I've done the South Beach diet in the past and worked for me... the trick is good carbs vs. bad carbs which is what SB focuses on. What I am horrible at is portions, which is why I am doing MFP now....

I lost my first 10lbs. doing a No carb, No sugar diet. It was a facebook challenge and we had to post what we were eating (pictures, etc) and we also had to share the exercises we had done. We were not to eat any fruit for 2 weeks as the sugar would induce cravings. People got really creative, and by the end of it all, we were surprised at how easy it was. Best part was that you didn't start the count again. Two nurses were in charge of this. They told us that two weeks was more than enough time to go without carbs, but not much longer as our body needs it. A better way to hold off the weight was to eat healthier, smaller portions and no junk. http://www.calorieking.com/ has a great app that allows you to see how many calories you have eaten, and then tells you how much exercise it would take to work off those calories. VERY helpful when you feel like eating a cookie. I got into a 'do the crime, do the time' mentality and would eat a cookie and workout for 30 minutes to get rid of those calories. LOL....it got tiring!

THINGS YOU CAN EAT!

BEEF Skinless Lean cuts, such as :

Eye of Round
Ground beef:
Extra Lean (96/4)
Lean (92/8)
Sirloin (90/10)
Tenderloin
Top Loin
Top Round
LAMB (Remove all visible fat)
Center Cut
Chop
Loin
PORK
Boiled ham
Canadian bacon
Tenderloin

POULTRY (SKINLESS)-

Cornish hen
Turkey and chicken breast
ALL SEAFOOD

TOFU

Use soft, low-fat or lite varieties
EGGS - whites

LUNCHMEAT- Fat-free or low-fat only

MEAT SUBSTITUTES (SOY BASED)

Bacon (turkey or pork) - Limit to 2 slices per day
Burger - < 3 gms fat per 2-3 oz portion
Chicken Patties & Nuggets - < 3 gms fat per 2-3 oz portion
Hot Dogs - < 3 gms fat per 2-3 oz portion
Natural Peanut Butter - 2 Tbsp (may use as protein choice or limited nut choice)
Sausage Pattie - Limit 1 patty per day
Seiten
Soy Crumbles
Soy Nuts - 1/4 cup for a protein snack is suggested serving
Tempeh
Yuba

DAIRY-

skim milk
Plain or sugar-free yougurt
Fat-free half & half

CHEESE (FAT-FREE OR LOW-FAT)

American
Cheddar
Cream cheese substitute, dairy-free
Feta
Mozzarella
Parmesan
Provolone
Ricotta
String

NUTS (Limit to one serving per day as specified)-

Almonds - 15 (Dry roasted recommended)
Brazil Nuts - 4
Cashews - 15 (Dry roasted recommended)
Pecans - 15 (Dry roasted recommended)
Macadamia - 8 (Dry roasted recommended)
Peanut Butter - 1 tsp
Peanut Butter, Natural = 2 TBS
Peanuts, 20 small (May use dry roasted or boiled)
Pine Nuts (Pignolia) - 1 ounce
Pistachios - 30 (Dry roasted recommended)
Walnuts - 15 (Dry roasted recommended)
In place of nuts, may use: Flax Seed - 3 TBS

VEGETABLE CHOICES (includes legumes) (May use fresh, frozen or canned without added sugar)-

Artichokes
Asparagus
Beans, Green
Beans, Italian
Beans, Wax
Beans or Legumes:
Black Beans
Butter Beans
Chickpeas or Garbanzo
Pigeon Peas
Soy Beans
Split Peas
Broccoli
Bok Choy
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery
Collard Greens
Cucumbers
Eggplant
Lettuce (All varieties)
Juice (Limit to 6 ounces per day)

Tomato
V-8
Mushrooms
Mustard Greens
Okra
Onion - Limit to 1/2 per day
Peppers (All varieties)
Pickles - Dill or those sweetened with Splenda®
Radishes (All varieties)
Rhubarb
Sauerkraut
Snow peas
Spinach
Sprouts, Alfalfa
Squash, Spaghetti
Squash, Summer
Yellow
Zucchini
Tomato - Limit to 1 whole or 10 cherry per serving

FAT CHOICES (with some suggested serving sizes) The following monounsaturated oils are recommended to be consumed daily:-

Olive Oil
Canola Oil

Other Oil Choices that may be chosen (Polyunsaturated or a blend of Monounsaturated):
Enova
Grape seed
Safflower
Soybean

OTHER FAT CHOICES:

Avocado - 1/3 whole = 1 TBS oil
Guacamole - ½ cup = 1 TBS oil
Margarine - Chose those that do not contain Trans Fatty Acids such as Fleishmann's Premium Olive Oil or Smart Balance
Mayonnaise - Regular or Low Fat
Olives (Green or Ripe) 15 = 1/2 TBS
Balsalmic Vinegerette Salad Dressing - Use those < 3 gms sugar per serving

TOPPINGS & SAUCES use sparingly (check labels for added sugar)

Condiments
Hot Sauce
Salsa - Limit to 2 TBS
Soy Sauce - 1/2 TBS
Steak Sauce - 1/2 TBS
Worcestershire Sauce - 1 TBS
Whipped Topping (Light) - 2 TBS

SPICES AND SEASONINGS

All spices that contain no added sugar
Broth
Extracts (almond, vanilla, or others)
Horseradish sauce
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! Spray
Lemon Juice
Lime Juice Pepper (black, cayenne, red, white)
Dessert & "sweets"
Gelatin, sugar-free
Gum, sugar-free
Popsicles, sugar-free
Sugar substitute Some Sugar Free

SUGAR SUBSTITUTES

Acesulfame K
Fructose (needs to be counted as Sweet Treats, Caloric Limit)
Nutrasweet (Equal)
Saccharin (Sweet & Low)
Sucralose (Splenda)