How to stop the cravings

samanthaleethomas
samanthaleethomas Posts: 38
edited October 4 in Introduce Yourself
I'm not new to my fitness pal but I find it very helpful. The hard part is avoiding the cravings. I usually get snacky around 2pm, in the middle of lunch and dinner. I try to snack on good things but I find it very hard and it always seems like I'm still hungry no matter what I eat. I also tried eating lunch a little bit later but it doesn't work. I've started planning my day and tracking my food before I eat so I that I know what I am eating, but I still get those urges to buy that extra little snack that I didn't bring - usually unhealthy! Any advice on how to stop these afternoon cravings?

Replies

  • peterson_jessica
    peterson_jessica Posts: 119 Member
    I'm the exact same way. I only have two things that sometimes work for me: drink all of my water in the afternoon and stay extremely busy. No matter what I eat in the afternoon I'm still hungry for another snack.
  • tosborne46
    tosborne46 Posts: 2
    I am new to this but have encountered the same thing. I allow myself some apple slices or carrots and I also increased my water intake from noon on, that made a big difference
    Stay with it :smile:
  • Debbe2
    Debbe2 Posts: 2,071 Member
    Planned snack- Eat something with protein which will fill you up and hopefully take you through till dinner.
  • Mawskittykat
    Mawskittykat Posts: 241 Member
    I usually get hungry about 2 or 3 p.m. I bought some red hot atomic fireball candies and when that urge to eat happens. I pop one of those in my mouth. The cinnamon from the candy calms my stomach and makes me think I had something. Come of think about it, I ran out of them and need to add them to my grocery list.
  • sweetNsassy2584
    sweetNsassy2584 Posts: 515 Member
    Eat every couple of hours. Make sure you are getting fat, protein, and carbs with each meal/snack. Drink water and chew gum.. Depending on the exercise that you're doing you will be hungry.. I'm lifting weights and I am constantly hungry but more so in the afternoon.
  • LaurieEReid
    LaurieEReid Posts: 273
    Planned snack- Eat something with protein which will fill you up and hopefully take you through till dinner.

    This! A laughing cow light cheese wedge and some Triscuit thins are a delicious snack for about 50 calories.
  • audram420
    audram420 Posts: 838 Member
    what helps me is almonds...especially sweet flavored ones like butter toffee or cinnamon sugar. It's packed with protein and it makes me think I'm getting a treat, like candy...crunchy, sweet...yummy. 24 of either flavor almonds is 160 cals. I will divide my servings out and eat one to two servings for snacks during the day.
  • samanthaleethomas
    samanthaleethomas Posts: 38
    I used to do that and then when I started tracking the almonds I realized how much my numbers boosted so I stopped using them as a snack.
  • AggieCass09
    AggieCass09 Posts: 1,867 Member
    eating a big breakfast (>500 calories) that is high in protein (>30g) keeps me full until lunch. I usually have an afternoon snack before I work out to give me more energy and fend off cravings!
  • lilidelafield
    lilidelafield Posts: 14 Member
    Hi. I am no different and in the past my problem has been to to snack on unhealthy goodies. It may be that your body needs smaller meals at more frequent intervals, Who says we have to eat our calories in 3 meals? We can have 15 meals a day if we want, provided we record everything and stick to our daily allowance. Why not try an `afternoonses' meal...not just a snack and factor it in? It works for my brother.
  • Jenninedinburgh
    Jenninedinburgh Posts: 70 Member
    I started MFP 3 weeks ago and have this problem too. I am hungry all afternoon and evening! I chew gum, drink hot drinks (as tea helps sometimes) and generally try to focus on other things...

    Good luck to you - and thanks for asking the question as I am interested in reading the answers.
  • cjcooper04
    cjcooper04 Posts: 9 Member
    I have terrible cravings in the afternoon as well. One tip is that on the food journal you can customize your meals. I have breakfast, a mid morning snack, lunch, an afternoon snack, and dinner on my food journal. I don't always eat my morning snack but it helps me focus on each "meal" averaging around 250 calories. Hard boiled eggs are a favorite snack for me and I also enjoy celery with light cream cheese (I love Cheese!). Good luck! :smile:
  • samanthaleethomas
    samanthaleethomas Posts: 38
    I often try to drink tea to resist the cravings but I haven't found many teas that I don't want to put sugar in. Do you have any suggestions on good, hearty teas?
  • samanthaleethomas
    samanthaleethomas Posts: 38
    I like that idea a lot! I sit at work and in class for most of my day which is why my cravings start so having little frequent meals would help!
  • ArroganceInStep
    ArroganceInStep Posts: 6,239 Member
    I'm not new to my fitness pal but I find it very helpful. The hard part is avoiding the cravings. I usually get snacky around 2pm, in the middle of lunch and dinner. I try to snack on good things but I find it very hard and it always seems like I'm still hungry no matter what I eat. I also tried eating lunch a little bit later but it doesn't work. I've started planning my day and tracking my food before I eat so I that I know what I am eating, but I still get those urges to buy that extra little snack that I didn't bring - usually unhealthy! Any advice on how to stop these afternoon cravings?

