The south beach diet was designed to help people with heart problems. As a result people lost weight. The first two weeks are a low carb diet that is designed to set your insulin back to normal. You then begin to lose your desire to want sweets! It really works i can look at fatty sugar foods now and don't give into the temptation. After the first two weeks(phase1) where you lose about at least 8 pounds you are able to add into your diet whole grain and wheat breads and fruit(phase 2) which is really nice You lose about 1-2 pounds a week on this phase without exercise. The first three days on the diet are hard but it becomes really easy. This diet is designed for you to be able to lose weight without exercise which can only benefit you more. I've been on this diet for about three weeks and have read the book. If your considering this diet go to your local library and get it this way you don't spend your money on a book if you don't like it. I recommend this book and diet and feel that the doctor is very knowledgeable in what he is taking about.

The South Beach diet has a lot in common with the Atkins diet. Although more than just a heart-friendly version of Aitkins. Both South Beach and Atkins diets are the creation of medical doctors. The father of the South Beach diet is cardiologist Arthur Agatston, MD, director of the Mount Sinai Cardiac Prevention Center in Miami Beach, Fla. Both diets restrict carbohydrates, or 'carbs.' True, "good carbs" are allowed. But South Beach dieters must say goodbye to potatoes, fruit, bread, cereal, rice, pasta, beets, carrots, and corn for the first two weeks. After that, most of these foods remain strongly discouraged. The difference between the two, really, boils down to two things: * Fats. The South Beach diet bans unhealthy fats but strongly promotes healthy ones. * Carbs. The South Beach diet doesn't count grams of carbs. The Atkins diet seeks to change a person from a sugar-burning machine into a fat-burning machine. The South Beach diet looks at how much sugar is in a carb. Low-sugar carbs -- those with a low glycemic index (they don't cause the blood sugar levels to rise and fall as quickly) -- are good (this point may sound very familiar to fans of the Sugar Busters diet) The good thing about SB, is there's no counting calories or strict portion sizes. (although no bingeing.) It also doesn't leave out any food groups which has got to be a good thing. There's no one diet that suits everyone, although it is getting a lot of publicity with supposed positive results. It may also be popular cos it's the latest diet on the block - remember the hype of Aikins in the beginning? Still, much of what I have read on SB seems to make sense. If you are considering it, make sure you read up on it or talk to someone thats already taken that step.

South beach is a diet that focuses on cuttin down your glycemic index as well as carbs.  It can be very dangerous, when i did it i was dizzy and sick the whole time, once i started focusing on just eating healthy foods and when eating junk foods to keep it in moderation, that's when the weight began to fall off.  Weight watchers is a program that focuses more on eating what you want but keeping the portions correct and i would recommend that =) .  Sorry if i trailed off topic a bit.