Our Experts Weigh In: 6 Tips for Getting Started with South Beach Diet

Originally developed by world-renowned cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston to combat heart disease, it was quickly discovered that the South Beach Diet could also help his patients safely—and easily—lose weight. To date, over 11 million people have turned to the South Beach Diet to help them shed unwanted pounds.

The South Beach Diet is designed to reset your body’s chemistry, reduce your cravings for sweet and starchy foods, and prepare your body for the steady weight loss. With the adoption of a low-carb, low added sugar diet that is high in protein and healthy fat, the pounds will shed fast, simply by following the plan. But because we want you to have the most weight loss success during the first phase of your weight loss journey, we’ve rounded up some of our top tips to get you started.

Here are six tips for weight loss on the South Beach Diet:

1. Prepare to Go Light on the Carbs.

Here’s the secret: Your body looks to convert carbs into fuel first. By lowering refined carbs, your body turns to fat for fuel—your fat! And once your body adjusts, you should no longer crave the junk like you did before. Instead, you’ll fill up on proteins as well as healthy fats. These foods will help keep you nourished and satisfied while the weight drops off.

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2. Keep an Open Mind.

As you enter your weight loss journey, we know it might be a big change for you. If this isn’t how you’re used to eating, it will all feel very new. But in order to be successful, you must be willing to make the changes. Go into it with an open mind and you’ll be setting yourself up for weight loss success. You’ll also be surprised how quickly the first week will pass without refined carbs and how great you will feel!

3. Stick to the Meal Plan.

Just as you must have an open mind, you must also be willing to stick to the meal plan. Any new change may initially feel challenging and you may be tempted to return to your old habits. But you must give it a chance. Losing weight is really as easy as sticking to the weight loss meal plan. Follow through, and you’ll see the pounds shed quickly.

4. Start with a Friend.

It’s always easier to start something new with a friend. Gain (and get!) accountability by starting with a buddy. You’ll appreciate the joy of losing weight even more by sharing the experience with someone else.

5. Plan Ahead.

By being prepared and getting organized in advance, you’ll set yourself up for South Beach success. Plan to grocery shop and have non-starchy veggies on hand at all times. Put time into chopping them up and separating them into grab and go containers for each day of the week so that you’re prepared for a healthy week 1. Being prepared with healthy options will make it easier to stick to the South Beach Diet plan.

Also, you’ll want to be drinking (at least!) 64 ounces of water a day. Make it easy on yourself, and leave a water bottle at work so you keep drinking all day long. If you tend to go light on the liquids, consider setting “Drink Up” reminders on your phone

6. Let us Support You.

The Palm, the official South Beach Diet Blog, includes a lot of support that makes it easy to stay on track. Get South Beach Diet compliant recipes for every phase of your plan. Plus, get weight loss tips from our experts and meal plan guidance for preparing healthy meals and snacks.