Diet & Fitness 

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The South Beach diet

Celebrity followers
Bill and Hillary Clinton
Kim Cattrall and Nicole Kidman are reportedly fans

The plan
The plan is based on the principle that certain types of carbohydrates cause people to gain weight. Carbohydrates are allowed on the diet but are put into good and bad categories. Refined foods like biscuits and pasta are classed as bad. The South Beach Diet claims that it is not low in carbs or low in fat, but that weight loss is achieved by learning to eat the right carbs and the right fat.

Pros

Part of the diet focuses on banishing cravings

It's flexible once you understand which foods to mix and which to avoid

Cons

Cutting down carbs in phase 1 can leave some people feeling weak and tired

The complicated plan means it can be easy to cheat unwittingly

Duration
Indefinite

Checklist

Restaurants: Italian is out, as high-Gi foods like pasta, potatoes and bread are verboten

Alcohol: No

Caffeine: OK

Need to buy special foods: No.

Family friendly: May be difficult to eliminate pasta, breads and cereals, especially in families with children who love these types of foods

OK for vegetarians: Yes

What iVillagers say:
'South Beach was the worst diet I ever tried. Strangely enough it's because you had to cut out fruit at first and I love fruit.'
- Tinkabell84

View the Southbeach diet plan here

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