South Beach Diet and the Atkins Low Carb
Plan.
Our Review:
The Atkins Low Carb Diet is based on eating very few carbs, and this is
especially true during "Phase 1". We believe that it's one of
the strictest low carb diets on the market, especially during "Phase
1".
There is no mistaking this program for anything other than a very
strict low carb plan, since it only allows 80 carb calories per day
during the first phase (20 grams of net carbs is approximately 80 carb
calories per day)........and that's less carbs than you'll find in a
large apple, since even a large apple has slightly more carbs than
that.
Phase 1 of the Atkins Diet is now listed as 'optional' -- but even if
Phase 1 is skipped we still believe that the overall carb limitations
make it a very strict low carb diet.
This program is probably not for the faint of heart, since only truly
committed dieters will probably be able to withstand Phase 1 of this
program.
What about the South Beach Diet?
The South Beach diet is also a fairly strict low carb program
(especially during the first phase).....though perhaps not as strict as
the Atkins program.
...But it's our opinion that the South Beach plan is too strict (limits
carbs too much) to be practical for everyday dieters -- especially
during phase 1 with the severely reduced carbs and other rules
forbidding many foods.
For example, we've observed that the higher carb foods (on the South
Beach menu) are severely limited in portions during the first phase of
the diet -- and this prevents a normal amount of carbs from being eaten
during the first phase.
In fact, most of the foods which dieters are allowed to eat in
"unlimited portions" (during phase 1) are protein foods and
super-low-calorie vegetables.
For example, the South Beach menu allows unlimited lettuce during phase
1 --- but yet it limits the portions of "tomatoes" and "onions" and
"peanuts".
Additionally, the "sweet snacks" which are allowed on the South Beach
menu are limited to a mere 75 calories per day during phase
1.
So even though the South Beach plan allows "sweet snacks" -- they are
severely limited to just 75 calories per day........and that's less
calories than a single large cookie contains.
So although the South Beach program is not as strict as the Atkins
diet, it's our opinion that both diets are fairly strict low carb
programs -- and we believe that both plans will be fairly difficult to
follow for average dieters who are not truly committed, especially
during Phase 1.
Also.......both of these diets seem to have no "end" in sight -- since
both the Atkins plan and the South Beach diet never allow dieters to
return to a normal carb lifestyle (where carbs don't have to be closely
watched).
Both of these diets do gradually allow more and more carbs to be eaten
as time goes by of course (as time goes by the rules are relaxed a
bit), but even after 6 months dieters are still told to watch their
carb intake to some degree each day, and both diets seem to require a
lifetime commitment of some sort.
So it's a permanent lifestyle change which is required by these diets,
and many dieters may find it difficult to never be able to enjoy their
favorite carb-filled restaurant meals (which can be eaten completely
"as served", and without any restrictions).
So overall we think that both diets are not very practical for average
dieters who are not 100% committed to making huge sacrifices for the
long term, since we believe that many people will find it difficult to
modify their entire lifestyle permanently. We
therefore recommend against using the South Beach and Atkins programs
for most people, for the reasons outlined above.
End of Review.
We've created a new Fat Burning Diet which is called the Idiot
Proof Diet, and it has no specific limits on portions (it
also allows 3 cheat days every 11 days where anything can be eaten,
making the diet more practical for everyday dieters).
Thousands of people are losing weight each week using this new diet.
You can begin
using this new diet right here. |
