South Beach Diet > Detailed Phases in the South Beach Diet

The South Beach Diet is planned in stages or phases, just like the Atkins Diet stages. The phase wise plan has special intake suggestions in each stage. All the stages have the similar fundamental viewpoint. The South Beach diet system claims that you can lose weight and keep it that way for life, without thinking of calories, weighing portions or restricting yourself from great tasting and tummy satisfying foods. This is done by leaving out high carb foods like sugars, potatoes, rice and white bread. The core viewpoint of the South Beach Diet is that the Weight loss and its continuance depend on maintaining a balanced diet that avoids unhealthy fats and carbohydrates.

Stage 1: Adjusting your Metabolism with the South Beach Diet Way

In Stage 1, you consume three meals and two snacks daily, eating until you are no longer hungry. The phase lasts two weeks, and in this time you  may lose eight to thirteen pounds.
 
These foods that are not allowed in Stage 1 are bread, potatoes, rice, baked goods, pasta, candy, fruit, cake, sugar cookies, ice cream or consumption of alcohol
 
Stage 2: Weight Loss up to two pounds a week

The endeavor during Stage 2 is to lose weight, with loss approximately 1 to 2  pounds each week. In this stage, you will gradually add the banned foods from Stage 1, back into your regular diet, but in a controlled way. The daily South Beach Diet in Stage 2 should consist of:
 
Protiens:
Minimum of 4 1/2 cups of vegetables
1 1/2 cups of milk/dairy (including yogurt)
Up to 3 servings of fruit
Up to 3 portions of starch
2 to 3  tbs. fat
 
Stage 3: Life Time Weight Maintenance

The life span maintenance plan in South Beach Diet is almost similar to the weight loss phase, with supplementary portions of foods permitted.
 
Warnings: The patients being treated for diabetes, impaired kidney function, pregnancy or other chronic illness should consult their physician before embarking on any weight loss regimen.

Important Tips for South Beach Diet

Calcium is a must for you. Take supplemental calcium intake. You can have a 500mg or a 1000 mg dose of Calcium each day. Added to it, you must take additional multivitamin and mineral supplement each day.

Water is a must. Try to take around 8 to 10 glasses of water each day, apart from fruit juices. Stay away from coffee, and if you must, take only one decaffeinated coffee in one day.

Expert South Beach Diet Advice