1. Change Your Eating Habits
More than anything else, the South Beach Diet trains you to change your eating habits, not just lose weight. Phase One cuts out most of the "good stuff" like breads, pasta, chocolate and other carbs, and this usually causes a two-week loss of around 10 lb. Phase Two brings back some of the forbidden foods, like carbs, and teaches you to make healthy choices. Finally, Phase Three transitions you back into a non-diet mode. By following the guidelines and eating well-balanced meals, you should reach your ideal weight.
2. Stick With the Plan
The South Beach Diet is based on lists of allowed and forbidden foods instead of counting calories. With so much freedom from not having to add up calorie, fat and carb intake, you may be tempted to overeat or substitute ingredients without checking the list of allowed foods, which hurts the initial weight loss. During Phase One, cravings often reach critical levels, and during Phase Two, many people grow frustrated with the slow weight loss. In order for the diet to work, you must stick with it through the first two phases, learning as you go along. Shopping for ingredients in advance (try one week at a time) makes it easier to follow the diet. You can also pre-measure snacks, so they can be grabbed quickly, without the temptation to overindulge. Count out 15 nuts into small cups, for example, cover them with plastic wrap and store them in the pantry for easy access.
3. Exercise and Diet
The South Beach Diet teaches you to eat healthy meals, which leads to weight loss. However, more dramatic weight loss requires a full lifestyle change, including exercise. Like most diets, the most noticeable results show in the loss of belly fat. For those without much belly fat, you should start in Phase Two and use exercise to round out the weight-loss plan. Try jogging, cycling, yoga and other exercises. Several books in the South Beach Diet book series outline fitness guides for you to follow, including "The South Beach Diet Super Charged Workout" DVD. You can also work with a personal trainer or create your own exercise program. A workout will tone your body as you lose weight and target hard-to-trim areas like the thighs and butt.
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