Am I they only one who struggles to stay UNDER Calorie?

It's only been a few days for me here, but I definitly struggle. I am so hungry right now and I have 500 calories left...

Hello! My first week it was difficult, but after 2nd week it's almost like my stomach shrank! Because if I ate a lil extra my tummy would feel disgusting! So maybe you just need to get used to it for awhile and hopefully your tummy will adjust! GOOD LUCK!

You are so not alone. I am usually under my calorie goal, but I am calorie conscious. I even ask the person giving out samples in the grocery store, "how many calories are in this?" lol If you record your exercise, you have more calories to eat. You should eat at least half of your exercise calories, I've been told. Hang in there!!

When I first started I had 1560 calories a day and I managed to stay within my calories most days. Now my calories have been reduced to 1460 and I'm having a really hard time. I haven't really been motivated to work out much lately either so that means no extra calories. I'm hoping that once the holidays are over with I can do a better job of exercising and staying within my calorie goal.

Trust me, there are plenty of us fighting the good fight with you!! If I had trouble getting to 1200 calories every day, I wouldn't need this site!

One suggestion I will give...
Although I'm generally good about not going (too far) over my calorie goal, I am almost always over the protein goal. I'm not sure whether it's a great thing, but I find that eating foods higher in protein is really the only way to avoid being SUPER hungry.

So in summary, I guess just know that you're not alone!

um, I LOVE FOOD!!!! and i could eat nonstop all day if l let myself! somedays I do! ...wait, did i say that??? LOL...

I tend to have problems ignoring those extra calories that need to be used up. I have been able to ignore them some but usually that is when I'm not feeling hungry. I have found one amazing thing for killing that appetite of mine. Water. Works wonders. Another thing I've been doing that seems to help control my appetite enough to where I do not go all out is taking two capsules of Green Tea+ Hoodia a day. I get this stuff at walmart. I avoid the dieting pills because they seem to have a whole bunch of unnatural things in them.

Hoodia is a plant that is has been used for a long time to help curb the appetite. And well, Green Tea is said to help burn calories. Not sure if the green tea thing is true or not, but I seem to have a better time controlling what I eat with the hoodia. I find this stuff at Walmart in the vitamin section. Green bottle with yellow lid. Spring Valley - Standardized Extract Green Tea 315 MG plus Hoodia.

It would probably be wise to talk to a medical professional about it maybe. I haven't, though, and seem to be doing fine. But then I barely take any pills at all.
--Edit--
P.S. Also forgot to add, I've been adding vegetables to my diet. Yesterday for both of my snack times I ate one long carrot each.

I have problems staying within my calorie intake on days that I work, just because I don't get as much exercise. On my days off I really am trying to get in as much exercise as I can and I am trying to log everything good and bad. I have just recently started and today will be the 1st day that I have not been close to my calorie goal for the day. The only reason I wasn't over today is that I have a huge evening of things planned to do and all of them burn lots of calories. If it was not for that I would have been over my calorie limit by at least 100 calories. I keep a full water bottle on my desk at all times and that seems to help. I allow myself a coke with my lunch most days, it is a kind of bribe for myself. If I get out and walk or whatever the exercise is for today then I can have that coke with lunch but if i don't then I will need to drink water to keep my calorie count down. I have made a deal with myself that I can have the coke so long as my exercise will burn off those calories. So far it has worked for me we will see how long I can keep it up.

Also, I know you like diet soda, but those artificial sweeteners are proved to stimulate hunger and makes your body crave more sweets. Not to mentions all the other inflammatory and cancer causing properties!!! Sorry to burst your diet Pepsi bubble. Believe me once you cut it out of your diet you won't miss it.

I some times have trouble staying under my calorie goal too. My schedule is pretty wacky so I am having breakfast when others are having either lunch or dinner. I try to get my 64 oz of water every day. I have kept a container from my grape juice that is 64 oz. I fill it up in the morning and don't go to bed unless I have finished it all. That helps me stay hydrated and helps curb some of those cravings I have. I also try to keep finger foods that are quick but healthy around. I have a really bad sweet tooth so I found that there are 47 mini Teddy Grahams for a serving. This is 130 calories. I take the time to count them out of the box, then as I eat them I count them again (eating them one at a time). This expands the time in which I eat them and some times after counting them the first time and piling them up it seems like there is a mountain of them! Some times I even realize that I'm full after eating only half of them so I hold the rest for the next time I get a snack attack. Then you would only be consuming 130 calories possibly over 2 times that you feel hungry.

