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How South Beach Diet Helped Change My Crazy Life—A True Success Story!

Monday, May 25th, 2009

By Rakesh Sharma Jack

In October of 2007 my life was in a down hill spiral. I had no energy, no drive. I couldn’t play with my daughter or even do basic housework. My first thought was depression, but as a certified counselor I knew I didn’t have enough symptoms to be diagnosed. The desire to lead my normal life was there, just not the energy. With this decided it seemed pertinent that I find the cause. I looked at every aspect of my life to determine where things went wrong.

As I looked at the path my life had taken I realized that I had become stagnant. I stopped exercising long before I was unable to exercise and I gained weight. No I got fat! I gained almost 60 pounds over the course of 3 years. I had never been slim, but I had always been healthy. I thought to myself, “Surely this can’t be just because I don’t get as much exercise.” So I began to look at other things that could cause me to gain weight.

I looked over the side affects of my medications and found nothing that suggested weight gain. Then, reluctantly, I looked at my diet. I was so sure that I was feeding my family a healthy diet that I didn’t want to believe otherwise. Wow was I wrong! I found that I was consuming almost double the amount of calories as I truly needed. Even with this much consumption I was still not getting the nutrients I needed. I decided then and there that for the good of my family and me it was time for a change. I started investigating diets.

I must have looked at a dozen online diets. They all seemed the same. Cut back on food until your starving then so much time exercising that you don’t have time for anything else. There were some problems with this method. The first problem: I don’t have the willpower to stay hungry. The second: I have a family and a job to think about. I can’t spend 2 hours a day exercising and still achieve everything else I need to achieve. In addition to this I didn’t have the energy to walk around the block. There was realistically no way I would stick to a full blow exercise program. Then I found the South Beach Diet. It was wonderful!

The South Beach diet is a three phase program developed by a cardiologist named Dr. Arthur Agatston. It promised that it would keep me full and healthy, while little by little increasing my energy level. I decided to give it a try. The first couple of weeks were a little difficult for me because I couldn’t eat any type of starches. I love potatoes and pasta. When I read this all I could think is, “No way can I make it 2 weeks without a noodle.” It was much easier than I thought. There were lots of delicious foods available on the diet. After the first week I didn’t even think about it. I had no cravings! I fixed full meals that both family and I could eat. Even, dessert! The exercise necessary was just as easy.

I started by taking the stairs wherever I went. By my fourth day I was feeling better than I had in months. I started walking my daughter to school every morning. By my seventh day I felt amazing, but still wasn’t sure the South Beach Diet was all it claimed to be.

I had noticed a rise in my grocery bill that seemed to outweigh the decrease in my weight. After thinking it over I decided, “In it for a penny, in it for a pound.” A few days later I knew that I had made the right choice. After dinner one night I realized that I actually felt restless. Not because I felt guilty about what I didn’t get done that day, but because everything was done and I still had energy. I took my daughter for a walk for the first time in almost a year. Soon I found myself becoming more and more active.

I bought a workout DVD to use in the evening instead of watching television. I walked to the grocery store and to visit friends. I was burning more calories than I was taking in and thanks to the South Beach diet I was doing it in a healthy way. I had lessened my intake of calories, bad carbohydrates, and bad fats. I was making my heart healthier and the pounds were falling off! Better yet the extra money that it cost to buy fresh food I was saving in gas. I could shop at the local farmers market and keep the money I normally would spend on gas right here in my community.

The best decision I have ever made was to add the South Beach diet to my life. It taught me what foods are healthy and how to use them to improve my life. The South Beach diet also gave me the energy I needed to learn that a little exercise goes a long way. You do not have to spend hours a day exercising. You do not have to starve. You just have to make simple changes slowly. Buy healthy fresh food. Walk anywhere you’re able. Play active games with your kids. Go dancing instead of going out to a movie. Bake a low calories low carb recipe from scratch instead of using the box. I promise you’ll feel better than you ever have.

I am a year and a half user at the time of this writing. The second phase took about six months, but eventually I managed to lose almost 80 pounds. I weigh less at 31 years of age than I did in my late teens. The best part the South Beach diet provides me with support for as long as I choose to use it. The third phase provides rules for maintaining weight and if I do start putting weight back on I simply go back to the first phase.

