MAY "No Late Night Snacking" Challenge

ildi007

The last two nights I went over the time, and the calories too. I actually ate twice as much as I was "allowed". I feel so horrible.
Please let me tell you what's going on, I have nobody to really say this and maybe if I do say it, I can work on it, work with it....
My daughter was born with a brainstem only. She wasn't suppose to survive, but she did, she wronged all doctor's "time line" for her. She is non-mobile, non-verbal, blind, has a shunt, a feeding tube. She's a doll, but lately, she's absolutely, beyond words miserable (or maybe, lets be honest here, again...). All she does is screams, while all the tests show nothing and she can't tell what's wrong. I stay up all night with her, she's in a trans, she sounds like some beast mauling her. I go to work, almost sick from being exhausted. I'm a single parent as my husband of almost 10 years decided this was too much to handle and walked out 2 years ago on his kids : a 9 year old, a 4 year old, and a 3 year old. ("She" is the 4 year old). I can't afford not to go to work; I refuse not to give a real life for the "other two" (so we are in baseball, gymnastics and doing family stuff on the weekends even if all I want is to lay down and let my mind and body shut off).
As the evening comes, and my daughter's screaming gets even wilder, I often turn to food as if it will make it go away. I'm glad I don't ever turn to drinks, it would be only too easy to block out my own thoughts. I don't even know what should I pray for anymore; I don't understand how can a little innocent girl suffer so much; I'm ashamed to say I don't know how long shall I fight for her life. This is the truth and I hush them with desserts, because if someone has to judge me, I rather be called someone who doesn't know when to stop eating, than a mother who can't help her child and shamefully starting to give up on hope.
Thank you so much for giving me space to confess.

sallydeb

oh My Gosh, Ildi007. What a tough life you are living. You are amazing - where do you get your strength from? I imagine, after so many sleepless nights, that you must be stretched to your limit right now. At the same time, I saw that you are halfway through your weight loss goal, so I'm guessing you are doing well with that. A couple of nights, given your tiredness and distress over your daughter, I'd say you deserve not thinking about one more thing (like how much you are eating). You sound like a wonderful mother, I wish I could do something to help out. Good you were able to vent here. Keep going and keep starting again when you fall of the wagon with this eating thing.

I'm on day 2 of not eating after 8:30.

-Sally

ildi007

I've failed another night. I so hate this. According to th calculator if I'm keep eating like this, not just that I will gain all weight back, but gain another 10 pounds. But when the eve comes I have nothing in my mind, but taking another bite, doesn't even matter what of. I really hate this. Why do I keep doing it??????????????

leslier

12 nights down! good job to everyone else doing so good with this!! keep it up!



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ngwife4life

I think I've made it through 8 nights now? I'm not very good at counting but I know that I'm saying no to late night snacking more often than not, so I'm happy. Great job to the others who are making it and to those who slip up but come back! :flowerforyou:

sallydeb

I made it 3 nights. Last night was hardest because I was hungry.

Thank you zaza54, for having this thread up. It helps knowing I am going to be reporting my nights of eating so I don't do it!

ildi007

Last night I finally stopped eating at 8 o'clock. Back on track? Keeping my fingers crossed for tonight.

zaza54

ildi007, congrats on making it through a night. :flowerforyou:
My heart goes out to you. Your previous post brought me to tears - I don't know how you keep going. You are a great mother and I'm glad you can be so honest and vent here. Being a single parent is enormous all but itself, but you have unimaginable burdens beyond that. Keep doing the best you can with the challenge at night. I agree with you that food is probably better than turnign to drinking. Hopefully, knowing that you can come here and chat may help you to stay strong at night and to cope a little better. This is a great bunch of people and you have a very sympathetic ear. Just come to us when it gets to be too much and you are tempted to eat.

That being said, I've been a disaster and I have no excuse. But, I will keep trying to do better. Reading everyone's posts inspires me always to try harder.

leslier, congrats on your great progress!!! :flowerforyou:
Same to you ngwife4life and sallydeb. :flowerforyou:
Sorry if I missed anyone. I'm still trying to catch up on previous posts since I haven't gotten on in awhile. I fell off the wagon again. I had been doing OK and then it was the week-end and kids home and then celebrating our 31st anniversary. But, tonight is a new night and will be my new Day 1.
(Hope you're not too sick of hearing my broken record:laugh: )
Zaza

dewdrop

ildi007, you are so wonderful! :flowerforyou:

Zaza, I for one, am not sick of your resets. But maybe I should get mad at you , just enough to make you stick to your place once and for all :grumble: . However, I still see you as an example to all those who drop this challenge, just cos they have to restart every too often. It's like saying "hey, people, look at Zaza, she never gives up!". Yet, Zaza, get yourself together! :grumble:

As for me, I'm following your example and I think I am ready to hop on (provided after all said above, I'm still accepted in the gang ). So.... cut-off will be 9p.m. Here we go .

