Coming home from work is the worst...

Yes, I do great in the early parts of the day but when I get home from work as soon as I start eating my appetite decides I need massive portions, or if I don't have massive portions I'll end up going for the snacks afterwards.

I'm a server in a restaurant so I'm constantly moving at work but still, not enough to allow this amount of food to keep me in a deficit.

Agree with lemurcat12 about trying to trouble shoot. Seems like OP was looking for what works for others. It's just DH & I at home now so we have a more limited menu but when we had our oldest still living with us we tried leaving the main course, etc on the counter so we had to get up to get more. Veggies were on the table. If it's during meal prep that throws you off, try committing one day at a time to not snack or have some fresh cut up veggies handy until you can leave them in the refrig until it's time to eat. Baby steps and you can get there.

I started using my breakfast calories for a mini-meal at 4 hold me over til dinner. I supposed that could be considered IF. Regardless, it’s helped.

This is why I started IF (intermittent fasting) not because it has magical powers, I still count the calories I eat but I usually get home at night around 5:30 or six with the majority of my calories left to eat before bed. I eat about 300 calories at about 2:00 and the rest between 6-10

last_jennifer wrote: »

Now these are some good questions to ponder over.
I am a single mom of 3 children and I work 2 jobs.
I am exhausted when I come home without willpower.
However, my oldest is now 14. I think it is time for him to start helping me with the dinner. So I don't feel overwhelmed with the chopping and cooking. Then I won't go to my old stand by, Mr. Frozen pizza.
Thanks for the good questions!
I am thinking I need a new plan for meal prep that involves my children.
I can tell I developed way too many bad habits and rituals.

I understand! Some days it's about all I can do to not make a box of Kraft Mac & Cheese and eat the whole thing! (Which I've done many times in the past!) I could also eat a whole frozen pizza by myself! If you do have to go to that old stand by, after your kids get theirs, could you just maybe scrape the toppings off of one slice, put it over the toppings of another slice, and just eat the one slice? Maybe only half the crust of that one slice? The toppings aren't as bad as the crust. Last night, I ordered Pizza Hut Pan and just ate the toppings. Next time, I'm just going to order just the toppings! I asked the manager if they'd do that for me, and he said YES!

Also, don't vilify snacks. Snacks can really help you stick to your diet. Of course the snacks aren't gonna be chips or cookies. String cheese is a great healthy snack. Or celery and peanut butter. Figure out what snacks you can eat that won't break the calorie bank, and keep them stocked in the fridge or pantry. They can really help you out between lunch and supper. Doesn't have to be eaten before bed time.

Dinner is my hardest time as well. For me I think it’s the structure of the work day that makes the day easier. I pack what I pack and that’s what I eat. The busier I am the less I think about food. On my way home I’m usually starting to get hungry again and I’m thinking about dinner and tend to grab a snack. It’s worse for me when I don’t have a plan for dinner. I’m better when I know I have something yummy in mind to make. I also try to make sure I only buy relatively healthy snacks, so I don’t totally blow it.

What works best for me is that I tend to save most of my calories for dinner anyway, because I do like to eat a nice big dinner. I don’t always eat breakfast, or I have a lower calorie protein shake or bar. I keep them right at work for when I am hungry. I find I can skip it altogether some days. I have a healthy lunch of around 300 calories and that leaves me plenty left for dinner, and whatever snacks I might grab.

For me it's not about dinner specifically, but about relief of pressure (work) and celebrating (food) return to comfort (home). Food was how I was accustomed to allowing myself relief and pleasure. And the mechanics of dinnertime can be tough, lots of GREAT suggestions above on how to handle that.

But for me, it's always the emotional game that I have to stay with - if I "decide" I "deserve" more food, it's over. Protection against that weak moment is consistent logging, that way I am REALLY breaking faith with myself (and my friends, shared diary) if I mess up; and the knowledge that I am meeting, and will continue to meet, my goals if I stay with my plan and keep rigorously honest about food.

That sounds small but knowing that I am making and will make progress has changed EVERYTHING for me. That's the comfort.

How about grocery shopping online (if you have Clickist or something similar near you)? You can avoid putting things in your cart that you hadn’t planned for, organize your meal plans, add in a few extra things for the kids, and save an hour each time.

Also, great idea to get the 14 year old on board - it’s never too early!!