The wrong kind of snacking.

There is no easy way or secret trick other than plain willpower. Nothing can substitute for the crunch, flavor, and mouth feel of chips. Baked ones don't cut it. Neither do reduced fat ones or anything else you can think of. You just have to learn how to say no or be able to stop after an ounce of so or just get used to being fat for the rest of your life. I know that's harsh, but anybody who tells you you can get the same satisfaction out of an apple or a carrot is really stretching it. There's really nothing quite like a crisp fresh apple or fresh fruit and vegetables, but you have to enjoy them for what they are and not as punishment or as inadequate substitutions.

The hardest thing about this lifestyle change is learning how to stop eating when you've had enough and not when you're full. Lose those extra pounds and stay active and you can eat all the things you want in moderation, but to get there you do have to go through periods feeling hungry and not getting everything you want. You get used to not feeling full all the time and not snacking without putting serious limits on it. When I have chips or whatever, I put what I'm allowing myself to eat in a bowl and that's all I get, Eating out of a large bag without portioning is only setting yourself up for failure. You have to ask yourself why you'd sabotage yourself like that. Over the last year or so, I had well over a hundred nights where I went to sleep still feeing hungry after eating all my calories for the day, but looking back now it was well worth it many times over. I'm at my goal weight range, in the best shape in many years, and literally had to buy all new clothes other than hats and socks and gave all my old clothes away. People ask me what my secret was and when I tell them eating less and moving more they're somehow disappointed that it just comes down to hard work and perseverance. You just have to want it bad enough that getting there in the long term is a higher priority than an extra portion or snack in the short term.

Are crisps the same thing as potato chips????

I just stopped buying crisps in general. It's just never an option. I snack on PB on toast with a sliced banana with cinnamon on top. Some days i'll put chocolate chips on it (.5 TBS) ORRRRRRRR if i'm really craving something... i'll use nutella instead of pb. it's a lil treat to myself.

I have the same issues sometimes. I will be ravenous on my way home and grab whatever I can find. One option is to keep an energy or protein bar in your purse and snack on that as you are driving home - something that is filling. That keeps me from grabbing the junk food when I get home.

Watch your sodium and fat overall. Try Baked Lays and pretzels.

Eat smaller portions. Find substitutes that are either lower cal or not so addictive so you can stop before eating the whole bag.

Use willpower.

And also don't buy the snacks that you go berserk on if you aren't sure you can stop.

My motto: If you can't handle it, you don't need it!!

I can bake desserts all day long, but I'll never taste them. They'll sit on the counter until someone else eats them because I'm not a dessert person, but I love baking.

However, if you put anything salty in front of me, such as Stacy's Pita chips, cheez its, tostitos, chex mix, etc, I will eat the entire bag and not think twice!!! I cannot control myself (nor do I want to) and since I know that I can't control myself with those snacks, I don't buy them nor keep them in the house.

You should try strawberries and peanut butter and I like baby carrots and peanut butter, celery works too!
Frozen grapes are great too and they taste like candy

also, can you keep nuts at work? Those are easy to keep in your pocket or your desk drawer to snack on during the day...
I do that when I'm on site at customer locations, and can't bring protein bars or fruit or whatever... (just don't eat too many!)

I was thinking of taking nuts into work...How much would you recommend? I would hate to eat too many haha, it would be an easy mistake for me to make!

I am guessing that since you work at a school bringing nuts into the school is not the best idea. Maybe keep them in your car for the ride home.

Yes to the eating a bigger breakfast /lunch with more protein. I would also suggest having the food prepared for when you get home. Cook the night before so all you have to do is heat it up, or us a crock pot so its ready and hot when you get home.

I don't get home from work until 8 or 9 pm ......

Often am too busy at work to be snacking ...... I carry a little insulated bag with me & snack on the way home ...... a LF cheesestick, an apple, those 100-calorie bags of smoked almonds, a bottle of water ..... perfectly good snacks in my world & help me maintain my sanity.

Best of luck to you :drinker: