As another newbie (2+ weeks) I can tell you, it does work. I was never a calorie counter; hated that. I felt I had a pretty good handle on things. Well, once I started this, I realized where those "mysterious" extra calories were coming from that were clearly keeping me from losing anything. Seeing movement on the scale (finally) was truly pleasing.
Subject:Re: I'm a newbie too
That's why this works, you don't think you're eating too many calories, but then you learn that 3 wheat crackers are 70 calories and you are shocked.