Evening Snackers?

onefortyone
onefortyone Posts: 531 Member
in Motivation and Support
Okay, so I am a big evening snacker (after my day's calories have been used up, usually!). Once I've sat down to watch TV, I want to indulge in whatever we have. We don't have much in the house snack-wise right now, so I was hoping I could set a goal for myself to go one week (until Easter Sunday) without snacking after supper. At all. Cold turkey.

Does anyone else suffer from snackitis and want to join my quest? I'd love it if a bunch of us were in this together, we could keep each other motivated and share tips/tricks that we come across :)

I will be posting again before bed with my first night's results!
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Replies

  • psmd
    psmd Posts: 764 Member
    I did this like a month ago because evening snacking for me was the worst. After a week of not snacking at night, it was amazing, I felt free having control over eating only if I really wanted to or was actually hungry.

    Good luck!
  • MysteriousMerlin
    MysteriousMerlin Posts: 2,270 Member
    Yep. I'm stressed all day at work, and usually too busy to eat a bunch of junk. Then I go home, make dinner, eat, and when TV time comes around, it's chips, cookies, ice cream, whatever we got :blushing:

    I know I do this, so I try to save calories through out the day. I'm better than I was though; I used to buy candy in the afternoons and eat it before going home, I've been skipping it the last couple of weeks.

    I think starting off slow works better for me than cold turkey. I reduce, get used to it, then reduce again. When I quit cold turkey, the cravings are usually too much to handle and I overindulge.
  • helizi
    helizi Posts: 30 Member
    It's computer/internet for me but yes, there are definite times/habits that trigger my urge to snack. I try to substitute: a glass of milk is cold, creamy and sweetish, so a bit like ice cream. If I want chocolate, I make a cup of coffee with a spoonful of cocoa. For salt, it might be crackers or celery with hummus. I have better results with substituting or delaying cravings than outright refusing them, but it's getting easier with practise.
  • DoctahJenn
    DoctahJenn Posts: 616 Member
    That's the exact reason I work out at night during the week for the most part - I'm way less tempted to snack if I just worked my butt off! XD But I did have the same issue, and still do on the days I work out in the morning or not at all. :-/
  • lemur_lady
    lemur_lady Posts: 350 Member
    I will not be joining your quest but I do wish you luck! I wish I had the will to stop my evening snacking!

    For me its inevitable so I usually pre log most of my day so I can fit some evening snacks into my calorie goal for the day.
  • LTGPSA
    LTGPSA Posts: 633 Member
    Lately this applies to me as well. I've closed my diary for today, so I'm hoping I'll not cheat myself later. That is my goal.
  • DiabeticAlien
    DiabeticAlien Posts: 240 Member
    Yes. I'm a boredom eater. If I'm bored watching tv, I eat. If I'm bored playing games, I eat. Almost always in the evenings too. I have found that being busy, doing something where I'm not sitting still, helps a lot.
  • onefortyone
    onefortyone Posts: 531 Member
    I am doing it cold turkey because the snacks I like are 500-1000 calories worth of garbage (ice cream, chips, and once I made my husband bake me a cake lol), and I would rather have a nice big family supper instead of skimping on meals to make room for my terrible garbage habit :(

    It is partly emotional for me, and partly boredom. The boredom makes me want to eat, and then a little voice in my head says, 'you deserve this. You shouldn't have to go without. Why deprive yourself? Haven't you suffered enough?' and all I want in front of me is bad foods, nothing healthy. So I really want to beat this demon.

    I really like the tips so far, planning to exercise a little tonight, but worried that'll make me hungry! But I am hoping that having supper a little later than usual (usually we eat at 4-4.30, today it'll be closer to 6) will mean I can get through the night. May need to find some distraction if it gets bad, but we'll see!
  • Gizzy1976
    Gizzy1976 Posts: 126 Member
    I know the feeling, I've been there and done it, but you can get out of the habit. Feel free to add me ????
  • onefortyone
    onefortyone Posts: 531 Member
    Gizzy, I sent the request. And 87lbs lost, wow! Congrats! And I'm so glad other people have conquered the habit. So far it's 8pm and I am staying strong, keeping busy (staying away from the TV). I should have planned today better because I have like 400 calories left now lol. But I was over by 400-600 the past few days, so let's just say it cancels out a bad day. I have had hunger pangs since STRAIGHT after dinner (seriously, body? Come on), but I soothing them with water.

