EVENINGS!! *shake fist*

mundaetraversa
mundaetraversa Posts: 21
in Health and Weight Loss
During the day, I am on point with my goals, and it doesn't feel too challenging. I have lost five pounds in about a month, and I'm happy with that progress. But in the evenings...I swear. I would break the law for a snack after dinner. I do allow myself a square of dark chocolate, a mini brownie, or a cup of air-popped popcorn after dinner on some nights, but within my calorie allowance (I usually count my calories by the week for more flexibility to go slightly under or over on individual days. Works fine for me personally).

Do you have a time of day that's more difficult than others? How do you distract yourself or power through? I need advice!
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Replies

  • kburns0709
    kburns0709 Posts: 297 Member
    Gum and after dinner mints work well for me. Or brush your teeth.
  • mousemom18
    mousemom18 Posts: 172 Member
    evenings - I am right with you there. A whole day of self-discipline can be undone by an evening of grazing.
  • WanaBMom
    WanaBMom Posts: 43 Member
    Nights and weekends are the worst for me. In fact it's any time I'm just at home. I try to be good but when I see my husband grab something yummy I just want some. I also do a lot of things around the house that tend to raise my hunger level. I try to keep healthy choices on hand at all possible.
  • missomgitsica
    missomgitsica Posts: 496 Member
    I get late night cravings like crazy. Usually about an hour before I have to go to bed I get the urge to go out and hit a drive thru for some kind of snack . . . it sucks. I can usually talk myself out of it by reminding myself that between the time it'll take me to go out, get food, come home, eat, and get ready for bed, I'll be going to bed much later than I should, and thinking of going to work in the morning exhausted makes the snack not worth it.
  • coltsgirl311
    coltsgirl311 Posts: 226 Member
    Oh man, do I feel your pain! I have the hardest time with wanting to snack after dinner too. I usually try to save myself about 200 calories so I can have a couple of Oreos, or a glass of wine in the evenings. I find that if I get up and do something rather than watch TV or read, that I don't get that craving to snack. Sometimes I will either brush my teeth, or start to do my nails, because I don't like the taste of anything after brushing, and it's impossible to try and eat anything with wet nails!
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I leave myself calories for after dinner snacking. I like to eat in the evening, sometimes quite a lot. I know this about myself, so I just allot the calories ahead of time and then I don't sweat it.
  • FrenchMob
    FrenchMob Posts: 1,167 Member
    Why not allow yourself some calories for the evening? Just eat a little less at other meals during the day. The myth of "don't eat after dinner" or after a certain time is exactly that, a myth.
  • pianolover2012
    pianolover2012 Posts: 168 Member
    I have found that if I exercise when I get home from work (6pm) and wait to eat dinner around 7 or so, the need to snack is eliminated. I can usually make it without feeling the need to snack.
  • climbing_trees
    climbing_trees Posts: 726 Member
    I eat really small meals during the day so that I have extra for nighttime.
  • bbg_daryl
    bbg_daryl Posts: 150 Member
    For me, it's never just a little snacky feeling at night. It's more like a "hey let's see if we can eat KFC's entire menu" feeling. I have wacky cravings for things like cornbread or sweet n sour chicken (I really miss Chinese food) or an ice cream sundae. Pretty much everything that I can never eat ever again haunts me at night.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I used to leave myself some extra calories for dinner, and it worked nicely. Now I just have a super light dinner and brush my teeth afterwards, and go to bed earlier (10pm is late for me now, lol), it seems to help...
  • jakedner
    jakedner Posts: 186 Member
    I find the evenings can be tough for me if I'm sitting around watching TV. If I start to feel 'snacky' and I don't have room left in my calories for the day, I get up and throw in a load of laundry or start dishes or something to distract myself. Simply brushing my teeth helps sometimes too. If I am actually 'hungry', I have a piece of fruit or some veggies and some lean protein. (Apple slices or broccoli florets with almond butter works well for me.)

    Most of the time I have eaten dinner (usually meal 5 for me) so late that I am not 'hungry' before it is time to go to bed.
  • mundaetraversa
    mundaetraversa Posts: 21
    Exactly! I save enough calories for a small snack after my meal, but I know if I save a lot, I'll make far poorer choices than I do when I consume those calories during the day. I am seeing a lot of good advice on this thread, though. Maybe I'll try brushing my teeth earlier...
  • brower47
    brower47 Posts: 16,356 Member
    I leave myself calories for after dinner snacking. I like to eat in the evening, sometimes quite a lot. I know this about myself, so I just allot the calories ahead of time and then I don't sweat it.

    This is exactly what I do. I like to eat at night so my earlier eating is lighter, then I can enjoy a larger quantity at night. It keeps me from going over my goals.
  • jayliospecky
    jayliospecky Posts: 25,022 Member
    I leave myself calories for after dinner snacking. I like to eat in the evening, sometimes quite a lot. I know this about myself, so I just allot the calories ahead of time and then I don't sweat it.

