I was trying on outfits for a party when I realized I couldn't fit into my favorite jeans from last year. So annoying... but it really was the kick I needed to make a change.

I had tried countless diets before, and none of them ever worked. It wasn't until a friend of mine lost 30 pounds on The South Beach Diet ⁠–⁠– that I knew exactly what I needed to do to make a change once and for all

I'll admit it, when my friend first mentioned The South Beach Diet, I thought it was just another fad, but she said it was similar to the Keto Diet just easier, and after seeing how successful she'd been losing the weight, I decided to look into it for myself.

When I saw that they deliver fully prepped meals to your door, I was immediately interested. My downfall of trying to diet has always been all the meal prep that comes along with it. It looked really easy and convenient, so I decided to sign up.

I decided that I would keep a diary of my diet journey as a way to keep myself motivated and to stay mindful throughout the process.

Weeks 1 - 2

Each day consists of one breakfast entrée, one lunch entrée, and one dinner entrée. I can also have snacks between each meal. My meal plan mainly focusing on healthy fats, proteins, and vegetables.

For breakfast, I had the vanilla shake most days. It's delicious, and I was surprised at how filling it was. I also loved the Turkey Sausage & Egg Muffin and the Blueberry Ricotta Muffin ⁠—so yummy!

For dinner, my favorites were the Glazed Beef & Veggie and Chicken Fajita Bowls ⁠— they were filling without leaving me feeling lethargic.

For my in-between snacks, I had either yogurt with some cinnamon or almond butter and celery sticks. I love peanut butter and was surprised that almond butter was just as tasty and creamy but way less fattening! I also could grab one of my favorite South Beach snacks or bars for the days when I was on the go.

I expected the start of this diet to be really tough because I normally cave in the first two weeks of any diet, but this time, The South Beach Diet was easy to follow and keep up with.

When I weighed myself after the 2 weeks, and I had lost 7 pounds!*

Weeks 3 - 6

During this period, I ate the South Beach Diet entrées five days a week, while having two "practice days." During the practice days, I could eat a healthy homemade or restaurant breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

I still enjoyed snacks throughout the day, as long as they were proteins, healthy fats or vegetables. After week 1 I was able to gradually add some good carbs back into my diet, as long as I was keeping within my net carbs for the day. My usual snacks were string cheese, cherry tomatoes, and bell pepper strips, or I'd mixed it up and enjoy half an avocado.

I was relieved that I could still go to a restaurant on my mom's birthday. I just had to keep the key principles in mind – so I ordered a glazed salmon salad.

Throughout my time on the program, I was also working out for 30 minutes each day. It took me just four weeks to reach my goal weight!.

Weeks 7 - Present

Now, I continue to eat six times a day, with three meals and three snacks. I even enjoy a treat or two in moderation.

I still enjoy my favorite South Beach Diet meals and snacks while also adding in my own meals

The South Beach Diet Success plan, which focuses on weight maintenance, is really easy to follow because of their color-coded container system. There's a different color container for each food category, and they're pre-measured, so all you have to do is fill them up in order to get the right serving size each time.

I've also gradually started making my own meals by using these containers to measure out my rice, pasta, veggies and meats.

Plus, I've increased my exercising to an hour a day, and I'm actually starting to enjoy it!

I didn't think I'd ever find a diet that would work for me until I tried The South Beach Diet. The steps are so clear that it makes the diet super easy to follow. I recommend it to anyone who wants to lose weight and keep it off, without trying another fad diet.

Update: The awesome folks over at the South Beach Diet are offering a special deal for our readers. Follow this link for 40% off the one time rate with your first 4-week auto-delivery order and free shipping as long as you're on the program!

*In a study, average weight loss was 5.8 lbs. in first 7 days. Thereafter, expect to lose 1-2 lbs per week.