Southbeach

Does anyone do southbeach instead of atkins and what is really the
difference? Have you had any luck with it if so.

Whatever wrote:
Does anyone do southbeach instead of atkins and what is really the
difference? Have you had any luck with it if so.

I don't do Southbeach but I've read the book.

It's more of a Zone or 40-30-30 (%carbs-%protein-%fat
aka isocaloric) diet after the first two weeks.
Atkins is a true low carb diet. With a true low
carb diet the carb percentage is a lot less than 40--
more like 5 to 10 percent, and the fat percentage is
higher than 30--more like 65 to 70 percent.

Southbeach will work if you can tolerate (still lose
weight with) a higher carb percentage, and don't fail
to comply (stay on the diet) consistently because you
are hungry and craving things due to the restricted
saturated fat that it recommends.
--

Whatever wrote:
Does anyone do southbeach instead of atkins and what is really the
difference? Have you had any luck with it if so.



Most diets are hard to produce lasting weight loss with. Many diets
produce short term weight loss. There are claims that as much as 95% of
those who lose weight gain it all back, and often more.

Most people who lose weight pretend they have "cured the illness" and
can go back to eating "normally"... and they therefore end up where they
normally were - fat.

Several years ago, Consumer Reports ran a questionaire survey of their
readers who had lost weight and kept it off. They had many thousand replies.

Most of the successful weight losers made up their own diets.... they
claimed they didn't use any of the popular diets.

Eating was controlled and exercise was generally incorporated in the
program.

Some people "have luck" with at least one type of diet.

I don't "do Southbeach" myself.

You might find more Southbeach users at specialized groups. Compared to
"Low Carb of 20 to 120 grams per day (80 to 480 Calories)", the
Southbeach is a "Medium Carb" plan.

Compared to the old "Food Pyramid" of maybe 60% carbohydrates,
Southbeach is considered by some to be "low carb", but the old fashioned
"low carb" people don't consider Southbeach to be low carb.

Eventually we end up ruining any real meaning for the term "low
carbohydrate", and we all end up losing clarity by the confusion.



--
1) Eat Till SATISFIED, Not STUFFED... Atkins repeated 9 times in the book
2) Exercise: It's Non-Negotiable..... Chapter 22 title, Atkins book
3) Don't Diet Without Supplimental Nutrients... Chapter 23 title, Atkins
book
4) A sensible eating plan, and follow it. (Atkins, Self Made or Other)

"Whatever" wrote in message
...
Does anyone do southbeach instead of atkins and what is really the
difference? Have you had any luck with it if so.



I have been on a "modified" version of South Beach since July 2004. That
is, I stick strictly to the "foods to enjoy" list. In addition, I have
completely eliminated all flour, rice, pasta, sugar, and potatoes. That
addition is because I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes in June, just a few
weeks before starting the diet, and it is not required by SB. It has worked
very well for me. I lost about 60 pounds and have kept it off. I also was
able to control my BG and have not needed any medication since March 2005,
and my cholesterol and triglycerides came down dramatically. I did
"stagnate" in my weight loss after 60 pounds, so I am going to go back to
the first 2 weeks again to try to "jump start" it. I would like to lose 30
more pounds. Even without that, I feel better and more energetic than I had
in years.

I am not familiar enough with Atkins to comment in any detail (but I plan to
start reading the book this week because I am interested in it). I do think
SB is easier and that alone is a "plus" for me since it also works well for
me. However, South Beach is not a true low-carb diet and does not pretend
to be -- they refer to it as "good carbs" not "low carb." The first 2 weeks
(which I think may be similar to Atkins induction) really worked for me
because it eliminated my craving for carbs and especially for sweets. I
really do not feel deprived and have not eaten *any* cakes, candy, etc.
since starting on this program. One difference between SB and Atkins that I
am familiar with is that SB emphasizes low saturated fats. So, for example,
I look for low-fat cheese but cheese that still has good flavor (such as
Jarlsberg Lite). On the other hand, low fat often means higher carbs, so I
try to balance the two. Unlike sugar, potatoes, etc. -- which I have
completely eliminated -- I do have moderate amounts of saturated fats and do
not worry about it. For example, I had bacon and eggs for dinner tonight
(not turkey "bacon," which I think is best forgotten).

