Coming home from work is the worst...

last_jennifer

Breakfast calories.....perfect

Lunch calories......awesome

Dinner.....diseaster

Snacks.....never feel the urge to eat anything before bed

I am tired of losing will power on the way home to work and while I am making supper for my family. If I can find the strength during that block of time, the scale would be actually moving down and I would not feel like such a loser for not having better self control.

Is dinner time tricky for you?

aubyshortcake

Yes, I do great in the early parts of the day but when I get home from work as soon as I start eating my appetite decides I need massive portions, or if I don't have massive portions I'll end up going for the snacks afterwards.

I'm a server in a restaurant so I'm constantly moving at work but still, not enough to allow this amount of food to keep me in a deficit.

cwolfman13

I'm not sure I understand how dinner is any different than any other meal. We pretty much know in advance what we're having for dinner throughout the week which is how we plan our grocery shopping...we make dinner...we eat dinner...just like we make breakfast and lunch and eat those.

I guess I don't get it...

livingleanlivingclean

I plan all my meals in advance, and prepare/eat what I've planned....

WhereIsPJSoles

What if you bumped a snack in there around 3? Then maybe by dinner time you wouldn’t feel as hungry.

last_jennifer

I am so glad , you all have strength and will power , good for you guys. I shouldn't have posted this post . Now I feel beyond stupid.

lemurcat12

I usually have a plan for dinner (in my head, not normally anywhere else) and prepare it, and may modify based on the calories I want. I'm not sure why dinner is hard -- are you snacking while preparing dinner, deciding to prepare high calorie foods, or having issues with portion control? The solution might depend on what specifically is the issue.

last_jennifer

cwolfman13 wrote: »

I'm not sure I understand how dinner is any different than any other meal. We pretty much know in advance what we're having for dinner throughout the week which is how we plan our grocery shopping...we make dinner...we eat dinner...just like we make breakfast and lunch and eat those.

I guess I don't get it...

Your insight just validated how much of a loser that I feel.

lemurcat12

Don't beat yourself up for not being perfect, that's not helpful (and no one is perfect, obviously). But think of it as a reason to trouble shoot and figure out WHY it's harder so you can fix it.

livingleanlivingclean

last_jennifer wrote: »

I am so glad , you all have strength and will power , good for you guys. I shouldn't have posted this post . Now I feel beyond stupid.

It's not stupid... You've noticed it's a problem, now to come up with a solution. Could you have pre prepared meals in the freezer? Or get your partner to cook dinner you've chosen so you're not involved in the process?

I have my protein portioned out and ready to cool , some vegetables part cooked and frozen, and others chopped, ready to cook. It makes meal time pretty thoughtless!

jgnatca

After work is my danger zone too. My dinner will be planned out but I start eating as soon as I get through the door. A day of willpower and I am DONE. I have a few strategies to help myself along.

1. Snack just before I leave the office. I’m genuinely not hungry when I get through the door.
2. Slow cooker meal ready as soon as I get home. No temptation to eat out.
3. Salad made in the morning ready to go.

anyWendy

I get it. I've been there. Sorry the responses you've gotten so far haven't validated your struggle, but you're definitely not alone in this.

There has been research done that shows willpower is a finite resource that we use up during the day. It is objectively easier to follow your plan early in the day than in the evening/night.

For me, I realized that I need to save more calories for dinnertime, when I feel hungrier. I rarely feel hungry in the morning, but was eating a healthy, balanced breakfast anyway. Instead, I now skip breakfast most days (just have coffee), and have about 300 more calories to eat at dinner. This makes the difference for me, so I end the day in a deficit, feeling good about my progress.

What works for you might differ, but try different strategies to see what works for you. You are definitely not alone!

Jtucker970

Hi Jen, ...coming home from teaching all day is hard...3-4:30 is my toooo hungry time!

ggeise14

Agree with lemurcat12 about trying to trouble shoot. Seems like OP was looking for what works for others. It's just DH & I at home now so we have a more limited menu but when we had our oldest still living with us we tried leaving the main course, etc on the counter so we had to get up to get more. Veggies were on the table. If it's during meal prep that throws you off, try committing one day at a time to not snack or have some fresh cut up veggies handy until you can leave them in the refrig until it's time to eat. Baby steps and you can get there.

