Living the Lifestyle, Wildcard Friday! 7-8-2022

steve0mania

This is a thread for everyone. If you're new to GoaD, or to weight loss, your questions and comments are always welcome. If you're maintaining, or a long-term loser, your thoughts on the topic may be just what someone else needs to hear. If you're reading this, join in the discussion!

Each weekday, a new topic is offered up for discussion.

Monday - crewahl (Charlie)
Tuesday – Flintwinch (Tim)
Wednesday - misterhub (Greg)
Thursday -imastar2 (Derrick)
Friday - Wildcard

Today's Topic: Daytime versus evening/night time

How does the time of day effect your ability to stay "on-plan" (whatever "on-plan" means to you)? Is it easier or harder during some times of the day? Why is that? Do you have a strategy to manage that?

steve0mania

I find it (relatively) easy to stay on my plan during the day. I wake up in the morning feeling very committed to managing my weight. I exercise, and my breakfast and lunch are no-brainers. I don't usually feel the need for a snack before dinner,, and dinner itself is easy too.

However, the wheels come off of my resolve at some point after dinner. I often start rationalizing snacking, and/or having a glass of wine or bourbon. It's clear to me that if I can skip the evening indulgences I would be able to get my weight down to my personal target, so this is my biggest challenge with weight-management.

I'm not 100% sure why this happens. Some of it is that I've gotten into the habit of evening snacks. Some of it is probably boredom. There's probably other psychology in there too.

I don't really have a great strategy for this. I've tried a few different approaches, and while many work for a while, I ultimately back-slide and start snacking in the evenings again.

Thus, I'm interested in hearing others' strategies and approaches!

Al_Howard

I have snacking problems both after lunch and dinner. Afternoons are easier, as I'm more active in and out of the house. Go tos are apples, baby carrots, and Fiber One bars., pretty much in that order, depending on how well one will satisfy.
After Dinner is harder, as we just sit around, TV on, and at our PCs. Obviously, still a work in progress.

misterhub

Late afternoon and evenings are my danger zone. It's as if my ability to say, no, disappears.

When I get off work, I am genuinely hungry, which sometimes causes me to make very poor decisions. In the evening, especially after dinner, I eat out of apparent boredom.

The most effective thing I have found is to have crunchy and salty snacks available for the ride home and some sort of sweet/salty snack for after dinner.