If you Stay/Work @ home & have advice for a SNACKER plz HELP

SoozeE512

Last time I was home I was snacking on toast and butter! I will still find stupid things to snack on.

Maybe you should eat some smart butter instead of the stupid kind. This butter is smart and it also balances:

http://www.smartbalance.com/products/spreadable-butter/smart-balance-butter-canola-oil-blend

For a more serious answer though, I don't work at home but I snack at work all the time -- I try to pack veggies for myself to snack on for the most part. Baby carrots and celery sticks are pretty filling!

chriscolh

Key for me is to plan my eating and snacks. Breakfast right after working out (between 6:30 and 7am), snack at 9:30, lunch at noon, snack at 2:30-ish, dinner with the family, then walk away from the kitchen. There are days where I watch the clock like a bloodhound, waiting for the next snacktime. (yes, I'm that bad). But if I know what I'm having (I'm stuck in a celery/pb and fiber one brownie rut right now, but it works for me!) and when I can have it, it helps. I also am a huge fan of crystal light (ok, actually I buy the walmart generic great value) energy drinks in the afternoon. I mix one packet with 32 oz water (it fills my water bottle) and guzzle that when I have a sweet tooth attack and it's not snack time. It satisfies the sugar craving and fills my belly, and it's easier to talk myself out of snacking when I feel full. Snacking/grazing all day is a big reason why I gained this chunk of fluff, and getting it under control is my key to losing it.

Tracy429

You may know some of what I am going to share, but if not I hope it all helps. First I cleaned out all junk foods, so the only foods to snack on where healthy ones i.e carrots & hummus, celery & PB or Almond butter etc. I also choose healthy snacks like animal crackers with no icing, I make my own trail mix etc. I only allow myself the right serving and to help me stay with the allowed serving, I place ex. animal crackers you are allowed 16, so I put 16 in a snack size container or baggie and that is how I control things. Plus I think before I put things into my mouth, I ask..how much have I eaten, am I really hungry, do I really want to exercise more today just so I can have the extra calories or snacks...That helps me. Plus, I get up and get busy with a project or a game, something that will keep my mind off food.

mdcjmom

I work at home. I find it easier than when I was in the office. At home, I have access to food that I prepare and select. In the office, if I forgot to bring something, I either stay hungry or pick something from the vending machine (and that never goes well).

I keep my house stocked with fruits, yogurt, string cheese, whatever else I might be in the mood for that's healthy and "snack" calorie appropriate (I generally aim for around 100 calories-ish). If I have a lot of stuff around and a lot of variety of stuff and it's all stuff I enjoy, I really don't have a problem sticking to healthy foods at home. I also actually eat meals-no differently than in the office. So I have breakfast, lunch (and sometimes dinner) during my work day. I don't look at being home as being in an all you can eat buffet. I just look at it as a day at the office that I no longer have to drive an hour each way to get to.

This. Is almost exactly how I handle things!

lisa799

I also work at home and I agree that it's easy to get off track. I feel like it was worse when I worked in the office because people would bring in surprise cakes, cookies and other treats that I don't keep in the house. I look at it this way, when I'm at home, I can control what is available to me. If I'm going to eat extra snacks, at least they are healthy ones.

I do keep vegetable stock/broth (low sodium) and if I'm feeling like I have to eat something, I first distract myself with work and if that doesn't work (and it's not time for a snack), I have a cup of broth. It's warm and while its not necessarily filling, it usually does the trick.

Meal planning also is such a huge help. If I have things made and planned in advance, I'm less likely to eat something that I shouldn't.

Riemersma4

I work at home.

I keep my immediate environment free of anything that i can eat other than some carrots, celery and green peppers and a 32 oz cup of water.

I cleaned out the pantry (much to my kids' dismay) of any junk food as i don't want to test my willpower. (I take a slightly different view than the 'just say no' crowd).

I shut the door to my office to create privacy, seclusion and to avoid thinking about hte rest of the house (like the kitchen and pantry).

Anytime i get up to leave my office, I take a big drink of water.

I also keep a LOT of books around and read when i take a break. helps prevent my natural move to snacks.

Good luck!

primpixie

Hi Robin, I am at home always as I suffer from chronic faigue, and as a result piled ont he pounds! However, I do like and enjoy healthy food over junk, as junk makes me feel horrible. I eeat carrots, celery with low fat dips, apples that I cut up first and have to eat or they go brown. Orange juice, I water down first, as this eeks out the calories and is thirst quenching - perhaps sometimes you are thirsty not actually hungry? Thin slithers of cheese with apples are lovely, or ryvita/cracker breads with low fat phillidelphia with fruit. Yoghurts, pre-prepared mango/pineapple from the shops, grapes - all of these can be eaten and are filling and you really don't have to worry about the calories! I also make sure that any amount of cleaning I do I add to my cardiovascular exercise, you will be amazed how much 20 mins cleaning will wipe off your calorie count!

primpixie

And as with Lisa, I meal plan. As i am at home and my partner works, I only do one shop per week, so all the meals are written on a board in the kitchen - we both love our food and luckily I love cooking. I have managed to keep the food interesting but low fat and my partner loves it - he doesn't notice because it's tasty. If you have a good varied appetite for food, try Thai recipes, Chinese, homemade ofcourse, and for a treat homemade chips. Casseroles and hotpots are easy to make and have very few calories if you make them yourself. We eat a lot of fish, chicken etc and I use all styles of cooking to keep it fresh.

Hope this helps!