One of the best low carb diets, this plan is cheap, effective, and will help you lose weight. It does take more time than diet delivery diets like Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig, which is why this diet is much cheaper.
The South Beach Diet focuses on limiting the amount of carbs you eat. Carbs get stored to fat, so if you can eliminate or reduce carbs, you will lose weight. Before we break into the diet review, let’s go over exactly what a carbohydrate is and why it’s important.
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Carbohydrates are a common source of energy provided by foods high in starch (cereals, breads and pasta) or simple carbohydrates like sugar. Carbohydrates are not an essential nutrient in humans (essential nutrients are fats and proteins). Carbohydrates contain 4 kilocalories (energy) per gram, while fats provide 9 kilocalories.
Checkout our entire list of low carb fruits & vegetables.
While the South Beach Diet focuses on eliminating carbs, the Nutrisystem Diet focuses on eating “good carbs”. Which diet is better? Nutrisystem or South Beach Diet? It’s hard to say, South Beach Diet can be very restricive during Phase 1, while Nutrisystem is more of a gradual process. Read the Nutrisystem review for more information.
The South Beach Diet plan is built around 3 phases.
Phase One bans almost all carbs and lasts for 14 days.
Phase Two phases back in low glycemic index carbs and this phase lasts until you reach your desired weight.
Phrase Three introduces more carbs and is designed to be your permanent meal plan.
Let’s go into the specifics of each phase and cover the different foods you can eat.
There are some very restrictive South Beach Diet rules covered below, so make sure to keep reading.
Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet are the first two weeks of the diet, and it is extremely strict.
During these first 2 weeks, the goal is to promote rapid weight loss and kickstart your body to lose weight.
The good part about this phase is the portion size is not limited at all, unlike most diet plans. You are allowed three meals per day, 2 snacks, and a dessert.
During these first 2 weeks you have a big list of banned foods, including: pasta, rice, bread, fruit, juice and alcohol. Your main focus will be on eating these approved foods: seafood, skinless poultry, lean beef, high-fiber vegetables, low-fat dairy, nuts, seeds, avocados.
Below is a sample menu for Phase One, you can eat 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner, 2 snacks, and 1 dessert.
Breakfast
Artichokes Benedict
Asparagus Omelets with Goat cheese
Salmon breakwiches
Lunch
Edamame salad
Shrimp stir-fry
Warm beef salad
Vegetarian chili with avocado salsa
Snacks
Reduced-fat cheese stick
Veggies with zesty peanut dip
Dinner
Chicken breast stuffed with spinach and goat cheese
Pecan Salmon seared with lentils
Garlic and sony grilled pork chops
Sides
Buffalo chicken bites
Green and yellow beans with fresh mozzarella
Desserts
Chilled espresso custard
Heavenly lemon moose
Ricotta cheesecake
After 2 weeks of the Phase 1, you are now ready to start incorporating in more carbs into your daily menu. This phase will last until you reach your desired weight goal, and since you’ve just spent 14 days eating very low carbs, you should already be seeing some great results.
You will be adding back in previously banned foods like whole-grain breads, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, fruits and more vegetables.
Below is a sample menu for Phase One, you can eat 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner, 2 snacks, and 1 dessert.
Breakfast
Sun breakfast pizza
Coffee or tea with splenda or truvia
Vegetable juice cocktail drink
Lunch
Crisp green bean salad
Whole-wheat margherita pizza
Snacks
Spicy nut mix
Smoked Salmon Canapes With Horseradish Cream
Peppery Cheese Popcorn
Black Bean Dip With Baked Whole-Grain Tortilla Chips
Dinner
Coconut Chicken
Shrimp Scampi
Pesto Pasta Salad
Pork and black bean quesadillas
Sides
Nutty brown rice
Baked sweet potato fries
Desserts
Green Tea Truffles
Chocolate Berry Cups
Dark Chocolate Bark With Walnuts
Peanut Butter and Jelly cookies
Whew! You made it, congratulations! You deserve a lot of credit for making it through the initial two phases of the South Beach Diet. You should now be at your weight loss goal and ready to maintain and keep your new body.
Isn’t it going to feel great once you’ve actually started the diet, gotten to Phase 3 and read that message again? You’re serious about losing weight, and The South Beach Diet is going to help you reach your goals.
This will be the typical meal plan for Phase 3. You will also be able to eat any of the meals from Phases 1 and 2. Again, you can eat 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner, 2 snacks, and 1 dessert.
Breakfast
Cottage cheese crepes with cherries
Dutch apple pancakes
Lunch
Seared scallops with summer vegetables
Asian chicken salad with wontons
Snacks
Triple berry cooler
Pecan-stuffed dates
Tropical fruit salad
Dinner
Pepper-spiked beef stew
Chicken pot pie
Desserts
Chocolate pie with peanut butter crust
Chocolate fondue
Exercise, like all diets, plays an important role in losing weight and keeping it off. South Beach Diet Supercharged is the new fitness plan that is designed for more rapid weight loss and focuses on the following.
Daily walking routine with a minimum number of steps per day
100s of pilates, and plyometrics core-based exercises
Targeted workout plans for each part of your body
All of the exercises are accompanied by videos, pictures and instructions.
All members of the online South Beach Diet plan receive free access to South Beach Diet Supercharged.
Thanks for reading our review of The South Beach Diet, we hope you found the information helpful in making your decision about which diet plan to join.
You are serious about losing weight, and we strongly recommend the South Beach Diet. Click here to join and get your first week for FREE!