Atkins and Southbeach

[silverfox]

These were so hyped up a couple years ago. What happened to them? Was it not working for people?

[LoneGirl]

These were so hyped up a couple years ago. What happened to them? Was it not working for people?

I think all of the carb-deprived people woke up and realized it was difficult (and not to mention boring) to live without carbs. I think these diets were just too exteme and not something that people could stick with for the long term.

[Maine-iac]

South Beach is still alive and well. Works for me. More a glycemic index plan than an Atkins Style low carb plan after the initial two weeks. Very sensible. Plenty of room for "good" carbs. Once you are past the low carb initial two weeks, I find the plan far more sustainable for the long term than any other diet I ever used. (little or no weighing and measuring, concentrating mainly on good food choices.)

Atkins has actually moved more toward the glycemic index, moderated fat end of the spectrum, but they suffer from the memory of the deficiencies in the original plan, plus the business behind the plan has had financial difficulties, so I think it will tend to fade away.

[Gretchen]

I've not followed South Beach specifically, but there are some South Beach brand foods out there that make good choices. Their breakfast wraps are good, and I like their lunch wraps as well. They also make a small pizza that isn't bad in calories/fat as pizza goes, and it's microwavable. One of those is not enough for me for a dinner, but it's low enough in the bad stuff that if I plan, I can eat two for dinner and still be OK. Or 1 is OK for lunch with some fruits/vegetables along with it.

[Maine-iac]

I do enjoy some of the South Beach branded convenience foods (lunch wraps, harvest wheat chicken/veggie pizza, cereal bars), but like all convenience foods, beware the salt content. :yikes:

Following the diet with fresh foods is a better option if you can, though we all need the convenience option from time to time.

[Gretchen]

I do enjoy some of the South Beach branded convenience foods (lunch wraps, harvest wheat chicken/veggie pizza, cereal bars), but like all convenience foods, beware the salt content. :yikes:

Following the diet with fresh foods is a better option if you can, though we all need the convenience option from time to time.
This is probably going to sound stupid, but what is the problem with salt, other than blood pressure issues? My blood pressure is generally on the low side of normal, so I haven't worried about that - I pretty much just check calories and fat (per info from my dietician - although that was 8 months and nearly 60 pounds ago); lately have also started paying more attention to the protein and fiber. What else should I be looking to avoid?

[Maine-iac]

Salt is linked to heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis. Mainly through the blood pressure link.

It's less important if you don't tend toward hypertension, but the older you get, the more sensitive to salt you apparently get as well.

[Dr T Non-Fan]

What else should I be looking to avoid?
High Fructose Corn Syrup. It's like super-sugar, only cheaper to manufacture, and it's used a lot in processed foods. Check your healthy-looking bread, for example. I used to get Orowheat breads -- good tasting and they're double-bagged (stays fresher longer) -- but then I noticed that they had HFCS, and I switched to Milton's.

[Gretchen]

High Fructose Corn Syrup. It's like super-sugar, only cheaper to manufacture, and it's used a lot in processed foods. Check your healthy-looking bread, for example. I used to get Orowheat breads -- good tasting and they're double-bagged (stays fresher longer) -- but then I noticed that they had HFCS, and I switched to Milton's.
And what about it is so bad - the high sugar content? Which means more calories? So if I'm watching the calories.... Or is it the carbohydrate issue?

[ACCtuary]

Salt is linked to heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis. Mainly through the blood pressure link.

It's less important if you don't tend toward hypertension, but the older you get, the more sensitive to salt you apparently get as well.

I would say excess consumption of salt rather than salt itself.
Our bodies need salt, just not the 2000+ mg some get in their diet.

[Maine-iac]

Agreed. Salt is good and necessary. Just not in the quantities that processed foods seem to generate.

(She says, as she sucks down 420 milligrams in the can of V8.)

[Quasi]

And what about it is so bad - the high sugar content? Which means more calories? So if I'm watching the calories.... Or is it the carbohydrate issue?

I have read that the problem with HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) is that the body doesn't recognize it in the same way it recognizes plain old sugar. The theory being that if you eat/drink something with sugar in it your body recognizes the calories and tells you you're full. If you eat/drink the same think made with HFCS you get the same calories but without it affecting how full you feel.

I'm not sure if it is a fact or just a theory....also not sure if I have summarized it correctly.....but I do know that just about everyone agrees that HFCS is bad and should be avoided. Tough to do since it is in many things like ketchup, salad dressing, soda, .........

[Gal Friday]

What else should I be looking to avoid?

You probably know this but don't just watch fat, watch especially for saturated fat. And trans fats. If the ingredients show partially hydrogenated anything, be leery.

Scientific evidence shows that consumption of saturated fat, trans fat, and dietary cholesterol raises low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad" cholesterol, levels, which increases the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).

http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2003/503_fats.html

[Patience]

I did Atkins for a while a couple of years ago

I lost weight, easily and quickily. However, I also didn't feel great. I had a constant bad taste in my mouth and despite what they claim my cholesterol went up (normally 170 to over 200).

