I mix 1/2 cup refried beans with 1/2 cup cottage cheese and microwave.
Top it with some free salsa and you have a fast 4 point snack that will stick with you for a long time.

I also make a lot of the soup for the first 2-3 weeks of the diet until my body gets used to lower calories and I can't stand the sight of vegetable soup.

High - protien and high - fiber foods are the keys to filling up on the least points.

And yes, I started this week, and I feel like I am starving, -- despite wise choices. I figure it this way. I have overeaten enough to be 100 lbs overweight. Therefore, my idea of a reasonable amount of food is no where near reality. Maybe I am not really starving and this feeling is normal for people who are not overweight.

I start each day with oatmeal
have an apple and sometimes an energy bar in the morning
have soup or salad for lunch
have an energy bar or apple after school
eat a normal dinner (with very reduced portion size compared to my normal habits)
am usually out of points by then and grouchy

I really do believe ww works. Last time I stuck to the points and lost 50 lbs at a rate of about 8-10 per month.

Hi..I hear that you are hungry. At first, I was. Then, I sat down with my books. I decided to take a look at what had the least amount of points and I decided to figure out what I HAD to have and what I could live without.
I swear by Lean Cuisines. They are my life savers. They are always within 4-6points, taste super and are the perfect size. I do one of those with a fresh green salad and some light dressing. Some days I want 2 tbsp of creamy ff dressing for 1 point or 2 tbsp of lite dressing, not creamy for 1 point. Totally works for me.
I am on here tonight because I was hungry a little while ago. I hit the fridge and pulled out some leftover spagetti and salad. I see that a cup or 8oz of cooked spagetti is 4 points. I had 10 left. After I measured 8 oz, I saw how much that truly was and cut it in 1/2. That was only 2 points. I added 1/4 C of sauce (had meat) and that was 2 more points. That, coupled with my green salad and 2 tbsp of creamy ff blue cheese dressing was a total of 5 points. I could not eat it all. I am stuffed and still have 5 points left. That allows me 1/2 cup of ice cream (lite) with my husband later.
During the day, I cut up an apple ((take 1/2 to work) (1/2 point, as I take it to work with me along with fresh carrots, cut up cucumber and eat it in the afternoon). I often will take 8 oz of fresh grapes with me and that is the after lunch sweet craving cure that fits great. That is only 1 point.
If I balance out my day and have several little point munchies with me, it works out great for me.
The water is critical for me, too. I keep filling up my 67 oz water and I try to drink another 64 oz when I get home. I just have to write everything down and be really nice to me. My body is just trying to adjust to this and so far, so good.
Be good to you. Give yourself a big hug.....this is so hard and it takes a while for our bodies to get the hang of it. It will happen, I promise.
Take care,
Kelly
PS...I am proud of you...this is a really big deal.

______

cherrykissez - how are you feeling today? Did any of the suggestions help?

In my previous incarnations . . . I'm sure I've lost the same 40 pounds dozens of times . . . something I call Sanity Soup has helped a lot. It's rather like the veggie soup in the week 1 ww booklet (if the program still uses the same stuff it did a few years ago).

Anyway . . . here is my favourite version. It contains nothing except Free (0-point) vegetables.

In a large soup pot or dutch oven

. . . Combine 4 cups V-8 or tomato juice and 8 cups water,
. . . Stir in 2 packets beef broth (OXO), a tsp or 2 of each of dried basil, parsley, and oregano, and a couple of cloves of chopped garlic (or garlic powder),
. . . Add about 6 cups of assorted free veggies (I like onion, celery, cabbage, green beans, yellow beans, and spinach) but use anything you want so long as they have zero points,
. . . Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer about 2 hours.

Makes 8 to 12 servings. Amazingly thick and rich tasting.

Have a great day and never give up.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels as though they are starving!!! I guess it has been a little better after a few days knowing which items were low to no points because trying to eat balanced on what I had around and keep within the range was terrible. I actually cracked on day two and had a small hot fudge sundae! I usually have much better self control. But so many people have had this work I'm willing to keep at it.

Your body will adjust given some time and you won't feel as hungry.

That soup sounds great!