South Beach Diet Phase 1: Lose the Bread and Gain Balance

Lasting for two weeks, the phase 1 of the South Beach Diet is designed to help your body accustom itself to a lower carbohydrate intake. It promotes healthful, balanced eating and focuses on minimizing deprivation.

Phase 1 may seem like a difficult change for many people, but the Dr. Arthur Agatston, M.D., the developer of the South Beach Diet, says that it's necessary to cleanse your body from "bad" carbs quickly.

The diet plan focuses on lots of lean meats and fresh vegetables, accompanied by "good" fats (olive oil, etc.). The first phase of the diet requires you to avoid all sugars, breads, potatoes, candy, fruit, and ice cream. This is the lowest-carb phase of the plan, and is not meant to be a long-term solution. After two weeks, you can move on to phase 2 where you begin reintroducing the good carbs back into your diet.

The South Beach Diet has a lot of followers who have lost weight and found a more healthy lifestyle, but like all diets, it also has its detractors. Some people say the diet plan is just a modified version of the Atkins Diet, which concentrates heavily on saturated fats and red meat. Others say that it's just common sense repackaged in a fancy cover and a series of cookbooks designed to keep people spending money.

Whatever plan you decide to follow in your quest to lose weight and live a healthier life, be sure you do your research and remember that balanced diets low in processed foods and preservatives can only benefit you.

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