Any advice?

selenameeka

Hello! I was wondering if anyone had any advice for someone who feels hungry a lot. I'll break it down so whoever reads this gets a clear picture. I'm 262lbs, 4'11", do light exercise (I hurt my back and am going to a chiropractor to fix it) and will snack when I'm bored. I've been trying to be good, but I'm getting conflicting advice from people around me. My doctor says snacking is fine as long as it's healthy (and maybe a cheat or two once a week), but some of my friends say snacking just leads to cravings and I should only drink water if I have a craving. Except, that doesn't always stop a craving...

So, I was wondering what advice do you live by that works? What snack foods do you enjoy that are healthy? I figure if I can snack, might as well do it healthy, right?

strong_curves

Just curious, but how much of snack foods are you eating? How about your non-snack foods, what and how much are you eating?

katkins3

Try Googling the words, Healthy Snacks! Lots of recipes and tutorials, free.

selenameeka

strong_curves wrote: »

Just curious, but how much of snack foods are you eating? How about your non-snack foods, what and how much are you eating?

I snack on everything. Before MFP I snacked on junk food, but once I saw how much I ate of it I am trying to do things like carrots, weight watcher's things for my sweet cravings, and hummus. Those are just some examples. I need to expand my repertoire.

selenameeka

katkins3 wrote: »

Try Googling the words, Healthy Snacks! Lots of recipes and tutorials, free.

Oh, thank you! I didn't think of that!

strong_curves

selenameeka wrote: »

strong_curves wrote: »

Just curious, but how much of snack foods are you eating? How about your non-snack foods, what and how much are you eating?

I snack on everything. Before MFP I snacked on junk food, but once I saw how much I ate of it I am trying to do things like carrots, weight watcher's things for my sweet cravings, and hummus. Those are just some examples. I need to expand my repertoire.

It might not just be the snack food that's your "problem". In order to lose weight you have to get all your meals in order, not just the snack foods.

shadowfax_c11

Snacking is fine, as long as it fits in your calorie allowance for the day. Log it then eat it. Logging it makes you think more carefully about what you are eating.

As for your friends. How many of them have successfully lost a significant amount of weight and kept it off? Tose would be the only ones qualified to offer you advice.

Liftng4Lis

Hi there. Okay I took a quick peek at your diary. Fat's(avocado, nuts) and proteins(meat, cheese) will keep you sated longer. For ME, I find If I load up on carbs earlier in the day, I tend to be hungrier most of the day. For example, if I had oatmeal in the morning, I will feed constantly (this is why I USUALLY don't eat until around 10:30-11). If I choose to have Greek yogurt with nuts and fruit in it, I'm golden throughout the day.

jessathemessa

I love having healthy snacks to eat, but I try to stay low calorie since I work at a desk job. My favorites are:
Cucumber slices
Bell peppers
Apple chips
Zucchini chips
Watermelon

If I don't have a healthy snack, I try to just drink lots of water to make it to my next meal. However, I see you said that hasn't been working for you.

selenameeka

strong_curves wrote: »

selenameeka wrote: »

strong_curves wrote: »

Just curious, but how much of snack foods are you eating? How about your non-snack foods, what and how much are you eating?

I snack on everything. Before MFP I snacked on junk food, but once I saw how much I ate of it I am trying to do things like carrots, weight watcher's things for my sweet cravings, and hummus. Those are just some examples. I need to expand my repertoire.

It might not just be the snack food that's your "problem". In order to lose weight you have to get all your meals in order, not just the snack foods.

Yeah, I think I know what you mean. I sometimes skip meals or eat really unhealthy meals. I'm still in the stage of learning what a portion size is for different foods.

selenameeka

shadowfax_c11 wrote: »

Snacking is fine, as long as it fits in your calorie allowance for the day. Log it then eat it. Logging it makes you think more carefully about what you are eating.

As for your friends. How many of them have successfully lost a significant amount of weight and kept it off? Tose would be the only ones qualified to offer you advice.

Thank you. I will log it before I eat it and see if this helps. Also, good idea on the second part. I will make judgements for it. Lol.

TeaBea

80 /20 is popular here. This is basically what I do. I try to eat healthy 80% of the time, but I leave room for something that I'm craving most days. I focus on meeting macros (protein & fat)...these 2 things + fiber are filling.

For me this is about lifestyle changes. I've done the elimination type diets before. The problem is they don't teach me how to deal with snacks, or what the portion sizes of my snacks are.

My snacks are the thing that I'm craving....a cookie (or 2) or ice cream or chocolate typically. I need to deal with my sweet tooth NOW, because I won't be sugar free forever.

selenameeka

Liftng4Lis wrote: »

Hi there. Okay I took a quick peek at your diary. Fat's(avocado, nuts) and proteins(meat, cheese) will keep you sated longer. For ME, I find If I load up on carbs earlier in the day, I tend to be hungrier most of the day. For example, if I had oatmeal in the morning, I will feed constantly (this is why I USUALLY don't eat until around 10:30-11). If I choose to have Greek yogurt with nuts and fruit in it, I'm golden throughout the day.

Ah, I did not think of this. So I should start out with proteins? I usually go with carbs because that's what the family eats, even though my mom is a diabetic.

I used to not eat until 11 because I get up late, but my mom said this was bad because I was basically only eating twice a day.

selenameeka

jessathemessa wrote: »

I love having healthy snacks to eat, but I try to stay low calorie since I work at a desk job. My favorites are:
Cucumber slices
Bell peppers
Apple chips
Zucchini chips
Watermelon

If I don't have a healthy snack, I try to just drink lots of water to make it to my next meal. However, I see you said that hasn't been working for you.

Yum! Those sound good! Thank you!

selenameeka

TeaBea wrote: »

80 /20 is popular here. This is basically what I do. I try to eat healthy 80% of the time, but I leave room for something that I'm craving most days. I focus on meeting macros (protein & fat)...these 2 things + fiber are filling.

For me this is about lifestyle changes. I've done the elimination type diets before. The problem is they don't teach me how to deal with snacks, or what the portion sizes of my snacks are.

My snacks are the thing that I'm craving....a cookie (or 2) or ice cream or chocolate typically. I need to deal with my sweet tooth NOW, because I won't be sugar free forever.

I've done elimination diets, too. They worked for me for a few weeks then BOOM! Craving central. I'm not eliminating sugar from my diet, but I was shocked to see how much sugar I consumed, even when I thought I was eating healthy. Evil nutritional labels that hide things!