South Beach Diet Phase 2

Cholesterol and heart disease are two ailments that are killing the good health of people and are shrinking their happy long life. Causes of such problems are countless, a modernized lifestyle being the principle one. The South Beach diet plan and its basic logic, tells us one simple fact - eat what you are meant to eat. As simple as it sounds, the diet, which is divided into three phases, is difficult to follow, note that this statement is not a criticism but is merely a fact and an implication that you will need to be a bit mentally prepared to follow this diet. The reason that the diet is tagged to be a tough one, is that it reforms our dietary habits which are not exactly very healthy.

About Phase 2 of the South Beach Diet

Cardiologist Arthur Agatston and dietitian Marie Almon, put in some simple thought in the South Beach diet. The aim of the diet was to break the hunger cycle, which was caused by the sugar-insulin inconsistency, which is a natural reaction of the body when one goes on diet, or does not follow one's regular eating cycle. The entire concept is a bit too elaborate, but the conclusion is that a person on diet has severe hunger pangs which makes it difficult to follow a diet. Another specialty of this diet is, instead of having normal low fat and carbohydrate intake, this diet makes sure that the person consumes all nutrition in balanced proportion and tends to replace all bad fat and carbohydrates with good carbohydrates and fat. Thus, as a follower of this diet, all you need to do is eat good quality food, with a certain nutritional balance and in certain quantity. Personally speaking, this diet is a really good one and tends to imbibe really good eating habits in its followers.

The South Beach diet is divided into 3 different phases that tend to span over different time periods, and at the same time become liberal and more do-able, the logic is principally the same, reform eating habits for a healthy weight loss. The phase one which lasts for two weeks curtails intake of sugars, excessive fat and unwanted dietary nutrients such as excessive proteins, and starches. This phase emphasizes on intake of very healthy and fresh food. The second phase can go on as long as the person likes, and involves reintroduction of very good carbohydrates and fat in the diet. This phase is made a bit easier due to the phase 1. In this phase eating in small quantities is necessary and weight loss is very smooth and gradual. The third phase involves the life long refined and reformed diet that you can follow for a lifetime.

Phase 2

There are a considerable number of Phase 2 recipes that are recommended, plus one can also avail the South Beach Living, the line of food or some similar products which are meant for people who are following this diet. A South Beach diet phase 2 meal plan is not that difficult to draft, and there are 4 things that one needs to bear in mind, one, eat foods with proportionate and healthy nutrients. Secondly, lay emphasis on vitamins, fiber and healthy carbs. The third point involves, laying emphasis on control of sugar and fat in the diet and four, curtail the intake of any unhealthy nutrient, this includes anything from fried products to alcohol.

Here is a small list of Phase 2 foods to enjoy:

Vegetables:
Avoid frying of overcooking any vegetables, as it burns some very healthy nutrients. Apart from that, make sure you control the volume of oil and fat that you consume along with any of your meals:

• Cucumber
• Onion
• Tomatoes
• Spinach
• Broccoli
• Potatoes (small quantities)
• Carrot (small quantities)

Fruits
Eating raw fruit is the best gamble. Avoid sugar, ice cream or fruit salad as an accompaniment. Sugared, dried, tinned and canned foods or even processed fruits is not a good choice.

• Strawberries
• Apples
• Blueberries
• Cherries
• Grapefruit
• Grapes
• Apricots-dried fresh
• Peaches
• Mangoes
• Oranges
• Kiwi
• Pears
• Plums
• Cantaloupe

Legumes, Pulses, Starches
During the phase 2, you will slowly start reintroducing carbohydrates in your diet. In such a scenario, you will have to take in 'good' carbohydrates. Eating 'whole grain' products, that do not have flour, or soda or huge yeast in them. For that matter fried and too fatty foods should also be avoided.

• Bagels
• Whole grain bakery products
• Popcorn
• Cereal
• Brown rice
• Muffins
• Whole wheat pasta
• Oat
• Bran
• Rye

There are three things that will make this diet a life long success, healthy eating timings, good exercise routine and disciplined sleep cycles. Phase 2 is gradual, and your weight loss is also bound to be very slow, but don't get disappointed because you are burning the weight in a very healthy manner.