Rakesh Sharma “Jack” is a freelance copywriter, SEO writer and eBook expert based in India with more than 10 years of experience. He has written dozens of eBooks, hundreds of research reports and thousands of articles on various topics. He provides web content writing, article writing, and article marketing and directory submission services to his clients worldwide. To know more about him and his services, please visit: http://www.aurumwriters.com.

Why Is The South Beach Diet A Great Success World Over?

Monday, May 25th, 2009

By Rakesh Sharma Jack

A diet, in the area of weight loss, is the controlled ingestion of food and drink. The South Beach Diet offers a program primarily based on the balancing of foods and the person’s metabolism. The diet incorporates a premise that you should consume combinations of good carbohydrates and good fats. Dietary programs developed for weight loss vary in methodology and in food types allowable. Unlike other dietary programs which ban certain food groups entirely, the South Beach Diet promotes “good” versus “bad” items in the various categories. As an example, whole wheat bakery products are good, while products made with white processed flours are bad.

To attain a healthy lifestyle, the diet one selects to follow must accomplish several things. If the dietary plan is too restrictive, adherence to it may be short-lived. Most people prefer a diet where they have multiple choices and a wide selection of foods. When the dieter is a lover of pasta, a weight loss plan that prohibits ingestion of carbohydrates will lead to failure. Giving up the foods you love can lead to cravings that could result in binges. One of the most positive aspects of the South Beach Diet is that it includes every food group. It is much easier for a dieter on the South Beach Diet program to stay on track.

Additionally, when the foods or meals in the diet require excessive preparation, the dieter may quit. Diets where you need to soak, grind, pulverize, dehydrate or sprout and then mix or blend, can be overwhelming. The level of commitment required to maintain a diet this complicated is generally not common. Thankfully, adopting the South Beach Diet into your lifestyle won’t increase food preparation times. Because there is no additional effort involved in meal preparation, it will not be another daily laborious task. With everyone’s busy lives, the South Beach Diet offers easy to prepare meals.

There is nothing more aggravating than not being able to find something you need. Several popular diets require visits to specialty stores or ordering of hard to find products. If ingredients required in a diet plan are difficult to acquire, the person trying to lose weight will eventually abandon the program. Frustration typically does not help to achieve weight loss. Add to this the cost of some of these unusual ingredients, and most dieters will admit defeat. In contrast, the South Beach Diet can easily be followed purchasing items found in any local grocery market. The dieter has no problem obtaining items like chicken, fish, wild rice, whole wheat pasta and tomatoes.

Diets that require a mathematics’ major to keep track of calories consumed and calories burned may work for some people. However, if the person trying to lose weight does not like to tabulate balance sheets, this is not a good choice for them. Many of these diets require you to carry around a reference book and become adept at estimating the quantity of consumption. Some of these weight loss programs have you converting or tallying points for both foods eaten and forms of exercise. Again the dieter may need a cross-reference handy to ensure accuracy.

Even the most dedicated person following their weight loss plan closely will likely forget to log every item. Using a system that necessitates the dieter knowing what their “outstanding balance” of remaining calories is can become tedious. Additionally, many of these dietary plans do not promote healthy eating. As long as the maximum calories or points are not exceeded, the dieter may consume any food in any combinations. The South Beach Diet relies on knowing what foods are good for the body. Distinguishing the difference between four ounces or five ounces of chicken breast is inconsequential.

Meal replacement plans have been touted as successfully helping to shed pounds. If you are strict about adhering to this method, you will probably lose weight while on the dietary plan. Most diets of this type have the dieter mixing some sort of shake or beverage instead of a meal. There are protein-based versions and low-fat versions, and combinations of both. Some of these weight loss programs recommend replacing two meals a day with a shake. The problem with a diet of this type is two-fold for most dieters. The first issue with this weight loss plan being the additional cost of the meal replacement product. Once again, the person trying to lose weight must be willing to purchase the shake mix for an extended period of time. The second problem is that there is nothing for the dieter to chew.

