Oh wow, everybody...I was not expecting all of these responses. .I'm so thankful and appreciative. Between all of you there has been lots of really great advice.

Thanks sunni for the yummy sounding recipe. And I appreciate your conspiracy theory about soda companies. Conspiracy theories keeps us questioning the status quo, which is always good and beneficial. It also made me laugh

The stuff about diet coke is really interesting....I haven't thought of it. I think it may be hard to give up, though--only because it's such an easy way to stomp away cravings for high caloric foods. I want cake--hey, I'll have diet pop instead! I'll try not to have any today and see how that feels.

Today I tried to add more protein into my food, and instead of going for the sweet delicious foods I love (of which there are a lot of around my granny's house....cakes, cobblers, etc...), I'll try other tasty things like apples and pears, which will fill me up and hopefully stop the cravings!

Thanks soooo much again for all of your guy's advice! I'm also hoping that my body will get used to less food.

Your body will get used to 1800 calories. Personally, I think that is a great starting point - I think too many women go too-low calorie (ie. 1200 calories, which is less than their BMR [if you were in a coma or bed-ridden]). I maintained at around 1900 calories for almost five years (only up to 2100 now because of the baby).

You didn't get up to 245lbs on 1800 calories a day (more like 3000), so you will need some adjustment time. It took me a good couple of months to get over it. It isn't easy, but once you get used to a normal amount of calories, you will actually start to feel sick if you eat too much more than that!

Good luck & stick with it, you WILL see results!

You've gotten lots of great replies from people who are much better at dieting than I am.

I'm like you, I could never stick to a diet for more than a day or two because I'd get hungry, get frustrated, and end up eating a Big Mac or something.

However, I have found something that is working for me. I've been doing really well for the last 3 weeks, and I have lost 8lbs!!

I'm using the website MyPyramid.gov Go to the "Menu Planner" on the left. It's a quick easy and free registration. This website lets you choose what you're going to eat for each meal and for snacks. I usually plan a day or two ahead. You can be pretty flexible with what amount you're having and what you're having with it (for example, if you're having salad, it gives you the option of checking fat free dressing, creamy dressing, oil dressing, etc). It keeps track of the calories and the portions you're having.

For some reason, that helped me infinitely. It was kind of like a pre-made food journal so all my food for the day was already recorded rather than me filling it in as I ate. That helped me stop cheating because I knew exactly what I was eating for the day and a bowl of ice cream most definitely wasn't on the menu. It may just be how my brain works, but that did a lot to help me.

A few other tricks that I've been using, I drink a big glass of water 10 minutes before each meal and with each meal. That way there is already something in my stomach and I get more of a full feeling when I eat my smaller portions. I also eat smaller portions frequently throughout the day. That way, I get to eat every time I feel hungry, but it's something small and healthy like a cup of chopped up canteloupe or a glass of milk.

I've found that if I eat my carbs in the morning, I have energy and the fullness to get to lunch. I then bulk up on veggies and fruits throughout the day and eat most of my protein around dinner time.

Here's my menu for today, to give you an idea.

Breakfast:
1 cup of 100% unsweetened orange juice
3/4 cup grape nut cereal
1/2 cup skim milk
(That's a surprisingly filling breakfast for me, sometimes I don't even finish the cereal. And I can put cereal away...I used to be able to eat 3 huge bowls of cereal)

Lunch:
2 cups mixed lettuce salad
cucumbers
small chicken breast in the salad
1tbsp fat free dressing
(I just finished eating this, and I'm full...it took me about 20 min to eat it)

Dinner:
1 cup skim milk
baked fillet of tilapia (4-5oz)
a Weight Watchers frozen vegetable pouch...1 cup of seasoned peas and corn
cucumbers and green bell peppers to dip

Snacks:
1 cup canteloupe
1 8oz fat free yogurt

Yes, it's off. 50% of calories from carbs is way too high, no matter where you get your carbs, and 15% from protein is way too low. Your body can't readily translate fat into energy (no matter HOW many calories are in it). Remember, your body isn't a petri dish full of food that is incinerated, which is, more or less, how 'calories' are measured. Each food type will have a different impact on your energy (glucose, in the case of your body). Refined carbs (white-flour products, white rice and starchy veggies) provide the most immediate amount of glucose, followed by complex carbs (whole wheat, flax meal, green veggies) and, finally, protein. Fat can be converted to glucose, but it's much harder than the other three.

Do you have to go low-carb? Probably not. Most people have a relatively efficient metabolism and gained weight due to an over-consumption of energy sources. But, I'd still suggest moving the carbs down and protein up. 30:30:40 (carbs, fat, protein) is a ratio I've seen over and over on fitness sites in the past. Personally, I follow something closer to 10:40:50, but my metabolism is damaged and I pack on the pounds with carbs very quickly.

Looking at your menu, I'd highly suggest switching out the "fat free" products for full fat versions. Full-fat milk adds on almost 80 calories per cup, but, in my experience, is much more mentally satisfying than skim-milk. Also, I'd nix the juice, for this reason.

Hey Altari, thanks for your response.

In reality, I actually have about 40% carbs, and 30% protein and 30% fat. It's working fine for me. I really don't like full fat milk. It's gross and thick...It's like drinking melted ice cream without sugar. Mehhhh...It makes my tummy feel icky, as well. Anyway, I grew up on fat free milk. Luckily, the hunger feelings have improved by increasing the protein.

I like juice because it allows me to drink water. I can drink 14 oz of water with about 2 oz of juice...So I think drinking only about a cup of juice a day is not so bad if it allows me to drink water comfortably. I've been getting better having water without juice, though.

The amount of carbs you suggested sounds closer to what I've modified my diet. Maybe I'll try 30-30-40, but I love me some bread, pasta, and cereal!

Luckily, the hunger has decreased since I've upped my intake of water, vegetables, and protein.