Why No Snacking
neverstray
Posts: 3,845 Member
I snack. So, that's that. But, all the reading I do, they say DO NOT SNACK. Like snacking is the evil empire. What's the deal?
I have light snacks, like maybe some walnuts, or maybe an orange, or maybe an avocado. you know, healthful yummy food. But, all my readings say no snacking on Paleo. Anyone want to venture a guess as to why?
And, this is MFP, so I do track my cals, but more for the macros, not so much for calories anymore. But, I do notice that my snacking is much, much, much less than it used to be. I never get cravings anymore, for anything. It's a trip.
I've only been on this a week, so I'm learning.
I have light snacks, like maybe some walnuts, or maybe an orange, or maybe an avocado. you know, healthful yummy food. But, all my readings say no snacking on Paleo. Anyone want to venture a guess as to why?
And, this is MFP, so I do track my cals, but more for the macros, not so much for calories anymore. But, I do notice that my snacking is much, much, much less than it used to be. I never get cravings anymore, for anything. It's a trip.
I've only been on this a week, so I'm learning.
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Replies
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1. it is no longer necessary to balance your glucose levels - you will turn into a fat burning machine - or if you have none, your protein intake will be able generate its own glucose.
2. If you arn't hungry and are snacking - then it is an emotional or mindless eating. You might be doing it just because you are used to doing it or use food as a distraction (don't know your situation).
Personally If I am hungry - I eat. Sometimes that means missing a meal, sometimes that means making an egg in the middle of the afternoon.
Try not to let food run your life and eat it as a fuel when you need it.0 -
I've found that since switching to Paleo, I don't WANT snacks anymore *most* of the time, depending on my activity level for the day. But I also don't go by "breakfast, lunch, and dinner" strictly (I log that way for the sake of keeping track of my protein), but in reality, I eat when I get hungry. Sometimes I'm hungry right when I wake up, sometimes I'm not hungry til 11. Sometimes I need a big lunch, sometimes I just need a small piece of chicken and salad. I also try to listen to what my body's telling me besides just hunger and thirst...if I start craving sweets, I grab something carby like sweet potatoes, if it's more a nagging "omg I'm starrrrving", I need protein. Your body will tell you when, what, and how much to eat, it's weird when we've been programmed to have meal times, but when you get used to it, there's a big difference!
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Snacking tends to be habitual and mindless. However once you get out of the habit then it is a useful tool to get out of a jam if you eat the right foods. For example. An orange at 10 am, apple at 3pm and square of chocolate after dinner every day is habitual snacking and probaly not required if you have eaten properly (for you), whether that is fasting until hungry in the morning or having a good protein based breakie.
As I have found since going Primal I can only speak for myself, as one size does not fit all of us. I have stopped snacking and eat my meals. However I find that the period around 4 o'clock is still tough, it is long enough since lunch I am a tad peckish but too close to Family Dinner to warrant a mini meal. So I have a few nuts or a small bit of a Naked Bar to put me on until I get home from the office to make dinner.0 -
Thanks all. I notice I'm not as hungry as I used to be at all. But, I am hungry. I'm a natural born snacker. Maybe it's mindless. I don't know. Thanks for the input. I'll pay more attention to if I'm actually hungry or not.0
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I find I am more hungry on days when I have an intense workout of course, so I will have a snack or whatever before dinner, evenings I am still having a hard time with...i still snack...trying to get out of that habit :grumble:0
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I use snacks for when I am really hungry but shouldn't have another big meal for awhile.. it just tides me over. My favorite paleo type snacks are almonds, pecans, and pumpkin seeds.. and small portions of unsweetened applesauce for when I have a sweet craving. I hadn't heard that you shouldn't snack on paleo but maybe it's just to avoid the mindless type snacking for more substantial and satisfying meals. I'm with those who say, when you're hungry.. eat, but only eat what you need to fuel your body.. sometimes for me that means a snack.0
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Well, that's the crux then: if you are a 'grazer' then that's what your body prefers. Several small meals are processed the same as a few large ones (and to my mind more 'hunter/gatherer' to boot). But if you are a 'snacker' in the sense that you've always got to be nibbling on something salty or sweet, then it may be a habit to break.Thanks all. I notice I'm not as hungry as I used to be at all. But, I am hungry. I'm a natural born snacker. Maybe it's mindless. I don't know. Thanks for the input. I'll pay more attention to if I'm actually hungry or not.0 -
good discussion, bump0
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Liek I said, I'm new to this. I understand the reasoning behind no snacking. However, since I am tracking calories, I have noticed that even with snacking, my overall caoric intake has gone down. I tend to feel full at a certain level and I just stop. So, that's good. Yeah, I think I'm just a grazer. I don't eat snacks on top of my 3 feedings. It's like I incorporate those all day. I like to eat 5 times a day. It seems to be working.0
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I've noticed the same thing about calories, I seem to average around 900 a day? But I'm always full, have tons of energy, and ALWAYS eat when I get hungry, am always over my recommended protein, and normally stay within my recommended fat % and am getting LOADS more nutrients than I was before (I was a huge grain/dairy person)...I don't believe in the "You need 1200 a day just to function" with Paleo/Primal, because you're ONLY putting good fuel in your body, so it's natural to not need to eat as much most of the time.0
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Wow. I could not eat 900. I eat 1000 more than that. Holy crap, that's so little. If you feel OK, I guess it's OK. It just seems ridiculously low.0
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I wouldn't say snacks are bad, but I would say "only eat when you are hungry".
