Dear Friend,

As a practicing preventive cardiologist, I developed the South Beach Diet in the early 1990s as a way to help my patients avoid heart attacks and strokes. I discovered not only that their risk factors for heart disease were diminishing but also that they were losing weight in the process. The South Beach Diet was published in April 2003, and since then I've had the good fortune to help millions of people worldwide lose weight and gain health.

My goal in creating SouthBeachDiet.com was to help more people experience these benefits by giving them extra tools, recipes, meal plans, and support.

Think Beyond the Scale
Certainly, most people start the South Beach Diet to lose weight. And you will! But even more important, you'll experience health benefits. Adopting the South Beach Diet lifestyle will lower your risk not just for heart attack and stroke but for many other diseases, like prediabetes and diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, age-related macular degeneration, and some types of cancer. You will also improve your blood pressure and stabilize your blood sugar, lower LDL (the "bad") cholesterol and triglycerides (fats that circulate in the blood), and raise HDL (the "good") cholesterol.

The Diet Debates Are Over
Today health professionals no longer debate about the types of foods that are important to good health. We all agree that the very foods I emphasize in the South Beach Diet — good carbs (like those found in vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains), lean sources of protein, low-fat dairy products, and good fats from foods like extra-virgin olive and canola oils, nuts, and omega-3-rich fish — are the cornerstone of a healthy eating plan. Even the latest version of the USDA's food pyramid is based on these principles.
 
This way of eating focuses on fiber-rich, nutrient-dense foods and high-quality lean protein — foods that satisfy your appetite — so you'll lose weight in a healthy way without feeling hungry or deprived.

The meal plans and recipes available on SouthBeachDiet.com teach you how to use these healthy eating principles to achieve your weight and health goals.

Exercise Boosts Benefits
An equally important component of a healthy lifestyle is exercise. When you're physically active, you eat better and feel better — and vice versa. So I encourage you to be as active as you can. The South Beach Diet Fitness Club can help. It's a comprehensive exercise program that covers all the fundamentals of fitness — core and strength training, cardio routines, and flexibility moves — that you need for a healthy body. All without expensive gym memberships or fancy equipment.

Let's Start Together
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to participate in your weight-loss journey. Remember, even the longest journey begins with a simple step. I wish you the best of luck.

Sincerely,

Arthur Agatston, M.D.
Preventive cardiologist and author of The South Beach Diet and The South Beach Heart Health Revolution.