Now comes the part where I warn against Atkins.

I decided to get off the diet and I was being good in a Weight Watchers proper eating type of way. The weight gain was fast and it didn't seem I could do anything about it. I gained all I lost and then some.

Unless you intend to live your life on this constantly, I would strongly recommend against it. By the way I would also recommend living the rest of your life on it as well.

[Frenchie]

Unless you intend to live your life on this constantly, I would strongly recommend against it. By the way I [b]would [/b ]also recommend living the rest of your life on it as well.

*slow kid in class* do you mean you wouldn't recommend?*slow kid*

[Dr T Non-Fan]

And what about it is so bad - the high sugar content? Which means more calories? So if I'm watching the calories.... Or is it the carbohydrate issue?
Google it. I just did, and found 665,000 hits.

Here's wiki's:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_fructose_corn_syrup

And, from straight dope:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/040910.html

There's also a corporate-sponsored "hfcsfacts" web site.

It's a refined sugar, but it doesn't contain the word "sugar" or "simple carb" in its name.

[Patience]

*slow kid in class* do you mean you wouldn't recommend?*slow kid*

yes.. be nice I know where you live

[Frenchie]

yes.. be nice I know where you live

:-P

[Mare15]

I have also heard that if you don't intend to do it for a very long time, as soon as you quit the weight piles on really quickly.

[Michiganman]

Hi all, I just wanted to check in and give a 2-thumbs-up rating for South Beach. I think this "diet" (quotes because if you do it right it is a lifestyle change rather than a diet) gets a bad rep because it is lumped together with Atkins so frequently, but a better description is “good carb” rather than “low carb”. After a strict 2 week initial phase, you get whole wheat pasta, brown rice, whole wheat tortillas, most fruits, etc. Unlimited veggies of course, low-fat cheese, olive oil, eggs, beans, and lean meats. No high glycemic foods (sugar, refined flours). Just by looking at the recommended foods, it should be obvious that this diet is a lot healthier and better balanced than Atkins.

Honestly, I started this to give support to my SO, but it worked better than I ever expected. Dropped 8 lbs in the 1st phase (I didn’t have much to lose, really), got rid of the carb bloat, and kept it off through 6 weeks and going strong. No sugar cravings, a more controlled appetite, although I do miss the French fries, fried chicken, and the margaritas. My taste buds have been resensitized. I put grapes or a piece of red grapefruit on my cottage cheese and it tastes like dessert. Clothes fit much better.

I thought it would be salad after salad, but has been pretty ok, and I can make most of the stuff I used to make, with some modifications. Make meatloaf with whole wheat bread crumbs (use low carb ketchup). Make your side sautéed broccoli instead of potatoes. Make a balsamic vinaigrette instead of a sweet French. Whole wheat pasta instead of white. Whole wheat tortilla instead of bread. In stir frys cut down on the oyster sauce, dump the brown sugar, substitute xantham gum for the corn starch, and use brown rice. Make your burgers bunless. Cook steaks (use low carb steak sauce) and seafood more.

Also, it’s not that bad eating out. Lots of Chipotle burrito bols (no rice). At Wendy’s I get chili, Caesar (no croutons), and bunless burgers (this is technically cheating). At Outback I get a bunless burger with a side of broccoli. Donatos pizza has a good (honestly) soy-based NoDough pizza crust as well as Whole Wheat tortilla wraps. Chinese and Mexican can be tough (oh well).

Alcohol – I guess I was lucky because I wasn’t a big fan of beer in the 1st place. Rum and Diet Coke, Tangueray and Diet Tonic, Stoli martinis, dry wine – all ok.

That being said, the biggest drawbacks of this diet are these: #1 You do need to be organized and plan your meals more. Your fridge will be overflowing with produce. It’s harder to “wing it” when cooking. #2 The author doesn’t emphasize exercise enough. Exercise definitely mandatory if continued weight loss is a goal after phase I. #3 If you are not used to eating a lot of fiber you will be GASSY the 1st 2 weeks while you body adjusts (temporary). #4 Honestly, I am a foodie, and I have to say that most of the recipes in the book suck. Too complicated, too gross, too boring, etc etc. I think it’s much better taking the stuff you already make and modifying it to be consistent with South Beach principles, it’s not that hard.

Will the weight come back if I go off South Beach? Don’t know – this has changed the way I eat. It seems very doable for the long term, and I intend to make it a permanent part of my lifestyle.

Recommended, if you need to try something new.

[Maine-iac]

I think for me at least, it will generally be long term sustainable. Mainly because the food choices are sensible, taste good and make me feel good.

I started South Beach about 2 years ago at 187. Stress eating had really piled the weight on. I went down to 137, then stopped as the Christmas holidays rolled around. I regained 6 or 7 lbs, but then went into more or less phase 3 maintenance eating and kept the weight steady until the next round of Christmas holidays, and gained 6 or 7 again. So after the holidays, I decided to go back to the stricter phases of the plan, lose the two holiday gains and lose a bit more to hit the ultimate goal of 125.

