| ReachAround
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I'm on day 8, I've lost 8 pounds and I can honestly say that I really like this diet.
However, having said that...
I think the book wasn't organized that well and seems to contradict itself on many occasions. It doesn't spell out very clearly exactly what are the Do's and Don'ts of the program. Instead, the rules of the program are sprinkled throughout various chapters and topics with never a summary page. Many times, you have to go back and forth throughout the book to fill-in the holes of what you just read.
Other thoughts just off the top of my head... the entire second half of the book is just recipes and sample meal plans - it just seems like I expected more. The explanation for Phase 3 is non-existent!! Read how little it says... scary! He says we can drink red wine, but doesn't specify any quantity, he barely mentions exercise, the "How To eat in a Restaurant" chapter taught be nothing...
Okay, here's more:
The Glycemic Index is the key to eating carbs, right? The lower score the slower the rise in blood sugar, the cravings are gone and the better off we are?
Yet Sponge Cake and Pound Cake have lower GI scores than brown rice, couscous, and oat bran?!? This happens all over the chart... oatmeal cookies, angel food cake and danish have lower GI scores than whole wheat bread?!?!
Hold on, it gets worse:
On page 93 he says, "After exercise, you need to replenish glycogen fuel stores. You may allow yourself white bread or potatoes at this time" Huh?!??! I thought white bread and potatoes were absolutely NO-NOs but now they're okay as long as we exercise first?
I could go on and on with other examples, but I think you get the point. Like I said above, once you get through everything, the diet is worth doing and I'm very excited to be on the program, but the book needs A LOT of work in my humble opinion.
Cheers. |
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Wed Jan 07, 2004 1:23 am |
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| Joanne
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I started the diet Dec 29. I think the diet is great, but I also feel the book leaves a lot to be desired. As someone who would never use any of the recipes in the book, I would rather see a more detailed list of do's and don'ts. I found nothing about diet pop, but since I don't drink coffee I sometimes drink one diet Pepsi with lunch. I think brussels sprouts are one of the vegatables not listed on the ok or not ok list. For someone who is very limited in cooking ability, my meals are very simple and wish the book would offer more support to people with my type of lifestyle.
So happy I found this support group |
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Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:11 am |
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| Geoff
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| I agree about the book. I love the diet so far. But the first thing I noticed when reading the book is all the inconsistancies. He says vegetable juice is ok, even though there are beets and carrots in the juice, absolute no-no's. And if you go by the glycemic score, he shows M&M's (peanut) lower than mixed grain bread or black eyed peas. His new paperback book "Good Fats Good Carbs" allows soy milk and yogurt, things forbidden in the hard-bound book. So I wish we could sit down with him and ask about all this. It is confusing. But I believe in the diet. |
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Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:35 am |
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| nikaki
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I personally dont own the book, but I joined online and printed out the info and its pretty much the same as the book, then I just cancelled my acct. However I did sign up to get the daily dish newsletter and I suggest you all do that as well, I think you sign up for it right on the SBD home page if not if you do a free diet profile on ediets.com you can sign up for it there as well. It is usually very helpfule and answers some of the questions we have and fills in some of the holes in the book as well. here is a copy of yesterdays so u can see:
The Skinny on Low-Carb Products
The low-carb craze is catching on, and supermarkets are now stocking up on a variety of low-carb breads, cereals, pasta, cookies, and chips. Which of these products, if any, are allowed on the South Beach Diet?
Unfortunately, there's no easy answer to low-carb shopping. You'll have to approach each product on a case-by-case basis and read the nutrition labels to determine which ones are okay. Choose items that are:
Low in saturated fat
Free of sugar alcohols
Contain natural ingredients
Made with whole grains instead of refined flour.
Remember that the South Beach Diet is not a low-carb diet. Your goal should be to learn how to identify the foods that contain good carbohydrates and good fats—and to make those foods a permanent part of your diet.
Also, as far as the wine & alcohol this is what we recieved on sizes from what I remember....
No more than 2 servings
Wine (3-4 ounces per serving)
Champagne (3-4 ounces per serving)
Vodka (1.5 ounches per serving)
Rum (1.5 ounches per serving)
Sorry for the book....HOPE I HELPED!!! :D |
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Wed Jan 07, 2004 1:05 pm |
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| babice
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Hey. Yeah, this newsletter is very helpful. Here's what I got the other day and then, also, today (two different articles below):
Quick Veggies for Busy People
Don't have time to steam your fresh vegetables? Try microwaving them instead. For best results, cut your veggies into even-sized pieces. Place them in a microwave-safe dish with two to three tablespoons of water and cover. Stir or rotate during cooking, being careful not to burn yourself on the steam. When the veggies are done, season them with salt and pepper, lemon juice, and olive oil or some grated, low-fat Parmesan cheese. Below are microwaving times for a variety of vegetables. All are Phase 1 unless otherwise noted.
