Just a thought- if you're craving a hamburger at TOM, it may be your body's way of saying that you need more iron.

Lean beef is really just as light and healthy as ground turkey. Or, to take it a step further- grass fed beef tends to run around the same cals as chicken, though it has a slightly different taste and can't be cooked for too logn or it dries out (low fat content).

But I would take from some of the other reader's suggestions- light bun, light cheese, lean meat in a small patty size and load up on the toppings.

Have you ever tried bison? I've found it's a wonderful replacement for beef that tastes just like beef and is better for you!

wow- what great alternatives! I'm going to give them all a try!!!!!!

This may sound gross, but I LOVE IT! My friend who does south beach told me to do this and even though I don't do south beach it's good. I cook up the extra lean ground beef in a patty and melt a slice of lowfat american cheese on top (to me, the american cheese it what makes it a cheeseburger). I serve it on a bed of iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and onions. The "dressing" is mustard and a bit of ketchup. I dice the cheeseburger patty. I call it cheeseburger salad (creative genius, I know).

I cook up 4 oz. of 97% lean ground beef, seasoned with Montreal Steak seasoning (135 calories), add a slice of 2% American cheese (50 calories) and put it on a dry grilled Nature's Own whitewheat hamburger bun (100 calories) with whatever veggies and low calorie condiments I have in the fridge! Grand total is 285 calories before adding veggies/condiments. If you really want a bacon burger, try sprinkling some real bacon bits on top of the cheese, a whole tablespoon adds just 25 calories.

I'm on SB and make these as well. People look at me crazy sometimes, but I don't miss the bread! :p

I find that ground turkey is really tasty. :] Try with some lowfat cheese and a wheat bun with whatever veggies/condiments you like.

mmmm- these all sound great! I did Atkins before similar to south beach and I used to eat cheeseburgers with out the buns all the time! LOL- so don't worry doesn't sound crazy to me!

I eat burgers at least 2 times a week. I buy Laura burgers and cook them on the george. They are only 160 cals and its beef not turkey so that makes me happy. I can find the frozen meat anywhere but the only place i have been able to find Laura Beef ground up was a Meijers

Usually i eat it w/o a bun bcause i make it with pasta. I like mine with garlic, onion, tomato and feta. YUMMY

I'm planning a burger dinner, Amy's california burger 140 cal, on a w/w bun 140 cal, with pickle, mashed avocado, mustard and ketchup. Not sure if it would work for you, but you could give it a go.

I think this is really smart and should be considered for any cravings that we have. Why are we restricting what we want to eat when all we have to do is figure it into our caloric intake for the day?

The only thing I could add here is if your craving is driving you insane (and we all have those on different things from time to time), allow yourself just HALF of your favorite burger at your favorite place. If you feel you couldn't control yourself, maybe try cutting it in half immediately and then immediately throwing the other half away. I know this sounds wasteful, but this is really all about training yourself and making gradual changes. I might note that McDonald's - any fast food really - is completely taboo to me after all the health research I have done the last couple years. You may find that half satisfies your craving, and after awhile, you may find that you don't even like them any more after eating healthy on a consistent basis. Eating only half also reduces the calories/fats/carbs, etc., way down while you satisfy that nagging craving. ;-)

sometimes i add a little bit of flax seed to my ground beef, then i get some healhty omega-3 fats and fiber!

great tips guys! I went out tonight and bought some jennie O turkey burger meat only 160 cals! I'll put it on some 45 calorie bread at my toppings and see how it goes! it's gotta be better then the boca burger!

Tomorrow night we're having burgers at home. We can make them healthier, cheaper, and better-tasting that way. We use:

-- Turkey patties from the grocery store, because my husband hates forming patties
-- Whole-wheat hamburger buns I'm making from this recipe: http://www.recipezaar.com/Whole-Whea...Machine-169916
-- Cheddar cheese
-- Plenty of romaine lettuce and tomatoes
-- Sauteed onions and mushrooms
-- Mustard

Usually we don't find we need mayonnaise.

Along with this we're having baked sweet potato fries, and then milkshakes for dessert (made from sugarless vanilla ice cream, nonfat milk, and sugarless fruit spread from Trader Joe's). It will end up being a fairly high-calorie meal, but that's in the plan. I won't go the rest of my life without eating healthy stuff that I really enjoy.