MichelleLaree13

I have an extremely weak point that normally stretches from 2 pm to 6 pm. I dont know why but I am guessing it has something to do with not eating enough for lunch. Are your calories too minimal for the beginning of the day?

kommodevaran

Did you just want to hear that others also struggle? Or practical solutions, how to fix the problem without having to rely on willpower?

last_jennifer

Now these are some good questions to ponder over.
I am a single mom of 3 children and I work 2 jobs.
I am exhausted when I come home without willpower.
However, my oldest is now 14. I think it is time for him to start helping me with the dinner. So I don't feel overwhelmed with the chopping and cooking. Then I won't go to my old stand by, Mr. Frozen pizza.
Thanks for the good questions!
I am thinking I need a new plan for meal prep that involves my children.
I can tell I developed way too many bad habits and rituals.

WhereIsPJSoles

You’re not alone, I’m usually pretty hungry at dinner time too. I love having things like spaghetti squash because you can get a large amount for few calories. Packing more veggies in whatever you’re having is a great way to feel more full without overdoing it.

corinasue1143

last_jennifer wrote: »

I am so glad , you all have strength and will power , good for you guys. I shouldn't have posted this post . Now I feel beyond stupid.

Not stupid at all. Just a problem for you. Find a solution for you. Try eating a bigger breakfast for one week. Try eating a bigger lunch for one week. Try a large snack in the afternoon for one week. Try having dinner already prepared when you get home, just need to heat it up for one week. Hopefully something will work.
Oh, and try having a snack on the way home from work.

nowine4me

I started using my breakfast calories for a mini-meal at 4 hold me over til dinner. I supposed that could be considered IF. Regardless, it’s helped.

last_jennifer

kommodevaran wrote: »

Did you just want to hear that others also struggle? Or practical solutions, how to fix the problem without having to rely on willpower?

Yes to both questions. In the past five minutes, I have learned so many great ideas that I am beyond excited to tackle this issue of mine. It is also nice to know that my problem isn't unique and what others are doing too.

maggibailey

This is why I started IF (intermittent fasting) not because it has magical powers, I still count the calories I eat but I usually get home at night around 5:30 or six with the majority of my calories left to eat before bed. I eat about 300 calories at about 2:00 and the rest between 6-10

Sunnybrooke99

last_jennifer wrote: »

Now these are some good questions to ponder over.
I am a single mom of 3 children and I work 2 jobs.
I am exhausted when I come home without willpower.
However, my oldest is now 14. I think it is time for him to start helping me with the dinner. So I don't feel overwhelmed with the chopping and cooking. Then I won't go to my old stand by, Mr. Frozen pizza.
Thanks for the good questions!
I am thinking I need a new plan for meal prep that involves my children.
I can tell I developed way too many bad habits and rituals.

I have a similar issue. I’m the only one who cooks, and I get home around 8. My 13 y old son, and my boyfriend, eat a lot differently from me. I basically prep things for them, that they can heat up, and prep my own things for myself. I also try to cook things that are convertible to higher calories foods for them. If I make stew, I’ll have 1/2 c over a can of mustard greens, and they can have theirs w a hard boiled egg, cheese, and bread. I’ll prep my son some bean and cheese burritos from canned beans, and make him some pico de guillo to have w avocado and chips. I’ll start w the pico d guillo, and add avocado, beans, aour cream, and lettuce, and have a burrito in a bowl.

It really helps me to have a section of the cabinet for my son’s snack food, and for my things. my section has my greens, no salt added beans, and my snacks.

Jigglypuff00

last_jennifer wrote: »

Now these are some good questions to ponder over.
I am a single mom of 3 children and I work 2 jobs.
I am exhausted when I come home without willpower.
However, my oldest is now 14. I think it is time for him to start helping me with the dinner. So I don't feel overwhelmed with the chopping and cooking. Then I won't go to my old stand by, Mr. Frozen pizza.
Thanks for the good questions!
I am thinking I need a new plan for meal prep that involves my children.
I can tell I developed way too many bad habits and rituals.