Medical studies have proven that the act of chewing is important in satiating the body. Specific to weight loss programs, foods that are chewed can stave off hunger for longer periods of time than liquid consumption. Following the South Beach Diet does not require replacing foodstuffs with a liquid regimen. The dieter can enjoy complete meals.

The best part about the South Beach Diet is that it can be followed anywhere, in any setting. Above and beyond the physical dietary requirements of a weight loss program, are the social aspects the diet affects. When a person is on a very restrictive diet, going out to dinner or dining at a friend’s house can be awkward. Socializing often includes eating. When a weight loss plan and dieting impact your ability to relax in a social setting, you are doomed to failure.

The South Beach Diet is more about good food choices than anything else. It is about adopting a healthy eating regimen by learning what foods provide the optimum benefit for your body. A diet or weight loss program must be easy to incorporate into the dieter’s daily routine to be successful. Many who have realized success in reaching their ideal weight have used the South Beach Diet for the myriad of reasons outlined here.
Attaining the weight loss goal is the primary reason people start a new diet. With the South Beach Diet, you’ll do more than succeed in losing the weight and keeping it off, you’ll embark on a life full of healthy eating.

Rakesh Sharma “Jack” is a freelance copywriter, SEO writer and eBook expert based in India with more than 10 years of experience. He has written dozens of eBooks, hundreds of research reports and thousands of articles on various topics. He provides web content writing, article writing, and article marketing and directory submission services to his clients worldwide. To know more about him and his services, please visit: http://www.aurumwriters.com.

Why Even Celebrities Endorse the South Beach Diet—Some Food For Thought

Monday, May 25th, 2009

By Rakesh Sharma Jack

The world is used to celebrity promotions, from politics, to clothing and everything in between. What is different when they promote a diet plan is that weight control is part and parcel to their careers. Most celebs need to maintain their trim, toned bodies as a part of their job. Packing on the pounds, will cause headlines proclaiming a weight gain nightmare for a starlet. Because their weight loss and fitness programs are a requirement to maintain their image, this is one endorsement where they are actually practicing what they preach.

What diet is the favorite of some of the celebs? The answer is the South Beach Diet and the reason is because they experience great results. Troy Aikman (of Dallas Cowboys fame) claims, “It worked for me, I’ve lost 10 pounds. It’s been good”. The reason the South Beach Diet is the one diet plan selected by so many celebrities is because it provides quick weight loss results and promotes a lifetime of healthy eating. Outlining a plan for successfully losing weight, the South Beach Diet does not permanently remove any one food group. Instead, the diet regimen prescribes a methodology for selecting good carbohydrates versus bad carbohydrates. There are good fats, which are allowable, and bad fats, which must be avoided.

So, what celebrities are South Beach Diet followers? Nicole Kidman is one, along with Oprah Winfrey, Bill Clinton, Lorna Luft, Bette Midler and Kim Cattrall of “Sex in the City” fame. Each of these individuals claimed great results from adhering to the weight loss plan. Kim Cattrall has publically added that she follows the South Beach Diet and adds exercise to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Unbelievably, Bill Clinton has said good-bye to his burger-binging days of old, and has lost a reported thirty-five pounds with his commitment to this weight loss program. Lorna Luft (daughter of Judy Garland) claimed the South Beach Diet as the one she used to lose weight.

South Beach” was the response when Health Magazine’s Robin Vitetta-Miller responded to questions about Nicole Kidman’s weight control program. She added, “You have a nice balance of high-quality protein and complex carbs, and you are likely to stay with the diet for the rest of your life.”

Oprah Winfrey’s battle with weight loss has been roller coaster ride that all of American has watched for years. Now, it seems, the outspoken celeb has found her plan, the one that she’ll keep using for weight control for the remainder of her lifetime. And the plan she has chosen is the South Beach Diet.

Some of these celebrities are rather notorious for saying whatever is on their minds. It is well known that being displayed on television adds weight just because of the media used. How “fat” the celebrity appears when viewed is of the foremost considerations when planning a show. Maintaining body weight is one of the utmost priorities. Failing to project “the image” has sabotaged careers (remember Kirstie Alley of “Cheers” fame?).

