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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.comThe verdict is in: those simple carbs we've been living on are killing us. For good health, we've got to get our blood sugar under control and stop the incessant cravings. Or so says Dr. Arthur Agatston, author of The South Beach Diet. The first half of the book details the science behind the diet. Most of the explanations revolve around why things you thought were healthy—-orange juice, wheat toast, carrots—-are actually evil. To avoid blood sugar surges, Agatston created a modified carbohydrate plan, recommending plenty of high-fiber foods, lean proteins, and healthy fats, while cutting bread, rice, pastas, and fruits. Major differences from other diets include a lack of concern over portion size and a serious indifference to exercise. Feeling full while on a diet is a beautiful thing, but it seems odd that a cardiologist buries his exercise recommendations in a solitary sentence. The last half of the book covers his three-stage plan; daily diets are mixed with recipes, some of which are from South Beach restaurant chefs. The most restrictive period lasts just two weeks, enough time to stabilize your urges and lose a few pounds; stage two adds fruits and a handful of other carbs, while stage three is meant to last the remainder of your life, with occasional lapses for white bread or birthday cake. While the diet is sound, the book could be better organized. The first half mixes scientific study with anecdote in a seemingly random way, while the mix of meal plans and recipes can be confusing. Still, the recipes are varied and tasty, and you'll never feel deprived, unless you currently happen to live by bread alone. --Jill Lightner
From Publishers Weekly
Despite the glitzy title, this is one of the more appealing diet books among the new "anti-carb" programs. Agatston, a doctor based at Miami Beach's Mt. Sinai Medical Center, found that his patients not only were unable to stay on various popular diets but their cholesterol and blood sugar levels remained dangerously high after trying these plans. The doctor chose to alter his own diet-first avoiding all carbohydrates and fruit and then reintroducing these foods in moderation. Feeling better and losing weight, he then consulted a nutritionist to modify his strategy to devise a sound method for his patients. The South Beach diet begins with a somewhat restrictive two-week program, generally producing a weight loss of from eight to 13 pounds. The initial phase may be difficult for those who crave bread, pasta and fruit. But there are still choices, and snacks (cheese, hummus, vegetables) are a necessary part of the diet. People shouldn't feel hungry on this part of the diet, stresses the author. The second phase offers somewhat more choices, including whole wheat bread and other selected carbohydrates. Agatston advocates combining the "bad" with the "good." For example, take whole wheat bread and dip it into olive oil, rather than using butter. Eat a very small amount of pasta with lots of vegetables, meat and healthy oils. Complete meal plans along with simple recipes comprise roughly half the book. Of course, there's no perfect diet that works for everyone but the enthusiasm of the conversational tone and the inviting manner make the book more appealing than many other diet tomes.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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1013 of 1146 people found the following review helpful:
 Updated version of ATKINS, June 6, 2003
Basically the South Beach diet is the Atkins program with some modifications. Sadly Agatston does not give Atkins credit. In fact on page 10 he states, "the Atkins Diet, for instance which bans virtually all carbohydrates and leaves the dieters to exist mostly on protein." Anyone who is familiar with Atkins knows that though Atkins plan does ban carbs for the first two weeks in the induction phase it later allows carbs back into the diet and the individual works up to a carb allowance where he/she will not gain back weight. And yes with Atkins whole grains, pasta and potatos are allowed according to the individuals metabolism of carbs. So this quote indicated that the author was either unfamiliar with Atkins or just twisting things so his own diet was more appealing.Agatston also claims his diet is not low carb. But in the first two weeks you eat very limited carbs and after that you add carbs back to your diet according to what you can handle (without gaining weight) so if you consider Atkins low carb, which does the same thing you will consider The South Beach Diet low carb. You begin the diet with a two week period where you do not eat rice, pasta, bread, fruit, potatoes, etc. After the 2 week period you will according to Agatston lose between 8 and 13 pounds. When your 2 weeks are up, you go to Phase 2. In Phase 2 you add back carbs that are good carbs like whole grains, fruits etc.
You continue to lose and then when you have reached your goal you switch to Phase 3. This is where you eat your foods in normal portions, but live by simple rules. There are two main differences between Atkins and Agatston. Agatston does not suggest you go into ketosis as Atkins does. And Agatston suggest you limit saturated fats unlike Atkins. Other than that, the diet is essentially the same. Agatston suggests eating fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, unproceessed foods and fat etc. just like Atkins. Agatston's book is not well written either. He skips around in the book and doesn't clearly spell out the plan. The reader is left to infer what the diet is as he reads the book. A much better book choice would be to get "Atkins for Life" where everything is spelled out and eat less saturated fat. Agatston also states you don't have to worry about counting calories. Sadly no matter what diet you are on, as I found out the hard way, calories count. The reason low carb diets don't require you to count calories or watch portions is because protein is very satiating and naturally suppresses the appetite. So most folks will not overeat. But there are some who will. And if you cheat just with some carbohydrates and are eating the fats and proteins that low carbing allows you may very well gain weight.
Bottom line calories count. Agatston gives menu plans in the back of his book. These are cut and dried with no substitutions listed. And when you add up the calories, menu plans are approx. 1200 or so. No wonder you will lose weight! One good point Agatston does make is if you add fiber right before you eat a meal in the form of say a spoonful of Metamucil you will slow down the processing of your food and feel fuller. If you want to lose weight, eat protein to help you feel full. Eat healthy fats. Eat unprocessed carbs (fruits and veggies) and eat few starchy carbs (rice, potatos).
And eat moderate portions. Agatston tells you this but its already been said before.
