So hungry...Encouragement please?

I was looking over your food diary and based on only 2 days of information I would suggest you get away from eating only processed foods and make yourself REAL food. AND if MFP suggests eating 1700 calories you should be eating very close to that number or your body will think you are starving and will slow metabolism (self preservation) and it will take you a lot longer to lose weight and then once you do start to eat it will back-fire {this is what I have researched...I don't know everything but I have had some time to digest my own trial and error). If you learn to eat only from opening a package you will never learn how to identify visual what portions are appropriate and when you make them from scratch you'll have more control over things like sodium intake. The frozen meals (WW, Lean Cuisine, Lean Pockets) are a trap. You are much better off buying a set of storage containers, measuring, and making your own. Your sodium and bank account will thank you. Look for items to increase Fiber and Protein which will take longer to digest and will make your feel fuller for longer periods -- fish, whole grains, pieces of fruit. And drink your fluids!

I've found eating an apple and drinking water helps when I'm really hungry. I try to keep an apple in the car and have it on the way home from work so I'm not starving when I get home and will eat what ever is in site. I think the apple helps because it has a lot of fiber and it takes a little while to eat you can't gobble it down like cookies. Hope this helps

I find that certain foods (like the ones you mentioned-- salad, biscuit) do NOT satisfy me for long. I do better when I up the protein, or even the fat (I try to keep them healthier fats).

One meal that does keep me full for a good while is a one egg/two egg white omelette. I add fresh basil, a whole green pepper chopped up, a whole chopped tomato, and a half chopped onion. I also add about 1 ounce of light cream cheese. Super nutrient packed, delicious, and very, very filing.

Eat protein foods or drinks. It will help alot.

Also, you have to get used to eating less. It will feel like you are starving but you just have to hold out, it gets better. The more I eat, the more I am able to eat! I can't consume large meals anymore like I used to unless I build up to it again.

No wonder you're hungry you're not eating enough calories! Do you input everything including food and exercise because there is NO WAY someone your weight should only be eating 1200 calories. You need to recalculate that.

My daughter says shes hungry all the time.

So there are tons of foods that are almost zero calories.....

Cucumbers, Celery, Carrorts, etc etc

Eat a whole cucumber....trust me you wont feel hungry anymore and you'll feel good about the choice you made (btw I think a whole Cucumber is only like 50 calories but is very fulling)

I eat when I'm hungry. If I feel like I am going to starve I wont stick with this. Just make sure you make the right choice.

I stopped buying things that I'd feel guilty if I ate so theres nothing in my house that I could eat and I'd feel bad about. If I over eat on grapes let me tell you they have sugar but I would never feel as bad if i ate grapes compared to cheetos.

Remember this is a life change. Not a diet. When i indulge and eat healthy things I usually stop myself from over eatting anyway.

Just my two cents

I have to watch what I eat or I get the starvation effect. Everyone is different, but for me I cannot eat white flour, pastas, ANY fake or real sugar, basically anything that causes a great upset to my blood sugar levels. These cause a spike in blood sugar, prompting a spike in insulin which brings on a blood sugar low...and then HUNGER. Control for me has come with lean proteins, veggies and fruits.

I'm pretty much on track with you weight-wise. My starting weight was 290. The first thing i did was see my doctor who referred me to a nutrionist. At my weight, she set my goal at 1500. We may lower it later but for right now that's what I try to stick with. I see my dietician once a month and can always call her for help/assistance.

I think a lot of people have already suggested that you are not getting enough calories and I agree with that too. Also, when I started 9 weeks ago, I became pretty obsessed with ready food labels. It took me a while to get used to shopping this way but now I know what I can work in my daily intake and what I cant.

I started trading my regular salad dressing for a lo-cal or fat-free dressing. If I went out to eat, I made sure to check the menu online for the restaurant and having my meal planned out so I wouldnt even have to be tempted by other things on the menu. I even carry my dressing with me in case they dont have something I can use.

I traded a lot of beef/pork products for turkey. Turkey bacon, turkey sausage links, turkey burgers, turkey chili and on and on. I also checked out and use some Healthy Choice meals that are delicious. You dont want to totally rely on them but when I have a pizza urge I eat Lean Cuisine pizza for about 340 calories. They are about the size of a personal pan pizza.

Per my dietician, I should be eating at least one fruit per day (not juice as it is not as filling), a least one vegetable per day, and meat portions should be 3-4 ounces. According to my dietician portion size should not be larger than the palm of your hand.

I love salads too, but you have to be careful what is in them. Trade the crispy/fried chicken to grilled chicken.

For snacks I traded movie theater butter popcorn to light butter. I carry granola bars around. And I love dill pickle spears at 5 calories each. That gives me a great crunch and can take away my hunger by eating 2 or 3.

Become calorie conscious when shopping or looking for lo-cal recipes.

Laughing cow cheese is great at 35 calories a wedge and comes in several different flavors. I eat them with reduced fat Wheat Thins or fresh veggies like celery or carrots.

A lot of the food you are eating are calorie empty foods and eliminates hunger only for a short time. You need to start trying to find ways to reduce the calories in food you love so you can actually have more food.

And one very important thing is surrounding yourself with a group of motivational friends here on MFP. You will learn so much and be inspired and motivated by their stories of success and how they are doing. I love reading my friends diaries, you get so many ideas.

If you are looking for new friends, please feel free to check out my profile/blogs and if you think I can help, please feel free to add me as a friend.

I would have to concur with those that have posted that you should eat more. I started at 310lbs and have lost 15lbs in 5 weeks here on MFP. I eat around 1,500 calories / day, and that is with my weight loss goal set at 2lbs per week and having a completely sedentary lifestyle. I try to eat really filling foods like whole grains and protein, but don't like to prepare food much myself. I try to have protein with each meal/snack, but have not dropped carbs altogether. So for now I have some short-cuts and grab 'n go's that have been helping with the hunger. Eg. Instant brown rice, turkey/chicken everything, whole wheat pasta, cottage cheese, eggs, greek yogurt, frozen meals with mostly only whole grains, and fluids including flavoured teas.

I also try to fit in 100 calories or so for something sweet like a low-fat fudge bar or a 100 cal chocolate bar everyday. When I have these, I try to stop everything and be mindful while I am eating it - to really enjoy it.

I have not been exercising much yet as my knees hurt, but will get there. When I have done some walking, I have eaten some of my exercise calories as well, and sometimes I have eaten them all. During the holiday days, I allowed myself pre-planned extra calories for 3 days on top of the 1,500 / day and still lost weight.

If you are looking for a buddy to support you, please feel free to friend me. Good luck on your journey!

You can eat more if you really feel you need to. I was that weight and at 1200 calories a day per my nutritionist.

By the few days you have logged in, you do not drink enough water, 64 oz a day and low on your protein. Those alone will make you feel hungry.

Limit the processed food to keep the sodum down, add some water, lean protein along with veggie for fiber and you should see an improvement. Fruits are fine but they don't need to be a huge part of the diet.

Mix up the exercise so your body doesn't get bored and never go below the 1200 net, that means after exercise!

You can do it!!!