HELP! I start so good in the morn.... then it turns to crap

TODJ06

My day starts off so good
Healthy breakfast... log it.

Mid morning exercise. Log it.

Healthy lunch. Log it.

Mid-afternoon - and things start going bad. I seem to start getting hungry about 4pm and I make a meat sandwich (protein and carbs) and that is good, but does not fill the hole enough... so I start eating crackers or cookies with the children... I feel guilty, so I dont log it.

Dinner is generally healthy; lots of veges and lean protein etc.... I log it.

But after dinner I get a sweet craving (of sorts). It is getting colder here and I seem to crave hot chocolate/milo. Some nights I may drink a litre of it (3 large cups) and I know its not good. Its just pure sugar realy.
Then with my hot drinks I eat lots of cookies.

I am worried that since it is only the beginning of the colder months I will not lose any more weight, but infact, will add 20lbs back on.

HELP! :sick:
The mornings start so good.... the evenings end CRAP.

How do you all cope at night? Wanting sweet stuff.
I dont want to put all the weight back on over winter!

RaeLB

get rid of the junk out of your house- if it is not there you can't eat it

i found that adding things to my meals that contain natural sugars helps cut craving, for example strawberries in a salad

southernbelle85

Hi! I used to have the same problem. What do you eat in the morning and at lunch? I have found if I plan my meals in advance and stick to eating 3 meals a day with 2 snacks I do better. When I fail to plan or miss a meal my diet gets worse throughout the day. I just get so hungry I don't care what I am putting in my body. Lately, I have been eating well balanced meals with a protein, fruit and fat. It seems to be helping. If I get hungry I eat a piece of lunch meat with a slice of cheese or 10 grapes. That seems to curb my craving for foods I don't need.

I completely understand the sweets craving. Today was actually the first time I have craved something sweet in a long time. I made some peanut butter cookies. It is okay to have something sweet as long as it is in moderation.

Feel free to add me and look at my last couple of days in my diary. Good luck!

carolynbonacci

Immediate reaction - protein (or really a balance of protein, healthy fats, and carbs). What are your healthy breakfasts? If they are healthy in the sense that they are low calorie then you may not be doing yourself any favors. When you wake up so is your stomach and it has been fasting all night so now it wants to know that everything will be okay. Your breakfast should be high protein with some healthy fats to keep you feeling full and carbs to balance (this is especially important if you are eating an incomplete protein). I used to have late night issues too (who doesn't). However, lately I found that the meal I look forward to the most is my breakfast (nom, nom, nom).

I also recommend that you look into whey protein (I like Jillian whey since it is also low fat and low carb). I added this to my morning regime and am very pleased with the results.Also, if you LOVE hot cocoa then this is for you - all goodness and no guilt.

If you give your body what it needs all day long you will have better luck with snack issues. Finally, snacks are fine or better than fine. If you are like me then you will want to eat smaller amounts more often and so eating every 2-3 hours may work. Remember a few things - limit carbs late in the day - try to find complete snacks with protein/healthy fat/catb - snack and treats are NOT the same (some fat free Greek yogurt with fruit and nuts is a snack - ice cream is a treat). Finally, be sure to look at the numbers myfitnesspal provides you. You can see your % and adjust them. Make carbs less than 50% and make sure you get .5 - 1 gram of protein per lbs and you will notice that you will feel fuller and better all around.

shanteel612

I agree with the above poster about planning in advance. When I do that i stick with my diet to a T (and if you don't you feel really guily). I know for me it is easy to think that I am staying within my cals but then when I log it I go way over.

Also, you need to be logging everything even if you feel guilty about eating it, so you how much you are sabotaging youur own efforts (If you do not log you aren't fooling anyone but yourself)

autumnk921

You should log EVERYTHING - Even when eating treats like cookies, cakes, ice cream, hot chocolate, etc....This way you know how many calories you are using up...Don't worry about others seeing your diary & seeing that you have eaten something that you feel guilty about - We ALL do this at times, no one is perfect so we understand eating over at times...You can have your goodies but in moderation...Also like someone above said - Get you some chocolate protein powder & put it with water or milk & it is just like drinking chocolate milk or if you put warm milk in it - It's just like warm cocoa plus you are getting the benefits from it as well...HTH!! Best of luck!