I understand! Some days it's about all I can do to not make a box of Kraft Mac & Cheese and eat the whole thing! (Which I've done many times in the past!) I could also eat a whole frozen pizza by myself! If you do have to go to that old stand by, after your kids get theirs, could you just maybe scrape the toppings off of one slice, put it over the toppings of another slice, and just eat the one slice? Maybe only half the crust of that one slice? The toppings aren't as bad as the crust. Last night, I ordered Pizza Hut Pan and just ate the toppings. Next time, I'm just going to order just the toppings! I asked the manager if they'd do that for me, and he said YES!

Also, don't vilify snacks. Snacks can really help you stick to your diet. Of course the snacks aren't gonna be chips or cookies. String cheese is a great healthy snack. Or celery and peanut butter. Figure out what snacks you can eat that won't break the calorie bank, and keep them stocked in the fridge or pantry. They can really help you out between lunch and supper. Doesn't have to be eaten before bed time.

lorrpb

Suggestions that might help: Consider adding in/moving a snack after work or on the way home. Preplan snacks you can have at home while fixing dinner. Drink some tea or water. Have a piece of dark chocolate. Take a short walk when you get home.

mmerry5

Dinner is my hardest time as well. For me I think it’s the structure of the work day that makes the day easier. I pack what I pack and that’s what I eat. The busier I am the less I think about food. On my way home I’m usually starting to get hungry again and I’m thinking about dinner and tend to grab a snack. It’s worse for me when I don’t have a plan for dinner. I’m better when I know I have something yummy in mind to make. I also try to make sure I only buy relatively healthy snacks, so I don’t totally blow it.

What works best for me is that I tend to save most of my calories for dinner anyway, because I do like to eat a nice big dinner. I don’t always eat breakfast, or I have a lower calorie protein shake or bar. I keep them right at work for when I am hungry. I find I can skip it altogether some days. I have a healthy lunch of around 300 calories and that leaves me plenty left for dinner, and whatever snacks I might grab.

TonyB0588

I guess this won't work for some people, but my big cooked meal is actually in the middle of the day. There really is no struggle with how I end it at night with the lighter stuff. I'm within my calorie goal 95% of the time.

brightresolve

For me it's not about dinner specifically, but about relief of pressure (work) and celebrating (food) return to comfort (home). Food was how I was accustomed to allowing myself relief and pleasure. And the mechanics of dinnertime can be tough, lots of GREAT suggestions above on how to handle that.

But for me, it's always the emotional game that I have to stay with - if I "decide" I "deserve" more food, it's over. Protection against that weak moment is consistent logging, that way I am REALLY breaking faith with myself (and my friends, shared diary) if I mess up; and the knowledge that I am meeting, and will continue to meet, my goals if I stay with my plan and keep rigorously honest about food.

That sounds small but knowing that I am making and will make progress has changed EVERYTHING for me. That's the comfort.

JaydedMiss

Some good advice has been said but id like to add be careful to make changes gradually, Allow time for them to work- If they work good youve learned whats going to work long term. If it doesnt work, Youve given it enough time to work and just hasnt. Reflect on why and try something new. To many people get into a circle of just changing everything way to fast never giving anything a time to work or learning what did. Small changes at a time and thn stick to them for a bit.

Id start with a smaller breakfast/lunch and fit in a snack before coming home little changes

amyepdx

How about grocery shopping online (if you have Clickist or something similar near you)? You can avoid putting things in your cart that you hadn’t planned for, organize your meal plans, add in a few extra things for the kids, and save an hour each time.

Also, great idea to get the 14 year old on board - it’s never too early!!

last_jennifer

JaydedMiss wrote: »

Some good advice has been said but id like to add be careful to make changes gradually, Allow time for them to work- If they work good youve learned whats going to work long term. If it doesnt work, Youve given it enough time to work and just hasnt. Reflect on why and try something new. To many people get into a circle of just changing everything way to fast never giving anything a time to work or learning what did. Small changes at a time and thn stick to them for a bit.

Id start with a smaller breakfast/lunch and fit in a snack before coming home little changes

You are on to something, I need to get a journal to reflect on all of these changes.