How do you fight Snack attacks?

lollyolivia

So I'm about 27 days into my diet, I started off really strong but the past three or four days I've been finding myself wanting sweet and snacks! I thought OK give yourself a little bit to cut the cravings but it seems like it just made me want more and now I find myself fighting the cravings every day. I just had a cookie for lunch Any tips would be most appreciate it.

vi2nie

Ahhh I hate those snack cravings. For me I just try to drink allot of water but when that doesn't help try going the fruit vegetable way an apple or banana I like celery sticks.

Moxie42

Drinking lots of water helps me hold off urges to snack if I'm not actually hungry and just wanting to munch because I'm bored, stressed, etc. I love non-sweet sparkling water (like La Croix)- since it's yummy it almost passes for a snack. Gum and mints help with the urge to snack when I'm not truly hungry as well.

If I'm actually hungry, I'll go ahead and have a snack- what I choose depends on how many calories I have left for the day and whether or not I want to save calories for something else later in the day (such as a glass of wine). Sometimes I have a piece of fruit, some veggies, string cheese, trail mix, or a piece of dark chocolate. I also like to have a box of small, individually-packaged sweets on hand (100-cal dark chocolate bars, mini ice cream cones, etc.) Having a sweet treat to look forward to at the end of the day helps me avoid the urges throughout the day, because I know that I have that sweet treat waiting for me. And having them individually packaged helps prevent me from over-eating.

cpm00939

This is going to sound gross but when I get snack cravings I drink hot water and a tbs apple cider vinegar and boom I'm not hungry anymore it doesn't work all the time but most of the time I'm able to curb my hunger and Forget about whatever I was craving.

88olds

There's no one answer.

A big help to me was a planned frozen treat. I've tried them all. I can generally get a satisfying portion of something in the 100-120 cal range.

But here's the deal I made with myself. Any other treats, no ice cream.

I picked frozen treats because it seems like I can get a manageable portion that is also satisfying. Also it takes longer to eat. For quite a while I was into Weight Watcher fudge bars. But I would knock them off the fork and eat them with a spoon because I ate slower that way. I also experimented with plastic spoons to slow me down.

I also found planning fruit for snacks twice a day helped fight my sweet tooth.

Cookies- I think cookies are a specific problem. I'm not tempted by cake or pie or donuts. But cookies- they can look so small and harmless. But I can no more eat one cookie ( unless it's one of those giants) than I can eat one potato chip. I can knock off 300 cals in the blink of an eye. Usually 300+. I just try to avoid them.

Candy- I decided most candy I see around is just lousy kid candy. If I really want candy I have to go out and get something reall good. Probably imported from Europe. I've done it. But it's got to be special.

Hope something here helps.

AliNouveau

OMG I read this as shark attacks and came in looking for some good advice.

Since its sNack I can say that not buying it and having it in the house is best but if you have to or bought snacky things by mistake (I hate when that happens) if I feel like a snack I'll usually have something fizzy or maybe occupy my time doing something else. not really much help

kenyonhaff

I embrace the snack.

For some people it doesn't work. But for me, 150-300 calories about 2-3 hours into my morning and 2-3 hours into my afternoon keeps me on track, focused, and not having cravings.

And for me that *can* mean chocolate sweet yummy treats. I happen to like a variety of protein bars, which often come in really delicious flavors. A White Chocolate Macadama Cliff bar is one of my favorites, and it tastes really good. But it offers more nutrition for my body than a cookie, keeps me going, and keeps me from eating a crappy cookie that doesn't fit so well in my eating plan.

And I don't feel deprived. I feel...well, full and like I ate something I enjoyed and don't have any angst about it.

nowine4me

I wouldn't really call a cookie a snack. It would have to be more like 10 cookies. How about Greek yogurt and a nice bowl of fruit?

bbell1985

I have found sweet snacks that fit my goals. I can't have 1 cookie so like @nowine4me, I'll choose greek yogurt with cocoa powder and stevia. Even if I want one cookie, I'll crumble it up into yogurt to stretch it out. Otherwise I'm going to want so many more.

Colt1835

I try to keep my cravings back with things that are kind of sweet and filling. I have Oatmeal every morning almost with peanut butter or a banana. The peanut butter is very sweet imo so it satisfies that sweet tooth. I also like to have a protein bar instead of a candy bar because they seem to keep me more full. I guess because the candy bar is mostly sugar.

I don't think I would have made it this far without diet sodas. I love me some artificial sweeteners. And also coffee with a little cream and Splenda is fairly low calorie if you are carful with not to add too much cream. I mostly drink coffee black though because I enjoy the taste and it seems to be a wonderful appetite suppressant for me. Although some people say it causes them to be hungrier.

Everyone is going to have different tactics. You just have to keep trying until you find something that works for you. I see a lot of folks claiming that fats and protein keep them full for longer, but I usually have better results with complex carbs.

PackerFanInGB

I'm so glad I stumbled onto this thread. Great suggestions. I struggle with the same thing, but my cravings hit at 8:00 every night about 45 minutes after I take my evening dose of medications. I'm going to try some of these suggestions.

bbell1985

OConnell5483 wrote: »

I'm so glad I stumbled onto this thread. Great suggestions. I struggle with the same thing, but my cravings hit at 8:00 every night about 45 minutes after I take my evening dose of medications. I'm going to try some of these suggestions.

