How does The South Beach Diet work to help people lose weight?
The first phase of The South Beach Diet is to help people who have swings in their blood sugar and get cravings under control. When people eat a diet high in simple carbohydrates, it tends to make their blood sugar, moods and cravings unstable—more cravings, poorer mood. In phase one, which lasts for two weeks, you won’t have any bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, baked goods or sugar. There is no beer, alcohol or fruit, either. Fruit is added in gradually in phase two, which will last until you reach a healthy weight. For people who don’t have cravings and swings in blood sugars, they can begin in phase two, which is all about eating nutrient-dense, fiber-rich foods. In phase two, you will lose one to two pounds a week. Phase three is the maintenance phase that you will be on for the rest of your life once you reach a goal weight. You have learned what the best food choices are and you realize you are not eliminating but upgrading to healthier choices.
