The South Beach Diet by Arthur S. Agatston M.D. (2003, Hardcover)

I wish I had not waited so long to buy this book after learning about this diet. It is a marvelous lifestyle plan. I have lost 40 pounds since mid December of 2004 (yes, that's right I started this diet just before Christmas) This diet is by far one of the healthiest I have ever encountered. It is the emphasis on good vs. bad carbs, good vs. bad fats and use of lean protien that is the key to both instant results, and LONG TERM success. I was on Atkins twice with good results but I never could quite lose the nagging thoughts about all that fat and cholesterol laden meat, eggs and cheese so I could not strictly follow it and the weight came back. With South Beach the weight has come off, stayed off and I am continuing towards my goal on a pace that is neither too fast nor to slow. My doctor is quite pleased with my weight and my vastly improved cholesterol numbers. My ultimate goal is to get off the low doses of medication I use now to keep my blood pressure under control.

South Beach takes Atkins one step further and is much more healthful than Atkins will ever be. It really is just common sense once you know the not so secret secrets. It only took 6-8 weeks before I was able to eat almost anything I wanted as long as I avoided white flour, white sugar, corn, carrots, and potatoes. That still leaves plenty of vegetables to chose from. It's almost as if once I got to a certain point that my body reset some switches and I eat less, crave less and feel excellent.
If one can get over the sugar cravings of the first two weeks there is no reason that anyone should not succeed on South Beach.

I see one major pitfall being people's past eating habits being a stumbling block to success on this diet more than any flaw with the diet itself. If one has spent a lifetime consuming little else besides bread, potatoes, pasta, sodas, baked goods etc., etc. with only an occasional salad and vegetable thrown in they will have problems. If that same diet has been filled with white flour, refined white sugar, white potatoes in every form imaginable the first two weeks will be a struggle. It does require developing a taste for more natural and non-processed foods. If you have been eating heat and eat dinner from a box for most of your life be warned that it will take a major change on your part to make this work.

Still, even small changes inspired by the book will be helpful so anyone who has been on the fence about South Beach should not hesitate to pick up a copy of the book, or recipe book or both on Ebay.

I won't be selling mine. This diet is a diet for life and I'm keeping them right here with me.