Feel like I am starving!!!

I LOVE www.thedailyplate.com used fitday for a long time but TDP works better for me :)

I think you have to learn to tell the difference between head hunger and true hunger.  There is some truth in a stretched stomach and feeling hunger.. You do have to train your brain and your stomach to be content/happy with smaller portions.  Some people forget that because they've been doing their plans for so long and have grown accustomed to the changes. For myself, it's not like that I've just recently started back and am experiencing similar things.  To be honest, it sounds like you're experiencing true hunger. If what you listed is all you ate then I suspect it is true hunger. Eating a sausage biscuit is fine. Don't beat yourself up over that. If it's just a piece of sausage and a biscuit then I highly doubt it's over 500 calories. And even if you are trying to eat 1500 a day then you've still got 1000 left.  What is your plan? Are you counting calories or are you just simply trying to eat less?  For myself, I start slow. I keep the thought of eating less in the back of my head and focus on getting my water intake down. (Did you know that a lot of times when you feel hunger you're really thirsty?? ) I find that increasing my water intake to the recommended 64 ounces (and more most days) makes me feel less hungry in between meals.  If I happen to eat less than I normally do then so be it. Kudos to me! After I get my water intake down I then start focusing on decreasing my portion size which graduates into counting calories and tracking my meals.  Over time you'll learn when you're really hungry and eat accordingly. The most important thing is to not beat yourself up for your mistakes but to learn from them. A good rule of thumb that I use is be sure to eat at least 3 meals a day.  It's not science..There's no magical thing about eating breakfast, 3 meals or even 6 times a day. It's honestly about balance and what works for you and your schedule. Do try to eat at least 3 meals a day though because it balances your day and you don't go through periods of intense hunger.  If you find that you're still hungry in between meals then try switching to the 6 meals thing... And don't think of the meals as 6 three course meals but rather 3 meals with snacks in between.  For example: - 8am - Breakfast - 10:30am - Snack -> String cheese, granola bar, a yogurt.. peanuts...whatever you like but just a snack. - 12pm - Lunch - 3:30pm - Snack -> Same as before..change it up so you don't get bored. Be creative. Perhaps something with some protein and density - 6pm - Dinner - 8:30pm - Snack -> Evenings are rough for me. Always helps to be prepared. I believe what Jersey is trying to say to you is don't starve yourself.  Trying to go from eating 5,000 calories a day to 800 calories a day is going to put you in a nut house.  You're setting yourself up for failure.  Decide on a goal that you can achieve. Reach that goal and then make another.  A great starting place is where you've already started. Water... The essence of all life!  Work yourself up to 60-70 ounces a day. Then look at decreasing your food intake to 2500 calories. See if you lose weight.  If you do, great! Continue on!  If not, try decreasing your calories to 2000. See how that goes.  Give everything at least a week trial.  Once you've got your eating down pat and you're losing weight then think about throwing in some exercise. Please don't try to do it all at once.. You'll end up quitting.  Very few have ever been able to make a cold turkey switch and stick with it the rest of their lives.

About "don't starve yourself"...what I'm saying is caloric restriction should be mild, only 300-500 calories from your BMR.  If you feel hunger pains, you've gone too few in your calories or are not getting enough protein or fiber.

Yes, exactly what I was saying..just didn't want to bring up the BMR thing at this time. I'm not sure how far along she is.  Getting into BMR and calorie reduction based on activity level, age and whatnot is all very confusing for someone just starting out.  More important to focus on making small, maintainable changes and balance.

To me, the BMR and exercise burn are important for calculating and planning on success....

I have found that for me, the best way to control hunger is to eat constantly....  LOL Really though - I do best when I eat every 2 hours - all day long...This means I eat at 8, 10, 12, 2, 4, 6 and 8 .... a total of 7 or 8 meals a day!  My intake for loss is about 1600 - 1800 calories a day so each 'meal'  averages 200 calories.  Some could be less ( a yogurt for 100 calories) or more (a 250 calorie lunch) but at the end of the day it works out. I also do better with lean protiens....  so I eat some sort of protein at almost every meal... 

Example of my 6 small meals: Breakfast 1c egg whites with cheese, veggies or salsa Snack 2 hardboiled eggs or protein drink fruit Lunch salad chicken cheese healthy fat Snack Protein drink fruit Dinner fat  veggies Protein

Snack Protein bar or nuts fruit

okie dokie -  example of a losing day for me :) Breakfast - yoplait light and coffee with cream Snack - egg salad on wasa crispbread Lunch - pinto beans with BBQ sauce, Turkey breast with hummus Snack - tuna salad on wasa Snack - cottage cheese Dinner - chicken breast, green beans, sweet potato Snack - chocolate sorbet Snack - fried egg on toast

I think another thing to examine is WHAT you're eating.  Some foods simply MAKE you hungry.. especially if you are insulin resistent or diabetic. If I ate a biscuit, I'd be looking for more almost instantly.   On the other hand, when I have 1 egg and 1 piece of sugar free bacon in the morning, I have to be mindful of the time or I'll skip lunch. Now.. I'm adding my disclaimer: This is what works for ME..   I used to feel ravenous 24/7 .. now I'm actually NEVER hungry.  BIG difference!   As far as exercise..  If I could walk it.. I'd be a walkin' fool cause the bike is non-weight bearing and walking would do one whole heck of a lot more for me.  I do work with weights, in a gym, with a trainer, but it's out of necessity (and keep in mind I gave up about $1500 worth of medication each month so I could afford this) ... this is what my particular body responds to (former gymnast and power lifter).  To be honest, my Andrew is a wonderful trainer, but he doesn't do anything for me that I can't do for myself except spot me and look GREAT in a tight t-shirt!  (Hey.. I'm 45, not dead). I'd work on the food plan before anything else.. one thing at a time.. one day at a time.. even one MINUTE at a time if you have to! I don't want to mislead you in any way or I'd post a sample menu... I will say that I use Atkins as a guide and modify it to keep my blood sugar down to a dull roar without insulin. Good luck and God bless! Lori Down 72 lbs as of this morning.....  and the beat goes on!!

LVS,

You having really been going gangbusters with your weight loss.  I thought diabetics had a hard time losing weight.  I see your no longer are taking insulin.  Did the weight loss bring your sugar to pretty much normal? I just wanted to compliment you for all your hard work. Brenda