No snacks? Seriously?
Replies
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It's personal preference about how one wants to allocate their calories, and sometimes it's about medical needs that require someone to eat more often. I absolutely snack on most days, even though I'm very short and I have a relatively low calorie goal.
Personally, I think part of the problem is the term "snack free." It sounds judgey to me, as though it's better not to snack. There's nothing inherently good or bad about snacking--it's just food. Eat what you want, when you want.9 -
Did someone tell you not to have snacks or suggest that you would be more successful by eliminating them?
If not, why does it matter how other people choose to fill their personal calorie allotment?
People space out their calories all sorts of different ways and to accommodate all sorts of foods and beverages and schedules. Some people eat multiple small meals each day, some eat 3 meals and no snacks, some budget snacks, some people condense all their intake into a specific eating window, and some people eat one meal a day (OMAD). There are examples of success and failure amongst all of these approaches - where people are successful it’s because they’ve found a way that works for THEM.10 -
Like a lot of others, I prefer larger meals that keep me satisfied. I'm able to eat my 3 meals at the same times due to my schedule. If I had to space them out a lot more then I'd see a need for snacks in between (for example, lunch at 11:30 or noon...I eat dinner by 6 for sure but if I couldn't have dinner until 8 for some reason, I would have to snack around 5-6)4
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I snack, but I also do Intermittent fasting so I have to eat my calorie intake within an 8 hour window and I stop eating at 7 P.M.4
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Besides the calories, many experts are advocating a snack-free day in order to keep hormone balance, specifically insulin in check. Frankly, I say do whatever it takes to lose weight, but in maintenance, these are some of the options to optimize your diet. I’m not for, or against, just putting it out there.4
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Never did "snack" much, unless you call popping open a can of beer or soda 4-6x's a day "snacking."
No more beers or sodas in the frig and absolutely no snacking during the 16-18 hrs/day while I'm fasting.
No problems for me doing it but the results for others will probably differ.4 -
Besides the calories, many experts are advocating a snack-free day in order to keep hormone balance, specifically insulin in check. Frankly, I say do whatever it takes to lose weight, but in maintenance, these are some of the options to optimize your diet. I’m not for, or against, just putting it out there.
Interesting comment. I have diabetes, and early on in our meetings this year, my dietitian suggested limiting my snacks to only a bedtime snack. I am now curious and will ask her about the snacking and insulin. Thanks!
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People just like to space out their meals differently. I don't miss snacking, don't really like snacking all that much, prefer bigger meals, and tend to not want less at meals when I do snack and often snacking leads to mindless eating for me.
I think people who like snacking should snack.5 -
I eat no snacks, nada, zip. The reason I am on a diet in the first place is because I spent my life snacking, and now all that weight has to be unwound. I knew no real progress could be made unless I could get total control over that one aspect. It was hard at first but has now gotten much easier. I can't say I wouldn't like a big bag of Dorito's right now, but I've learned to live without that stuff and it has made weight loss much easier for me. All my calories go into meals.10
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It's been a mind over matter thing for me. When I began my weight loss journey, I had to trick myself a bit and I used snacks to do that ("Oh look, I'm eating very small healthy meals but I get all these snacks as well so I haven't cut back at all"). Now that healthy eating is my lifestyle, I've starting ramping up my meals and decreasing my snacks considerably. Ultimately I think it's just about what works for you - there was a time for me that a day without snacks would have been terrible! Now, my only snack is an apple for a mid-afternoon distraction...unless it's the weekend...or unless someone brings in cookies...or unless I have a popcorn attack5
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For me, I can't make it between noon and 6 without a snack. Except for days that I am fasting of course.3
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I'm currently on the no snack model but take a relaxed approach from time to time. I believe a strong desire to snack is indicative of a habit well formed or not eating satisfying meals during regularly-scheduled meal time. If you're well fed, I see no need to snack but this is me talking and not anyone else.4
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Snacking eventually turns into mindless eating for me which turns into eating far too much.
That being said, if I'm especially hungry in the afternoon, AND I've been working out like I should, I tend to keep some Cliff or Kind bars at my desk and can have one of those. It means trimming down my dinner or lunch a bit, but for the most part I can afford the wiggle room.
Daily snacking throughout the day would reduce my meals to more pitiful than they already are, and I like to have a nice dinner that looks like a full meal to me. Even once I'm in maintenance, right now my losses are slow enough that the only difference would be I could probably safely have that afternoon snack most days instead of only occasionally...1 -
I find if my meals are big enough I don't need to snack, if not then I do. I try to snack on fruit to keep the calories low and the nutrition high. That said, sometimes life happens and I just roll with it. I am not gonna snack on fruit and celery if I am at a party... lol!3
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My calorie suggestion is 1330 but my Dr. Suggests 1200, I still have to snack. But I plan my snacks and eat them about the same time daily. It is not like grazing uncontrollably. But each person knows their limits and I agree some do better without snacks. However, I am like you. I need my snacks - but mine have to be low calorie because I try to stay between 1200-1300 daily.3
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As a general statement I just don’t snack.
Didn’t before I gained weight,
Didn’t when I was heavier,
Didn’t when losing,
Don’t now in long term maintenance.
Nothing against it. I just don’t know how or when I would fit a snack in.
Cheers, h.6 -
People are different. My husband is a grazer, eating several times a day, mostly what would fall into the category of snacks with meals being only a little bigger. I am not a grazer and never will be, I tried it because it's worked so well for him. It's not that I never snack, but I rarely do. I eat large meals compared to his, but I eat fewer times a day. My hunger signals must work differently from his.6
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VioletRojo wrote: »I prefer to have big, filling meals, instead of small, unsatisfying snacks. It's just better for me. You do you.
Same here. I eat roughly 4 proper meals a day. I have breakfast, 2 lunches and a dinner. And lunch number 2 includes dessert, and dinner usually includes a frozen fruit juice tube or fruit for dessert too.
Personally if I snack, it's not satisfying and I will end up eating non-stop for ages. Bingeing really.
And things such as looking at a snack which will cost me 300 cals for example, or eating a proper meal at 300 cals - the proper meal will keep me satisfied for longer than the snack.
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I don't snack either but when I get the munchies stuffed olives fit the bill.3
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I like to snack a lot and dislike over large meals unless I happen to be spectacularly hungry that day. I've also found in the past that regularly eating larger meals distorts my vision of normal portion sizes upwards making weight gain more likely. (I don't calorie count my food anymore so that wouldn't be such an issue for those that do.)
But I also have a very large calorie allowance from an active lifestyle, physical part time job and a lot of exercise. I get a lot of dietary freedom and make the most of it to make my long term maintenance more enjoyable as personally the more rules and restrictions the less happy it makes me.7
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