of improvements in physical and emotional health (52);

small maintainable weight losses or more extensive weight losses achieved through sensible and tolerable eating and exercise behaviors (53); and

improvements in eating, exercise, and other behaviors apart from any weight loss."

******

"Health can be improved with relatively minor weight losses. A weight loss of 10% may ameliorate health risks associated with excessive body weight (54)."

Lots more at:

http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/SID-5303FFEA-8E663FF0/ada/hs.xsl/advocacy_adar0802_ENU_HTML.htm

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sheltieguy,

Thanks for your comments, everyone!

Just a couple clarifications: "Reset" does not allow free reign on fat with your protein. Plus, fish containing good Omegas should be a protein of choice (maybe more South Beachers should remember this: I think in his book Dr. Agatston's tested patients had lowered cholesterol); plus don't forget to add oatmeal and barley back into your meals.

Also a thought re: setting goals. I agree that a "diet mentality" is not good, but aren't the philosophies of setting goals and envisioning them, including the steps it will take to realize them, mainstays of the WW program? (What are these called, "winning outcomes"?)

My sister also tried South Beach and her cholesterol also went up. Proceed with caution.

One word of caution… My mom did the South Beach Diet. Decided it might be a quick way to lose 10 lbs of holiday gain one year.

She was very disciplined during phase one and saw her cholesterol numbers shoot up, up, UP!!!!

She ended up going on chol. meds... and it took years to convince her MD that she could go off of them.

She kind of sort of does phase 3 now... and counts ww points - and has gotten her chol. numbers down.

quote:

by Komasakacat:
...clearly state your weekly weight loss goal, to clearly decide to commit to the one week, and to clearly state your final weight loss goal (i.e. one month at X lbs, 2nd month at x lbs).

This approach never worked for me. I never lost my goal and I think that it kept me in "dieting mode". I think that it perpetuated a mind set that when I weigh x, then I will be happy or successful. If my goal was to lose 3 lbs, and I only lost 1... I felt like a failure…

I was MUCH more successful setting behavior goals - i.e. "This week I will make lunch at home and not eat fast food." The scale co-operated… and I also was able to reinforce better health habits.

Cat, I purchased the South Beach Cookbook. I have Thyroid Disease, hypoglycemia and a heart condition called Cardiomyopathy. My doctor had been telling me to try it for years. I am also a carb addict. So I didn't think I could do it. I don't believe in diets, just lifestyle changes that are doable. Small changes, goals, baby steps, all of KD's principals. Anyway, I incorporated the south beach principals of no white sugar or flour. I use the cookbook for my meals and I use my own common sense with portions etc. I have lost 30 pounds. I have also exercised. I ride my bike and play tennis. You must do some sort of exercise. Walking, join a gym, but some aerobic movement that gets your heart rate up a bit to burn calories. I have been struggling with my weight all of my life and have been a member of this group for over 3 years. We all know it is not easy, but you need to lose the "diet" and just make lifestyle changes that will work in your life.