How the South Beach Diet Works

The father of The South Beach Diet is cardiologist Arthur Agatston, MD, director of the Mount Sinai Cardiac Prevention Center in Miami Beach, Fl.  Highly processed carbs, according to the South Beach theory, get digested too quickly. That makes insulin levels (a hormone the body makes to process sugars) spike. And once those fast-burning carbs are used up, your high insulin level makes you crave more food.
Cindy Moore, RD, a director of nutrition therapy at Cleveland Clinic and a former spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, discussed The South Beach Diet
Moore says the diet truly does meet several of the criteria for a healthy diet. It’s rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein, she says. Most importantly, it doesn’t leave out any major food groups.
Moore warns that during the induction phase, much of the lost weight is water weight. Losing this much water can throw your electrolyte balance off. So if you’re following the diet, it’s a good idea to work closely with a professional.
Despite the popularity of The South Beach Diet, Moore warns, there’s no one-size-fits-all diet. A professional can help you individualize The South Beach Diet to fit your health needs.
Source: Cindy Moore, director of nutrition therapy, Cleveland Clinic.  Courtesy of WebMD: Live Transcripts

Step into 2010 with Weight Loss Plans that Work

As we enter 2010, people everywhere are gravitating more toward a lifestyle change as opposed to finding the next diet trend. There is an important reason why this is so. Diets don’t work. The medical explanation behind this is complicated and difficult to understand, but the gist of it is that when you begin a diet, your caloric intake is much less than normal. Because of this radical change, your body immediately responds with, “Help! I’m starving! I need more energy than this!” and begins using up stored calories.
Stephanie Nimberg, founder and personal chef of The Healthy Kitchen knows what it is like to be overweight.  Throughout her teenage and adult life, Stephanie’s weight had always fluctuated.  She’d find success following a diet program only to find her weight would be gained back a very short time later.  After gaining 70 pounds and feeling unhappy with the way she felt and looked after the birth of her daughter, what finally changed her life was her effort to change her lifestyle.  Creating a healthy lifestyle change, changed her life.
 Stephanie lost 70 pounds in one year while creating and following The Healthy Kitchen lifestyle program and has kept it off while enjoying all of the foods she loves, including desserts.  Her program is based on a low-carb eating style, which allows for other delicious foods that even include delicious creamy cheeses and lean cuts of juicy red meat — foods that may have to be given up altogether on other programs. The portions are hearty and generous, and the way she teaches clients to eat never leaves anyone hungry. 
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• Tip of the Month

  January 2012

  Smart Starbucks and Steakhouse Choices

  Starbucks Choices
  • Peppermint Choc Mocha- 520cals, 20g fat
  • Pumpkin Frappuccino- 420cals, 13g fat
  • Flavored Latte- 360clas, 16g fat
  • Latte- 220cals, 15g fat
  • Coffee w/cream and sugar 180 calories
  • Cappuccino- 120cals, 4g fat
  • Coffee w/sugar 90 calories
  • Coffee w/cream 90 calories
  • Coffee w/whole milk 60 calories
  • Coffee w/skim milk 30-50 calories

  Order a coffee with cream and sugar every work day?  Add 900 calories per week to your diet.  That is over 13 pounds in one year.

  Enjoy a cappuccino every day instead, and you save 300 calories per week, and cut 4 pounds per year from the above diet.

  Go to coffee with skim milk and Splenda?  Now you are only adding 250 calories per week, and under 4 pounds per year in coffee weight.

  Enjoy a flavored frappucino or latte once per week?  That could add up to 26,000 calories, and another 7.5 pounds per year.

  Just your coffee could account for 20 pounds of caloric intake annually!

  Steakhouse Choices
  • Caesars Salad- 800cals
  • Chopped Salad, 320cals
  • Spinach Salad, 170cals click here for more »

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• Recipe of the Month

  January 2012

  Drink alcohol a little more wisely!

  Drink Choices
  • Eggnog, 350cals
  • White Russian, 260cals
  • Riesling, 160-200cals
  • Shot of liquor, 70-125cals
  • Tonic or Soda, 100cals
  • Winter Beer, 150-200cals
  • Beer, 150cals
  • Bloody Mary, 130cals
  • Wine, 120cals
  • Light Beer, 55-85cals
  • Champagne, 85cals
  Enjoy a small glass of eggnog and two gin and tonics, and you have drank 750 worthless calories.
  Or, start with some champagne, and enjoy two glasses of wine and you only have drank 330 calories, less than half of your first choices.