Snacking, I just can't help myself!

What's your calorie limit?

abijones75 wrote: »

I'm 5'5, I've been dieting for a just over a month. I started at 140 ibs, my goal that I have set myself is 126 ibs (9 stone) as that is the weight I feel most comfortable at...1200 is the limit MFP has set. I could maintain at this weight but I would rather carry on until I meet my goal. I'm eating a vegetarian diet so do struggle a little with protein but on the whole I think it's pretty balanced. I do eat some of my exercise cals too, but lately have been drawn to bad snacks rather than good. I have small children so can't eradicate snacks from the house. I just wondered if anyone else has found their willpower flagging as they get towards their goal. Someone mentioned nuts and that's one of the things I love and keep eating but they are very high in cals and very moreish!

Hi I know exactly how you feel im going through that very same thing now, just 1lbs off my target weight do great during the day but come evening time totally go off the rails as I did again last night then the guilt self loathing set in then I take thing to get rid of, and the whole viscous cycle starts again. I'm 50 years old 111 lbs 5' 1/2" tall eat 1350 cals per day.

It's going to be slooow with so little to lose. I'm 165cm (5"5) and currently 57kg (125lbs), my goal is 55kg (121lbs), and it's very slow going. It's hard to resist eating when the kids eat. Just serving out some yoghurt to my youngest and it's like 'a spoon for you, a spoon for me...' I feel hungry quite a bit.
I run. I run a lot so I can eat more. I have one 'cheat meal' a week and I run so I can have it guilt free.
It's still slow going and I don't expect anything less. I factor snacks into my diary. I try to stay busy through the day (with two toddlers that's not hard) so I have plenty of calories left over for the snacking hours of the evening...

I can only add that I read an article that said the calorie content of nuts were overestimated by about 50%. I'm into weighing the high calorie food portions, so I count all nut portions at 50% higher (e.g., one portion of nuts is 1.5oz, 42g). It seems to work in that I am still losing weight.

Cheese is a great snack, but you really need to track the portion, and a single portion of cheese, while satisfying, is very small!

Pure dark chocolate is a good treat. A 100kcal portion is very satisfying, particularly pared with nuts. Portion control has to be strictly followed for the chocolate.

Low or non-fat snacks are a short-term appetite fix. This includes fruit, sweets, and low-fat snacks. Not worth it since usually you are hungry again soon.

My go-to hunger abatement solution is herbal tea. Lately, I have been drinking a lot of herb tea with fennel and aniseed. One brand is Pukka detox. I sweeten with a small amount of nutrasweet.

Finally: you can go on maintenance over the weekend, which for most people, adds 500kcal per day (for a 1 lb loss per week). You will lose weight more slowly, but what's the rush?

I struggle in the evenings too. I have breakfast, lunch, sometimes a piece of fruit mid-afternoon, then dinner. During the day my cravings are dealt with by drinking water, but come the evening I could demolish lots of snacks sweet or savory. I'm hoping it's just a bad habit that I need to break.
Good luck with your plan.

abijones75 wrote: »

I'm hell bent on ruining all of my progress it seems I've been so good at sticking to my cal limit and exercising loads, I got down to 132 ibs a couple of days ago and ever since Ive been starving hungry and I keep snacking, especially in the evening. It's like I'm trying to stop myself from succeeding, so annoyed with myself. Can someone please lend me some willpower?

I'm your height (5'5"), and much older (60 y/o), plus hypothyroid (controlled with meds), and found it possible to lose at a higher calorie level than 1200 net. (I was still losing close to a pound a week at 1400-1500 net). I'm also vegetarian (ovo-lacto), and have been for 41 years.

I didn't see whether you said you were eating 1200 net (eating back some/all of your exercise calories) or 1200 gross (not eating back exercise). I'd suggest eating back at least 50% of your exercise if you aren't, even if that means losing a little more slowly. With as little to lose as you have, for best health, you don't want to be losing very fast anyway, and it's good to fuel your workouts.

Satiation is different in everyone, it seems, but I found I get very crave-y if I don't get enough protein. There are varying opinions, but I aimed for .6-.8g protein per pound of goal weight, i.e., around 75-100g daily. Now heading into maintenance (I'm around 122 pounds which is fine with my doctor for my build, and eating 1700 net), I'm trying to consistently get around 100g ovo-lacto/veg protein most days, without protein bars, powders, shakes, or fake meats. (That eating style is not some religious thing; it's just that I find actual food more tasty and satiating.)

I re-started weight training mid-weight-loss after a long hiatus, and found it extremely important to fuel that, or I got fatigued & crave-y. (BTW, I'm also active on the cardio front: I row, take spin classes, and more.)

Have you experimented with timing of your eating (y'know, 3 meals or 5, snacks or no, big breakfast vs. big dinner, bedtime snack or no, etc.)? Different routines are more satiating for different people. There's also the question of macros, i.e., are you most satiated if you get plenty of protein, a good amount of healthy fat, some filling carbs, or a good amount of high-volume/low-cal food like high-fiber veggies? Finding the approach that works for you helps with feeling full & satisfied.

What I've been doing to combat evening snack cravings is making a big ol' cuppa herbal tea. I found a brand that I love that doesn't require any sweeteners at all, so it's zero cals (and side note, I hated all tea until about a month ago, when I discovered Harney & Sons teas which are, by my tea-hating standards, exceptionally delicious). It takes my mind off the cravings for about 45 minutes to make and drink the whole thing, at which point, the craving for a piece of chocolate cake is gone.

Its sounds silly, but when I get hungry in the evening I brush my teeth. then I have an extra reason not to eat because I would have to brush again. It works for me so give it a try. Good luck

Nothing wrong with snacking. Don't fight the urge.

drajel wrote: »

Its sounds silly, but when I get hungry in the evening I brush my teeth. then I have an extra reason not to eat because I would have to brush again. It works for me so give it a try. Good luck

This too! (Almost) always works for me.