I've been on the program for 5 weeks - and for the last 2-3 days, I've been STARVING!!!! I am crazy strict with the plan - and I haven't changed anything out... Is this normal? And, is it just a phase (please oh please say it's temporary:)

How have you guys gotten over the Hungry Horrors?!?!?!

Depending on how hard my workouts are... yes there are some days I am STARVING!

On these days I attack most foods on the "Free Food" list on the back of the planned menu. You can eat as much of that as you want and it really does help.

I am LIVING the hungry horrors right now. I can't seem to eat enough. And I want crap! Not even the good for you stuff. Actually, it doesn't matter what I eat. I just want to be eating. I have gone over my calories for three days in a row and I'm worried I'm going to mess up all the good I've been doing.

It's frustrating!

When I am having these super hungry times, it is either because I am thirsty (have a big glass of lemon water) or because there is some type of emotial issue that I am trying to avoid - stressed out about work, kids getting too me, lonely - whatever.

I try to ask myself what am I feeling right now - most times it is not really hungry - sometimes it is. I try to wait 15 minutes before eating something though (after having a big glass of water) and see if I am really still hungry or if it is something else. Or else I get up and take a short walk, gets my mind off of whatever it is that is stressing me out. If after 15 minutes I'm still hungry then I go ahead and eat something.

Good luck -

I hear ya. Today has been a tough one. I've stayed on plan, but so far my extras have been some fruit, some jello, a bunch of carrots and I'm still hungry. I might have some more jello, maybe add some fat free whipped cream this time. Not in the mood for veggies anymore.

I even guzzled a whole bottle of water to see if that helped, it didn't.

Going to bed early is an option too. I know I can always eat in the morning LOL.

I think it is in the air. I've had the munchies for 2 days! But I haven't given in. I am determined to have my evening out tomorrow with my husband for our 10th annivsary.

I've tried the veggies, jello, water and anything else that is on the free list. But what I'm really wanting is ICE CREAM!!!!!! Fortunately, I don't have any in the house. so, I've been keeping myself busy to try and get my mind off my munchies and I burned a few calories in the process.

I did have the JC lemon cake tonight and OMG it tasted soooooo good. That did help my muchies some, except now I want another piece of the lemon cake!

I'm ready to eat my own arm off right now. I went on Jenny (for the 2nd time now- 1995 was on it) 6 weeks ago. My 30th (!) High School reunion is July 17 and I am in panic mode. I lost 14.4, have 1,904 to go! I weighed 99 lbs in H.S. and am over 200 now. I look horrible (yet better than 6 weeks ago)

The only thing that is keeping me from McDonalds, is the reunion. I am starving most daily! I use A L O T of the (free) foods to bulk up my meals. Lots of spinach and mushrooms!

Sometimes when i am really, truly hungry..i find that it is PROTEIN that i need to feel full. So i have something like 1/4 cup of low-fat cottage cheese & a veggie plate with an apple OR i eat a can of the tuna or chicken salad kit ( not with the crackers but with some raw veggies) and that seems to help and not interfere with my weight loss.
Oh course, i agree with other posters.....sometimes i just get the Munchies & when i can't satisfy it with food then i know there is something else going on......

Me too - I go through the hungry horrors now and then. Some days I could eat my entire menu at one sitting and I'm finding out it's not really that I'm hungry. It's usually thirst, stress or simply breaking old habits. I used to be a big night time eater, in front of the TV, etc and I'm usually hungry now a lot at night .. cuz I'm used to eating during that time.

If you're really actually hungry, free foods should satisfy it - if not, then it's likely something else going on

To answer your question - Yes, I think it's 100% normal and, for me anyway, the big hungries happen less and less frequently - and/or I'm learning to manage them better ? ?

Okay, so I have been continuously hungry for four weeks straight and I am starting to feel crazy, constantly thinking about the next time I get to eat. Water doesn't help, and it doesn't go along with any particular emotional state. It is constant. The second I stop my meal I am hungry. I know it is not all in my head because my stomach actually physically growls, and often. My weight loss is on track, but I am not sure how long I can keep this up. I totally understand what you are going through and will let you know if I find anything that helps.

Im pretty strict in sticking with the plan but there are just days that Im hungrier than others. First I try some veggies and a ton of water. That usually works but there are just some days where I cant think about anything else because Im so hungry. Rather than trying to resist and grazing on a ton of little things that can really add up, I just choose to eat an extra jenny meal. An extra 200 calories once in a blue moon isnt going to impact my weight loss. I also find this makes the following day easier and Im not ravenous. Obviously you cant do this everyday but its no different than the SPLURGE that JC allows when dining out.

This may not work well for everyone but I've lost 18 lbs in 10 weeks and I can honestly say Im rarely ever hungry. Eating the occasional extra meal when Im starving solves my problem. Its portioned controlled and when Im starving I find I need that to make sure I dont eat more than I realize.

Hope you find something that works!

PS...sometime I find just going to bed also helps