Whatcha think about the South Beach woe?

[BunnyD]

I don't want to get in a big debate of one over the other, but I was just curious if you all had looked into the South Beach woe, and if there was anything in particular that made you stick with Atkin's? Just wondering....

[cleochatra]

Re: Whatcha think about the South Beach woe?

Don't even get me started.

[stephbob]

Re: Whatcha think about the South Beach woe?

I haven't REALLY looking into the South Beach Diet, but the main reason I put it off was because I thought there was a lot of fish involved. And I hate fish!

[ladyinred]

Re: Whatcha think about the South Beach woe?

Mmmmmmm fish. Atkins works (well, when I work the Atkins it works for me). Why go looking around when you've found the right one for you? So I can't comment on SB, but I must give an opinion wherever possible. This is my mission in life.

By the way Steph, you look fabulous. Very flat in the tummy area, aren't you?

[stephbob]

Re: Whatcha think about the South Beach woe?

haha, thank you ladyinred! Yes, my tummy is really flat now! That dress is baggy on my tummy now, but the hips-thighs-butt still fit hehe

[cleochatra]

Re: Whatcha think about the South Beach woe?

Oh, I'd better elaborate: South Beach is nothing more than Atkins minus the strict rules. The problem is, it is easier to backslide on SB because the blood sugars are never fully stabilized and I'd argue one never fully reaches a state of ketosis. I have the book and have compared both ways of eating, and while Dr Agatston makes some extremely cogent points, his way of eating invites a lot of falling off the wagon, and doesn't promote a stable blood sugar so much as a "if you want it, eat it and start over tomorrow" mentality. I think Atkins is so successful because it actually makes for positive changes to the blood sugar and to overall well-being. Atkins makes no apologies for the stringency of this way of eating, and it almost seems that SB is the apologist's version of Atkins, but minus the benefits we enjoy because of Atkins.

Granted, Atkins isn't for everyone, and South Beach is really successful for people will smaller blood sugar issues than we face. So, for the person with less to lose who doesn't face problems due to wonky blood sugar, South Beach is an alternative some might wish to entertain. I would definitely promote SB over WW, because SB does allow for some oils and fats which do hold satiety value over low-cal, high carb plans.

[ttdriver]

Re: Whatcha think about the South Beach woe?

IMNSHO ... Dr. Agatston (or whatever his name is) stole Dr. Atkins thunder.

Betty

[k5commando]

Re: Whatcha think about the South Beach woe?

I havn't known anyone it's worked for for a long period of time. I need strict rules and very low sugar. I wouldn't have made it on SB.


Oh, and Stephbob.........WOW.

[Bugaboo]

Re: Whatcha think about the South Beach woe?

I've never read the South Beach book but from what I gathered from it there's a lot of low fat stuff which to me is tastes yicky most of the time. Count your carbs seemed so much easier to me. The easier something is for me the more likely I am to stick with it. In Febuary it will be 2 years so I guess I was right. It happens.

[not2late]

Re: Whatcha think about the South Beach woe?

South Beach came out after I had been on Atkins for a few months and had successfully lost weight. I did read it just to see what it was about.

Basically, it's a low fat, 'lower' carb diet. I wouldn't be able to last on something like that because that was similar to the way I ate before Atkins: low fat, lean proteins and "healthy" carbs like veggies, fruits and whole grains. The problem with me was that I used to get very hungry, therefore, I would overeat the "healthy" carbs like the veggies, fruits and whole grains. IIRC, Agatson gets around this by having his dieters eat several small meals daily (to prevent hunger between meals and to keep that blood sugar steady). On Atkins, I eat 3 meals a day---even when I was on Induction, I ate 3 meals daily. I'm not hungry between meals, so I don't overeat when I finally do eat a meal. And since I'm not very hungry at all, I don't overeat during meals (big problem with me).

I've been successful on Atkins. It fits into my lifestyle very well. While I haven't reached my weight loss goal yet, I have acheived some MAJOR health goals (which I value a whole lot more than wearing a size 8 dress!) That's why I stick with it: it works for me.

[SugarFreeSheila]

Re: Whatcha think about the South Beach woe?

I have yet to actually see someone get to their own personal goal weight by means of the South Beach Diet.

[Wannabe110]

Re: Whatcha think about the South Beach woe?

Hi! New here. I just introduced myself on the Intro forum.

Anyway, I too need strict rules. It needs to be cut and dry. I can't be so lose with my carbs becasue it just sets me up to have cravings and fail. With SB I never got that feeling (maybe because I didn;t go into ketosis on SB) I wasn't hungry. Atkins totally shut off my appetite for sugar once I got past a few days without it. SB still had me craving.

Also, the low fat stuff is awful. Low fat cheese doesn't melt right and it tastes bad. Low fat cream cheese? Yuck. When I first read Atkins book in 2000 (an older version right before he got really popular again) I could not believe he was saying to eat regular cheese and butter and all kinds of other things. I was in complete and total shock.

Ready to start again January 1st!

[Wannabe110]

Re: Whatcha think about the South Beach woe?

SuagrFreeSheila, your pictures are such an inspiration to me! I am also 5'3" with a goal of 110. I'm 160 now. You've mantained since 2001! WOW! I' going to check out your web page.

[sadie147]

Re: Whatcha think about the South Beach woe?

I have yet to actually see someone get to their own personal goal weight by means of the South Beach Diet

.

I have a friend who has lost 40 pounds and has kept it off over a year on South Beach.

I'm the only person in my circle of friends that has reached their goal weight on atkins (2 others have tried).

I know people that have successfully maintained weight loss on low fat.

I don't think every diet is for every person..weighloss is a very individual thing. I also know from my own experience that the Atkins diet is not perfect either.

When I gained 8 lbs in maintenence, I tried south beach phase 2 and I lost 4 lbs. I had tried goin back to Atkins induction and actually gained weight. The only problem I have with south beach is the rules for the meals (I wont get into them) What I ended up doing is kind of a mix of the two, lower fat, lower carb. I found the food list for phase 2 basically similar to atkins OWL. I haven't read the book, just know what I have from the net.

If you would like an unbiased opinion or more info on the south beach diet, you can post this on ADBB's sister board, www.lowcarbbulletinboard.com (you will need to join, your id from here doesn't carry over). We actually have a South Beach Forum on there, with food lists, advice etc.

[Moochiecat]

Re: Whatcha think about the South Beach woe?

I think that if my doctor had said "Have you looked into South Beach?" instead of saying "Have you looked into Atkins?", I would probably be on a South Beach board somewhere on the net...lol

In retrospect (because I did look into South Beach last year or so) I am much better off being on Atkins due to the strictness of it all. I really need the Rules..that really works for me because as someone mentioned, I had lots of blood sugar issues that needed to be taken care of. I probably would have been successful on SB but I wouldn't have dealt with my sweet tooth as much as I have on Atkins.
I know someone who did amazingly well on SB and continues to do so and I'm of the opinion that each person is different, and whatever diet works for you, go for it!!
The goal is to lose the weight, and both plans have their merits.