I've been reading and researching information about calories and Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE), and although I can understand the reasoning for counting calories and exercising 1.2-times to 3.75-times the amount of calories consumed, this approach doesn't seem to work for me, unless I'm doing it incorrectly. If I exercise more than I eat, I'll be hungry and less likely to stay within the total amount of calories per day that I have allotted myself OR If I exercise less and eat less... still same result... I'm hungry. I've been trying different methods for trying to curb my hunger like drinking lots of water, tea, diet sodas, and chewing gum when I feel the urge to eat but I always feel crabby and frustrated because I feel as though I'm still hungry. I don't have any money to try a professional service like Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, or Atkins, nor a health club membership or gym so I'm trying to do this all on my own. I was excited when I had thought that my own diet had rewarded me with the loss of 5 pounds during the first week; however, after reading some material regarding weight loss, I learned that the first seven pounds don't count since it's water weight and doesn't have any baring on fat cells. I'm feeling hopeless and frustrated. Can anyone offer me some advice... PLEASE!?!