The South Beach Diet is designed as a long-term plan and is structured in three phases. Phase 1 is the strictest with respect to forbidden foods, Phase 2 is less strict and Phase 3 is considered the maintenance stage.
Phase 1
In order to balance insulin levels in the body, Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet forbids certain fatty meats, high carbohydrate vegetables including beets and carrots, starchy foods such as potatoes and pasta, dairy excluding low-fat cheese, fruit and fruit juice, alcohol and sugar.
Phase 2
During Phase 2, you are allowed to reintroduce more foods taking care to avoid starches and breads and fruit with high sugar content such as watermelon and pineapple.
Phase 3
Phase 3 will permit most foods while monitoring portion control and avoiding "bad" carbohydrates.
Bad Carbs
Defined as refined breads, rices and sugars, these foods surge blood levels and lead to weight gain. Bad carbs are processed and provide the body no nutritional value. To avoid them, substitute brown rice for white, wheat or whole-grain bread for white, and avoid refined sugar whenever possible.
Misconceptions
The South Beach Diet does not require you to avoid carbohydrates altogether. While this is important during Phase 1, the maintenance stages of the diet simply dictate that you choose good over bad carbs.
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