MaryL

"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in

completely eliminated -- I do have moderate amounts of saturated fats and
do not worry about it. For example, I had bacon and eggs for dinner
tonight (not turkey "bacon," which I think is best forgotten).


I had a steak with my eggs! :-)


--
LC again since 1/14/06
277/254/220

"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message
news:fltNf.134792$0G.121242@dukeread10...

I lost about 60 pounds and have kept it off. I also was able to control
my BG and have not needed any medication since March 2005, and my
cholesterol and triglycerides came down dramatically.

I am not familiar enough with Atkins to comment in any detail (but I plan
to start reading the book this week because I am interested in it). I do
think SB is easier and that alone is a "plus" for me since it also works
well for me. However, South Beach is not a true low-carb diet and does
not pretend to be -- they refer to it as "good carbs" not "low carb."

MaryL, congratulations on the weight loss and blood sugar improvement!

I think it will be a good idea for you to read Atkins. Also Eades (Protein
Power), Bernstein, and as many of the low-carb authors you have time for.
I've been gradually working my way through them, as time permits, and find I
get some new ideas and information from each one.

One think you may want, as a diabetic, is to have a bit more control than
just qualitative change in diet, as per SB, provides. Actually, a lot of
people doing their own version of Atkins, or other lc plans, do much what
you do. We just have certain foods we eat, and those we don't. However,
being able to compute your total carbohydrate intake for the day can help
you to make your carbohydrate intake more uniform, which can help in bg
control if that ever becomes a problem in the future.

Also, it can provide you with more variety. Say you want to have some pasta
for a special occasion. You can calculate how much will work within a carb
count that is proven for controlling bg. (Although with diabetes, it's
probably better to use a per-meal limit, rather than just a per-day. Some
might argue this.) When you're working only with a qualitative food list,
you're not going to have pasta at all. You still might not, if that food
spikes bg. But some diabetics can get away with small amounts of the
higher-carb/GI foods so long as they keep the overall carb of the meal low
and include in some fat, so that absorption of the higher-GI carbs is
slowed.

Basically, there is power in knowledge. When you just eat from your food
list, you really don't know how much of anything you're taking in. If that
works, great, because it's far less work. But if you find bg control
slipping, or weight not coming off, then sometimes monitoring carbs, and
even calories, can help. I've certainly seen quite a few people on this ng
use one or another of those factors, sometimes both, to good effect over the
years.

HG

mary,
i HIGHLY recommend that you read:
DR. BERNSTEINS DIABETES SOLUTION

--

Do we need to impeach Bush to bring some focus to this man's life?
The man was lost and then he was found and now he's more lost than ever,
plus being blind.
.........................Garrison Keillor



"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message
news:fltNf.134792$0G.121242@dukeread10...

"Whatever" wrote in message
...
Does anyone do southbeach instead of atkins and what is really the
difference? Have you had any luck with it if so.



I have been on a "modified" version of South Beach since July 2004. That
is, I stick strictly to the "foods to enjoy" list. In addition, I have
completely eliminated all flour, rice, pasta, sugar, and potatoes. That
addition is because I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes in June, just a few
weeks before starting the diet, and it is not required by SB. It has
worked very well for me. I lost about 60 pounds and have kept it off. I
also was able to control my BG and have not needed any medication since
March 2005, and my cholesterol and triglycerides came down dramatically.
I did "stagnate" in my weight loss after 60 pounds, so I am going to go
back to the first 2 weeks again to try to "jump start" it. I would like
to lose 30 more pounds. Even without that, I feel better and more
energetic than I had in years.

I am not familiar enough with Atkins to comment in any detail (but I plan
to start reading the book this week because I am interested in it). I do
think SB is easier and that alone is a "plus" for me since it also works
well for me. However, South Beach is not a true low-carb diet and does
not pretend to be -- they refer to it as "good carbs" not "low carb." The
first 2 weeks (which I think may be similar to Atkins induction) really
worked for me because it eliminated my craving for carbs and especially
for sweets. I really do not feel deprived and have not eaten *any* cakes,
candy, etc. since starting on this program. One difference between SB and
Atkins that I am familiar with is that SB emphasizes low saturated fats.
So, for example, I look for low-fat cheese but cheese that still has good
flavor (such as Jarlsberg Lite). On the other hand, low fat often means
higher carbs, so I try to balance the two. Unlike sugar, potatoes,
etc. -- which I have completely eliminated -- I do have moderate amounts
of saturated fats and do not worry about it. For example, I had bacon and
eggs for dinner tonight (not turkey "bacon," which I think is best
forgotten).

