As a cardiologist, Dr. Arthur Agatston set out to help his patients reduce their risk of heart-related problems by promoting healthy eating. He noticed that many of his over-weight patients had large bellies. In his patients, Dr. Agatston found that most of the initial weight loss dropped from the midsection. The results will vary for each person, but if you have a large belly, talk to your doctor about the benefits of the South Beach Diet.
Weight loss
In the first two weeks of the South Beach Diet, Dr. Agatston says you could lose between 8 and 10 pounds. You may notice a change in the size of your stomach after this burst of weight loss. However, after this initial period, you will lose at a slower rate, but, if you follow the plan carefully, you could continue to lose weight until you reach your ultimate goal.
Phases
The South Beach Diet requires you to follow three phases of eating. The first phase lasts for two weeks, and you will eliminate all carbs and sugars from your diet. These extreme dietary changes result in the quick weight loss. In phase two, you can add in whole grain carbs such as whole wheat pasta and brown rice. This phase will take you all the way through your weight loss goal. Once you meet your goal weight, you will begin phase three, the weight maintenance phase, which allows you to select any food in moderation.
Foods to Avoid
If you carefully follow the food recommendations on the plan, you may notice changes in the size of your belly and other problem areas. You should avoid eating high-fat foods such as fatty cuts of meat and whole milk products. You should avoid eating sugars and refined carbs such as processed foods that contained white flour. In the first phase, you will need to eliminate fruits from your diet, and you will also need to avoid starch and sugar-rich vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, corn and squash. Once you reach the second phase, you can add in some of the fruits and vegetables, but you should still avoid foods such as white potatoes, corn, pineapple and watermelon.
Considerations
Talk with your doctor about the South Beach Diet before you start following the plan. Your doctor will most likely recommend that you focus on learning healthy eating to not only reduce your belly size, but also to give you tools to help you make healthful food choices throughout your lifetime. If you carry your weight in your belly, your doctor may want to check your general health to ensure that you can safely add physical activity or make other changes to your routine without risking your health.
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