I save calories for something at 9:30 every night. I cannot stop at dinner.

Colt1835

Oh yeah I saw someone above mention fruit. I eat a lot of fruit too when I want something sweet. Lots of watermelon and berries.

Another thing I like to do is drink a glass of water right before eating something sweet and right after. It makes a half cup of ice cream seem feel like a half gallon.

estherdragonbat

I've got more a salt tooth than a sweet one, but I do eat a measured portion of sweet-ish (not sugar-coated) dry cereal at least once a day. In this case, Quaker Corn Squares. I got it to help my iron intake, but it's sweet and crunchy. And I usually try to make sure I've got room for it late at night. Salty snacks include popcorn, string cheese, and veggie dogs.

CynthiasChoice

Check how much protein and fat you consumed before your snack attack today. If protein and fat are low and carbs are high, you're more likely to get cravings. That's not true for everyone, but it might be worthwhile for you to pay attention to what your macros were before you "needed" that snack.

MarvinsAMartian

Train Muay Thai.

Just kidding, everyone above has great advice. Just experiment with techniques until you find one that sticks. Theres really no one stop shop answer.

TonyB0588

@lollyolivia First thing might be to avoid having the snacks available. Don't include them on your shopping list.

Also consider how many calories are in those snacks. Do they push you over your daily calorie goal, or are you still within the limit? If you're slightly over the limit, try to include some additional exercise to compensate for it.

lollyolivia

Thank you everyone! Awesome tips! You guys are great good luck in your journey.

zjpq

I have to not buy things I know I can't control myself with. So... almost everything I cut up carrots etc and put those in the fridge along with a bunch of peeled hard boiled eggs, try to drink more water and only have healthy snacking options in the house. Am really enjoying roasted unsalted almonds with a few chocolate chips right now for when I want something a little 'naughty' and apples!

ironjay37

Motts..... they are flavored freeze pops, 3 are 45 calories. Between meals if I really really have to they've helped fill my psychological need. These aren't to be confused with the high calorie freezes, they taste just as good but without the high calories. Just a thought. Hope it helps.

dillydaisys

Craving are tough, I don't buy junk food but when I get the craving for something I can magically turn something that was healthy into something unhealthy. I read up a few posts and someone mentioned apple cider and I must say it does work for me but you need a lot of willpower to drink it.

lollyolivia

Thanks guys! This really helps

hltc13084

You sound like me and maybe addicted to sugar? I don't buy it so I can't eat it. I find an apple with a serving of peanut butter with a teaspoon of maple syrup mixed it helps. Maple syrup has less sugar and calories than honey and is plant based.

lollyolivia

@hltc13084 Maple syrup? Really, I'll have to look into that. Thanks, I never would have thought about it.

hltc13084

@lollyolivia yeah, maple syrup is sugar, so just don't over do it. It really helps me, I'm getting, plant based fat and protien from the peanut butter, carb from the apple, sugar from the apple and maple syrup. It's very satisfying for me.

lollyolivia

@dillydaisys @cpm00939 Hi guys I've been hearing a lot of talk about apple cider vinegar, do you take it when you're having cravings or on a regular basis?

kenyonhaff

hltc13084 wrote: »

You sound like me and maybe addicted to sugar? I don't buy it so I can't eat it. I find an apple with a serving of peanut butter with a teaspoon of maple syrup mixed it helps. Maple syrup has less sugar and calories than honey and is plant based.

Hi - I'm from Vermont and I've apprenticed as a beekeeper. I applaud your use of honey and maple syrup, and they both have more flavor than table sugar. But the nutritional difference between honey, maple syrup, and good old table sugar is in the end pretty minor at best.

A tablespoon of table sugar is 48 calories. Honey come in about 64. Maple syrup is about 52. You notice that these are pretty similar!

StonedDigiMonk

how i deal with cravings : Chewing gum or Walk someplace a mile away, and buy some fruits and walk back.
apple cider vinegar : works best on an empty stomach. Mix one bottle with a spoonful of raw garlic & honey to taste ... and you've got an incredible potion for preventing weight gain, heart ailments, arthritis and what not!

LivingtheLeanDream

Fit whatever you crave into your calorie allowance.

Drinking water helps as does keeping busy if you've already eaten your allotment for the day. Or you can get moving and burn some calories.

Think of the bigger picture and how great you'll feel when you reach goal.

dillydaisys

Lollyolivia, I use to take apple cider every morning, I'm not sure if it was mind over matter but I felt it gave me more energy through the day. I recommended it to friends and they found the same thing. I don't drink it everyday now but when I feel a bit lethargic I'll put two tablespoons in a glass of water and now thinking about it I should start doing it everyday, it's just the taste of it that's a put off. There is lots of info on the net which is worth a read.

dillydaisys

I find chewing gum makes me more hungry. I think chewing gum tricks your stomach into thinking food is on its way then I get more hunger pains