The South Beach Diet was developed by cardiologist, Arthur Agatston, who was practicing in the Miami, Florida area at the time. This diet first appeared in a book published by Rodale Press entitled “The South Beach Diet.” This diet emphasizes eating right, being healthier, and claims to create ten to fifteen pounds of weight loss in just two weeks. The South Beach Diet works gradually. The first two use a specific timeframe and the third phase is used for life. With this method, you stop weighing portions of food, stop counting calories, and stop feeling that you are being deprived of good tasting food.

With the South Beach Diet, you eat three normal sized meals and two snacks every day.

The meal plan is designed to be flexible so you can eat a variety of different foods. The downside of this diet is that carbohydrate restriction in the first two weeks requires tough willpower and may leave you feeling weak and tired. You may also not be getting an adequate supply of vitamins and minerals in phase one because this phase does not emphasize the five servings of fruits and vegetables your body needs. Eliminating all carbohydrate foods during this phase means that you will be selling yourself short on quality fiber, iron, B vitamins, zinc and calcium.

Nutritionists generally support a diet that is based on the Glycemic Index.

The South Beach Diet only requires serious willpower for the first two weeks and it can seem very strict at first. Losing up to fifteen pounds in such a short time is extremely unhealthy. However, once you get past the first phase, there are fewer dietary restrictions than with most other diet plans. No major food groups have been eliminated and this diet follows the basic principles of healthy eating with the end result providing you with many of the nutrients you need to stay healthy.