No late night "junk"snacking - Feb 22-Mar 1

lulabellewoowoo
lulabellewoowoo Posts: 3,125 Member
edited September 20 in Motivation and Support
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/81669-no-late-night-junk-snacking-feb-15-21?page=2#posts-1137146

Many times, we may have a great day as far as eating healthy, getting in our exercise, right up through dinner. But then the after-dinner munchies start to happen. We sit in front of the TV or we get a snack for our kids and we realize that we are eating potato chips, ice cream, chocolate bar, when in reality we didn't even really want it.

That is what this thread is about. For some of us, we make a cut off time that may vary from day to day and decide not to eat anything past that time at all (usually about 2 hours before bed). For other, we may make a resolve to simply not put anything processed in our mouths past that given time and keep everything natural.

Whichever way you do it, please come join us and encourage us and be motivated to keep your day healthy even past dinnertime.

WELCOME ANY NEWBIES, welcome back us oldie but goodies.
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Replies

  • VegGrrl
    VegGrrl Posts: 336 Member
    I too have a real problem with this - I work evening shift and get home about midnight. No matter how much I have eaten at work I just HAVE to shove something in my mouth when I walk through my front door! This is only my 3rd day on here and I can already see that this habit is putting me over my goal calories each day. Anyone have any "tricks" besides "just say no"? I'm not real good at willpower alone!
  • lulabellewoowoo
    lulabellewoowoo Posts: 3,125 Member
    I found for me that a strong peppermint tea helps. And this isn't necessarily about not eating late, if your calories allow for it. But maybe having some vegetables or fruit instead of something heavy or starchy. It takes a while to get in the groove of things, and obviously we all have setbacks, but eventually you can get into the swing of things. WELCOME.

    We usually post each day telling of our successes or "not quite getting there" moments and encourage each other. Join us and help us out and we will help you.
  • highgear
    highgear Posts: 30 Member
    I use to have that problem, but since I shifted to a 5 meal a day plan, eating small ammounts (200-400 calories) every 3ish hours I don't have cravings. In fact I'm almost to the point of feeling like "Do I have to eat again?

    You could also try eating 1/2 cup of lowfat cottage cheese as your snack before bed. The casein protein is very slowly digested and will satisfy your hunger for hours. I also drink TONS of water. Well not tons, but you get my meaning. I think the water intake certainly helps in fighting off cravings. (I don't know the science behind it, but it works for me.)

    Cheers!
  • dewdrop
    dewdrop Posts: 1,715 Member
    I am starting anew - 26 days in a row (ups and downs) isn't such a bad score, right? :wink:
    I'm aiming for 8:30 again. Exceptions are when independently of my will I get home later and I have calories left that I may eat, however not later than 2 hrs before I'm going to bed. :smile:
  • teetee1281
    teetee1281 Posts: 1,076 Member
    It's a new week, and tonight I did not get home until just after 8. I think I will change my time to 8, but still strive for 730. Is it a real slip up when you don't get home at the expected time?
  • dewdrop
    dewdrop Posts: 1,715 Member
    I don't think so, teetee. It's not like we're doing it on purpose :smile:.

    The whole idea of this challenge was to have dinner and not put anything into our mouths once we got off the table. The cut-offs are meant to prevent us from having dinner too late. The only way I can see it being a problem, is if you eat out and then come home late and still run to the fridge. Other than that, it should be fine :flowerforyou:.
  • ksnowras
    ksnowras Posts: 29 Member
    This is by far my worst time of the day. I can plan and bring what I need to eat at work and even eat ok at dinner. It's the 8-11 time period that kills me. I don't get home until 6:30 and we usually don't eat dinner until between 7-7:30. I should be fine, but the "salt/sugar exchange" comes on about 9ish. I like the idea of only natural items after a certain time. I think I'm going to shoot for that after 8:30 and see how it goes this week. Thanks for the ideas!!
  • dewdrop
    dewdrop Posts: 1,715 Member
    Day 1 compleeted. :smile:
  • lulabellewoowoo
    lulabellewoowoo Posts: 3,125 Member
    I'm with you Dewdrop. One under my belt. Going to eat dinner before going to the gym, but leaving room for a fruit when I get home around 9.