MonicaT1972

It's not as simple as getting rid of foods if they are foods you are feeding your children. It's all about willpower. I personally look at the foods my teenagers have around and ask myself if it's worth it. Will eating it get me to my goal or will it just put me in a tailspin.

addict3

Planning, absolutely! Never fail to plan. If you do fail to plan one day, stick to old reliables you know. After planning for a while you will be able to put together an impromptu day in a pinch. I eat 3 meals and 3 snacks per day, all of which contain at least SOME protein. I have dieted most of my life and never understood the importance of this. It will keep your body going and help with the hunger, but you must start early on with breakfast and carry it on through the last snack. If you can eat cottage cheese, ( I never could till now) my nutritionist calls it a super food and says it is perfect for a last snack before bed because it coats the stomach and releases slowly throughout the night to fuel the body. Keep track of your protein, fat and carbs every day, it helps and is essential to success. Drink plenty (water is best) and stay hydrated, it also helps. I wish I had understood this years ago. Good luck

rsward

bump

UrbanRunner81

what is your goal a day? maybe you need to bump up your calorie goal. Treats are okay, just in moderation. I sometimes pre-plan my day to make sure I get enough of my macros, usually don't pre-plan dinner though.

Thinkthinstaythin

if you want something sweet. Fruit is naturally sweet. It is the best thing ever and kids love it as well!!!! Also, LOG everything because you lie to yourself if you don't but if you know you have to log it your less likely to eat it.

Darlingir

just a small, partial suggestion....be honest about your food...no matter what you eat..log it anyway....really, it's that important.

wingednotes

Switch up your routine. If the meat and cheese sandwich isn't filling the hole, find something that does. Make something FUN. Do something insane with cooking - get the kids involved - and eat it slowly. Enjoy every moment. If the kids aren't eating that meal with you, have them sit and eat something else (besides cookies & crackers which sound like a trigger for you.)

Its important to plan your meals, but I think its equally important to plan your evenings. What else are you doing in the evening besides eating sweets? Are you escaping from chores? Are you bored? Lonely? Frustrated from a long day with the kids? Plan something to do - a favorite show or movie, a hobby, pick up knitting or something that involves the hands so they are busy doing something other than eating.

This stuff has worked for me. (I suffer from compulsive eating.)

26Nirak

I go through the same thing and come to realize it is a mind-game.

Along with all the great advise already given: planning, planning,planning, protein throughout the day, plenty of water: I try to take time for little mantras throughout the day. Suggestive powers, I need to change my brain in order to change my awful eating habits.

It may go something like this: I will form good habits. I will persevere.

I am using Og Mandino's book "The Greatest Salesman in the World" in order to change my thinking.

What I found is that it does not really matter if you believe in this stuff or not, but it will force you to slow down the mind and become more conscientious of what you are about to do - like eating cookie number 8.

Awareness. And then change.

For now, it's working for me.

Good luck!!!

katydid25

I agree with the posters suggesting you log everything! When you realize how many calories are in those little snacks, you're more likely to steer clear.

I also eat a smaller breakfast and lunch so I have a larger dinner. I usually don't need that much in the morning. If I do need more earlier in the day, I split my calories between 4 meals. That usually works for me!

AlayshaJ

Make the mid-afternoon snack a meal. Protein, veggie, carb. Simple. That won't happen anymore.

rockabillydarlin

Look up some recipes for healthier sweet treats and have them around for when you have cravings. Plan out your meals ahead of time and don't stray from them! I find it's easier for me to stick to a plan than to try and make healthy decisions on a whim all day long (of course, I do break down and have a sweet every once in a while). But I just keep telling myself: "I don't need it!" And I don't. The craving passes and I feel awesome for resisting.

llmichalek

Yes definitely log everything. If you are embarrassed, don't make your diary public. But if you don't log, you will keep doing it. I logged for the first few days and my breakfasts consisted of potato chips, birthday cake, ice cream...once I saw that, I started making better choices. Now it's whole wheat toast, peanut butter, and strawberries. Also, don't let yourself get hungry. Eat a snack BEFORE you get hungry enough to eat crackers and cookies. You may want to lower your calories for meals, so you have more to spend on healthy snacks throughout the day to keep you satisfied. Finally, find some snacks that are healthy and good for you that you LOVE. For me, it's peanut butter toast, peanut butter and bananas, chocolate protein shakes made with coconut milk, watermelon. If you are still hungry all the time, you aren't getting enough calories and take it from me, you will stall on weight loss eventually after screwing up your metabolism. Lower your goal to maybe 1/2 or 1 pound a week which will allot you more calories. I have stalled for 6 months after losing 50 pounds of baby weight. This last 10-15 has been a nightmare. I have actually had to add calories to reset my body to be able to lose again.

VoodooLuLu

plan your meals ahead log them onto here and follow that if your still hungry drink more water or something!

joeq722

Im guessing, but maybe you are not eating enough at breakfast and lunch.
You may be operating on the faulty logic of saying:

"i only hadba little for breakfast so im doing good".

if you have 1400 calories for the day, id hope you diivide them as 400 400 400 then a couple of 100 snacks, something like that.

pakibeaka

What I have noticed is you need to stop eating sweet things. It is hard at first but then after a week or so, you don't really crave it anymore and it is sort of a take it or leave it sort of feeling. Sugar is very addictive and once you have some, you only want more. Try going without and then eventually let yourself have one if you really want it. But for me, it is best to stay away from all of it or I want sugar all the time. Good luck! Also, make sure you log everything, then you will see actually how much you are eating and won't want to keep eating it. It is working for me. I love this website.

