Over eating ....help!

brittanymaryjane
brittanymaryjane Posts: 1 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I am pretty good at eating healthy, and in the summer i am active .... but with winter hybernation mode kicks in and I can do good all day but I put the kids down and I keep eating and over eat ... I have gained 20 lbs and need to stop.

What helps y'all?

Replies

  • Crafty_camper123
    Crafty_camper123 Posts: 1,440 Member
    For me, night time boredom eating in the winter time gets me, and we have 8-9 months of winter! Some things that work for me: Replace the night time ritual of eating with having a cup of flavored tea you get to consume something sweet and flavorful for 0-few calories. Or, calculate your night time snacks into your calorie goal for the day. Like if I know if I have room for a bowl of ice cream I'll have one. Or if I want that snack tonight but am out of calories, I'll cut it back a bit the next day. I've also been known to chew gum to combat boredom eating. I get something flavorful, and it gives my mouth something to do, lol.
  • aeloine
    aeloine Posts: 2,163 Member
    Crafty_camper123 wrote: »
    For me, night time boredom eating in the winter time gets me, and we have 8-9 months of winter! Some things that work for me: Replace the night time ritual of eating with having a cup of flavored tea you get to consume something sweet and flavorful for 0-few calories. Or, calculate your night time snacks into your calorie goal for the day. Like if I know if I have room for a bowl of ice cream I'll have one. Or if I want that snack tonight but am out of calories, I'll cut it back a bit the next day. I've also been known to chew gum to combat boredom eating. I get something flavorful, and it gives my mouth something to do, lol.

    Tazo makes these awesome butterscotch brownie flavored tea that blew my mind the first time I tried it. It's tastes like you just ate a brownie.
  • TravisJHunt
    TravisJHunt Posts: 533 Member
    I've got a dog so I luck out that even in the winter he needs a good 30 minutes of walking or else he gets destructive. I'd say find a hobby you can do.
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,031 Member
    brittanymaryjane wrote: »
    I am pretty good at eating healthy, and in the summer i am active .... but with winter hybernation mode kicks in and I can do good all day but I put the kids down and I keep eating and over eat ... I have gained 20 lbs and need to stop.

    What helps y'all?

    First thing I wanted to say is great job on the awareness ...you figured out the why/when you do it part! Often times that's the part we can't figure out...so you're that far ahead. :wink:

    Have you considered saving some calories back for a snack or treat or whatever you enjoy for that part of the evening for after you put the kids down? For some, quantity works well so you can spread it out... veggies/humus, celery/Nutbutter, hardboiled egg/couple of cuties. Or if you're a sweets person a portioned out ice cream bar or as @aeloine shared a delicious tea particularly for Winter, you could also ad a piece of fruit to that if feel the need.

    Teas really help me because it's so dang cold here that it helps me warm up from the inside out plus I don't even think about food when I'm drinking it. :smiley:

    Would love to hear back on ideas you come up with that work for you!
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,031 Member
    TravisJHunt wrote: »
    I've got a dog so I luck out that even in the winter he needs a good 30 minutes of walking or else he gets destructive. I'd say find a hobby you can do.

    Great idea @TravisJHunt ! I had wondered about that too. Is there something you enjoy that you simply can't do with the kids around? Perhaps a project you've had to shelve for awhile and would love to get back to... an art project like painting, jewelry making, catching up on a phone call, NOT housework, but something for you personally! :smiley:
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    edited February 2018
    "do good all day" - what does this mean? I used to overeat when I tried to eat healthy.
  • bvff35
    bvff35 Posts: 74 Member
    brittanymaryjane wrote: »
    I am pretty good at eating healthy, and in the summer i am active .... but with winter hybernation mode kicks in and I can do good all day but I put the kids down and I keep eating and over eat ... I have gained 20 lbs and need to stop.

    What helps y'all?

    Night is, and always has been, my worst time for over eating. I have to have a small breakfast and lunch to ration more food for the evenings because I want to eat so much at night. I also plan my food for the entire day either that morning or night before to avoid going over my goals. This works ok so far.
  • acorsaut89
    acorsaut89 Posts: 1,147 Member
    edited February 2018
    The biggest thing for me is keeping busy. So I've made it a habit that at night I unplug by 8pm - no TV, no movies, no electronics. And then I read for a couple hours. Not only does this keep me from eating, but it also helps my brain to shut down from the day in a very natural way. The LED lights from electronic devices can mess up your brain's ability to shut down at night, so reading helps. I also have a very intellectually stimulating job so I like to have the ability to unwind at night.

    If I watch TV or put on a movie, I am way more likely to get bored and mindlessly snack so if you can keep busy it will likely help you not wanting to snack.
  • TravisJHunt
    TravisJHunt Posts: 533 Member
    Hearts_2015 wrote: »
    TravisJHunt wrote: »
    I've got a dog so I luck out that even in the winter he needs a good 30 minutes of walking or else he gets destructive. I'd say find a hobby you can do.

    Great idea @TravisJHunt ! I had wondered about that too. Is there something you enjoy that you simply can't do with the kids around? Perhaps a project you've had to shelve for awhile and would love to get back to... an art project like painting, jewelry making, catching up on a phone call, NOT housework, but something for you personally! :smiley:

    Sure do, I'm a model builder, many cars, bikes and airplanes. Since kids have come along I've had zero time for that but I've got about a dozen downstairs unbuilt just waiting till the kids are in their teens and want nothing to do with their old daddio! The one thing I wouldn't give up is my running and my hockey. I skipped hockey this season due to injury which has kept me out of running but I've got new shoes coming in tomorrow (I have giant wide feet and usually need to order my shoes) and I'll be hitting the treadmill for me! It keeps me sane.

    Love Teas too! I'm a green tea straight kind of guy!

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