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THE SOUTH BEACH DIET: THE DELICIOUS, DOCTOR-DESIGNED, FOOLPROOF PLAN FOR FAST AND HEALTHY WEIGHT LOSS
Arthur Agatston, M.D.
Rodale, $24.95, 310 pp.
ISBN: 1579546463
After years of encouraging his patients to lose weight without success, Miami Beach cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston wondered why few could properly diet even with a perilous "Sword of Damocles" threat to their heart. He analyzed various diets and concluded that they were either too harsh or bland to adhere to beyond an initial enthusiastic stage or deadlier than what they were correcting. Cholesterol and other critical indicators remained at deadly levels even for those who tried to stick to the regimen. In response to his assessment, he developed his diet plan testing it on himself (no wisecracks about clients and fools) starting with the avoidance of all carbohydrates including fruits to eventually allowing small intakes of these foods. He felt better, lost weight, and slightly modified his approach.
Ho hum another assault on public enemy number two (cholesterol remains numero uno) carbohydrates, but surprisingly this dietary approach is different as individual can use in modification some carbohydrates during phase two. Though the initial withdrawal pain may be difficult, Dr. Agatson feels most people have an early euphoria that carries them for a while through that phase before falling off the wagon. Thus the reintroduction to carbs is to avoid a crash and burn. The key to this book is the author whose energy is catching and his emphasis on meal planning thorough. This is a solid well-written choice that even this reviewer avoided the sugary snack (guilt goes a long way) I normally take when reading. Now if I can do this beyond one book.
Harriet Klausner
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