When you consider that the celebrity’s financial future is directly tied to their appearance, then you can readily accept that they truly believe in the weight loss regimens they promote. The South Beach Diet has gained not only acceptance, but is touted by celebs as their weight loss method for life. The healthy lifestyle approach of the South Beach Diet is workable around any career. It can be followed when dining in restaurants or when travelling. It does not involve purchasing hard to find products. Everything you need for losing weight with this plan is at the neighborhood grocers. Your diet regimen will include a wide variety of choices from all of the food groups. This makes the South Beach Diet very portable – you can use it wherever you go. That’s an important issue to Hollywood celebrities who travel all over the world.

Bette Midler, songstress and actress, was astonished at the great resulting weight loss on the South Beach Diet. She purports to have lost a pound a day. It is rumored that she relayed she would be on track for a healthy lifestyle if she could develop a regular exercise regimen to go with her weight reduced body. Linda Silver, a Los Angeles based beauty guru states, “I did it (South Beach) and it really works. I lost 14 pounds in two weeks and better than that I had no desire for sugar, bread or carbs. It works”. With endorsements from California to Washington DC, it’s no wonder that so many people are talking about the amazing weight loss results of this plan.

In basic terms, the reason the South Beach Diet works so well is that it is based on the science of metabolic function. It prescribes to the limiting of foods that increase blood glucose levels. Weight loss occurs when calories burned exceed caloric intake. The faster the rate food metabolizes, the quicker the calories are burned. High blood sugar levels mean lower metabolic rates. Eliminate the foods that are known to cause high blood glucose levels and you’ll eliminate the excess weight. Add exercise to the diet regiment, the metabolism will speed up even more. Then take the science and formulate a plan that is easy to follow and can work for a lifetime. That’s the South Beach Diet.

To obtain endorsements from such a wide variety of celebrities for a diet program, it must work and there must be good scientific principles backing the weight loss plan. The South Beach Diet works because the foundation of the regimen prescribed is scientific. When celebrities like Oprah Winfrey say a weight loss program works, she means it. We can believe them because we can watch them as they are losing weight. The Bill Clinton seen of late is a much leaner, trimmer man than the one who left the White House. Bette Midler looks absolutely svelte on stage these days. From politicians to starlets, sports celebs and talk show hosts, the South Beach Diet is the claim to their losing weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Rakesh Sharma “Jack” is a freelance copywriter, SEO writer and eBook expert based in India with more than 10 years of experience. He has written dozens of eBooks, hundreds of research reports and thousands of articles on various topics. He provides web content writing, article writing, and article marketing and directory submission services to his clients worldwide. To know more about him and his services, please visit: http://www.aurumwriters.com.

South Beach Diet—Don’t Count Calories, Count on the Diet…

Monday, May 25th, 2009

By Rakesh Sharma Jack

Improve your health. Lose weight now. Just a small amount of weight loss can change or save your life! How do you lose this weight? To reach your goal there are a few things you need to know. First you must plan to lose weight slowly. You didn’t put it on over night and it isn’t going to come off over night. Second exercise is a necessity. You must burn at least as many calories as you eat in a day in order to lose weight. What’s the first step? Get smart about food!

Thanks to one man, Dr. Arthur Agatston, it is easy to become smart about food. Dr. Agatson, a cardiologist, is the designer of the South Beach Diet. He has changed the face of dieting forever not to mention the lives of numerous people.

A small weight loss each week will gradually add up. One-half to two pounds a week is enough to make a difference. This can be achieved by decreasing the calories eaten or increasing the calories used. This amount depends on both your current caloric intake and how much weight you want to lose. You should limit portion sizes, if the portions are of high calorie foods, like sweets, fried foods, and oil. Limiting these can help you lower your calorie count.

Not all foods are equal in calories. This is important when counting calories. Carbohydrates and proteins have 3 to 5 calories in each gram. Oils have 6 to 10. Lower your consumption of fat, keep it as low as possible. Consume alcoholic drinks and soda in moderation; these have lots of calories but not many nutrients. Avoid foods and beverages that are high in added sugar. Natural sugars are acceptable. If a food is high in these sugars it will be listed first in the ingredient list. Beware fruit juices especially concentrates are often high in added sugar. This means that although you think that it’s good for you it isn’t. All of this can be found in the nutrition facts on the side of the box.

