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SaraWelch:  The good 'ol South Beach diet! I love this diet and definitely recommend the book but I am not sure about the online program. Sounds cool though. Anyone else try it?

Dawn:  South Beach is a great way to kick start healthy living. I tried it, and lost 4 lbs for starters. It's a great way to help cut back on unnecessary carbs and stratches that you can live without.

MaryLevine:  No fruit for 2 weeks, why does that have to be eliminated, I thought fruit was healty....didn't read the book can someone tell me what the south beach diet says about it?

Katiedid:  I konw that fruits have sugars and those sugars convert to fat or something. Since they make you get rid of all the sugars then fruit has to go. :( I love fruit!

DanaBoyd:  Come to the beach! I've lost five pounds and starting week two of phase one. Best of all I don't feel hungry! I give up on so many diets because I just WANT TO EAT! Not this time. And you don't give up fruit completely, you get to start eating it again in phase two. Good luck!

kstov:  I did the south beach diet to lose weight for my wedding day. I did it! 25lbs gone in a couple of months. The bad part...2 years later I weigh more now than I did before! as soon as you get off it, you gain it all back!

Anonymous:  That's the whole point..you're not supposed to "go off it". It teaches you a way of eating for the rest of your life. I have never been able to lose weight and I lost 8 lbs in the first two weeks. It's tricky re-introducing the carbs but you just need to monitor yourself. I've now lost 12 lbs and I feel great!

vick:  Exactly the south beach diet is a lifestyle change not a quick fix.

Kimmi:  On Jan 2006 I went on the South Beach Diet and in the first two weeks I lost 10 pounds. In 6 months I went from 153 to 126 and maintained my weight until September 2007. I quit smoking an have gained 15 pounds back. So it Back to the Beach...South Beach that is....WORKS for me! Thanks Dr, Agatston !

Jamie:  I remember eating some of the South Beach diet products and everytime I would eat their snack bars, I would be sick to my stomach. That's when I gave up that diet. It just wasn't agreeing with my stomach and I ain't going to be sticking to a diet where I feel sick all the time.

Anonymous:  You can't eat just the bars. As previously stated it is about a lifestyle change. It is about eating healthy portions and foods. All the foods that you are eating are fresh and healthy. I use the meals for emergencies. Most of the pre-packaged foods are for Phase 2 and 3. A lot of the recipes can be made in advance and frozen for later. I have a very busy lifestyle and this is one diet that I have been able to stick too.

Anonymous:  ISounds to me like you never gave the diet a chance. The diet does not require you to eat their bars . I love the SB diet!

SouthBeachDieter:  South Beach Diet Rocks ! If you don't lose on this diet...than there is NO HOPE for you. Actually I really don't consider this a diet...just a healthier way of eating. South Beach you gotta love it!

kimbo:  Why is this Even Called a diet? I agree the first Phase is a little restrictive but only for two weeks. The second Phase ..You start adding some of the restricted food back into your diet. When you lose the weight you want...then you start Phase III this is how you eat for the rest of your life. It really is NOT all that hard. With a little discilpine..you can accomplish your goals. I know I FEEL so much better eating this way. South Beach is just a Healthier way of Eating. I don't consider it a diet at all. When you hear the word diet..dosen't it make you want to run away? I give South Beach a thumbs up. Go ahead and try it...I dare ya!

Anonymous:  I have been on SBD for 8 months and have lost 50 lbs., halfway to my goal weight. It's a great, healthy plan. You do not have to eat any of their products or join the online service. Get the book from the library and find one of the free online support groups, if you want. SB actually advises against eating prepared, "convenience" foods. You can have 2 - 3 servings of fruit/day after Phase I. The only things you can't have are refined sugars and carbs. I have never been able to lose weight before and I have had no problem sticking to this plan. No hunger, just great food. There is not a prescribed exercise plan, but it is advised to do the exercise of your choice. There is an updated book coming out in a couple of months and I hear exercise will be part of it.

justlil'oleme:  A NEW SB BOOK? Fantastic! I have all of them. They are kinda like a diet BIBLE....lol ! Looking forward to the new book with the exercises and all. What I like about the South Beach Diet Books...everytime I read them..I found something new...I missed. Strange Huh ? Thanks Dr. Agatson for making me realize I needed to start eating Heathier. YOU are an inspiration to everyone! Thanks again!

Anonymous:  I think this is is last book...which is available at Amazon. The South Beach Heart Program: The 4-Step Plan that Can Save Your Life (Hardcover) Is there another one??

