Is The South Beach Diet Just Rubbish?
In the multi million pound diet industry, the South Beach is one of the very latest best sellers. There is more. This means it is worthy of examination, because many people will go out & buy it on the hype & publicity rather than a real understanding, so let us take a look…
The first thing to note about the South Beach diet by Arthur Agatston is that it claims in its’ title to give you foolproof plan for fast & healthy weight-loss - well that is a concern for a start, because healthy weight-loss isn’t fast, the two do not go together.
It also claims not to be just another low carb diet, but the whole initial weight-loss is based on, yep you guessed it, low carbs! The argument is put forward about how carbs effect blood sugar levels, but not just is this debatable, the initial weight-loss will come about from simple calorie reduction, whatever the effect of carbs.
Of course what happens to initial weight-loss once that low carb period ends? It goes right back again of course, as it was mostly water loss. A waste of time.
As for the longer term plan, even though the diet says you will not have to worry about feeling hungry or portion size, it then goes on to repeatedly mention portion size - so which is right?
It’s not a great plan, the South Beach, it really isn’t.
Cutting out carbs will see a big reduction in calories, which will see an initial weight loss, yes. There is more. They are facts you do not have to get this book to know. You will also know that this is not something that is sustainable, which is the sign of a good diet.
There are plenty of worse books out there, but if you never buy the South Beach, you will not actually be missing out on a life changer that is for sure.
Would I call it total rubbish? Well in my view, the fundamentals are wrong, the science is debatable & studies are not referenced in the book, so my view would be to keep your money, & pass on the South Beach diet.
Gordon Bryan is a life coach who gets annoyed by debatable diets. Find out his diet view at: http://dietfactnotfiction.blogspot.com
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