Between the Covers: Stories from My Bookcase

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

The South Beach Diet


I picked up a paperback copy of Dr. Arthur Agatston's bestseller, The South Beach Diethttp://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=wherethemoons-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=031231521X from my favorite used book shop. Anyone who's interested in going on this lifestyle change doesn't really need to read the book because there are resources available online. There are sites offering condensed versions, seeking to explain the diet in a few paragraphs. But I wanted to check out the book anyway.

I've only read the Introduction and the first chapter, and already, I don't regret the purchase. 

Some misconceptions about SBD:
It is a low-carb diet – it is low in processed and refined carbs, but it encourages the consumption of “good carbs”
It is a high-fat, high-protein diet – it is a low saturated fat diet; encourages the good fats essential for general health and preventing heart disease and cancer; healthy omega-3 fats

And the biggest gem?

"It is your job to eat until your hunger is satisfied. No sane eating program expects you to go through life feeling discomfort."

I so agree. I remembered the two weeks on Phase One that I had had food delivered to me. The food was really filling, and I'm not just saying it. I think that was a very important element - the food has to be satisfying, both in terms of taste, and volume (for lack of a better term).

What's important, really, is to choose what we eat. And contrary to popular belief, it isn't that hard to choose healthy. There are so many food choices these days that even fast food can offer you something better than their more popular regular fare. You just need to be willing to make the switch.

The SBD is in the heart of my current efforts to seek better health. It will also be prominent in a new blog that I'm brewing. Stay tuned for that too. :)



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