South Beach Diet
This diet is designed to help users lose and then maintain weight in three phases. Phase 1 is the "eliminate cravings and kick start weight loss" phase. The goal of this phase is to "eliminate cravings for sugars and refined starches" by cutting these out of the diet and filling it instead with lean proteins, vegetables, low fat cheese, low fat dairy, and healthy unsaturated fats. Users complete this phase in two weeks before moving on to Phase 2, the "lose steadily" phase, designed for longer term weight loss. In addition to Phase 1 foods, dieters will add in healthy carbohydrates such as whole grain breads. Dieters continue with this phase until they have reached their goal weight. The final phase is termed the "maintain for life" phase in which users continue with their phase 2 foods but now are allowed more flexibility and "indulgences" with a goal to maintain current weight.
People using this diet benefit from balanced nutrition (after the initial phase) with regular meals and snacks without the "hassle" of calorie or fat counting. However, the initial phase does not provide balanced nutrition and the carbohydrate restriction is demanding and difficult for avid exercisers. Calories are very low in phase one and two. Additionally, while the recipes provided are handy and relatively simple, they can be costly and take time to prepare (23).