Hi! I just started SB this week and I am hypothyroid. I have really, really hard time losing weight. I am still trying to get my meds right. Aafew years ago I tried Atkins and I gained weight. Does anyone here count their calories also? I am not following phase 1 strictly. I am eating a few triscuits and multigrain pita chips because around dinner I just give up if I cana't have a grain product.
Any help anyone can give me would be great!

Thanks!

I don't "count" my calories, but I do stay very aware of them throughout the day and plan my meals and snacks to stay within rough limits. I do believe that weight loss is a matter of calories in vs. calories out. What I like about South Beach is that it lets me feel very fullfilled on a calorie deficit that allows me to lose weight. When I did strict calorie counting in the past, I felt much hungrier.

I'm basically the same as Betsy, though for me, it can sometime be a struggle to meet a minimum calorie goal (although I'm using fitday and sometimes I'm guessy about portions, so I'm going to guess I eat an average of 100 calories more a day than is calculated).

I try to keep in mind how much I'm putting into my body and make a goal of between 1200 and 1400 calories a day, but it's no big deal if I go a bit over for me because I'm not putting all the crap into my body that I was before I started SB.

Really, buckle down and try Phase 1. It's all in your head that you need a grain. The first 3 days are a real struggle and it can feel like you're living minute to minute against your cravings, but it's so worth it. Afterwards, you probably won't feel like you HAVE to have a grain with dinner. I know for me, I'm now in the first week of phase 2 and I really don't even want any grains! That's not the common thought among most people, but that's how it is for me. :P

I do a rough estimate of my calories by keeping track of everything I eat and I have noticed if my calorie range stays under 1400 calories each day then I will lose weight for that week.

Hi tooaud2 -- I have been counting calories and logging exercise in a notebook. I find it helps keep me honest and also, if I am feeling unmotivated or down, I can see if I am overworking the exercise, or if I'm shorting the calories. I use one of the websites like Fitday to do the math for me.

Hope you find a way that works for you.

M