Health and Beauty by Jean Stratton

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Plethora of Weight Loss Programs Offers Dieters a Range of Choices

There are so many options! Low carb, no carb, low fat, no fat, lots of dairy, no dairy, fruits and veggies galore, no fruit at all – the list goes on and on.

So many new weight loss programs are popping up that dieters can be overwhelmed by the sheer numbers. Possibilities seem unlimited. South Beach, Atkins, Weight Watchers, L. A . Weight Loss, Pritikin, TOPS, Jenny Craig – these are just some of the diets out there. All have their satisfied customers, and each offers a different focus for the hopeful participant.

South Beach is hot, no question about it. This diet, developed by cardiologist Dr. Arthur Agatston, has swept the country. One of its features is to distinguish between "good" and "bad" carbs, and for the first two weeks (Phase 1), it strictly limits the intake of carbohydrates, totally eliminating fruit, bread, cookies, most other baked goods, ice cream, sugar, etc. while still offering the dieter plenty of well-balanced meals. "Good" fats, such as olive oil, and fish oils, are recommended.

This regimen is based on the glycemic index which identifies which foods cause a quick or gradual rise in blood sugar. When the sugar enters the blood stream quickly, a lot of insulin is released, the blood sugar level drops, and new cravings are created, leading to over-eating and storing more fat.

Foods with a higher glycemic index are those the South Beach Diet strictly limits.

If they are diligent, dieters will often lose eight to 13 pounds the first week – especially around the mid-section – says Dr. Agatston. They will continue to lose during Phase 2, when more carbs are gradually introduced. Phase 3 is a maintenance program. The diet includes daily menus for each phase, as well as snacks, and many recipes.

Proper Balance

One of the most important aspects of the South Beach Diet is its help in diminishing cravings and restoring blood sugar to a proper balance.

Many dieters are enthusiastic about South Beach. Benai Dickinson, who works in Princeton, says nearly everyone in her office is trying it. Ms. Dickinson, who had sampled other diets in the past, decided to join her husband on South Beach two months ago.

"What I like about it is that I am not hungry, and I find it to be very healthy," she explains. "When I was on other diets, I was always hungry. "Dr. Agatston recommends eating whole food, which is healthier.

"This does require kitchen time," she points out. "I enjoy cooking, and we follow the South Beach Diet Cookbook."

Ms. Dickinson adds a caveat, however. "I had a problem with Phase 1, with symptoms of severe fatigue, headaches, and loss of focus. I stopped Phase 1 after one week, and went on to Phase 2. Then, I got much better. After two weeks, I lost seven pounds. I just recommend if you want to do Phase 1, monitor yourself very carefully."

She notes that none of her colleagues suffered these symptoms, and her aunt, Diana Facher was very satisfied with South Beach. After years of dieting and suffering the yo-yo lose and gain syndrome, she believes that South Beach has been very beneficial.

Carb People

"My husband and I went on it together, and it worked really well. I have lost 10 pounds, and he lost 14. We're both carb people, and I worried about that, but I'm not craving them as I thought I would. I am feeling good, and people tell me I look thinner."

Another popular diet, the Atkins, also developed by a physician, Dr. Robert Atkins, became famous in the 1970s. This diet stresses proteins, severely reducing carb intake. Weight loss and good health are the focus, although some have questioned the emphasis on protein, especially the inclusion of red meat.

The Atkins Nutritional Approach has recently been revised to include four phases, with Phase 1 restricting carbohydrate intake to 20 grams a day, obtaining carbs primarily from salad and other non-starchy vegetables. In Phases 2, 3, and 4, more carbs are gradually introduced in various increments. The focus is on healthy, wholesome foods, omitting "junk" food.

Because Atkins restricts processed, refined carbohydrate, such as high-sugar foods, breads, pasta, cereal, and starchy vegetables (which are said to make up more than 50 percent of many people's diets), "the physical consequences of a truly dysfunctional blood sugar and insulin metabolism are reversed.

"This nutritional philosophy has been embraced by an estimated 20 million people worldwide since the release of "Dr. Atkins' Diet Revolution" in the 1970s.

Former Princeton resident and creative cook Jody Kerssenbrock is not only an enthusiastic supporter of the Atkins program, but she helped to provide some of the diet's recipes.

70 Pounds

"A friend with whom I sang professionally had lost 70 pounds with the Atkins plan, and I was that much overweight as well," she explains. "At our first meeting, finding that it was too pricey for my professional classical singer's take home pay, I took my leave. A few days later, a member of his staff called and asked whether I would create recipes for Dr. Atkins in exchange for my weight loss visits with him. He wanted to provide recipes for his other patients. Two recipes a week, using only what was allowed on his diet, was the barter agreement. Seven months later, I had lost 70 pounds.

"This was the first really successful weight loss program I had ever had," she continues, "and I'm sure that creating recipes for him helped me a lot.

"So, what have I carried over from Atkins today? Crustless quiche, summer milk shakes using gelatin and cottage cheese and ice cubes. NO hot dogs or other sausage, containing God knows what. NO donuts (I gave them up for the rest of my life!). NO corn chips or potato chips (I cheat only occasionally here).

"I am aware all the time of what I can and shouldn't have, and I try not to buy food I can't have. If chips are served with a deli sandwich, I love it – and I eat them. But I doubt that I have bought more than a few bags of chips since the '70s – and those for guests."