Very hungry and discouraged

Tell your boyfriend to get knotted. Being supportive is not difficult. So Jenny Craig makes bad food that doesn't taste good or fill you up, you've tested it out and it wasn't for you.

Try a food diary for a week, eating normally like you would normally, print it out and go through it and see where you can make some changes, like your snacks, or different options for meals, there are so many things you can change in your eating habits that make things just that little bit easier. Plan your meals the day before, it makes it easier.

Social gatherings with food are difficult when you are dieting, but hopefully you're not under that pressure every day so it's one day, one meal, don't worry, relax and look forward to tomorrow with an action plan.

I've tried weight watchers, atkins, dukan, slim fast, cabage soup (gross), and THIS is the only thing that has worked for me. I find writing down what I am eating really helps, and the amount that I eat some days is unbelievable! You can earn so many extra cals through exercise, and eat huge amounts of food as long as you're smart with what you eat.

One of my favourite dinners, as it takes little effort, is fish or chicken, and a LOAD of roasted veg! Usually carrots, onion, peppers, asparagus, leek, but you can stick loads of things in there! I tend to avoid potato and bread and use whole wheat pasta as the cals are lower, and it's just as tasty

I give you major kudos for even taking the steps needed to get started on making your lifestyle changes. Let me ask you this: is Jenny Craig going to be a program that you plan on continuing for ever? My guess is that you started it to "take a few pounds off and get you rolling" but then you planned to not keep up with it and just start eating better on your own. I might be wrong with that guess so I pre-apologize if I am. I am a HUGE cheerleader for making realistic lifestyle changes that you will be able to keep up with for as long as you need to or for life. Its a cliche these days but "lifestyle" changes is really the way to go. So I guess I would say jump off the J. Craig wagon and start using myfitnesspal regularly. By tracking your calories daily you will naturally learn what foods are going to be the best for you and have the least amount of calories. You will soon realize that its okay to go to a social event like your friends BBQ and actually eat a long with everyone else but you will find that you taylor your day to allow for some extra calories for your burger or a few cold beverages. Using myfitnesspal is a lifestyle change and keep in mind that positive change that lasts might take some time to get going but in the end its so much better and more sustainable than anything else. I would recommend taking a week to track what you normally eat without making any changes. At the end of the week reflect on your foods and brainstorm ways that you could cut back on calories or improve the quality of food that you are eating. Week 2 apply one or two of those changes into your routine. Week 3 continue with those changes. Then slowly try to shoot for the recommended calorie amounts for your goal weight loss. Its important to mention that exercise is key too if you can fit it in, if not just stick to the calorie recommendations. Anyway I hope this helps a little! I am a health coach and constantly recommend that people I work with focus on realistic and maintainable changes that will last. Good luck! Message me if you have any other questions or feedback. :0) Keep up the good work and don't get discouraged.

MFP makes it easy to count and manage calories and I hardly ever feel hungry or deprived. I havent had 5 days out of the last 12 weeks where I ate more than 1300 calories either. It's not always the healthiest food, but most of the time it is and ALL of the time I like what I am eating. Best of all it's free and it really works!

One of my favourite dinners, as it takes little effort, is fish or chicken, and a LOAD of roasted veg! Usually carrots, onion, peppers, asparagus, leek, but you can stick loads of things in there! I tend to avoid potato and bread and use whole wheat pasta as the cals are lower, and it's just as tasty

Yes, this. I stirfry my veggies in a little oil, a big half-plate of them, and eat 3-6 ounces of lean beef, chicken, or fish, and it's both tasty and filling. A low fat yogurt for snack/dessert a couple of hours later, and I can count on never being hungry in the evenings. I'll leave it to others to advise you on the rest of the day!

I did Jenny craig years ago and it worked really well for me. It was the first time in my life I had any idea as to how much food I should be eating if I wanted to lose weight. For the first week I didn't eat anything that wasn't allowed and I lost 6 pounds. I lost the remainder of my weight during that first month on the program - 20 pounds in all. I loved their little chocolate bars they had for snacks. Also when you are really hungry everything tastes good. Good luck to you and I hope you find something that works for you.

Some questions........First, how many calories a day are you consuming? On MFP most of us women start out at 1200 a day.

Second, are you eating back your exercise calories?

When I first started here the 1200 was enough to keep me satisfied most days. Then my metabolism shifted and while i was still minding my P's and Q's I wasn't losing anymore. At first, I wasn't hungry for breakfast or lunch, I ate a little something 'cause I knew I should. About 3 in the afternoon.........I was STARVING!! I'd have chewed the hardware off of the kitchen cabinets if there hadn't been food in there!

Now, I'm hungry at all meal times, but still have the afternoon munchies. I went into my settings and checked to see how many calories I'd have in a day to maintain my current weight. 1870. Then how many to lose a half pound a week. 1570. I set my daily minimum to 1500. I'm losing weight again.

Just starting out, your body is adjusting to fewer calories, it is going to tell you you are dying. There is an period where it seems like this just isn't working. Or maybe the minimum isn't enough for your body. Everyone is different, if you need to adjust your daily intake up a bit, do it.

Make sure you eat at least most of your exercise calories. The calorie deficit required to lose is already built in, the extras you've earned.

Take the effort to eat normal food. You can't live on boxed meals the rest of your days, you live in the real world with real food. Good choices can be made.

uhm, just sayin: you don't need anything rubbed in your face. you got yourself going.
and if anyone is NOT supporting you, rub it in their face ;-)))))

no, seriously: you don't have to stick with ANYTHING that doesn't suit you. if you can turn it into something useful, fine. if you can't and it bothers you all the way and you are not being happy, sticking with it would be like cheating on yourself. don't do that. be honest. that's a major part of losing weight. being honest and letting go of funny excuses ...

right now i am hungry. that is because i had two very big and yummy pieces of cake at my friend's birthday this afternoon. and i'm trying to not overdo my calories, so it's just my fault ;-) and it's no problem since i think that being hungry every once in a while doesn't kill me, wouldn't want to have it like that every day tho!!!

you will find your way through!!!
have fun on that journey of yours!

Having a support "group" or person is very important. You don't need anyone rubbing it in your face, as many here have said. My wife and I started using MFP on January first of this year after we saw photo's of us at her Christmas party. I have since lost 35 pounds, am down to my goal weight of 195 and been on maint. calories for about a month now and holding. My wife has lost 30 pounds and has 10 more to go for her goal. We have tracked everything we eat, make menu's the day before so we know what we are going to eat the next day, and are very careful when we are out and eat. We even went on a cruise within the first month of started this, we enjoyed the food but watched what we ate, walked every morning on board and used the gym. When we got home we had held fast, hadn't lost any weight, but we hadn't gained any either. And the amazing thing is, that we have NEVER felt hungary. I have told my wife a number of times that I feel like I am cheating. We are able to enjoy alot of the same foods (We have cut some of the real fat ladden stuff out) only in smaller portions. MFP made losing this weight very easy. And we are there to support each other when one of use falters, no "rubbing" it in the others face. You will have days when you don't stick to it, or may go over, but remember tomorrow is another day. It all averages over the week. Good luck!
K2

I dont do a diet plan - I know I cant, as I know that I have no motivation, and if I restrict myself, I will just give up and binge eat.

Instead, I am just counting the calories. If I want chocolate, I'm having chocolate, I'm just working it into my calorie allowance or doing more exercise.

I know this is the only way it can work for me.