I went over 300 calories today..

I dont get up that early or anything, but I have found that eating little snacks like 90 calorie breakfast bars (one at 10 and maybe one at two PM) helps me a TON!! I dont know if it will work for you but it has been a lifesaver for me!

Are you able to eat while you are at work? I used to work at 7am and found that on days I ate before work I was absolutely starving by 9-10am and my little snack would not hold me over until lunch as I usually didn't get lunch until 1pm, sometimes 2pm! If you were able to bring your breakfast to work with you and not eat until 6am, that might help you out with the hunger issue.

For breakfast, eat something light like a granola bar or a banana. Then a few hours later, do the same thing. By the time lunch comes, have something else that's light but a little more mealish. Maybe some grilled chicken or a salad. But not too much, because you have to remember your little snacks you've had up to that.

I'm in no way an expert at anything except exceeding calories and failed diet attempts. However, the days that I am successful, I have grits in the morning or a fiber one bar. It seems to be high fiber foods and drinking the suggested water that keeps me satisfied. Don't give up, Even when I go over by 300 calories, I have to look at the positive side. I'm sure I've had days when I went over way more than that. Tomorrow is a new day. One day at a time. Hang in there.

Why would you be holding off until 3 pm for lunch?

You should be eating every couple of hours. But you should also be getting ample sleep. So in other words...if you are getting up at 4:30/5 am, then to get 7 hours of sleep you would be in bed at 8/9 pm.

And most people who are trying to cut calories and lose weight try to stop eating 2 hours before bed. Make sense?

For example, my husband gets up at 5:30 and goes to bed at 9:30. He eats a small carb/protein snack (peanut butter sandwich/muffins/etc) before his workout. Then eats his breakfast at around 8/9 am. Then he has lunch at 12. He has another snack before getting home. Eats dinner at 5:30. Then a snack an hour or two before bed.

He works out heavily so his "snacks" are much more like small meals.

If you are having trouble staying full, then you need to reevaluate the % of carbs, fats, protein in each meal and make adjustments.

Good luck!!

The time of your meals may not really be an issue. It's the space between meals and how many times you eat. I get up at 7:00 and eat at 8:00 am and I am getting hungry 3.5 - 4 hours later, just like you. I found that eating every 3-4 hours helps me not get too hungry. My calorie allotment is currently at 1380 per day. I try to eat 3 primary meals of around 325 calories and 1 or two snacks around 150-200 calories. I don't always stick to it, but most days I do. The other thing that helps more than anything is to have enough protien at each meal. Forget the ordinary breakfast foods if you don't like them. Have chicken or some other protien. In England they eat beans and fish at breakfast. Was there once. Almost died when I went to the breakfast buffet. Thank god I found croissants lol. Good luck.