The nutrition facts can help you make healthy food choices if you know how to properly read it. The nutrition facts will tell you the quantity of calories are in a food. Also this shows how much dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals are contained in a serving. Pay attention to the percentage daily value. This tells you how this food fits in a healthy diet.

How many calories do you need a day? The FDA and the Food Safety and Inspection Department of the US Department of Agriculture recommend 2000.This number differs based on both your food intake and the amount of exercise you get. Your body needs proper nutrition in order to function. If your body is not functioning properly it will not burn calories. Burning calories is as important to losing weight as the foods you eat. Every calorie you do not burn turns into fat. Because of this you must burn more calories than you consume in order to lose weight. If you burn less it will cause you to gain and burning equal to what you consume will merely maintain your current weight.

The total of calories you should eat and burn varies by age, body size, and metabolism. (Metabolism is a process by which your body creates the proteins that burn calories. Often a slow metabolism can hinder your ability to burn calories. This can make it nearly impossible to lose weight. It can also be very dangerous. I urge you to contact a doctor before beginning any weight loss program. This is especially necessary if you believe the problem may be a result of a metabolic problem.) The older a person is the more closely they need to count their calories. As you age your metabolism slows making it easier to gain weight and more difficult to lose weight. The FDA posts specific guidelines on their website to help you determine your needs. These are based on your age, size, and activity level in order to give you a more personal suggestion.

Does this sound a little difficult to understand? It should considering it is very easy to misjudge your serving sizes. This leads to an inaccurate count of calories. It can also mean that you aren’t exercising as much as you should. Worst of all it could mean you aren’t getting the nutrients your body needs. The use of the South Beach Diet can help you avoid these problems.

The South Beach diet is a three phase diet designed to help you through out your lifetime. It is an easy to follow plan that will keep you healthy and satisfied. The South Beach Diet works by increasing the intake of good carbs and fats. Dieters are allowed a wide range of delicious foods. Even dessert!

The plan educates users about food choice. This eliminates the worry of planning proper nutrition, because you develop good habits as you lose weight. The expense of the South Beach Diet is minimal in comparison to that of similar diet plans. If you still need a reason to give this plan a try consider this: I lost 79 pounds.

That’s right 79 pounds, all while eating foods I love. I neither reduced my portion size nor felt hungry. The best part: It was simple! I never had to count a calorie. I simply ate the suggested foods for the proper phase of the program and walked a few minutes after supper each night. This was easy, fun, and relaxing. I got to try new recipes that I normally would not have eaten. I had an excuse to get out from in front of the television. Best of all I felt well enough to do these things!

While you can diet on your own, I don’t suggest it. Monitoring your diet can be quite difficult; especially as crazy as life can be. If you really have the time to weigh your food, count the calories, and still exercise, great! If you are like me, you don’t. Why risk wasting your time? Don’t spend time on the unnecessary. Choose the South Beach Diet!

Rakesh Sharma “Jack” is a freelance copywriter, SEO writer and eBook expert based in India with more than 10 years of experience. He has written dozens of eBooks, hundreds of research reports and thousands of articles on various topics. He provides web content writing, article writing, and article marketing and directory submission services to his clients worldwide. To know more about him and his services, please visit: http://www.aurumwriters.com.

South Beach Diet—Dr. Arthur Agatston’s Theory of Protein

Monday, May 25th, 2009

By Rakesh Sharma Jack

Protein is a necessity for your body to function properly. Protein is among the top three nutrients needed by your body. Since protein is so important I’m sure you have many questions. What is protein used for? How much protein is needed by the human body? What foods can protein be found in? I’m sure you’re probably thinking about this right now along a few other questions like; Are protein foods high calories? Are these foods high fat? Maybe you’re a vegetarian and you’re wondering if you are receiving the right amount of protein. Well let’s simplify things and learn about protein step by step.

Protein influences your physical well being. Without protein you can not build muscles as muscles consist mainly of protein. It consists mainly of amino acids. Your body uses protein to heal. This is interesting, but worthless information if you don’t know how much you need.