I generally eat two big nutrient dense meals per day because I just don't get hungry until lunch time and an 8 hour eating window works well for me. Sometimes I have to have a snack at night to get enough calories (fat). It doesn't make sense to eat when not hungry, but I also don't benefit if I don't eat enough (fat).
Before going primal, I couldn't STOP eating. Whether I skipped breakfast or not, it was a pigout fest all night. I was also very, very sick. It was NOT a lack of willpower. Changing WHAT I eat, changed EVERYTHING.0 -
I've noticed the same thing about calories, I seem to average around 900 a day? But I'm always full, have tons of energy, and ALWAYS eat when I get hungry, am always over my recommended protein, and normally stay within my recommended fat % and am getting LOADS more nutrients than I was before (I was a huge grain/dairy person)...I don't believe in the "You need 1200 a day just to function" with Paleo/Primal, because you're ONLY putting good fuel in your body, so it's natural to not need to eat as much most of the time.
Same here! Lately, since going Paleo from Primal- I am finding that its hard for me to get a lot of cals. I usually unintentionally IF for long periods. Lately I've been eating coconut oil in my tea just to get some good fat/cals if I've had a lot of exercise that day.0 -
It LOOKS ridiculously low even to me, but I eat LOTS of protein and veggies, I eat more now than I did when I was eating crap! I think it really matters more about the quality of what's going in, you know what I mean? Plus, I don't do cardio, I just do strength training and my calories are a little higher on those days. I was freaking out at first, because I was like, omg I'm starving! But my doc said it's normal because of what I'm eating, and that as my weight comes off and am able to work out longer, I'll need to up my calories.0
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I've noticed the same thing about calories, I seem to average around 900 a day? But I'm always full, have tons of energy, and ALWAYS eat when I get hungry, am always over my recommended protein, and normally stay within my recommended fat % and am getting LOADS more nutrients than I was before (I was a huge grain/dairy person)...I don't believe in the "You need 1200 a day just to function" with Paleo/Primal, because you're ONLY putting good fuel in your body, so it's natural to not need to eat as much most of the time.
Same here! Lately, since going Paleo from Primal- I am finding that its hard for me to get a lot of cals. I usually unintentionally IF for long periods. Lately I've been eating coconut oil in my tea just to get some good fat/cals if I've had a lot of exercise that day.
I've thought about doing that too! I've seen a lot of people swear by it in the mornings for a good high-cal energy boost
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so as a side question, is grazing good or bad? i have a whole rotisserie chicken on my desk at work, and i have bites when i want them. this chicken generally covers me from what would be breakfast til i go home at 5pm and lasts 2 work days...i also have sweet peppers or cucumbers for when i want something sweet or crunchy.0
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So interesting that you guys are saying you're eating less calories. I just started tracking my food again, mostly to track my macros, not calories. Since I'm doing the Whole30, I'm not paying attention to calories, but I noticed just from the last couple of days, my calorie intake is much lower than MFP's recommendations.... and yet I'm not hungry and I feel fine! Hmmm.
At this point, I think I'll continue tracking. I have to count carbohydrates for my type 1 diabetes (that's how I control my medication), so it makes sense to just input everything after I look it up. But I don't think I'm really going to pay attention to anything but how I feel.0 -
so as a side question, is grazing good or bad? i have a whole rotisserie chicken on my desk at work, and i have bites when i want them. this chicken generally covers me from what would be breakfast til i go home at 5pm and lasts 2 work days...i also have sweet peppers or cucumbers for when i want something sweet or crunchy.
What I'm gathering here is grazing is fine, just be aware that its not mindless grazing. Stop when you feel satiated. That's the main thing.0
