After work blues

I eat dinner pretty much right when I get home. Any reason you are waiting? I am on an earlier work schedule that I was before and now workout after work. That's mostly to avoid the high traffic time of commute, but it does get my home right when I should be making and eating dinner.

I eat lunch late, and I'm still hungry when I get home. I try to eat around an hour after I get home, and if I have the calories maybe have a snack afterwards. There are times when I have the hungries, but I know it's boredom hunger and try to distract myself with other things (books, games, mfp.. )

That is my toughest time of the day too. I usually have a very low cal dinner (such as just cooked veggies with a little protein or a big salad) and the rest of the calories I spend on all sorts of snack type things (yogurt, string cheese, cottage cheese, protein bars, fruit, some candy...) that usually takes care of the urge to eat at night.

kimirayray wrote: »

I would be skinny if it weren't for the p.m. hours. I eat perfectly all day long, but the time between after work and dinner and after dinner is where I fade off. Anyone else? I don't need help with what to eat and what not to eat. I need a shrink I think! For willpower.

This totally happened to me while working at a job where I was overloaded and working on my master's degree. My eating habits were horrible because I wasn't getting enough sleep added to working on assignments until mid-night to beat the turn-in deadline. It took me a while to 'reprogram' myself. Some things that worked included eating something just as I got home (apple with a TBS of natural peanut butter - made me feel full), having a pre-planned detail of my dinner with fruit as a planned after dinner snack, and posting my goal on a sticky note in the pantry and on the refrigerator door (where ever needed) to remind myself...oh and drink a glass of water. I also planned a workout for the early evening. This combination led to healthy changes and improved my will power. It's finally no longer a problem, but it took about a month of self arguments and following through on my plan before it became my new habit. But, I knew I could do it - obviously I was able to create a bad habit, so I figured creating a good habit was just as feasible if I believed in it.

Keep fighting...you'll get it right! Best wishes to you!

When I come home from work, I have ...

100 grams of cottage cheese, a bunch of cucumber slices, and a raw carrot (or sometimes radishes or cabbage or cauliflower) + 2 or 3 ryvita crackers with a skiff of margarine.

Then I go workout ...

My husband and I go for a walk to the beach, or ride our bicycles on our trainers, and/or lift weights, or maybe we go to the gym or ride our bicycles outside.

Then we have dinner!

At 9:30 we have a snack ... usually a bowl of yogurt. And I usually have a cup of tea ... lemon-ginger or rooibos-chai. No sugar, no milk.

At about 11:30, I often have another snack ... a piece of toast with nutella and honey or if I'm going a bit lighter, then just a chocolate coated McVities digestive biscuit. Plus another cup of tea ... usually chamomile these days. Again, no sugar, no milk.



I pre-log everything so I know it fits into my day, and the exercise also helps.

Try intermittent fasting. Don't eat until the PM so you can eat your daily allowance in fewer hours.

I have set my alarm clock to wake up at 545am, and work out before work. That SNOOZE Button wins everytime!! Afterwork, I do get in some activity because , it has to be done!! However, its more interrupted because then the natives are up and moving, and MOM MOM MOM MOM MOMMMMMMING me to death!!! ...
(they are 14 & 16 btw lol)
So yes, If I could get up at 545, begin working out at 6am... I'd be smooooth sailing!!!! but alas, the lord didn't make me a morning person... maybe I will put my ALARM CLOCK outside on my porch so I have no choice, to keep walking to the garage and pound way on the treadmill...

I will try it tomorrow... my husband my think I've lost my mind...

I have a problem with overeating later in the day too and have also found that pre-logging helps. I'll also save some room for an extra snack so I don't go over. I usually eat dinner around 7pm and that's about 400-450 calories with lots of protein. Then, around 9pm I'll have two bags of the 100 calorie popcorn with a diet soda and that really fills me up. Then, I'll eat a chocolate mint protein fudgesicle that I make with ff Greek yogurt and cottage cheese and that helps with my sweet cravings and is only 54 calories. That takes my night snack to 254 calories which is pretty satisfying. I try to brush my teeth shortly after to signify that I'm done eating for the day.

heck yes this was me too! I found if I kept busy, planned a good filling meal and drink water that helps a lot. It was mind over matter for me and making new lasting habits.

Cup of hot coffee, or hot tea or diet cocoa helps me. Has to be hot though. Helps me relax which is what I think my body is doing when I walk in the door and want to eat everything. Busy helps some,but I have to be in kitchen cooking dinner and that hour is tough. Music on phone dancing about getting steps in while I stir whats on stove too.

It IS a habit... and there is a def difference between being hungry and a craving/habit. I am always extremely busy after work, after dinner, etc. but I do enjoy a little TV time and a tea before bed, to wind down. That hour window is when I enjoy a few snacks... rather than eliminating it all together or fighting the urge I did a few things.

1. I accepted the fact that I am going to have a snack or two in the evening with my tea (habit or not), so I leave room in my calorie target each day for that.
2. I changed the items that I snack on. Instead of unhealthy snacks (high sodium/fat/processed), I snack on fruit, popcorn, a little bit of dark chocolate, whole grain crackers, etc.
3. I practice portion control - I don't just grab a bag or box and sit down with it. I portion out the snack(s) accordingly in a small plate or whatever and put the package away. When I'm done with the portion, I am done.