Anonymous:  It works! And if you don't have issues with sugar cravings, or not alot to lose, you can go straight to Phase 2. As far as the bars and other products go, they are for convenience purposes. And I would bet money those bars made Jamie sick because she doesn't tolerate sugar alcohols well (I don't either, and I can't eat the sugar free chocolates, etc either). I do think that saying if this isn't the diet for you "there is no hope for you" is extreme. Everyone reacts differently, some people may prefer weight watchers, for example.

Jackie:  How much is the maximum daily intake of beans (or any legumes) during Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet, please?

michele:  does anyone know if the atkins bars are ok to eat on phase 1 of the south beach diet?

michele:  what does impact carbs mean? When you read the back of some bars it will say 20 grams of carbs but on the front it will say 3grams of impact carbs. Is this ok to eat on the south beach diet?

JoAnne:  In response to Michele. You take the total amount of carbs and subtract the fiber and sugar alcohol and that gives you your net carb. I have done Atkins and I think you should be fine eating their bars. I ordered the SBD book and am going to try that. I did lose 28 lbs on Atkins but I found it hard to stay on. My hardest meal to deal with is breakfast because I can't eat eggs everyday and I don't like to put much effort into cooking before I go to work. I am hoping this diet gives me better morning options. Any suggestions? Good luck to all!

Kristin:  The South beach Diet is what worked for me and I only have great things to say about it. First of all, I'm a cheater. I can't follow directions well and I eat alot! On the SB Diet, I ate relentlessly but only on the foods that met the low glycemic index. I cheated on mayo and BBQ sauce and plus I ate as much as I wanted of everything I decided I wanted. I rid the fridge of all unwanted (high on glycemic index) food, and filled it with all the goodies that are on the "good" list. I lost 12 pounds and 2 pant sizes initially during the first 2 weeks, and continued to lose an additional 17 pounds over a 3 month period, where I then went on maintenance. If I felt I was cheating too much after awhile I'd go back to Phase 1 for a week and so on and so forth. I introduced exercise immediately as that's the sensible thing to do, but you should alwasy consult with your physician before dieting and exercising. I still have my skinny pants and fat pants which thank God I haven't gotten back into the fat ones. lol

Meghan:  I read the book and wet on the diet... for a day. I did everything that I was supposed to, but I constantly felt hungry. When I woke up the next morning I had absolutely NO STREGNTH; I could barely even lift my head. I think this diet was too much of a shock for my body. I run on carbs so I switched to a high fiber diet insted.

Diya:  This is my 5th day on this diet.. and i ve been cheating a bit.. cudnt let go of the fruits... i m still a lot lighter.. (5 lb in 5 days) not at all bad for starters.. and i m almost never hungry.. thats the best part..

Dev:  I love South Beach! It really is just a healthier way of eating. I have to agree with the posters before me that if you didn't succeed at this diet, you didn't give it a chance. It's so easy to follow. As for the pre-packaged foods, I avoid them like the plague. They go against the very fundamentals thatSouth Beach was based on.

Kimberley:  On Jan 2006 I went on the South Beach Diet. THe first two weeks I lost 12 pounds. Over the next 6 months I lost another 25 pounds. For almost 2 years I maintained my weight . Sept 2007 I quit smoking Yeppers I have gained all my weight back .....Replacing food for a smoke . YIKES I! So it looks like I am headed Back to the Beach.

marie:  Hello there, does anyone know if you use some real sugar in the dishes such as the dessert will you not lose the weight; I ask this because my son who is 13 is going on the diet and I know he wont do some of the first phase. Like he hated tomato juice and will want sugar in his dessert. Any advice how you can substitute in the first phase?

Anonymous:  Phase I nearly did me in. I was weak and starved most of the time and left work early a few times because I was feeling so bad. Plus it was EXPENSIVE to purchase all the fresh veggies. I started it in the winter, however, when fresh produce is more expensive. I did lose weight - 8 pounds in the two weeks of Phase 1. Phase 2, where I could gradually re-introduce fruits and grains, was too hard to maintain. Plus I hated cooking for myself as I live alone. Most of the recipes in the book serve 4. I would recommend it but please read the book carefully. Realize that Phase 1 will be hard and you may be constantly weak.

