The South Beach Diet is similar, but not as severe as other low carb. diets like Atkins and the Zone. It was originally created to help lower cholesterol in heart patients and diabetics. It focuses on the consumption of complex carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. Many pastas and sweets are not acceptable while on the diet. The program will help you learn to distinguish the difference between “good” and “bad” carbs.

The South Beach Diet online provides you with several tools to help you manage your weight loss program and progress. They include a customized meal planner, a dining–out guide and more than 800 South Beach approved recipes.

The meal planner is a daily list of suggestions for every meal and snack for the day. If you don’t like a suggestion simply substitute it for one of the other 800 recipes approved by the South Beach diet. The dining–out guide is a handy reference for those who don’t cook or occasionally go to restaurants and fast food places. The guide gives you tips on what food is approved and what to avoid. There is also a supportive community and the online program encourages you to get a “Beach Buddy.”

The South Beach Diet online program is off to a good start; unfortunately, its online program focuses only on your food diet and doesn’t offer any tools to help with your exercise or physical fitness goals. There is also no contact information available prior to signing up for the program.

The South Beach Diet is $65.00 per quarter. You may cancel for a partial refund after four weeks.

For similar diets with exercise tools and customer support prior to payment, see the #1 reviewed diet service, eDiets.