    I already closed out my diary, and I have so much willpower right now! I think I'm 1 out of 7 for this week! :D
  • Nt2Badhuh
    Nt2Badhuh Posts: 107 Member
    I am the same way I do fine all day then 8 pm hits and I turn into a rapid dog.lol Im only exaggerating a little. I also gym at night so I dont bored eat and so Im really tired and just go to sleep.


    Ive recently been eating every two hours something small but with a taste of whatever im craving then to gym on weekdays then INSTANTLY to sleep. I also try not to buy snacky food. So if I really want it that bad id have to prepare something and Im usually just not willing to do that lol
  • Hschoon1
    Hschoon1 Posts: 20
    I have the exact same problem - I started exercising at night to prevent the overeating/snacking. It forces me to eat a lighter dinner and not snack until I've digested dinner and can go for a run without feeling sick. By the time I'm done I'm pretty much too exhausted to eat.
    Hope this helps; just be careful not to let it disrupt your sleep if you decide to try this!
  • Coyoteldy
    Coyoteldy Posts: 219 Member
    bedtime is my worst snack attacks... cookies with milk.. ice cream you name it...I have begun to beat that back by being VERY careful about my calories, not having junk in the house and exercise six nights a week... usually I now have calories left over so if I REALLY want something.. I go for a half a peanut butter sandwich on whole grain.. that will stop my cravings cold
  • melissahwhisks
    melissahwhisks Posts: 3
    I am definitely interested in pumping the breaks on my snackitis!!
  • Peacockbutterfly
    Peacockbutterfly Posts: 90 Member
    I've been trying to get myself to stop eating later but it has been really hard to stop because I'm always hungry at night. I have started breaking down my meals by hours so I can see what I'm eating later and see if there is a trend in my weight loss moving slower. It would be better if I could just get myself out of the habit. I'm up for the challenge!
  • pri0810
    pri0810 Posts: 14 Member
    Hey all
    I just moved to the USA and after I got married I've gone Dow hill. When I'm home alone and can't stop eating junk food. I do so well during the day but in the evening I mess up. I don't know what to do :(
  • LostGirl25
    LostGirl25 Posts: 1
    I have this problem too :/ i tend to eat the most at night. I think it's because I get hungrier after I work out, and I also have more downtime to think about parts of my life that are stressful. I tend to turn to comfort foods. However, currently counting calories has helped me cut out some of the excessive snacking at night because I almost feel ashamed to go over my maximum calories.
  • uconnwinsnc
    uconnwinsnc Posts: 1,054 Member
    Find a way during the day to leave yourself some extra calories.
  • tessi1993
    tessi1993 Posts: 186 Member
    im terrible, like its embarrising.

    im in!
  • TheFitnessTutor
    TheFitnessTutor Posts: 356 Member
    Yes this should go without saying but...uh...save calories for the evening? I routinely eat sweets at night. It's 2 am and I'm going for peppermint patty number 3 for today.
  • uconnwinsnc
    uconnwinsnc Posts: 1,054 Member
    Yes this should go without saying but...uh...save calories for the evening? I routinely eat sweets at night. It's 2 am and I'm going for peppermint patty number 3 for today.

    Junior Mints. :love:
  • ntftnm
    ntftnm Posts: 55 Member
    I'm going to try no unhealthy snacks after supper....only celery and dip if I must snack....I will not sabotage myself today...I will not sabotage myself today....I will not...
  • MagJam2004
    MagJam2004 Posts: 651 Member
    Yes this should go without saying but...uh...save calories for the evening? I routinely eat sweets at night. It's 2 am and I'm going for peppermint patty number 3 for today.

