southbeach diet is based on the principle that by gradually increasing good carbohydrates and good fats in the diet, at the same time, decreasing its "bad" counterparts, weight loss can be achieved "safely." Since this is a diet that slowly weans the person away from carbohydrates and fats that make the person feel hungry or unsatisfied with their meals, the Southbeach diet has been showing favorable results - but only to the people who complete the entire diet program. Needless to say, it takes a lot of dedication (and financial resources) to actually complete the 3 phases of the Southbeach diet.

One of the major criticisms against the Southbeach diet is its liberal use of processed foods. Dieticians and nutritionists are always up in arms about using processed food as opposed to consuming fresh produce. Processed foods usually contain high levels of salt, sugar, extenders and even preservatives in order to make it look and taste appealing. Too much of the last two "ingredients" have been linked to the development of cancer in the last few years. So in effect, you may be trading one medical condition (overweight or obesity) for another. Also, some of the labels can be quite misleading, especially if the person reading the labels skips the smaller prints. Some people simply assume that one package is good for one meal, but there is an indication in the back of the packaging material that it might be good for two or more portions.

There is a simple reason why there are too many processed or prepackaged meals when it comes to Southbeach diet. The allowable foods in this kind of diet are usually very difficult to prepare and can be quite time consuming. For someone unknowledgeable with the workings of pots and pans, this can prove to be quite a Herculenean task. Also, there are portions to worry about since there is a need to hold back on certain food items. Hence, it is easier to buy the ready made meals instead. However, these packaged meals do not come cheap.

In many cases, people give up on the Southbeach diet because the food limitations are too much to handle on a daily basis, and that the food items are too expensive to buy. Some people give up after only mere days into the program. Others last midway through. However, for most of the people who complete the diet program, weight loss can be achieved... for a time. Sooner or later, the person shifts back to his or her normal eating pattern, and the weight also gradually comes back.

If you want a dieting program that is not only inexpensive, but one you could use daily for a very long time, even when you have reached your target weight, you could try the Fat Loss For Idiots. With this program, there is a series of steps that can help wean you from bad carbohydrates and fats as well, without having to become an Iron Chef wannabe or spending that much money of "diet" products.