Recommendations for how much protein is need by your body vary. There is a wide range of suggested values. A good guide is 45 to 65 grams per day. This is usually determined by age and activities. For example a teenager needs more than an adult. An athlete needs more that his/her non-athletic peers. A pregnant or breast feeding woman needs more than anyone because she is supporting 2 lives. Also it is suggested that you eat more protein that you actually need; 25 to 35% more to be exact.

This extra consumption can help make up for any protein degradation you may suffer. Protein degradation occurs when the body does not have enough protein to repair damages. These damages must be fixed, so the body traces its’ steps to find where it placed the protein. Guess where it finds it? Your muscles! Now your body begins to breakdown your muscles, so that it will have the protein it needs. At best this lessens your ability to burn fat and cause problems with your hair and skin. At worst it can cause you to feel dizzy and shake. Shouldn’t the recommendation be raised if eating only what’s recommended can cause problems?

The recommendation is a guideline for how much protein you body needs to absorb. The more amino acids (protein) contained in a food the easier it is for the body to process and absorb protein. However, not all protein foods have the necessary amino acids. Proteins that contain all critical amino acids are most commonly found in lean beef, fish, and chicken breast. Only partial protein is found in beans or nuts. Also, water consumption is imperative in a high protein diet. Your body requires water to breakdown protein. If you do not consume enough water you can not process protein. In addition to this your body may damage your kidneys trying to handle the protein you have consumed.

If you feel you are not getting enough protein or are considering a high protein diet you should increase the amount of water you drink. If you have not yet made a decision on your protein intake consider this: Protein ought to be eaten at each meal in moderate portions. If you are not eating in this manner of not eating 3 times daily you probably are not getting enough protein. I know, you think that this will raise your caloric intake.

Proteins actually have fewer calories than carbohydrates. Almost double the amount in fact. If you’re eating more protein then you’re eating less carbs. This means that by changing to a high protein diet you actually reduce your caloric intake. In addition to helping you lower the calories you consume, you can improve your blood sugar levels. Both lowering the amount of carbs you consume and raising your protein ingestion helps control your glycolic index. This makes high protein diets an excellent suggestion for diabetics. So maybe you’re thinking that it is great to lower your calories and help your blood sugar, but are worried about fat.

Low fat foods are healthier than fatty foods and still have protein. Milk and lean meats are excellent sources and if you are a vegetarian there are protein powders available that are not high fat or high calorie. These make it as easy for a vegetarian to get protein as anyone who eats meat.

Many vegetarian foods contain protein supplements. This can be found in artificial meats made with soy and nuts. You can even buy protein fortified veggie chips so that you can get your protein while you snack. I’m not a vegetarian, but I tried both soy burgers and the veggie chips. They are great. Why would I try these foods if I’m not a vegetarian?

About 18 months ago I started on the South Beach diet. The diet is a high protein diet produced by Dr. Arthur Agatston. Dr Agatston is a cardiologist. His intention was to create a healthy diet, which was easy to follow. It is a three step program. The first focuses on adding protein and getting rid of carbohydrates. In the first step there are certain foods that are no-no’s, but the food you can eat far outweighs those you can’t. Part of the reason the South Beach diet is so successful is the abundance of foods in your menu. I had so much fun during these two weeks introducing my family to new, healthy foods that I decided to expand our choices. I bought foods that we had never tried before. I found recipes that were amazing. All while adding protein to make us healthier and losing weight. The second step was as easy and fun as the first.

The second step of the South Beach diet adds good carbs back to your diet. During this step you continue to eat a high protein diet while reintroducing the grains you love. I think my favorite recipe I came up with at this step was chicken parmesan with whole grain spaghetti. It was delicious, high in protein, and had the good carbs my body needed. We still eat it even though I’m no longer in the second stage.

The third helps keep your weight where you want it for as long as you are on the plan. You can use it forever. I’m living proof.

Rakesh Sharma “Jack” is a freelance copywriter, SEO writer and eBook expert based in India with more than 10 years of experience. He has written dozens of eBooks, hundreds of research reports and thousands of articles on various topics. He provides web content writing, article writing, and article marketing and directory submission services to his clients worldwide. To know more about him and his services, please visit: http://www.aurumwriters.com.