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729 of 761 people found the following review helpful:
 I lost 20 lbs in 3 weeks and it was easy!, July 30, 2003
Reviewer: A reader
The South Beach Diet may very well become the diet of the future and not just a trendy diet of the present.This is not another fad diet or a ripoff of Atkins. It does compare to Atkins in that it provides more than just the minimal amounts of protein prevalent in so many other diet regimens and results comparable to Atkins with the added bonus of being lower in fat. The addition of oils gives the skin a luxurous glow and prevents hunger. Oils are also typically devoid in most diet regimens. My favorite recipes are the Balsamic Chicken, Savory Chicken Saute, Grilled Steak with Tomato Relish and favorite dessert is Mocha Ricotta Creme. I have always loved mayonnaise and glad to see that this plan allows Mayo to be used liberally. The Phase 1 Plan was so easy to stay on. I was never hungry and my energy soared! On Phase 2 I am enjoying such delights like Mediterranean Chicken Salad and Portobello Pizza, Oatmeal Pancakes for breakfast, Poached Salmon Spinach Salad for Lunch and Stir Fry Chicken and Vegetables, Easy Chicken in Wine Sauce and Salsa Chicken for Supper along with other delights such as Grilled Yellowfin Tuna with a White Bean and Oregano Salad, Broiled Sole in Light Cream Sauce and Italian Style Spaghetti Squash. And the best part is that this is a lifestyle program. The Phase 3 plan allows menues that are delicious and healthy like Moroccan Grilled Chicken and Savory Shrimp over Wild Rice and desserts like Chocolate Sponge Cake or Chocolate Stuffed Steamed Pears. This diet plan alloes liberal amounts of eggs, beef, poultry, seafood, pork, veal, lunchmeat, cheese, nuts, tofu, fats (oils from canola and olive oil), spices and seasonings and sweet treats. You'll also find out which foods to avoid including certain types of beef, poultry, pork, veal, cheese, vegetables, fruit, starched and carbs and certain types of dairy products. I was delighted to see that someone with credibility finally came forward and exposed that eat only the egg whites and throw the yolk away. Dr. Agatston explains that the whole egg contains nutrients and the yolk contains good cholesterol that can neutrilize the bad cholestorol. The yolk also contains lecithin, a noted fat burner. All in all, I am very pleased with the South Beach Diet. I look better, feel better and am healthier than I have been in years (I am 55 years young--prior to This program, Iwas 55 years old and felt like I was in my 70's) If you want a program that delivers, give the South Beach Diet a try. You'llbe glad you did. I know I am.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
50 Pounds in Four Months, August 24, 2005
I bought this book in April (2005) when I weighed 285 pounds and followed it closely (but not perfectly). By the end of July (yes, still 2005), I weighed 230. It's the first diet I've ever tried. For me it was pretty much effortless.
One thing the book opened my eyes to is how much sugar we eat without knowing it. Things I never would have thought had sugar like ketchup, Spamİ, Underwood's Deviled Hamİ, most salad dressings, Campbell'sİ Tomato Soupİ (and pretty much every other soup they make), bacon, Spaghetti-O'sİ, even the "fake" crabmeat you get in some buffets all have sugar in them as a very prominent ingredient. You don't need to count calories, or control portion size to lose weight. You just have to put everything that has sugar, corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose, sucrose, fructose, or any of the other "oses" right back on the shelf. This can be a challenge because so many of the prepared foods we eat have sugar in them. If you look closely and take your time in the grocery store, though, you can find a lot of flavorful, easy to prepare, and filling foods that have no sugar at all in them.
With all this sugar out there, it's no wonder we're a nation of obese diabetics!
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1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Some Programs are Better than Others, August 23, 2005
I have been there, I have seen it, I have done it all! Low carb, low fat, low this, low that... It took me many years to realize that diets are nothing else but what they are - just diets. I will NOT say they don't work. Sure they work! At least as long as you watch each and every bite you take! At least as long as you maintain your strong willpower. It IS nice to have good looks, but is that all we want from our lives? How about GOOD LOOKS resulting from GOOD HEALTH? Dr. Tombak in his book "Can We Live 150 Year?" cites bad habits that lead people to obesity. Here are some of them:
1. The habit of eating fast and not chewing the food well
2. Drinking fluids at meals
3. Frequent snacking or constant chewing
4. Incorrect combining of food products
5. Lying down after meals
6. Sitting lifestyle
7. Eating while watching TV
8. Eating while irritated
9. Eating before bedtime or at night
10. Eating mostly refined and cooked food products.
Recognize some of them? Mr.Tombak, like Atkins and Agatston, also mentions eating too mach of carbohydrates. But he does not limit the cause of obesity to ONE SOURCE. Why? Because he applies COMMONSENSE. Because he puts GOOD HEALTH before GOOD LOOKS! Not good looks at all cost! Here is how he proposes to lose weight:
1. Correct the alignment of lumbar vertebrae. (Have you ever heard of this one? He explains why.)
2. Gradually and systematically increase the amount of your physical activities. (Nothing new, isn't it?)
3. Combine food products correctly. (We hear often about this one, too)
4. Perform internal cleansing routines and go through regular fasts.
Yes, just periodical short fasts that will cleanse your body, and shake off your cravings. It is nothing new! It is a simple procedure applied by many people around the world throughout ages. Larry Clapp in his book "Prostate Health in 90 Days" advocates the same. None of these unnatural diets throughout your entire life!...
I did a few days of fasting myself, and I strongly recommend this over any kind of diet to anyone who cares about his looks, his health, and his longevity. Periodical fasting energizes; purifies your body and mind; makes it easier to change your eating habits and to get back to natural, fiber-rich foods.
Everybody has his own opinion, but for me Tombak makes much more sense then Atkins, Agatston and all other inventors of "perfect diets"...
Why four stars for "The South Beach Diet"? -- Because it works! But at what cost to your lifelong pleasure, and (possibly) to your health? Be sensible. Read Can We Live 150 Year instead.
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