    Have a great day everyone!
  • teetee1281
    teetee1281 Posts: 1,076 Member
    Oh, goodie, Dew Drop, then I am 6 in a row right now. Tonight, I plan to cook the dinner that I wanted to last night. I will have to eat dinner by 630pm because I have to go to the airport to pick up a new arrival. Hopefully, it will be a quick in and out from the airport so I can go home and then go right to bed. I will post later to tell you about my evening.
  • zaza54
    zaza54 Posts: 1,475 Member
    Hi-
    Haven't been able to get near my computer (husband and son took precedence, and will again today so I have to be quick).
    I am continuing this weekly (and monthly on another thread) challenge since it is a HUGE help.
    So far, I have gone 7 days in a row without any calories after my cut-off time. Tonight will be my Day 8. Being accountable to this group makes all the difference.
    Zaza
  • teetee1281
    teetee1281 Posts: 1,076 Member
    7 nights of success! Though, tonight was my first night that I ever went over my calories (including what I worked out) so after my dinner I went and worked out for a quick 30 mins, so I wouldn't end my night in the whole. I did not like those big red numbers on my home screen. :grumble:

    Have a good evening everyone, I have to get to bed so I can go to the airport in the morning, since the flight was delayed. Luckily I stayed at work late to get the email or otherwise I would have been at the airport looking lost. :embarassed:
  • rosemary10
    rosemary10 Posts: 253
    This is the first day for me I'm just drinking water at the moment. I quit eating about 4am, left work at 7:30am, went to the gym then home to bed. Only slept 5 hrs since I'm off tomorrow and have to sleep tonight. When I got up and weighed myself I was down 2lbs from last week.
    I'm so excited! How is that possible?
    Twice today not eating 2hrs before bed. I thinks it counts as one day though.
    You guys have been a great help.
    I did the tea thing and that was yummy. Couldn't find peppermint lulabelle so had cranberry.
  • lulabellewoowoo
    lulabellewoowoo Posts: 3,125 Member
    Second night down. Had grapes after the gym, but had it planned out. Tonight 7:30 cutoff.
  • dewdrop
    dewdrop Posts: 1,715 Member
    Everyone's doing so well! :flowerforyou:
    Zaza, good to have you back - now you're trapped here with us :wink: .
    Teetee, well done! Being reasonable keeps a good balance and I think that helps one going. Too many fake failures (due to strictness) can be discouraging.
    Lulabelle, yeah! There's no way back, right? :wink:
    Rosemary, welcome to the team. :flowerforyou: Keep up the very good work.
    Me, well done last night, girl :bigsmile: - I had no more food past 7 and finished the drink also by 8 :smile:
  • zaza54
    zaza54 Posts: 1,475 Member
    Thanks dewdrop - happy to be here. I made it thru another night! This group is making all the difference. Don't want to confess in the morning.
    Zaza
  • rosemary10
    rosemary10 Posts: 253
    This is day 2 for me. Sitting here with the cranberry/apple tea and 44 cal under. Gonna watch a bit of tv and knit, then hit the hay. Life is good. You guys are greatly encouraging. Blessings to all.
  • lulabellewoowoo
    lulabellewoowoo Posts: 3,125 Member
    3 nights down. Didn't overeat yesterday but seriously wanted to and couldn't figure out why. Just went off birth control pills as they make me loopy and boy has my body gone into some kind of funky state. But stuck to 7:30.

    Tonight, out with my sister-in-law and daughter. Hoping to convince them to eat before getting nails done so I can get done by 7:30. Also depends on if hubby gets home by 6 to watch our niece.
  • dewdrop
    dewdrop Posts: 1,715 Member
    3 nights down.
    lulabelle, enjoy tnight. Even if, independent of your will, dinner takes a bit longer, just make healthy choices and have no more food after your dinner together. Then you're good :).
  • lulabellewoowoo
    lulabellewoowoo Posts: 3,125 Member
    AngelSmiley.gif
    Dewdrop, you are the little angel on my shoulder, whispering thoughts of reason. THANKS :)
  • teetee1281
    teetee1281 Posts: 1,076 Member
    I missed Wednesday night post, I went to bed at 9pm, I was exhausted! :yawn: I was done eating by 645pm, and I really thought that I wanted to eat a little snack, but when I glanced at the clock it was 727, for a second I was like, hey, :devil: if I start eating then... but then I just changed my mind and TOTALLY forgot about the sweet tooth. :happy: So, that's 8 nights in a row for me. Tonight is the beginning of my weekend. Hopefully, I will do well. Happy Thursday!
  • zaza54
    zaza54 Posts: 1,475 Member
    I blew it last night.:embarassed: I just had to have a few sips of coke, which opened the floodgates!:grumble:
    But, today is a new day and I am resolved to do better.
    Tonight is my new Day 1.
  • dewdrop
    dewdrop Posts: 1,715 Member
    Dewdrop, you are the little angel on my shoulder, whispering thoughts of reason. THANKS :)