Jaime:  I love the South Beach Diet......i went on it a few years back and lost 62 Lbs in just 9 months. ive gained most of it back now but only because of my own lack of disipline. once u cheat a little bit u wanna just keep cheating. i am starting it again 2morrow n getting the supercharged book today. i refuse to buy the products in the store i rather just know everything i am putting on my plate. even the people that come to me for advice to lose weight i tell them south beach or if they only have to lose a couple pounds and think its to harsh i tell them to go right to phase 2 which is just pretty much substituing anyways.

TG:  I used the south beach diet last year and did only Phase 1, I felt great I wasn't tired all the time and I had more energy. I lost around 3lbs at first. I do suggest the book. I left the program due to my working two jobs and never finding the time to be disiplined on my food habits. I am looking to do the program again.

John F.:  READ THE BOOK!! Too many people judge the South Beach Diet based on hearing there are no carbs and no fruit. This is simply NOT true! READ THE BOOK! Understand the program before you decide that it is not for you. The South Beach Diet teaches you eat properly and healthily. The first two weeks (Phase 1) restricts carbs and fruits in order to recalibrate your body and jump start your metabolism into a proper diet regimen. During Phase 1 you will eat plenty of vegetables (which do have small amounts of carbs) , meats, and dairy (low-fat). Make sure that you are eating proper portion sizes. Eating too much healthy food is still unhealthy. During Phase 2 you will start to introduce whole grain carbs and fruits. During Phase 3 you will begin the rest of your life of healthy eating habits and smart food choices. READ THE BOOK, implement proper portion sizes, and you won't even have to follow the meal plan exactly, you will know what foods and recipes you can substitute without hamperring the diet itself. Buy the recipe book for tons of delicious easy to make meals. Even without exercising, which I reccommend, your body will become healthy, you will feel better and have more energy and sleep more soundly. READ THE BOOK! That can't be emphasized enough. You have to understand why you are eating the foods prescribed so that you will understand that Phases 1 & 2 are temporary and merely a stepping stone to your future.

Sydney :  The SBD, first time around (phase 1), was a hard because I was surrounded by people eating junk, junk, and more junk. It was VERY difficult, I had to constantly distract myself. So my number ONE recommendation: have a small support group. Also, the first time around-while I was doing phase 1- I didn't exactly do the diet by the book... I mean I never anything on the 'bad' list..(no fruit, bread, rice, candy, cookie, cake, non-lowfat dairy, etc.) I ate a TON of veggies, lean meats, low-fat cheese, LOTS of celery, LOTS of eggs, and oh my goodness LOTS of salad & almonds. But, let me get to my point. When I did NOT cook the meals i ate by the book I was very 'out-of-it'. I took a nap every chance I could and had a lot of headaches (the reason being: before I was very addicted to sugar.. before SBD if I had a headache I would just pop a reeses cup in my mouth and be done with it.) Now I'm back to doing phase 1 again, a couple months later, and I'm doing everything by the book and oh my goodness I practically JUMP out of bed in the morning I have so much more energy. So... number TWO recommendation: Do SBD by the book. Also first time around I lost only 6 pounds in the full 14 days, this time it's been only three days since I started again and I've already lost 5 pounds!! DO it by the book!!!

brianbay:  I am on a south beach diet, I am doing everything they say, but I am becoming bulky and gaining weight, what is this?

Sarah.S :  I did the South Beach Diet just for the first two weeks as part of Phase 1, and I lost 12 pounds and I have never gained it back. I loved the results, but it was far too restrictive for me

Fran:  I want to begin, but I don't like tomato juice, can I have gazpacho instead ? or what else?

Linda:  I have been on the diet for 5 days and have lost only 2 pounds which is kind of discouraging given the talk of losing 10-15 pounds in two weeks. Does the weight loss pick up in the later stages or do most people lose the weight in the early stages?

singapore:  i am on 4th day of South Beach Diet phase 1, and i lost 7 pounds. I am so happy and love the results. i quit my chew and spit disorder.

Joshua101:  At first, i loved this diet. You can eat a lot and still lost weight. After 3 months i had lost 25 pounds. However, by this time i am so sick of lean meat and chicken and that actually would look at my plate and get sick of it.

Pytor:  I lost around 80 lbs on the SB diet in about eight months...coupled of course w/ exercise...I rid my house of processed / easy foods - a shocking process (27 grocery bags given to a thin thin friend)...and it was wonderful...don't have it available -you won't eat it...now though after a long winter on the road (with work) I have gained 25 lbs back...going on SB again for a wedding - and more important - for me...so I feel good, am healthy and able to particiapte in all of my life...it's a lifestyle choice - not a 'diet'...good luck!