Peer pressure and hunger pangs!

I've just started using CC and got to say I'm becoming a bit obssessed.  I'm just wondering if anyone else found the first few stages really hard?

I'm aiming to eat 1750cal a day and I do a lot of exercise, so aiming for slow and steady weight loss.  I keep missing my daily target though, for two main reasons.  The first is that I get so hungry (I can't imagine how many calories I was eating before!) that I end up giving in and eating more.  the other is peer pressure, I'm embarrassed to tell my friends.

I weigh 156lbs and I'm 5'4", about a UK 12 - 14 (US 8 - 10).  I know my friends will give me the usual " you don't need to lose weight etc".  Also I think there are a few who are about the same size as me who deliberately incourage me to eat more anyway.  Everytime I see my friends I go over my target, not binging but maybe like 400cal more than I should that day.  I really don't want to be the one on the diet that's no fun anymore, etc... BUT I really want to get down to my target 132lbs.

Any advice on what I should do?  Any foods that are really satistfying/filling and low cal?

All help appreciated! =D

Perhaps try eating at your maintainence level for you current weight for a few days and slowly reduce about 100 - 200 calories a week until you're used to 1750.  That way you won't be gaining anymore weight, but you won't be suffering either.

Eat balanced meals with lots of fibre and protein and don't forget some fat.   This will keep you full longer, not to mention healthier.  Shouldn't be any trouble to do with your allowance of 1750 per day.  You don't really need to eat low calorie foods - just sensible portions of healthy food.

i know you're going to hate me for this--but seriously, friends are supposed to support you. maybe if you tell them that you're serious about this, they will be less negative about it. also, some people don't want to see their friends looking better or skinnier or whatever than they are. maybe you should carry healthy snacks around with you- that way you won't be getting in the way of everyone else's schedule when you're out (ie having to eat somewhere else because of you).

Haha, I have friends like you!

It doesn't mean they are bad though! It's natural for friends to be jealous. They go out of their way to sabotage my diet plan. But don't let that get you down!

The next time you are having lunch with your girlfriends, order a salad even if everyone else get the pasta. Just think about how good you will look compared to them when you reach your goal!

And also, why are you feeling hungry when you get to eat 1750 calories? What kind of food are you eating?

I'll make a sample 1700 calorie meal plan for you-

Breakfast: 2 slices of toasted Sara Lee 45 calorie bread, 1/2 cup of uncooked egg beaters made into scrambled eggs, 1 cup of Special K cereal with 1/2 cup skim milk

Snack: Apple

Lunch: Subway turkey sandwich with cheese but no condiments

Snacks: 100 calorie bag of popcorn

             Pear

             100 calorie pack oatmeal

Dinner: 5 OZ chicken breast, 2/3 cup brown rice, 1 cup steamed veggies, 1 small baked potato

Snack: 1 container of yogurt

Thanks for all the posts.  I think most of my problems have been evened - out.  I was focussing too much on total calories, and 'wasting' them on rich foods leaving me feeling sluggish and hungry later on.

Thanks for the daily plan mimi, I looked at your profile and saw you ate 1200cal a day! So i guess 1750 must seem like a lot, you look amazing though =D

Dealt with the friends issue by trying to encourage them to eat better rather than saying ' i can't have what your having', has worked with most of them.  There's still some that I think want to see me fail (to justify their own food choices) but that's just making me more determined.