I wonder if grammymax dropped because she turned this int oa habbit or if she's doing allright.

And where are Wanda and Kirsti? (maybe they are here and it was just me who had vanished :blushing: )

ildi007

I made it last night and I was within my calories too, and I'm stopping today as it's 4 minutes away from 8 pm. I did eat about 100 "extra" calories today, but I'm o.k., I'm on the way again...
Thank you so much for your understanding and kindness. It was so, so helpful to have someone (even if I never met you, and probably never will) be there for me.

zaza54

Hi-
Way to go ildi007 and dewdrop!:flowerforyou:
Thanks dewdrop for being my best supporter. I did make it through last night (my new Day 1) and I stayed within my calories for the first time in a long time. :happy: I wonder if that's why the scale finally moved a little in the right direction. :laugh: The ticker doesn't show it since it's still set to my original weight, but that will just give me even more incentive to stick with this.
Hope everyone has a great day.
Like dewdrop, I wonder what happened to grammymax, Wanda and Kirsti and some of the other regulars. Please check in now and then and let us know what you're up to.
Zaza

fitgal411

I have made it through 2 nights!!!!! I don't know if I can go for 3. What helps you not snack at night? I need some advice!!!!!!

phatphanny

Just checking in once again..Zaza way to go on sticking with this...you have no idea how many people look forward to your threads, encouraging remarks and just the perserverance. Awesome...as far as my "late night snacking goes..." I have had the odd apple or fiber one bar in the wee hours of the morning (out in the barns foaling)...but only 2 more mares left to foal and I will be sleeping a full night...WOW...welcome to all the newcomers. This is a great "accountable" thread that helps break the "late night snacking" syndrome that alot of us suffer from.

zaza54

I dont' know how you do it phatphanny, but it must be thrilling to help new life into the world! You've been very disciplined about the eating - great job.

fitgal411, congrats to you too. One day at a time. You can do this!!!
What has heloped me is to go upstairs to my bedroom after my cut-off time and to watch tv there. If I remember, I try to floss and brush my teeth then. I have also done teeth whitening on occasion when I think of it. I also think about the challenge - and not wanting to report that I fell off the wagon. So that also motivates me (sometimes:ohwell: ) Also, I notice that my weight loss ticker moves in the right direction as soon as I stop late night snacking. So, stick with it!! :happy: Good luck.
Zaza

dewdrop

phatphanny, so nice to see you around!

I made it through my first night and actually did not have anything after dinner, which was at 7p.m. Yeah! :drinker:

ildi007

I made it another night! I did have a glass of OJ "after time"- 8pm for me-, but I'm still about 70 calories under my goal, AND I also worked out (now that's new...LOL)
I might have to adjust my time next month as here (in Alaska) the sun sets very late now (I get the 9 pm sun in my living room) and we are out and about later than in winter time.

My kiddo slept through most of the last 3 nights and it sure made the difference. I like to think (since there's no real explanation why she cries or not) that this time she got better because of all the kind thoughts you all sent.

fitgal411

"GASP"!!!!!!! 3 nights!!!!!!

P. S. I know some of you are like, so what? She's making such a big deal out of not snacking at night for only a few days. Well, it's a big deal for me.:blushing:

zaza54

Congratulations ladies!
fitgal411, I agree with you - 3 nights is a big deal. You're doing great. I'm right behind you; I'm happy I made it through 2 nights.
Dewdrop, you're on the right track too. That's wonderful, especially since you started the original thread several months ago. Thank you, thank you for getting us all started.:flowerforyou:
Am going to take a short walk before it gets too hot.
Have a good Memorial Day week-end everyone.
Zaza

sallydeb

That's great news, ildi007. Glad to hear it!:drinker:

Meanwhile, I'm starting over tonight. Maybe I can get through the last week of May.

dewdrop

Ildi, hurray!!! :flowerforyou: Tell your girl how special she is - so happy she's doing better.
fitgal, oh, no, it IS a big deal. I always report here my success. We're taking it one day at the time.
Zaza, thanks! :flowerforyou:

I just wanted to mention that since I'm making weekend plans, I might allow myself 9:30 as cut-off for Saturday (still 9 p.m. for food, but I should be allowed to finish a drink , even if it's going to have some cals in it :blushing: ).