Contrarian

Fruit.

dgarblik

Bump

ganetdiary

Maybe you can find a compromise. I have a K-Cup coffee / hot drink machine. So, in the evenings, I can go with a relatively low calorie sweet drink such as Hot Apple Cider (80 calories) or Chai Latte (60 calories). Even two of them isn't too bad. Maybe even throw in a mini packet of chocolate chip cookies (130 calories). This might keep a 500+ calorie blowout snack down to a more reasonable 200 or so.

annabellj

It's not as simple as getting rid of foods if they are foods you are feeding your children. It's all about willpower. I personally look at the foods my teenagers have around and ask myself if it's worth it. Will eating it get me to my goal or will it just put me in a tailspin.

im sorry but I have to disagree, if we didnt have an issue with food in the first place we wouldnt be overweight, my kids know that I cannot bring certain foods in the house, donuts, brownies, chips, they are ok with that because they want me to succeed. I buy the sugar free jello, fat free pudding, 98%ff popcorn the kettle corn type, and the fiber one brownies and i buy them ice cream cups that I wont eat, they have little candies on the top of them that fortunately i dont like. my kids dont need a lot of junk food either. sometimes i mess up and buy stuff, but i try to have things in the house that i wont binge on, there is ff 25 cal hot chocolate packets also.

jaycee00

My sweet cravings start after dinner. What I found is if I brush my teeth before the cravings start, I don't have that intense sugar need. I may still miss it a little, especially when my kids are having desert but a little will power gets me through it.

This may sound weird, but I think it has something to do with the after tastes. Ever eat a couple of girl scout cookies and think you are satisfied....just to keep on craving them until the whole sleve is gone? Chewing gum instead of eating more cookies is working for me. And of course, brushing right after dinner keeps the cookies away at night.

paygep

You just have to log every single thing. I think you can eat whatever you want... if you log it ALL, you will at least be honest with yourself about the number of calories you're eating. For me, there's no "bad" foods.... as long as I log it and stick close to my calorie goals. Seriously, I eat a small amount of chocolate or cookies every night. It also helps to know if I ate a lot of extra calories, because I can just work out more. Oh, and get yourself some herbal tea... there's a million different flavors, hot and comforting, and some are slightly sweet tasting even when you don't add sugar.

leomom72

My day starts off so good
Healthy breakfast... log it.

Mid morning exercise. Log it.

Healthy lunch. Log it.

Mid-afternoon - and things start going bad. I seem to start getting hungry about 4pm and I make a meat sandwich (protein and carbs) and that is good, but does not fill the hole enough... so I start eating crackers or cookies with the children... I feel guilty, so I dont log it.

Dinner is generally healthy; lots of veges and lean protein etc.... I log it.

But after dinner I get a sweet craving (of sorts). It is getting colder here and I seem to crave hot chocolate/milo. Some nights I may drink a litre of it (3 large cups) and I know its not good. Its just pure sugar realy.
Then with my hot drinks I eat lots of cookies.

I am worried that since it is only the beginning of the colder months I will not lose any more weight, but infact, will add 20lbs back on.

HELP! :sick:
The mornings start so good.... the evenings end CRAP.

How do you all cope at night? Wanting sweet stuff.
I dont want to put all the weight back on over winter!

open your diary and log anyways..maybe your friends can help you be accountable, by letting you know when is enough, WITHOUT being judgemental...but where do you live that is getting colder ??

BlowYourMind

Eat slower and you'll feel fuller when going through a craving think about what you truly want more, the health, a great body shape to go with it or not and then you'll see the true importance of sticking to your plan and make healthier choices. Also, have a day where you CAN eat those things but just not the same volume like you're doing...

1n1t2w1n1t

I completely get where you are coming from. Mon-Fri from morning to 5pm I am great & exactly on track then boom I get home where my husband and daughter are waiting for dinner and I binge.

Plus, my cravings for sweets is out of this world. I never have them in my house but I will drive across town to go get something then binge once again.

So thank you for this, I needed to hear these tips also.

itgeekwoman

It's not as simple as getting rid of foods if they are foods you are feeding your children. It's all about willpower. I personally look at the foods my teenagers have around and ask myself if it's worth it. Will eating it get me to my goal or will it just put me in a tailspin.

I have to ask though, if you won't feed that to yourself, why is it ok to give it to our kids? I got rid of all packaged foods in the house. If the kids want to eat that junk then they know they need to spend their own money and do it out of the house. I don't think it's ok to teach my kids that eating junk is healthy.

I sound like a nut I'm sure, but my kids are teenagers. They will struggle with weight in the next 10 years and if I can't set the example and offer good snack choices, then it's a true shame that I've created another generation of family that will struggle as I do.

Junk food is out of the house!