I'm a former South Beacher. I liked South Beach because it cut the cravings and it was something that made a lot of sense to me. I quit because I was an idiot. LOL! The weight loss was too slow for me. I'll never know if that was true or all in my head because I did not record my weight.

BUT, this time around I chose calorie counting for no other reason than that my cousin lost 100 lbs doing it this way. I was extremely skeptical. No on sells books these days telling you to eat fewer calories. It just doesn't sell.

I am very surprised a month and half in that I am not always hungry. There are still days I am ravenous, but then there are days like today where I have had to remind myself it was time to eat. This is what I loved so much about South Beach. I love, love, love that I have the same control counting calories! I did not expect that to happen!

Have you all experienced that? Has it been your experience that it's really hard at the beginning but that it does get easier?

I like counting my calories because I can eat anything ANYTHING!

Glad it's working for you too!

Ive done almost every diet and i would have to say that counting calories is my favorite this is my 2nd time just counting calories, the last time was a while ago. it took a while to get used to eating less but I can eat whatever I want its all about portions. Im just now getting to that point where Im not starving if I lower my calories.

I am a former successful SBer too. I like calorie counting better because it is more fundamental to weight maintenance. I also have found my hunger levels very tolerable. Not the ravenous reaction others have experienced.
glad for that.
Karen

The absolute hardest thing about weight loss is starting. It's so daunting, so overwhelming, so depressing to think of leaving behind foods I love that I knew were bad for me. After a few weeks and seeing the scale move down, it stopped feeling daunting and overwhelming and I didn't miss those foods as much. Would I enjoy eating a gigantic bowl of chocolate and peanut butter ice cream? Probably. But I don't feel like I'm going to die if I don't get it and I can see that what I'm getting in return for not eating that kind of stuff is way better in the long run.

I am with you. I definitely had major problems with simple carbs before I started my new lifestyle. I would eat things in the morning like grits, eggs and biscuits with jelly and wonder why on earth I was hungry an hour later! Most of the time that meant more leftover biscuits with more jelly and maybe a big glass of OJ. I didn't understand HOW to satiate my body with the proper foods and only concerned myself with the way foods TASTED--not on how they related to my body.

Calorie counting really does get easier the longer you do it. Eventually it just becomes part of the background of your life and you barely ever think about it, if at all.

I've calorie counted every day since June 1, 2001 and never give it a thought. It's just part of who I am and what I do. I expect to be calorie counting for the rest of my life -- and I expect to stay at my goal weight for the rest of my life.

I sometimes find the actions of being a calorie counter stops the cravings. Tonight I suddenly had the urge for potato chips. In my head I realized the number of potato chips I would eat to satisfy the craving would not be worth messing with my calorie deficit for the day. While I COULD have eaten potato chips, I elected a glass of milk instead.

Same for me, i don;t really crave anything because I eat what I want to the only difference is the serving size and honestly I don;t really have small servings I love calorie counting and have lost more than 200 pounds so far doing so, check out my blog! its in my sig

As Ever
Me

This is my attitude as well. I don't have the history you have with counting calories but I do have a convicted spirit.
Karen

[QUOTE=Eliana;3057792]I'm a former South Beacher. I liked South Beach because it cut the cravings...QUOTE]

This never worked for me!
I did Atkins twice and South Beach twice and I still craved bread and sweets.
I remember I was actually a few months into SB and I literally dreamed of cupcakes.
I lost weight, but I SUFFERED!

:0

[QUOTE=DogMomNP;3058202]Just proof that it's all about what works for YOU right? LOL! I hope calorie counting is going better for you?

The spirit is all we need, Karen, but one day at a time, you're putting together the history too.

[QUOTE=Eliana;3058223]At one time it helped me lose 30'something pounds, but I have been off the wagon since April.

I haven't done SB. I did Atkins for awhile and my cravings did all but go away. Unfortunately, when I fell off the wagon, I fell off big time! I gained the weight back quicker than I took it off for certain. Carbs (of all kinds and most especially simple carbs) still give me issues.