Move over Atkins: the South Beach Diet is Hot, Hot Hot!

Web MD ^ | 6/17/2003 | John Casey

[tubebender]

Marking...

[Paradox]

I dont see anywhere in the SB Diet where it talks about trying to intentionally achieve ketosis. That is part of the mainstay of the Atkins diet, at least during the induction period.

This diet seems like a good, moderate version of LowCarb dieting. I myself have done something similar, back when I was working out alot. If this guys book can bring more people into the low-carb way of eating, and if this help those people become healthier individuals, then more power to him!

[Anoel]

Bump

[sinkspur]

I dont see anywhere in the SB Diet where it talks about trying to intentionally achieve ketosis. That is part of the mainstay of the Atkins diet, at least during the induction period.

Of course it is. Atkins preached ketosis for the first twenty-five years of his diet program, though he did back off in the last few years.

Achieving ketosis is not necessary to lose weight on Atkins or any other low-carb diet.

[dubyagee]

Plus Michalobe (sp?) Ultra is OK after the first stage of Atkins

I don't think it's bad at all. I wouldn't suggest drinking one immediately after a 'full-flavored' beer, but to me it doesn't taste much different from a light beer. Occasionally I splurge and drink the 'good stuff' like a corona or yuengling, but most often I stick to the ultra. And I love beer!

[Mother of the Bride]

I haven't had diarrhea once since I've been on the Isagenix System, but I've lost over 50 pounds. This isn't a diet. It's total health. I also lost my depression because of getting the right blend of nutrition. This is a do-able lifestyle change which has worked far better for me than the dozens of "diets" I have done over the last 38 years, including Atkins. You can check here for more details: www.healthbiz.isagenix.com

[tubebender]

Pinging...

[MHGinTN]

Great post! Thanks, sinkspur, I'm gonna get the whole household on this, a.s.a.p. ... I'm really gonna miss Ice Cream though.

[Hinoki Cypress]

"And no alcoholic drinks of any kind (wine, fruit and whole-grain breads may be added back to the diet in subsequent phases)."

South Beach BS. Since April 8, I'm down from 249 to 202 and enjoy adult beverages, whole-grain bread 1x daily, fruit and the occassional small dish of ice cream. Filet mignon and porterhouse steaks 3x daily is heavenly. I do miss my pasta, though.

Sounds like an Atkins Diet rip-off to me.

[Pure Country]

I've got a cupboardful of the stuff. Had two friends who tried it also, with the same running that I had. One of them it made her very sick to her stomach. But hey! I'm glad that it works for you! Congratulations!!! Sounds like a winner!

[sinkspur]

Sounds like an Atkins Diet rip-off to me.

It is, but so is the Zone, and several other low-carb plans.

Like you, I'm on Atkins, but drink wine at night and have a piece of bread now and then.

But, getting rid of the sugar got rid of the lethargic feelings, and the up-and-down cravings.

In fact, no cravings at all.

[Angry_White_Man_Syndrome]

On July 7, 2002, the New York Times published "What if It's All Been a Big Fat Lie?" written by Gary Taubes.

I quote the article: " 'Doctors are scared of ketosis,' says Richard Veech, an N.I.H. [National Institutes of Health]researcher who studied medicine at Harvard and then got his doctorate at Oxford University with the Nobel Laureate Hans Krebs. ''They're always worried about diabetic ketoacidosis. But ketosis is a normal physiologic state."

"Simply put, ketosis is evolution's answer to the thrifty gene. We may have evolved to efficiently store fat for times of famine, says Veech, but we also evolved ketosis to efficiently live off that fat when necessary. Rather than being poison, which is how the press often refers to ketones, they make the body run more efficiently and provide a backup fuel source for the brain. Veech calls ketones ''magic'' and has shown that both the heart and brain run 25 percent more efficiently on ketones than on blood sugar." You can read the full article at www.nyt.com.

Being in ketosis means your body has burned a large amount of fat in response to the fact that it didn't have sufficient glucose available for energy needs. Under everyday conditions, the carbohydrates you eat are converted to glucose, which is the body's primary source of energy. Whenever your intake of carbohydrates is limited to a certain range, for a long enough period of time, you'll reach a point where your body draws on its alternate energy system, fat stores, for fuel.

This condition called dietary ketosis, means your body burns fat and turns it into a source of fuel called ketones. Ketones are produced whenever body fat is burned. When you burn a larger amount of fat than is immediately needed for energy, the excess ketones are discarded in the urine.

Dietary ketosis is among the most maligned and misunderstood concepts in nutrition because it is often confused with ketoacidosis, which is a life-threatening condition most often associated with uncontrolled insulin-deficient Type 1 diabetes. In the Type 1 diabetic, the absence of insulin leads to a toxic build-up of blood glucose and an extreme break-down of fat and muscle tissue. This condition doesn't occur in individuals who have even a small amount of insulin, whether from natural production or artificially administered.

Dietary ketosis, however, is a natural adjustment to the body's reduced intake of carbohydrates as the body shifts its primary source of energy from carbohydrates to stored fat. The presence of insulin keeps ketone production in check so that a mild, beneficial ketosis is achieved. Blood glucose levels are stabilized within a normal range and there is no break-down of healthy muscle tissue.

The most sensitive tests of ketosis ("NMR" and "blood ketone level") show that everyone is in some degree of ketosis every day, particularly after not eating overnight and after exercising. Ketosis is the body's survival system. It is not an abnormality nor does it present any medical danger, except to a Type I insulin-dependent diabetic. The body functions naturally and effectively while in a state of dietary ketosis.

Some of the benefits many people experience while in a state of dietary ketosis for intentional weight loss may include rapid weight loss, decreased hunger and cravings, improved mood, increased energy and, as long as protein intake is adequate, protection of lean muscle mass.

[najida]

I like the addition of more high fiber carbs and the reduction in saturated fat (hey, I had a long stint on an ocology unit).

The nuts, calcium, olive oil, omega three fish are all 'fat burners'. Smart guy (plus he recommended seeing an RD, he is REAL smart! ;) )

[hispanarepublicana]

This is a really good plan, and it worked for me when it first came out years ago as SUGARBUSTERS!

[Coleus]

Thanks for the post, I'll check it out; however, I do not think it will work for me since I've tried Sugar Busters, Entering the Zone and atkins induction phase, the Atkins induction phase is the only one which works for me, I was on it for 5 months and lost over 70 lbs. with great success. I kept those keto stix purple for months.

[nutmeg]

.

[John123]

It's a diet drink plus other stuff that within four hours you are trotting to the pot continuously. Sure you lose weight, but diarrhea always does that to you.

Uh, too much information?