The claim of the "South Beach Diet" is that ordinary food-chain diets don't work because it's the wrong foods — too much carbohydrate and not enough fat — and not enough volume to satisfy a bird.

During the first 2 weeks, it's pretty strict, but on carbs, not volume. For breakfast I have 6 oz of tomato juice, eggs and Canadian bacon, and decaf coffee with fat free milk.

I was good except for the decaf coffee, using 1% milk instead, by mistake. I'm not sure about decaf.

A morning snack of a mozzarella cheese stick. Instead I had some cottage cheese and canned fruit in light syrup (which was againt the diet, but I'm hooked on the stuff).

Lunch — caesar salad and dressing. I had a bowl of steamed unfrozen peas, with a bit of butter and salt. I figured this was a good sub because peas are very low glycemic — important for me cuz I am diabetic.

Afternoon snack — cottage cheese again, which they recommend this time. (Again, I used light canned fruit instead of tomatoes and cucumbers.)

Dinner - fish, vegetables, salad. I followed the rules on this one.

Dessert - lemon peel ricotta creme. I had baby carrots for a later snack instead.

Result: I was 2 pounds lighter this morning. Not bad for a first day.

And — I felt very little irritation. nervousness, martyrdom or "suffering."

I think it's working well.

But — diets often work well at first. (Not for me, but for many people.) Have to study this closer and see if I feel satisfied even after the novelty wears off.

My goal is to get from my current weight of 222 down to 199. I'm in no hurry — 3 months to lose 23 pounds will be fine. But "South Beach Diet" says it can be done in 2 weeks!

(Not that it's a quick weight loss regimen — it evens out over the long haul until you're just experiementing to see what you can get away with. But the first two weeks condition you to be a little stricter with yourself, and this results in greater weight loss at the very beginning.)

We shall see. Have a nice day.