I have also read that your body sends you signs for when it is hungry and full. One of the books I read said that your mind gives you a signal for being full by having a pause when you are eating. I know until recently I hadn't noticed it but now I have. I'll be eating a meal and then all of a sudden without paying any attention I realize that I have set down my fork/spoon. This is your subconscious telling you that there is enough in your stomach to be full. The books say stop right there and clear the table from in front of you so you don't consume the rest of the calories. What I end up doing is taking what is left and putting it away for eating later. This means that you could possibly (ONCE AGAIN) eat twice off the original amount of calories that you had put on your plate.

These are just a few of the little things that I have found that help me stay in my calorie count. Just set little goals for yourself and then you will go far. Don't overwhelm yourself with trying to do too much at once. Set a small weekly goal of getting under your calorie goal 7 days. Then, treat yourself with something small like a new shirt or going to see that movie you wanted (minus the fattening popcorn that is). Baby steps may take longer, but in the end you will be further in the race than if you would have tried to sprint to the end.

Your calories are based on your starting weight, your weight loss goal per week, and your daily activities. A person that has a desk job doesn't burn as many calories daily as say a waitress does every day. Then if you want to lose 2 pounds a week you would have less calories to consume than someone that set their goal to 1 pound a week.

Girl you are not the only one! If I let myself, I would fall off this wagon and eat it! I don't understand how ANYONE who is TRYING to lose weight would not be HUNGRY! I feel like I drink more than my weight in water daily to help stay full.

Nooo - you are NOT alone in this!! In fact, you are probably more like the majority that you realize!!! I know that I have to force myself to get extra calories with exercise, just to feel full. They talk about water intake - but I can't stand water - I'm a coke gal myself. I have added (low sodium) club soda to my day - the bubbles make the water bearable!! And I hold onto the hope that I'll get used to less calories in a week or two.... maybe. Just use whatever tricks you have to and do NOT beat yourself up about wanting your food. We udnerstand - we feel the same way - we just have to get thru it one day at a time!

I think it's the difference between 'grazers' and 'bingers'. Grazers mentally need to eat all day. Doesn't have to be a ton of food or a lot but they need a bite of something every couple minutes. If you are one of these people then you need to adjust your eating to reflect that. You need to eat more zero calorie foods so your body works processing them but you also get your mind stimulated by your grazing. Carrots and other raw verggies available all day long so when you walk by you can grab one and crunch away. These will result in no calories but you will get added benefits and feel satisfied.

Bingers, like myself, want to eat all calories ONE time a day. So yes, it has been dificult for me to make my calorie goal. If I eat the heavier foods I'm trying to stay away from then I can meet my goals. I hate eating all day long...I am constantly full. I hate to say that but it's a problem as much as yours is. I think my tummy processes slow because it seems to still have all contents from the previous meal in it. hahaha. I can't not eat though because then I'd be under 1000 cals with exercise.

I am a fast food junkie and believe me.....I feel better eating these foods: (I feel full) Oatmeal (gag it down if you have to...make it soupier), eggs, tuna with salsa tiny mayo, carrots, cucumbers, tomatos, milk (choco too), chicken.

Some of you are also eating within calorie range but I believe you are hungry because of the type of food. Go as natural as you can and I believe you will feel fuller. All those chips and stuff (even 100 cal versions) are just air to your body during your lifestyle change. They are empty. They don't run the machine. You are putting rubbing alcohol in your car and expecting it to get to the corner store.

I have learned the difference my body feels from going from two large fast food meals a day down to food that is more natural in design. Or even just cooked at home. I can still eat the best freakin burger...I just make it at home and that is difference enough in our bodies.

UH OH...**off soapbox**.

My jist was....eat for the type of eater you are and you might feel more full. Just be sure it's zero cal foods so you don't add to your calories.

Love ya all....doing great job. It was a SLOW FREAKIN process for me to get here. Just keep thinking along the way and you will change your mind with your body and you will be happy.