Sticking to the South Beach Diet can be difficult, especially for people new to low-carb diets. This commercial diet plan offers the promise of quick weight loss, but some dieters find themselves hampered by misconceptions about the diet or blindsided by carbohydrate cravings they aren't sure how to handle. However, with some advance planning and a desire to succeed, you can be one of the dieters who find success with the South Beach Diet.
Understand the Diet Plan
The South Beach Diet involves three phases, so it's a good idea to look over which foods are allowed and disallowed on each phase before you begin. Make a particular effort to understand the glycemic index and why it is a vital component of the diet plan. The glycemic index rates carbohydrates on their impact on blood sugar, which can affect hunger levels and carbohydrate cravings.
Set Yourself Up for Success
Before starting the South Beach Diet, clear your home of foods that will be forbidden during the two-week induction phase. Since this phase is the most restrictive, it can be tempting to cheat with just a few bites of a forbidden carbohydrate. Removing foods that could sidetrack your efforts from your immediate vicinity makes it more likely that you will stick to the plan.
Move on to the Second Phase
Once your two-week induction phase is over, don't hesitate before moving into the less restrictive second phase. Many dieters become nervous about adding carbohydrates for fear that the impressive weight loss seen on the first phase will slow or stop. However, the diet is designed to switch to a slow and steady weight loss after the induction phase; trying to extend induction for longer may set you up for failure.
Build a Support System
Any diet works better when the people around you support your efforts. If you can find a friend or family member to participate in the diet along with you, this can help keep you motivated. If no one you know wants to begin the South Beach Diet at the same time as you, look online for support groups and forums featuring others who are starting the diet. Discussing any problems you encounter and sharing your success can keep you from giving up when the going gets hard.
Get Back on Track
Backtracking happens to the best of dieters, so don't give up on the South Beach Diet if you have a meal or snack that includes something you aren't supposed to be eating. If your slide only involved a one-time mistake, you can probably go back to the phase you were on. If you have gained some weight back as a result of your backtracking, you can go back to phase 1 for two weeks to get yourself back into fat-burning mode.
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