    ^^ Me too.
  • climbing_trees
    climbing_trees Posts: 726 Member
    For me, it's never just a little snacky feeling at night. It's more like a "hey let's see if we can eat KFC's entire menu" feeling. I have wacky cravings for things like cornbread or sweet n sour chicken (I really miss Chinese food) or an ice cream sundae. Pretty much everything that I can never eat ever again haunts me at night.
    Haha me too, sometimes I dream about food. Then get out of bed and in a half asleep state see if I can combine applesauce, plain yogurt, and oatmeal to resemble some sort of cookie dough type creation. I've made some terrible things... >___<
  • shapefitter
    shapefitter Posts: 900 Member
    Make friends with skinny people and learn.
  • RaeLB
    RaeLB Posts: 1,216 Member
    Why not allow yourself some calories for the evening? Just eat a little less at other meals during the day. The myth of "don't eat after dinner" or after a certain time is exactly that, a myth.

    ^
  • CaffeinatedConfectionist
    CaffeinatedConfectionist Posts: 1,046 Member
    I leave myself calories for after dinner snacking. I like to eat in the evening, sometimes quite a lot. I know this about myself, so I just allot the calories ahead of time and then I don't sweat it.

    This is exactly what I do. I like to eat at night so my earlier eating is lighter, then I can enjoy a larger quantity at night. It keeps me from going over my goals.

    Yup. I do like 85% of my eating after I get home from work. I also pre-log my food for the day in the morning, as this helps keep me on track and helps me meet my protein macro.
  • Brunette122
    Brunette122 Posts: 107 Member
    to say that i love snacking is an understatement. i feel everyone's pain on this post. I've been really good lately. I still snack but I portion it out on a plate and never eat out of a bag anymore. i try not to eat dinner until 7. I'll have a snack at 4 pm to hold me over (like a banana) and then i'll do a small snack before i go to bed. its somewhat working. although somedays i wish i could just pig out like i used to!
  • lcvaughn520
    lcvaughn520 Posts: 219 Member
    I keep frozen berries that I sometimes snack on at night when I just feel like eating a little something. They are sweet and cold and they take a while to eat, so it's kind of a nice and guilt-free way to snack after dinner.

    I also tend to eat pretty late in the evening (usually 8 ish). I've found that I can have a reasonable sized snack at 4 or 5, but if I'm snacking after dinner, I just tend to continue to graze until I go to bed, so reversing the snack and dinner has worked for me.
  • ElizabethFuller
    ElizabethFuller Posts: 352 Member
    Gum and after dinner mints work well for me. Or brush your teeth.
    I brush my teeth and paint my nails - you really can't open packets of anything with newly painted nails ( sorry boys, that's probably not a lot of help is it? ) :laugh:
  • Will_Thrust_For_Candy
    Will_Thrust_For_Candy Posts: 6,109 Member
    I leave myself calories for after dinner snacking. I like to eat in the evening, sometimes quite a lot. I know this about myself, so I just allot the calories ahead of time and then I don't sweat it.

    This :drinker:
  • mundaetraversa
    mundaetraversa Posts: 21
    LOL...I miss pigouts, too. Once I am maintaining, maybe I can have one now and again!
  • hz_larson
    hz_larson Posts: 2
    My problem isnt after dinner so much, as the hour or so when I get home from school and when I have dinner. I just come home and instantly want to snack. I know I am just using snacking as a distraction for the other things I need to do, like study, exercise, clean, etc. But it is really tough. Im glad to see other people have this sort of issue and all these tips are really helpful. Im going to try going on a walk as soon as I get home, or getting home and just getting some work done before dinner.
  • mundaetraversa
    mundaetraversa Posts: 21
    Frozen berries! Great idea! I have a raspberry bush that I'm just eating from, but maybe I'll freeze those suckers and have some before bed. NOM
  • Lonestar5775
    Lonestar5775 Posts: 740 Member
    I find stopping is a matter of will-power. I came to the realization that, if left to follow it's own desires, my body will not naturally try to get healthier. My mouth likes to taste delicious food and my stomach (and sometimes emotions) want to have a full stomach and if not for self-discipline it would continue out of control.

    So, I have devloped the mindset that I will tell my body when it eats and how much it eats and if it doesn't like it, too bad! I know that might not work for everyone but for me, my lack of good health was due to lack of discipline...I had to mature and own that fact.
  • climbing_trees
    climbing_trees Posts: 726 Member
    Frozen berries! Great idea! I have a raspberry bush that I'm just eating from, but maybe I'll freeze those suckers and have some before bed. NOM
    Frozen grapes are also divine :) And usually a lot cheaper when berries are out of season~
  • RachelN76
    RachelN76 Posts: 16 Member
    Evenings are totally my worst time. When the children are in bed, and I'm tired, but it's not bed time. And I'm bored.
    I comfort eat when I'm sad, happy, depressed, worried, tired, bored - everything!

    I can be perfect during the day, but I don't know what happens to me in the evenings.
  • Mr_Excitement
    Mr_Excitement Posts: 833 Member
    I eat my dinners very late... like, I guess about an hour before bed. So I never have a chance to snack after dinner. :D

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