    Junior Mints. :love:

    I would recommend this mindset to help. I like to do my snacking later when I have time to chill out and relax for a bit before bed. What this means though, is that I have to decide early on what the snack will be, and then I make sure I hit my dinner with plenty of room to spare. That way, if it is delicious (just kidding honey, it is always delicious) I have room for seconds, or if I want to grab a small bowl of cheetos I can. Give yourself the ability to succeed by giving yourself the calorie room late in the day. Best of luck.
  • changingL1sa
    changingL1sa Posts: 54 Member
    I'm in! I will give this a shot tonight
  • Mygsds
    Mygsds Posts: 1,564 Member
    I guess in a big chicken because I could NOT stop snacking at night so my doctor told me to eat 5PM -5PM . So I start counting my calories at dinner. Now that I know I have all the calories I eat so much less. I have a nice dinner if I want a snack I have it and no guilt. My log looks like this.

    Dinner
    Snack
    Breakfast
    Snack
    Lunch
    Snack

    I know this isn't for everyone, but has saved me.
  • ddeverell1
    ddeverell1 Posts: 3 Member
    I am bad about this, and it's a boredom thing with me, too. I've found that I have to eat dinner after 6 pm (preferably closer to 7). Also, I can't keep unhealthy snacks in the house. I admit that I have little-to-no will power, so I just don't buy them. That way if I have to snack I have no choice but to eat the healthy stuff.
  • Lisacare
    Lisacare Posts: 40 Member
    I am also a notorious night time eater. In contrast to what most people are saying, I find that if I eat more, and regular though the day I am less hungry at night. Therefore it is easier to maintain the will power to not eat. I think that the night time eating is more for comfort, relief of boredom and a really bad habit. If I have eaten properly thought the day, most of my calories and lots of fruits and veggies than I feel like it's not really hunger I am feeling. The other thing I strive for is dinner at 6pm or 630pm than no food after 7pm. So I am nice and full and ready to relax. I have maintained this for over a week now and so far so good :) .
  • Dkenyon1
    Dkenyon1 Posts: 2
    I'm serial snacker.... I try to entertain myself doing things to keep it under control it get out the habbit as well as not having stuff to snack on in the house, try painting your nails or brushing your teeth earlier.
    Sounds stupid but have you ever tried eating a bag of crisps with wet nails? :)
  • MrsATrotta
    MrsATrotta Posts: 278 Member
    OMG!!! My life = night time snacking seriously!!! I can't even express how much I can relate to this topic!! My peek snacking hours are usually 830pm-12am... I just cannot stop thinking about food lmfao. it's a PROBLEM!!Like even if I have to go to bed early I will eat dinner and then just for the simple fact I'm heading in to bed I prepare a snack and haul it into bed with me, like I swear my fav place to eat is in bed at night!!! The only thing I don't really relate to is blowing my diet over it bc I eat so much low calorie food that way I can snack whenever I want... I find super low cal foods and stuff face on that so I really eat all day. One thing I used to do is like if I was having chips, pretzels, popcorn I would only have one serving, like 12 pretzels or whatever. I would dole out one serving and fill sandwich baggies with them, that way instead of bringing the whole bag into the bedroom with me I had one serving.. which did help, and I'm not gonna lie sometimes I grabbed 2 snack bags but 2 servings is better then the 6 I would have eaten if I brought the whole bag! Another thing is my mom used to talk about not eating after a certain time which I think is pretty common... I would love to try not eating after dinner at all, I would say not eat after a certain time but I feel like if I said ok no eating after 8pm I would pile snacks in my face until 8pm lol whatev.
  • MrsATrotta
    MrsATrotta Posts: 278 Member
    Also if you start feeling that evening craving reallly really gnawing at you drink 2 big cups of water!! I know you might have to get up and pee in the night but it might make you feel less like having that snack!! Sometimes that works for me:)

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