MaryL

"Hannah Gruen" wrote in message
reenews.net...

"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message
news:fltNf.134792$0G.121242@dukeread10...

I lost about 60 pounds and have kept it off. I also was able to control
my BG and have not needed any medication since March 2005, and my
cholesterol and triglycerides came down dramatically.

I am not familiar enough with Atkins to comment in any detail (but I plan
to start reading the book this week because I am interested in it). I do
think SB is easier and that alone is a "plus" for me since it also works
well for me. However, South Beach is not a true low-carb diet and does
not pretend to be -- they refer to it as "good carbs" not "low carb."

MaryL, congratulations on the weight loss and blood sugar improvement!

I think it will be a good idea for you to read Atkins. Also Eades (Protein
Power), Bernstein, and as many of the low-carb authors you have time for.
I've been gradually working my way through them, as time permits, and find
I get some new ideas and information from each one.

One think you may want, as a diabetic, is to have a bit more control than
just qualitative change in diet, as per SB, provides. Actually, a lot of
people doing their own version of Atkins, or other lc plans, do much what
you do. We just have certain foods we eat, and those we don't. However,
being able to compute your total carbohydrate intake for the day can help
you to make your carbohydrate intake more uniform, which can help in bg
control if that ever becomes a problem in the future.

Also, it can provide you with more variety. Say you want to have some
pasta for a special occasion. You can calculate how much will work within
a carb count that is proven for controlling bg. (Although with diabetes,
it's probably better to use a per-meal limit, rather than just a per-day.
Some might argue this.) When you're working only with a qualitative food
list, you're not going to have pasta at all. You still might not, if that
food spikes bg. But some diabetics can get away with small amounts of the
higher-carb/GI foods so long as they keep the overall carb of the meal low
and include in some fat, so that absorption of the higher-GI carbs is
slowed.

Basically, there is power in knowledge. When you just eat from your food
list, you really don't know how much of anything you're taking in. If that
works, great, because it's far less work. But if you find bg control
slipping, or weight not coming off, then sometimes monitoring carbs, and
even calories, can help. I've certainly seen quite a few people on this ng
use one or another of those factors, sometimes both, to good effect over
the years.

HG


Thank you for taking the time to post a *very* informative message. I
haven't even snipped anything from your post because I think it is so good.
You have given me some positive pointers -- things that I really had not
considered but now I will. For example, it makes a lot of sense to think
about being able to compute total carbohydrate intake for the day as a way
of making carbohydrate intake more uniform. I must admit that one of the
things I have liked about what I am doing now is that it is easy. In other
words, I have been taking the lazy way, but I am also concerned about
slipping back into higher BG in the future. You have give me a lot to think
about!

MaryL

"readandpostrosie" wrote in message
...
mary,
i HIGHLY recommend that you read:
DR. BERNSTEINS DIABETES SOLUTION

--



Thanks. I have a number of books on my bookshelf that I still haven't read
but want to work my way through. Dr. Bernstein's is one of them.

MaryL

"MaryL" -OUT-THE-LITTER wrote in message
news:blONf.134856$0G.44912@dukeread10...

Thank you for taking the time to post a *very* informative message. I
haven't even snipped anything from your post because I think it is so
good. You have given me some positive pointers -- things that I really had
not considered but now I will. For example, it makes a lot of sense to
think about being able to compute total carbohydrate intake for the day as
a way of making carbohydrate intake more uniform. I must admit that one
of the things I have liked about what I am doing now is that it is easy.
In other words, I have been taking the lazy way, but I am also concerned
about slipping back into higher BG in the future. You have give me a lot
to think about!

You're quite welcome, Mary. And don't apologize for using the "lazy way"! If
it's working that's fine for now. Better, maybe, because it's sustainable
for you, which means you'll keep doing it. It's just good to have some more
tools available to use should what you're doing stop working for some
reason. That's true for all of us, diabetic or not.

HG