The hardest part of committing to a diet program is the fear of giving up your favorite foods in favor of dry, tasteless “diet foods.” With the South Beach diet, however, there is a plethora of delicious, healthy meals that can fit into your daily routine without forcing you to take out your taste buds.
Not All Carbs Are Forbidden – While your grocery list may change at first, committing to the South Beach diet does not mean giving up eating, or giving up eating well. During the first two weeks, all carbs are forbidden, but that doesn’t mean you can only eat steak and chicken. Stocking up on things like eggs, broccoli, zucchini, low-fat cheeses, and nuts is a great way to combat cravings for breads and cereals. No doubt, that the first two weeks breakfast is the biggest challenge to surmount, but replacing your usual bowl of cereal or bagel with eggs and a low fat cheese, or cottage cheese is a great way to start the day. Don’t forget that in phase two fruits and some sugar are introduced back into your diet, so that cup of cottage cheese can easily be sweetened with some strawberries. Also, eating some lean bacon with your poached eggs or throwing some cheese and veggies into an omelet can mix things up.
Snack a Lot – Pack some veggies and a cottage cheese dip or peanut butter for a mid-morning snack, and some nuts or cheese for late afternoon. Use the prohibition of bread for your first two weeks as a way to throw some variety into your usual sandwich routine. A pepper stuffed with feta and mixed veggies is easily reheated in the break room, and tuna salad does not need to go on a sandwich. In phase two, whole grains are re-introduced, so a whole grain pita with your salad is a good way to keep you going until your afternoon snack. Dinner time may well be the easiest time to maintain your diet program, as you can play with the shopping list, developing savory sauces and seasonings to compliment healthy meat, vegetable, and tofu dishes.
Give it Time – Don’t be discouraged if after your first two weeks, your weight loss slows to a crawl of about two pounds a week. This is normal and healthy, and as you change your lifestyle through the South Beach diet program, you will continue to lose weight and keep it off. There are a ton of online tips and how to programs, as well as meal plans and suggested supplements based around the diet program. If you find yourself getting bored with the same old choices, get online and find some more recipes. Don’t forget, unlike other low carb diet programs, the diet doesn’t make you commit to a carb-free life. What it does do is help you develop a healthy balance between good carbs and fats which in turn won’t just melt off water weight that will return. Instead, it creates a life-long system of healthy living.
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