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PHASE ONE
This is the first phase of the South Beach Diet. The concept is fairly
straightforward: the goal is to get the body free of cravings for sweets,
as well as stopping the fluctuations in insulin our bodies endure regularly
when we indulge in sugars and other high glycemic index foods.
Your main focus is to avoid all sweets, and any low glycemic index foods. In addition to this, you should avoid anything high in fat, and also other restricted foods outlined in the diet. Avoiding sweets is the hardest aspect to this phase of the diet. It is obvious why - we are all tempted by sweet, indulgent foods, and beyond what you may think is only a mental craving, your body physically craves the foods as well, making it a formidable task to fight the urge. But to succeed in the South Beach Diet, and to achieve the 8-13 pounds loss that is typical of phase one, you must abstain from them.
The food choices you make are also important. You should eat only lean meats, for example chicken, fish, and turkey. Vegetables that are low glycemic index are also allowed. You may add seasonings, and eat candies that are sugar free and fat free (such as sugar-free hard candies or sugar-free Jello). This whole process modifies the way your body works, getting it off of the spikes in insulin that it has becoe used to. This phase primes your body for the next two phases, to eliminate the tendencies that would otherwise prevent you from losing weight.
This phase lasts 2 weeks, and during this time most people who correctly follow it lose between 8-13 pounds. But more importantly, they teach themselves not to crave the bad carbs that could hold them back later on. This phase is meant also to prepare you for the second phase. For a more complete list of approved foods, read the "Meal Suggestions" section.
