South Beach Diet

by Marina Gibbs- Employment Consultant
(Queanbeyan, NSW Australia)

South beach diet review

I started out with the South Beach diet when I went out shopping for a pair of pants and I found out that I did not fit in an XL size anymore. I tried the next size XXL but it was still too tight for comfort. It took me a lot of courage to pay for the XXXL size and it finally dawned on me that I was indeed obese and not just overweight as I always tried to convince myself.

In fact, my doctor already told me about this when I consulted him about my back problems. This later on worsened and developed into another problem called Plantar Fasciitis or commonly known as tendonitis. The latest diagnosis I had was that I had sleep apnea. My breathing was becoming shallow and I could not get a good nights sleep anymore as I sometimes find myself gasping for breath while in a deep sleep. Despite my doctors advice I still could not get myself into a diet because eating was just something I could not resist. It is like taking away all that I am living for, which all the more makes my situation worse.

Now my doctor told me to try South Beach diet because the program was not about depriving me with food but more on learning how to stay away from food that causes me to store excess fats. Now with the size XXXL pants that I bought which finally convinced me that I am indeed Extremely Extra Extra Large, I now believe my doctor. That all my health troubles were due to my weight and by not doing anything about it the more health disorders I am bound to develop. The more food will be banned from me.

During the Phase 1 diet, I found the program agreeable because I was allowed to eat in regular portions although meals were mostly limited to chicken, fish, turkey and some lean meat plus some vegetables and eggs. Except that with chicken, I could not have the wings, thighs or legs or even cereals for breakfast or ice cream for dessert. Nevertheless it was quite encouraging because after two weeks I lost about 6 pound which was the first weight loss I experienced after two decades of being fat.

In Phase 2 I could say it was much better but it still would not allow me to eat my favorites except for pasta which had to be whole wheat and cereal which had to be extra-fiber all bran. Baked goodies were limited to sugar-free muffins. I lost about 1 pound a week. I started out with the diet in 2006 weighing 290 pounds and as of last weight check I am down to 210. I cannot say that I am any happier except that I can fit right back into some of my old clothes. If not for this, I think I would have cheated more often and still weigh even heavier than 210 pounds.

I am still aiming to go down below 200 pounds but I must admit that with the South Beach diet, I feel like I could not help myself from cheating. I still feel deprived of some food by basically sticking to those listed in South Beach list of Foods to Avoid and Foods to Enjoy.

Now I have read a recent review about Atkins Diet where there is a list that gives the acceptable foods and the equivalent in calories and carbohydrates. I have a mind to try this system because I find my progress with South Beach too slow. I still have this tendency to crave for some food and I just could not resist having a taste of it again. Now I was thinking that if I knew how much calorie I was taking in if I cheated, I will know how much calorie I will have to pay for when I sweat it out in my treadmill. I would not mind counting some calories and carbohydrates if that will allow me to enjoy some of the foods I am missing.

The bottom line is, South Beach diet works only if you have the will power to stick to the list of foods for the rest of your life. At least, South Beach diet helped me lose my tendonitis since my body weight decreased. Although the occasional back pains and sleep apnea are still there because I still have a lot of flab in my belly. In fact, only the thought of developing more health disorders and being deprived of more food keeps me motivated in using South Beach Diet. I just wish there was a better way or perhaps, better food.

Back from South Beach Diet to Natural Weight Loss