    :blushing: I just learned from the best! :flowerforyou:

    teetee, so proud of you, girl! Have a lovely weekend.

    rosemary, so glad to see you're continuing on the path you started :flowerforyou:

    zaza, you gotta do something about the coke :angry: - I remember you mentioning coke in 2009's challenges, too. No more coke for you past 5 p.m. - try to find a substitute. Anyway, glad to see you take it day by day. At the end of the month you'll be able to look back with pride and say "I had 27 good nights this month. Yeah me!" :wink: You can do it, I know you!
  • rosemary10
    rosemary10 Posts: 253
    I guess last night was day 3 for me. I didn't go to bed since I had to go to work at 7pm. Tried to take a nap beforehand but couldn't sleep. Really wanted to go to the cafeteria in the middle of the night and splurge (comfort eat) since we were so busy. But my money was in my locker way down in the department. When I finally made it back there, there was only time to eat my food I brought while I did the computer work. Made a new rule, I have to eat all my food before I can buy different (more exciting) food.

    I'm with you dew drop, zaza needs to drop the coke. It's got high fructose corn syrup in it which they are starting to correlate with adult onset diabetes. lulabelle's idea of peppermint tea is great.

    Best to all tonight!
  • teetee1281
    teetee1281 Posts: 1,076 Member
    I'm coming to realize that weekends are not best, not that I ate late or anything, but I just don't check the boards often enough. Friday and Saturday were both good nights for me, both of them I was done eating before 730 pm and not even hungry or tempted to have something sweet. Actually I think last night's dinner was so good, I got home and was practically sleepy. I was able to get about another hour and half of usefulness, then to bed I went. That's 10 nights for me. I'm going to shoot for 15 in a row.

    Oddly, reading about coke that Zaza had, I actually had one with my dinner last night. I only had one and it was my first coke in so long. I don't drink sodas too often so when I have one, I can feel the acid when I drink it.

    Everyone enjoy your Saturday.
  • rosemary10
    rosemary10 Posts: 253
    Good work teetee.

    I don't think having sodas or eating junk food will hurt you if it's only once in awhile. But it can get you if consumed frequently over long periods. The phosporus leaches calcium out of your bones.

    Day 4 for me was Fri. Didn't eat anything for 3 hrs before bed. Had water and went to bed at about 9:30 am.
  • dewdrop
    dewdrop Posts: 1,715 Member
    I have to restart. I ate super healthy last night (and light), but it was too late with respect to my commitment here.
  • rosemary10
    rosemary10 Posts: 253
    I blew it last night in the middle of the night (middle of the day since I was working).:yawn: Had chocolate covered pretzels, cheetos and homemade strawberry pretzel salad.:noway: :embarassed: Broke my rule of not eating other food before I ate what I brought. Didn't eat after 5am. When I got off work, went to Wal Mart, and the gym before coming home to go to bed this morning. Decided to start over when I got up this afternoon.

    Hope to do better tonight since I'm off and have to go to bed tonight.:smile:
  • teetee1281
    teetee1281 Posts: 1,076 Member
    Rosemary: Strawberry pretzel salad? What is that? I know it must be difficult for you since you work nights. Tomorrow is a new day, you'll do well.

    Dewdrop: how late did you eat? If it was really healthy, maybe the time wasn't bad, unless you went straight asleep after. :yawn:

    Lulabelle: You doing okay? Normally it is me who misses a day.

    Tonight was a good night for me, but I was done before my deadline and completely full. Haven't even thought about a snack. :bigsmile: But now it is bed time for me, so I will check in tomorrow. Night all.
  • rosemary10
    rosemary10 Posts: 253
    I did well last night, that's day 1 for me again. Thanks teetee for the encouragement. The strawberry pretzel receipe she used can be seen on kraftreceipes.com. It's a jello thing that has cream cheese and who knows what else in it. Two squares is over 1,000 calories. I think you see my point.
    Can't eat the rest of the day since we had our monthly fellowship dinner at church. It's a potluck type of affair and you don't really know what your eating. But it's great to be with the people at least.
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