Is South Beach Diet effective?

In article <[email hidden]>,

John E said:

Hi Folks,

This question is on behalf of a friend of mine:

It seems South Beach Diet and low carb diet are identical for the phase
of induction, initial 15 days. After that, south beach diet gets much
looser than low carb diet.

How effective is it since you are allowed to eat lots of carbs from fruits
after intial 15 days?

It depends on what works for your body. I am able to eat 100g of carbs a
day and lose weight. I know other people who need to stay at induction
levels (20g) to lose weight. It will also vary depending on how much
weight you have to lose. Being easier to lose weight at first, more
difficult as you near your goal. It's a lot easier to lose a pound when
you're 100 pounds overweight, than when you're 20 pounds overweight.

--
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Chris Smolinski
Black Cat Systems
http://www.blackcatsystems.com

John E said:

Hi Folks,

This question is on behalf of a friend of mine:

It seems South Beach Diet and low carb diet are identical for the phase
of induction, initial 15 days. After that, south beach diet gets much
looser than low carb diet.

They are basically the same premise that obesity is caused by eating too
much refined carbohydrate. However, SB allows wholegrains from day one,
Aktins does not until maintenance; and SB avoids saturated fat, while
Atkins claims it is overrated as a dietary problem - heart disease, etc,
is actually caused by transfats in his view.

This leads to some different conclusions. Atkins allows cream, cheese,
and mayo for example, but SB only allows low fat versions. SB allows
wholegrain bread, oatmeal, milk; but Atkins does not. Atkins
deliberately tries to induce ketosis, SB tries equally carefully to avoid
it.

Quoted message said:

How effective is it since you are allowed to eat lots of carbs from
fruits after intial 15 days?

IMHO, SB is a sort of Aktins-lite. He has taken the basic idea, stripped
out the more controversial aspects about saturated fat and inducing
ketosis, and come up with something that is a lot less provocative to the
establishment nutritionists. Which does not necessarily make him right,
he just seems to be more accomodating where Atkins was confrontational.

All that said, the most important thing I have learned during my 2 year
tour of low-carb eating is: we are all different. What works for you isn't
going to be the same as what works for me. I suggest you invest some time
trying out different approaches that appeal to you and see what you get on
with the best.

Thanks Amuna for the detailed comparisons.
I got a much better idea about the diff. between them.

J.
"Amanu Reed-Sletters" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

John E said:

Hi Folks,

This question is on behalf of a friend of mine:

It seems South Beach Diet and low carb diet are identical for the phase
of induction, initial 15 days. After that, south beach diet gets much
looser than low carb diet.

They are basically the same premise that obesity is caused by eating too
much refined carbohydrate. However, SB allows wholegrains from day one,
Aktins does not until maintenance; and SB avoids saturated fat, while
Atkins claims it is overrated as a dietary problem - heart disease, etc,
is actually caused by transfats in his view.

This leads to some different conclusions. Atkins allows cream, cheese,
and mayo for example, but SB only allows low fat versions. SB allows
wholegrain bread, oatmeal, milk; but Atkins does not. Atkins
deliberately tries to induce ketosis, SB tries equally carefully to avoid
it.

Quoted message said:

How effective is it since you are allowed to eat lots of carbs from
fruits after intial 15 days?

IMHO, SB is a sort of Aktins-lite. He has taken the basic idea, stripped
out the more controversial aspects about saturated fat and inducing
ketosis, and come up with something that is a lot less provocative to the
establishment nutritionists. Which does not necessarily make him right,
he just seems to be more accomodating where Atkins was confrontational.

All that said, the most important thing I have learned during my 2 year
tour of low-carb eating is: we are all different. What works for you isn't
going to be the same as what works for me. I suggest you invest some time
trying out different approaches that appeal to you and see what you get on
with the best.