South Beach Dietitians Liverpool

The South Beach diet

The 'food lover's diet'

The latest in trendy diets is The South Beach Diet which claims to be 'a food lover's diet'. The diet is divided into three Phases. The first Phase lasts two weeks and is designed to eliminate cravings and kick-start weight loss. The second Phase is intended to produce long-term, steady weight loss. You'll stay in Phase 2 until you reach a healthy weight. Then you'll move to Phase 3, the lifestyle Phase. This is how you'll eat and live 365 days a year - and it's the key to maintaining your new, healthy weight.

Phase 1 - Eliminate cravings and kickstart weight loss

Phase 1, the shortest Phase, lasts for just two weeks and is designed to eliminate cravings for sugar and refined starches - and to jump-start your weight loss. The purpose of Phase 1 is to stabilize blood sugar (which minimizes cravings), making it ideal for people who are prediabetic or diabetic, as well as for those who need to lose a lot of weight.

The focus of this two-week period is on eating plenty of nutrient-dense, fiber-rich (and guaranteed delicious!) foods that satisfy your appetite. Your meals include lean protein, such as fish and other seafood; skinless white-meat poultry, and lean cuts of beef (vegetarians can enjoy meat substitutes, tofu, and beans); high-fiber veggies; reduced-fat cheeses; eggs; low-fat dairy; and healthy, unsaturated fats, such as those found in avocados, nuts and seeds, and extra-virgin olive and canola oils.

The South Beach Diet encourages snacking, so you'll also get to choose two tasty snacks each day, like Spicy Nut Mix, reduced-fat cheese, and veggies with our zesty Peanut Dip.

Phase 2 - lose steadily

Phase 2 is the long-term weight-loss Phase of the plan. It's also the perfect place to start for those people who have 10 pounds or less to lose , who don't have problems with cravings, who don't have excess belly fat, or who simply want to improve their health .

In Phase 2, you'll eat everything in Phase 1 plus good carbs, such as whole-grain bread, brown rice, whole-wheat pasta, fruits, and even more veggies, like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, and peas. Of course, you'll continue to enjoy snacks and dessert too, including dark chocolate!

Phase 3 - Maintain for life

By now, you've adopted the South Beach Diet lifestyle, making smart food choices that fit the way you live. That's what Phase 3 is all about, and it begins once you reach your healthy weight. In Phase 3, you'll continue to follow the principles you learned in Phases 1 and 2, but because it's the lifelong stage of the plan, it includes almost every kind of food and it allows for additional occasional indulgences. It is the key to maintaining a healthy weight for life.