Who is the South Beach Diet good for?

Average rating:

People with big appetites. There are no limits on portion sizes and you're encouraged to eat three meals plus snacks every day.

What are the drawbacks?

The South Beach Diet can be expensive and time consuming. Critics claim you could miss out on vital vitamins and minerals, especially during the first phase. They also say losing 13 pounds in two weeks is unrealistic.

What do you do?

The South Beach Diet is divided into three phases. In phase one, which lasts for 14 days, you eat virtually no carbohydrates so rice, potatoes, pasta, cake, fruit and alcohol are all out. Instead you eat lots of lean meat, fish, eggs and low fat cheese.

In phase two, you reintroduce 'good' carbs like granary bread, wholegrain cereals and low-fat milk. You stay in this stage until you meet your target weight.

In the third phase, even more foods are reintroduced. Fans say this phase teaches you how to eat healthily as part of a long-term lifestyle instead of just a diet. Staying in this phase hopefully keeps your weight steady. According to Dr Agatston who created the diet, you can stay on this phase for the rest of your life! Anything full of white flour and white sugar such as pastry, white bread, cakes and sweets are banned.

Alcohol's not allowed during the first phase but after that you can drink small amounts.