So far, for the first two nights, I had nothing past dinner, which was at 7ish. It's been a challenge, I have to say.

dewdrop

Didn't go out last night , so I could challenge myself again at not having anything after dinner, which was again at 7p.m.. If I'll manage to do the same tonight, it'll be my 4th night and I'll officially lower my cut-off to 7:30p.m. on regular days.

zaza54

Good morning-
The bad news is I went over my calories yesterday, but the good news is I've made it thru 4 nights on this challenge. Yeay!! I am very happy abut that.:happy:
Dewdrop - very impressive about last night. But, don't be too hard on yourself - you do have to live and go out occasionally. Just adjust accordingly.
Have a great day everyone (doesn't look too nice here and I think I hear a rumble of thunder) and be good tonight!
Zaza

phatphanny

Awesome job Dewdrop and Zaza!!!! I can't wait to get back into a "normal" routine again- haven't lost any weight in 2 weeks but I haven't been doing extra exercises either. I find the "no late night snacking" challenge is getting to be more habit now and am putting things down instead of in my mouth. Keep up the great work everyone...I will be back on the challenge the first of the month!!!!

zaza54

Will be glad to see you regularly in June phatphanny. I love the picture on your weight loss ticker!!

dewdrop

OK, so I somehow blew it last night. To put a long story short, I'm staying with 9p.m. as official cut-off and taking 7p.m. as personal cut-off. That is to say, if hunger hits me at 9, I can grab something, since I'm going to bed the earliest at 11pm anyhow.

Resetting the counter today :glasses: .

ildi007

I'm doing really good on my calories and weight, but going over my time, (because I started to work out with the WII in the evenings when kids are sleeping...That's a "yeay" for me, but it sets back some of the eating-drinking) So, In June, I will have to set my time for later...For now, although I started with 8 pm, I will do 9 pm and don't claim that "I did it".

Thanks for all the support from you!:happy:

zaza54

Hi-
I made it thru 6 nights. :happy:
I've found that having a 9:30 cut-off time is the most realistic time for me, especially with daylight savings and the fact that I rarely (never) go to bed before 11:30 or midnight.

Good luck with your adjusted times dewdrop and ildi007. Makes sense.
Have a good day all.
Zaza

leslier

well i am bummed! i went so long without going past my cut off time and last thursday (may 21st) i was sick all day and didn't eat, but then at the end of the day got a little better so i ate soup and bread about an hour past my cut off time. :sad: i wasn't going to do it, but my stomach just felt really acidic so i felt as though i needed a little something on it. anyways i am starting over tonight. i am trying to not to beat myself up over it too bad, but just bummed that i had done so well for so long and had to mess up my goal. anyways great job to everyone else!! i hope you all are doing well!


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dewdrop

anyways i am starting over tonight. i am trying to not to beat myself up over it too bad, but just bummed that i had done so well for so long and had to mess up my goal. anyways

Don't you even dare start over, leslier! :mad: :explode: You've made the right decision, eating soup after being sick. I would've been upset to hear you starved yourself, just cos it was past your cut-off time. So keep on as if nothing happened! This way, the challenge is worth it. The worst thing is that you give up, because one night, the circumstances pushed you to making an exception. Plus, you didn't stuff your face with Mars chocolate that night, did you? Were the following nights good?

So keep on :flowerforyou: :smooched: How many days did you manage? :glasses: And are you better now? (from bein sick that day, I mean)

I haven't been a good girl :blushing: , but hope June will be better for me . I'm trying to get my mind ready for the new month . How's everyone else?

ildi007, I must say this again, you are one special lady! :flowerforyou: And I'm pretty sure that your life is whole less messier than you see it. :flowerforyou:

LifeChanges42

I think he best I have done this month was 12 days... and I have done really bad... Like tonight even. I started by making pizza from scratch... for toppings I used artichokes and mushroom with a white sauce (also from scratch so my son could eat it too) and just a little mozzarella cheese. Then I baked 3 different types of cookies and I had to try each one in both batter and cooked form. (They were also allergen free). I have been awful this month. I will try again tomorrow.