as most others have said... south beach is a VERY healthy way of eating! yes... you are restricted from eating breads and such the first 2 weeks (phase 1).... but you can eat carbs... in the form of vegetables!!!!!

phase 2 you get to add back some more stuff.... but they teach you to eat the low glycemic... healthy stuff!!!!

phase 3 is your every day... normal.... healthy eating! geez... i LIVE on oatmeal... but it's not the sugary quick cook packaged stuff!!!!

plus you don't count points.... you don't pay to go to meetings or buy special foods (you basically shop the outer, healthy aisles and stay away from prepared foods....

i give southbeach 2 thumbs up!