South Beach Diet: The Delicious, Doctor-Designed, Foolproof Plan for Fast and Healthy Weight Loss » (Reprint)

Arthur Agatston, M.D., is a cardiologist who has served on committees of the American Society of Echocardiology, the American College of Cardiology, and the Society of Artherosclerosis Imaging, where he is a member of the founding board of directors. He lives in Miami Beach with his wife, Sari, and their two children.

THE DIET EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT!

Developed by noted Miami cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston for his patients, THE SOUTH BEACH DIET became a national phenomenon-because it works. It's not low fat. It's not low carbs. It teaches you to use the right carbs and the right fats to change your body chemistry to burn fat, help reduce your cholesterol, and help prevent metabolic syndrome (pre-diabetes). As a result, you'll lose weight quickly and safely.

Dr. Agatston's plan allows you to eat the foods you love-meat and fish, cheese, healthy oils and nuts, vegetables, and the right carbohydrates and sweets. There's no mandatory exercise, and you're never left craving more food. Structured in three simple phases, this may be the easiest diet that you've ever tried.

PHASE ONE: Say goodbye to bad-for-you "goodies"!

Your cravings will disappear...and so will eight to thirteen pound.

PHASE TWO: Your stomach is visibly smaller and favorite foods are back on the menu!

Your body is burning calories, not storing them!

PHASE THREE: The stage that lasts the rest of your life-normal foods in normal portions.

You will keep your ideal weight...and maintain your health and vitality.

With recipes and meal plans for each phase!

"The real value of the book is its sound nutritional advice."

-Newsweek

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. (Apr.) Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.