Why is dinner time the hardest?!!!

geishadolld
geishadolld Posts: 6
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I don't know about everyone else, but dinner time is when I get myself into major trouble. I seem to be really great throughout the day, eating fresh fruit, whole grains, veggies etc., but then I get home and it's downhill from there. I log everything through the day and then BAM! I get home and nothing else gets logged. Does anyone else have this problem? I know/hope I can't be alone ;)

Does anyone have any tricks for remembering to log in and track your food? I know when I was busy being active and working out constantly it wasn't as much of an issue, but with work, sometimes there isn't the time to work out constantly.

Replies

  • laurasimmons
    laurasimmons Posts: 575 Member
    My problem time is after dinner. I want to start snacking from then until bedtime. I just try to not have items in the house that I know I'll want that way I am not too tempted to eat them.
  • radicalreader
    radicalreader Posts: 207 Member
    I take two minutes before we sit down for dinner and I log my dinner before I eat it.
    Because I've just logged everything, it helps me stay on track of my servings.
  • geishadolld
    geishadolld Posts: 6
    True. I'm a sweets girl too. I've found that fat free cool whip and the jello chocolate mouse with a few strawberries on top does the trick and under 150 calories for the whole thing. I think if I lived alone it would be so much easier, but it's a little tricky not to have anything bad in the house because of my other half. Luckily, my will power is pretty decent.
  • Purple_Orchid_87
    Purple_Orchid_87 Posts: 517 Member
    i put my food/ingredients in BEFORE i cook or start to eat
    I then update the weights of ingrdients whilst i'm cooking as I sometimes go over on my potatoes etc
    When I'm at work i NEVER eat ANYTHING before logging it
    that way, if I dont log it, i cant eat it

    i always carry a wee notepad and pen too so if i get caught out and about and i want to eat, i write down everything BEFORE i eat it

    i'm strict on myself but that way im thinking about it BEFORE i eat it
  • geishadolld
    geishadolld Posts: 6
    Awesome idea, Radical...it's kind of like brushing your teeth after dinner. If I do that, normally I would put anything else in my mouth because I don't feel like brushing again! How's that for goals?!
  • lisapickering
    lisapickering Posts: 374
    I plan my whole day and enter it all in the morning. I make adjustments if something changes. By doing this I make sure my day is balanced, I'm getting enough calories and that I work in my exercise calories throughout the day... this also ensures that I do my workout!
  • wewon
    wewon Posts: 838 Member
    One of the problems with dinner, at least from a North American perspective, is that it's the easiest meal to start grabbing comfort foods and snacking.

    Its typically one of the hardiest meals and it also comes with a dessert! lol
  • Nomomush
    Nomomush Posts: 582 Member
    Planning every meals works for me. This way I can't just grab something bad. I truly believe in the saying...if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
  • agataarchangel
    agataarchangel Posts: 292 Member
    I totally get ya!

    For me, I know it's because I"m still not eating enough during the day, some days.... I'm workin on it. :-D

    It's also a matter of convenience and variety- I pack a lunch, and have no access to foods that I haven't brought with me. Insta-portion control. When I get home, it's to a wide variety of delicious foods that I want to get my hands on.... it's hard to resist and stay under your calorie allowance some days!

    Goal for me (and you?)- Better planning for the day- eat more during the day, and plan your am and pm meals AROUND your dinner meal....
  • geishadolld
    geishadolld Posts: 6
    These are all great ideas. I have to admit, my planning hasn't been the greatest and we've been doing things more on a whim lately. I know also, eating out really makes me pack on the pounds. Thanks all for such great ideas. I'm def. going to be getting back on track and keeping a better log! Gotta start today.
  • lisapickering
    lisapickering Posts: 374
    These are all great ideas. I have to admit, my planning hasn't been the greatest and we've been doing things more on a whim lately. I know also, eating out really makes me pack on the pounds. Thanks all for such great ideas. I'm def. going to be getting back on track and keeping a better log! Gotta start today.

    The planning doesn't work everyday, it's life, things happen. But the planning has made it so much easier for me and what I think is the key to my success.

    Good Luck!!
  • Contrary03
    Contrary03 Posts: 289 Member
    I know exactly how you feel!~
    Like yesterday for instance, i was doing great...until dinner! My bf comes home and grills some bbq chicken (with skin), and baked beans! I have such a hard time resisting temptation when it comes to the last meal of the day:( I adore french bread, pasta, and lots and lots of steak! God, i love red meat!!! I could live on ribeyes & sirloin alone for the rest of my life. I guess all it comes down to is sheer will power to make better choices. Good luck!~
  • agataarchangel
    agataarchangel Posts: 292 Member
    Does anyone have any tricks for remembering to log in and track your food? I know when I was busy being active and working out constantly it wasn't as much of an issue, but with work, sometimes there isn't the time to work out constantly.

    I use the iPhone app, so I have access to the site anywhere- making it easy to track every bite/meal/snack. If you have an iPhone (or it's that time to change phones and you're looking around), get the free app for blackberry/iPhone, or whatever and you'll be logging all over the place!
  • CARNAT22
    CARNAT22 Posts: 764 Member
    Log your food beforehand - I do mine as many days in advance as possible.

    That way i can plan what I need to buy but also make swaps - for example I was going to have 60g of pasta with a meal yesterday but once I swapped that to 200g of new potatoes I saved myself 100 cals with dinner.

    If you see the calories beforehand it makes it easier to choose something more healthy :-)

    I do not use my diary to log, I use it to plan. I plan Mon - Fri every Monday morning and I plan my weekends every Friday!
  • Bviera
    Bviera Posts: 106 Member
    Does anyone have any tricks for remembering to log in and track your food? I know when I was busy being active and working out constantly it wasn't as much of an issue, but with work, sometimes there isn't the time to work out constantly.

    I use the iPhone app, so I have access to the site anywhere- making it easy to track every bite/meal/snack. If you have an iPhone (or it's that time to change phones and you're looking around), get the free app for blackberry/iPhone, or whatever and you'll be logging all over the place!

    That's what I do as well. FYI, it's also free for Droids!
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