But the maintenance phase was really far more successful than any other food plan I ever tried. Mainly because it was all about the food choices, and not about weighing and measuring. I just need to be more vigilant at the holidays, and not use them as a free pass.


No scheme is right for everyone, but this one has been very good for me.

[violaactuary]

Hi all, I just wanted to check in and give a 2-thumbs-up rating for South Beach.

Thanks, that's a lot of good info...!

I just have to ask- what does low carb ketchup taste like?

[silverfox]

...what does low carb ketchup taste like?

When you find out, make sure to post it here. http://www.actuarialoutpost.com/actuarial_discussion_forum/showthread.php?t=73563&page=4

[Maine-iac]

Thanks, that's a lot of good info...!

I just have to ask- what does low carb ketchup taste like?

I couldn't tell you. I'll be curious to hear what Michiganman says about it. My thought is, why use ketchup when you can use salsa? :) (I don't use ketchup in my meatloaf recipie. I use tomato paste.)

You really have a lot of flexibility under South Beach. Except for the initial 2 week period, I didn't do bunless hamburgers either. I use a whole wheat, high-fiber bun. Just have to be careful to use a low-fat ground beef, which I then cook on the Forman to de-fat further.

Lots of ways to interpret the plan and still have it work for you.

[Bamafan]

I did Atkins for about 8 months in 2004. From January to May, I lost 70 lbs, actually hitting 295. I hadn't been under 300 lbs since early high school. Immediately following that, I went back up to 315, lost my will to eat no carbs and gained 67 lbs over the next year and a half.

I can't even consider Atkins anymore. I'm entirely too picky to try it. Even I get burned out on hamburger patties/baked chicken with green beans every night.

[violaactuary]

I couldn't tell you. I'll be curious to hear what Michiganman says about it. My thought is, why use ketchup when you can use salsa? :) (I don't use ketchup in my meatloaf recipie. I use tomato paste.)

I use ketchup in my meatloaf unless I have something opened already in the fridge (like tomato paste/tomato sauce/spaghetti sauce). Actually I probably have never really made the same meatloaf twice :) I throw all my leftovers in there!

[Michiganman]

Low carb ketchup: It's actually sweeter than the real thing (made with Splenda instead of high fructose corn syrup), my wife and I were prepared to dislike it but were pleasantly surprised. Unless you live in the boonies, Heinz One should be readily available in your local grocery.

Forgot to mention Boboli makes a whole wheat pizza crust now. Every day South Beach options expand. Pizza on Saturday, yum!

[Maine-iac]

Whole wheat pizza is a great meal. If anyone is interested, I can post a whole wheat pizza crust that is made in a bread machine. Not bad at all.

[Gal Friday]

Whole wheat pizza is a great meal. If anyone is interested, I can post a whole wheat pizza crust that is made in a bread machine. Not bad at all.

Please do! Actually, I'm interested in any whole wheat recipes people have. I've been experimenting with using whole wheat flour in baked goods. If anyone has any tried-and-true whole wheat recipes, I'd love to see 'em!

[Maine-iac]

It's actually a wheat/oat bran combo: (It's been awhile since I looked at it)

1 1/4 cup wheat blend bread flour
1/2 cup oat bran
3 tablespoons instant buttermilk powder or non-fat dry milk powder
1 1/2 teaspoons rapid rising yeast
1 teaspoon Splenda or sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup water

1. Place all dough ingredients in the pan of a bread machine. Set the machine to "rise", "dough", or "manual", or the equivalent setting such that the machine will mix and knead the dough and let it rise once. Check the mixture 5 minutes after the machine has started. It should form a soft, satiny dough. If the dough seems too sticky, add a little more flour, a tablespoonful at a time. Be careful not to add too much.

2. When the dough is ready, remove it from the machine and place on a lightly foured surface. Roll the crust into a 14-inch circle, then transfer to a pizza pan. Set it aside for 10 minutes, to allow to rise slightly before adding the toppings.

3. After toppings of choice are added, bake at 425 degrees from about 12 mnutes or until cheese is melted and crust is lightly browned.

Crust only, Per slice (8 per pizza): Calories = 84, Carbs = 19g, Fat = 0.5g, Fiber = 1.6g, Protein = 4g, Sodium = 81mg, Calcium = 23 mg

[E. Blackadder]

I did Atkins for about 8 months in 2004. From January to May, I lost 70 lbs, actually hitting 295. I hadn't been under 300 lbs since early high school. Immediately following that, I went back up to 315, lost my will to eat no carbs and gained 67 lbs over the next year and a half.

I can't even consider Atkins anymore. I'm entirely too picky to try it. Even I get burned out on hamburger patties/baked chicken with green beans every night.
I've got several relatives on both side of the family tree who swear by South Beach.

Myself, I'm getting back into effortless no dinner 2-3 times a week. The trick is otherwise unflavored sugar water in the afternoon. The other (critical) trick is to eat highly nutritious breakfast and lunch.

[violaactuary]

Thanks Maine-iac; I may just try this for Sunday night pizza :)