Would the South Beach Diet make sense for me?

ElGatoBB

Hi all, I am relatively new here, and I need to lose about 35 lbs. I am looking for some opinions on whether it would make sense to use the South Beach plan.

I am already 100% grain free and legume free diet for GI health reasons. It wasn't fun the first few weeks. but it's better now. I only use coconut flour in baking, and I have to avoid peanuts and most tree nuts because they make me lethargic or cause me GI distress. I seem to be doing ok with a few (like three a day) Brazil nuts. The slightest touch of soy gives me severe heart problems.

So my diet is pretty limited as it is already. Unless I give in to something at the TOM or when I have been up too many hours and frustrated at work, my diet is 99% clean, whole, organic foods. I cook my own you name it, rarely eat out, never buy prepared meals.

The only processed foods I have are unhomogenized grass-fed milk (yes, I consider milk to be processed) and dark chocolate (85% and up, mostly 99%) because I haven't yet learned how to make my own chocolate. I bake my own coconut bread - occasionally buy it if I can find it organic.

I eat fish (except salmon, which I don't like), and meat (mostly lean cuts of anything - I love grass fed beef, too), eggs, fresh vegetables, and fruit. Yogurt sometimes; never something that comes in a can. I use no sauces, only dry spices of all kinds and olive oil and coconut oil, extra-virgin and unrefined.

I only drink water, tea, coffee - no soda, no juices. I have have eliminated almost all refined sugar some time ago because several of my family members are diabetc/pre-diabetic, and it just makes me feel awful - that's why I look for 99%-100% chocolate, too, so that it has the least amount of sugar. I don't use Splenda. I fee extremely sick when I have sugar: panic attacks, palpitations, cramps. It also worsens my hypoglicemia.

So THAT is why I ask if it would make sense for me to try the Phase 1 of the South Beach diet. I already eat basically no starchy vegetables - not too crazy about potatoes, and I can easily go for a couple of weeks without winter squash and carrots. So for me it would really be a question of not eating chocolate - not a big deal - and to cut out fruit from my diet. I usually eat 1-2 pieces of fruit (like a small apple, a cup of berries, etc) . I am eating more oranges these days because I have a cold, but that's about it.

So - given those stats, would it make sense for me to eliminate fruit, too, or since my diet is already so restricted and so close to Phase 1 that the advantage (if any) would not be worth the effort? I also exercise almost every day for about 1 hour, often more (cardio and strength).

Any thoughts?

LouiseH238

I know nothing about the South Beach diet so take this with a massive grain of salt, but I would think that if your diet is already extremely limited due to health concerns, it would not necessarily be a good idea to restrict it further unless there is a compelling medical reason to do so. Fruits and starchy vegetables such as white or sweet potatoes are good sources of nutrients, so unless you can get those elsewhere I wouldn't cut those out.

XXXMinnieXXX

In my opinion you need to see a dietitian to figure out a plan for you. Nobody is qualified enough on here to give you advice with all those issues. If what your doing is working then I'd say personally I wouldn't eliminate anything else as it's so restricted anyway. Be the to ask for professional help on this one though I think.

Zara

IrishChik

While our bodies are different, our current diets are similar. I have PCOS which makes me insulin resistant. I have been working with my dietitian and we have gone low-carb. She has told me more than once to stay away from fat-free, light, and low-fat products because they up the sugar to make it taste better. Having a serving of regular (for example salad dressing or oil) is good fat and it is ok in moderation. SB would not work because they use a lot of low-fat, fat-free and light versions of foods. They also use a lot of frankenfoods. I tend to follow the new Atkins plan; focusing on healthy fats and lean proteins. It has been the only thing that has helped me to lose weight and I have been battling this for a few years now. I also suffer from a lot of internal and digestion problems so a high fat diet makes me miserable which is why I stick to healthy fats and lean protein like boiled eggs, chicken, fish, and lean pork. I rarely use butter, sticking to olive oil when necessary. I would suggest talking to your dietitian. Only they can help you with your food choices since they know your medical history.

ElGatoBB

Thank you all I will call my dietician tomorrow.

IrishChick, I also have HUGE reactions to high fat foods - my body cannot process large quantities of fats, which is why it's very complicated to get the macro balance right.

concordancia

Actually, SB also avoids low fat or fat free anything except dairy, for the same reason - low fat foods always make up the difference with more sugar.

If you follow the eating plan, it is just veggies and lean protein. It just isn't quite as strict as Atkins as to which veggies - ie, carrots are ok. SB, as designed, is basically clean eating, plus sugar free jello. The frankenfoods only come into play if you start buying the SB products.

JenSD6

Phase 1 SB is also meant to be temporary. It's only for two weeks to break food habits, and then you move into phase 2 for the actual long-term weightloss.

susanp57

SB doesn't use 'frankenfoods' any more than Atkins. Atkins is the one in heavy ad rotation. It is essentially how I eat and I maintained until an injury a year ago. I don't eat any pre-packaged SB foods. It advocates healthy grains and veggies and has a structure to work those back into your diet. In your case, you could easily skip phase 1 which I do consider unwise.

billsica

No.

Lucia120382

I never ever heard about it. The only thing I know is that I am done with diets. The best diet is not to torture yourself, eat what your body needs, still be healthy and exercise. We live only once to not enjoy food or be to restricted with our self. Good luck

taso42

sure why not

baroqueviolin

I've done South Beach a couple of times, and now am doing kind of my own, modified slightly, South Beach. I think it's a great diet.... it works well and keeps me from being hungry! Try it. Once you get through the first two weeks, it's very manageable. There are lots of South Beach friendly recipes on line too! Good luck!