Joined January 24, 2012 and need HELP

I can understand your frustration but don't let it get you down.
I only looked through the last couple of days in your diary so this may not apply but it looks like you're taking in a whole load of sodium and your water count is really low at 3 glasses a day.

Try drinking lots more water, more than twice what you're drinking now, to even out the sodium intake because you might be retaining lots of water.

Also, you might be swapping fat for muscle. Are you taking measurements of yourself regularly to see if there is a difference there, or do your clothes fit better?

Seriously though, try and up your water intake whenever you can - it might even help when you say you feel starving too as quite often a good, large glass of water can fill you up. Sodium is a huge cause of water retention and therefore weight gain. Try the ten minute thing where you feel hungry so you have a drink, then wait ten-twenty mins, if you still feel hungry then eat something but give the water a chance to work.

I have MFP set to 2 pounds a week weight loss. So I am given 1200 calories a day.

I'm pretty sure that MFP will never recommend less that 1200. What does MFP say is your BMR?

I have MFP set to 2 pounds a week weight loss. So I am given 1200 calories a day.

Switch it to 1 lb per week, and give that a shot. You will have more base calories, you shouldn't feel like you're starving, then you can try only eating a portion of exercise calories back. I'd never be able to survive on 1200 per day, either! You shouldn't have to constantly feel hungry!

You think something as simple as just switching a machine will help?? Should I do both strength training and cardio each and every day (strength, roated of course). Am I not putting in enough work at the gym? I wear my HRM and I burn between 400-1000 calories when I go depending on what I am doing that day.

Cardio is great for your health, but Strength training will be better for losing fat. Most people recommend 2-3 days of ST in addition to doing cardio. (You may only want to do full cardio on the days you aren't doing ST, I'm just starting out so still a lot for me to learn)

i might be way off....but i just glanced back at a few days and i'm wondering if maybe you aren't counting everything, and maybe not getting the amounts quite right. a few examples....when you have a subway veggie sub, you say no cheese, but what about sauce? (i get them all the time myself and can't imagine one without at least a bit of mustard!) on a salad you said that you had 2 tbsp of croutons, but i would estimate that as being about 4 croutons (if that's the case, what's the point? throw a few more on there!), and french fries...was there any ketchup involved? i know i had trouble at first with thinking about every little thing i ate (think sauces, extras, seasonings, drinks, etc) so at first i tried to over estimate to account for little things i might have forgotten. it might seem like not enough to worry about, but it all adds up! however this being said, i'm interested to know if this is the case or not because i seem to have hit this plateau myself over the last couple of weeks. good luck to you though!

I started this road on January 3rd but did not join MFP until February. When I first started it seemed so easy, then as I became more active I started STARVING too. I had to tweak what and when I ate. I have to make sure to have a lot of protein in the morning and then with dinner and that seems to have worked. That way I don't have to always eat my exercise back, and I am not cranky hungry.
Way to go on the 30lbs!! You look great, try some measurements and maybe you will see the difference there. You are building and toning; I bet you are just to close and can't see what others see.

I wanted to add that I am in the gym an average of 6 days a week from 45 minutes to an hour and half. I go over on my calories on some days, but not all that much. I should be seeing SOME movement.

-/+ = Remaining Calories
Sun 19 -150
Sat 18 +233
Fri 17 -331
Thur 16 -220
Wed 15 -430
Tues 14 +1598
Mon 13 +634

So for the previous week if your calories goal was correct you over ate by 1334 calories.
Carrying this on

Sun 12 +203
Sat 11 -995
Fri 10 +433
Thur 9 -689
wed 8 +632
Tues 7 +42
Mon 6 -381

This week you was -755

I went back through your diary and there are more than just some days that you go over, it looks like you have MFP set up with a 2lb a week weight loss so you are right to eat back your calories but you need to really focus on your diet and become more consistent with your daily totals, going over by 1300 and being under by 755 hurts your weight loss and it explains the problems you are having.

i would suggest you keep the same routine but really focus on keeping you diet at you calories goal of 1200 + Exercise. When you manage this it should restart your weight loss.

I had to get over a "hump" and then I didn't eat my exercise calories. I think it was when my stomach finally shrank a little and also when I had little successes, it boosted my confindence and my will power. I do exercise to eat, though that may sound weird, but it sure does help me. I was given 1200 calories a day and that isn't very many, but with exercise and staying under my calorie count on most days, it has given me success. Sodium is in things you wouldn't imagine and so are sugars, I have been really enlightened! Good luck to you!