The South Beach Diet

Eating out

Dr Agatston devotes an entire chapter of his book on how to eat in a restaurant.

During the first phase of the diet, it would probably be quite difficult to eat out, although it's possible. For example, you can limit yourself to a plain grilled chicken breast and a leafy salad with olive oil dressing.

The temptation to eat breads, deep fried foods and other banned foods may be too great unless you have steel willpower.

Dining out during the second and third phase will be easier, since you're allowed to have alcohol then too.

Restaurant strategies

When you do eat out, Dr Agatston proposes that you eat a protein snack such as low-fat cheese 15 minutes before you're due to arrive at any restaurant. This starts the process of filling you up so that by the time the waiter arrives, you won't want to order the entire menu.

Some other useful tips include drinking soup or consomme as soon as you arrive. This does the same thing as the protein snack, since it takes about 20 minutes or so before signals from your stomach start channelling through to your brain to tell you that you're full.

Of course, according to the rules of the diet, rice and potatoes are off limits at any restaurant as well as no chips and fast food.

Is it successful?

Dr Agatston's patients with diabetes or heart problems who followed the diet, lost weight, had lower levels of bad blood cholesterol and their insulin resistance improved.

The diet is flexible. Once you understand what foods to mix and which ones to avoid, you are able to create your own version of the plan. This ensures that enjoy the foods you eat and stay on the diet.

One aspect not addressed in the diet is the emphasis on adopting an exercise regime, which can improve blood pressure, blood cholesterol and general health.

Overall, this diet is good for people who have the willpower to cut out favourites for a week or two but don't want to feel like they're spending their lives on a diet. Combining it with a sensible exercise routine will provide the best results in weight loss and improvement for health.