Asparagus, broccoli, or cauliflower:
2-3 minutes for 1 cup
3-4 minutes for 2 cups
8-10 minutes for 1lb (spears)
Brussels sprouts:
3-4 minutes for 1 cup
6-7 minutes for 1lb
Carrots (Phase 3, in moderation):
3-4 minutes for 3/4 cup
4-5 minutes for 1 1/2 cup
Green beans:
3 minutes for 1 cup
7-12 minutes for 1 lb
Greens:
2 minutes for 2 cups leaves (makes 1/2 cup cooked)
7-10 minutes for 1 1/4 lb
Summer squash and zucchini:
3-4 minutes for 1 1/2 cup (sliced)
6-7 minutes for 1 lb
Winter squash (Phase 2):
Cook in 1/4 cup water for 10-13 minutes
Pump Some Iron
Are you getting enough iron? Research shows that approximately 20 percent of women, 50 percent of pregnant women, and 3 percent of men don't get the iron their bodies require. Left unchecked, iron deficiency can lead to anemia— a condition in which red blood cells don't provide adequate oxygen to body tissues. Symptoms of anemia can include fatigue, pale skin, and brittle nails. The recommended daily allowances of iron are as follows:
Women (ages 19 to 50): 18 mg/day
Women (ages 51 or older): 8 mg/day
Pregnant women: 27 mg/day
Nursing mothers: 9 mg/day
Men (all ages): 8 mg/day
You can get your RDA of iron from a multivitamin, but caffeine and dairy products can interfere with the absorption of iron from a supplement. A more natural and effective approach is to eat a variety of iron-rich foods, like the ones in the list below:
Avocado
Broccoli
Clams
Kidney, pinto, and navy beans
Lean beef
Lentils
Lima beans
Oysters
Pork loin
Sardines
Shrimp
Spinach
Split green peas
Tuna |
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Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:41 pm |
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| Guest
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| Thanks for the info. I too found the book a bit confusing and I do not use the recipies because I Cant Cook!! Mostly my meals consist of a salad with tuna in it and I think if I eat any more tuna I am going to be sick |
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Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:46 pm |
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| Guest
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| Does anyone know which major grocery chain carries laughing cow cheese? Here in Charlotte we have Bi-Lo, Food Lion, Winn Dixie, Harris Teeter and I can't find it anywhere, people look at me like I'm crazy when I ask for it. |
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Wed Jan 07, 2004 5:23 pm |
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| LoveIC
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| I found regular Laughing Cow in Sam's Club and Light Laughing Cow in Safeway (Maryland). |
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Wed Jan 07, 2004 5:55 pm |
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| mnokat
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Hi all,
Here is a list of some links that could really help you all. The 2nd one has answers from Dr.A on some frequently asked questions that I think you all may appreciate. Prevention did a really good feature on the SBD, as you will see... :D
http://www.prevention.com/cda/feature2002/0,4780,5345,00.html
http://www.prevention.com/cda/feature2002/0,4780,6040,00.html
http://www.prevention.com/cda/feature2002/0,4780,s1-6267,00.html
Good luck!
Kate |
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Wed Jan 07, 2004 6:58 pm |
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| babice
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| OMG! This info is so good, mnokat, that I wish it were posted right on this website immediately when people log in! Thanks very much! Good stuff! :D |
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Wed Jan 07, 2004 8:04 pm |
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| patsfan76
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| Bumping for the great microwaving info!!1 |
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Tue Mar 02, 2004 10:50 pm |
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| earth
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I agree. The book is excellent in that it's all we have in print. But it does have shortcomings as you've pointed out.
My biggest pet peeve with the book and with the whole diet is the "You will lose 8-15 lbs in Phase 1" claim. No promises like that should be made ever by any doctor. Results vary and I think it cheapens Agatston's credibility. He should have said, "Average weight loss in Phase is xx lbs." or "Most people lose between 8 and 15 lbs in Phase 1, but your results may vary depending upon xx, yy, and zz."
The treatment of exercise is also, as you point out, sketchy and contradictory. As most people who have tried to exercise beyond light walking during Phase I can attest, you can get really dizzy and weak. This isn't addressed at all.
I'm giving Agatston a bit of the benefit of the doubt because he comes from a medical practice where he was monitoring people in person closely (I'm assuming here) and could give them more personal attention.
Still, the book is a very good source and judging from some of the ill-informed folks coming to the board (or worse, giving out wrong advice) who could benefit from reading the book, I'd still recommend it. The recipes alone are great. The basic philosophy is there. Supplement the book with some of the free Web sites and you're in good shape. |
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Tue Mar 02, 2004 11:17 pm |
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| Happymomoftwo
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| You are so right about the book. I got a copy from the library a month after I started the diet and I was surprised how little info was in it. I've obtained mostly everything I need from forums like these :D I haven't used any menus from the book at all. The best recipes I found are in the Good Carb Cookbook by Sandra Woodruff. Her book explains the Glycemic Index really well. The recipes are more down to earth as well. I have a George Foreman grill and use it every day! |
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Wed Mar 03, 2004 12:29 am |
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| nottoolost
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Part of the problem is that the book is based on the glycemic index, which is based on 50 grams of carbohydrates, rather than one serving of food. Do a Google search on glycemic *load*. That is the glycemic index multiplied (er, divided?) by the amount of carbohydrates in a single serving. This is why carrots have such a bad rap, the GI is based on something like *seven* servings. Gag! (However, I suspect this is very bad news for peanut M&M's. They have a rather low glycemic index because of the peanuts, but I imagine the number of carbs in a serving is higher, thus the glycemic load probably higher. Anybody know?)
The good news (or the bad news if you are cheap like me and refuse to pay to join the official website...) is that Dr A is keeping up with this information and constantly updating the allowed lists. But it seems like whenever there is an important update, someone posts it here!
Laura |
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Wed Mar 03, 2004 1:02 am |
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| luciano
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the problem of the book is that the food list is VERY VERY small...
there are a lot of food missing and that makes us confused
luciano |
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Wed Mar 03, 2004 3:55 am |
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