    Have you tried having a snack before you get those urges? Like 15-30 minutes before you usually start getting the urge to snack have something planned and healthy. That helps me a lot.

    I also have a rule that I have to drink a liter of water and wait 20 minutes, if I still want it then, I'll eat it.
  • samanthaleethomas
    samanthaleethomas Posts: 38
    Great tip, I'll definitely try it out. Thanks!
  • bryanswife17
    bryanswife17 Posts: 1
    I am new to my fitness pal as well, and have the exact same problem. I get really hungary around 3p, but still have 2 hours at the office left.... I've noticed that this is the time when my office is very quiet as well. So I'm bored, and need a snack. I am going to start leaving a task that will take me an hour or so to complete in the late afternoon. I'm hoping if my mind is occupied I won't think about snacking. Good Luck!!!
  • Espressocycle
    Espressocycle Posts: 2,245 Member
    I had this problem and it just got better over time. Your brain needs time to adjust, I guess.
  • lil_longhorn
    lil_longhorn Posts: 19 Member
    I often try to drink tea to resist the cravings but I haven't found many teas that I don't want to put sugar in. Do you have any suggestions on good, hearty teas?

    Have you tried to use some honey to sweeten the tea instead of sugar. This is what I do. Normally I use about 1 tsp. It makes the tea sweet and is better for you than sugar.

    For snacks. I always get hungry too. When I pack my lunch in the morning I try to plan for this and pack snacks to help me out. I use things like apple sauce, celery and hummuc, laughing cow and crackers and babybel cheese. I do find however that i have to pack mutiple kinds of snacks because I have the tendency to crave different things and if I dont eat what I'm craving then the snack doesn't help. By this I mean sometime I just really want carbs and other time I want something with more protien. Hope this helps.
  • LJGmom
    LJGmom Posts: 249 Member
    I try to chew gum. It as a sweet taste and the chewing tricks my brain into thinking I'm eating. Or a jolly rancher.
  • TreadmillManiac
    TreadmillManiac Posts: 20
    eating loads of carrot batons works for me. You soon get sick of munching!
  • 226Muriel
    226Muriel Posts: 138 Member
    I always have ready 2 oz. of protein worked in to your planned menu for the day for snack time..(b/s chicken pieces, tuna, pickeled egg). VOILA, craving gone!
  • jecka31
    jecka31 Posts: 284
    Almonds!! I love them. As someone else mentioned, if you get the ones that have a sweetness to them, your body thinks its getting a treat! I also do the Yoplait light yogurts that have dessert flavors (Boston cream pie, apple turnover, orange creamsicle).
  • acstansell
    acstansell Posts: 567 Member
    I get snacky at 2:00pm too. So, I eat either an apple (for the fiber) or yogurt (for the protein). Something to fill me up. Then, before I eat, I drink about 2 cups of water.
  • stewartcarden
    stewartcarden Posts: 126
    You craving a dougnut ? ( Or equivelant snack )

    Cut it in half and only eat half of it (:
    Just make sure you stay under your limits and log everything

    With me its sugary energy drinks , i get up at 4am most mornings and find I need one ( 135 calories anda **** load of sugar ) to get me going

    Switched to the sugar free version( 15 or so calories and no sugar) and find it does much the same thing in terms of caffeine and getting me going!
  • GingerBroad
    GingerBroad Posts: 45 Member
    Three things:
    1. you are supposed to be hungry around 3. its a great time for a snack, especially if you work out after work. You should be eating much smaller meals, so snacks are needed to get through to meal time and not be STARVING and face an entire pizza :) for dinner or skip the workout b/c you are too hungry.

    2. if you plan to snack - you will avoid the chips, candy, etc. I like wasabi peas. A handful stops the cravings and the spiciness kicks up the metabolism. Another good one is a protein shake. Get the kind that is high in protein and low in carbs.
    Someone also had the good idea for Laughing Cow cheeses - so low in everything.

    3. Are you hungry or just bored? I get really bored around 2-3. If you're bored, get up and go for a walk, find a cool new website, or tidy up a room, desk, etc.
  • gsager
    gsager Posts: 977 Member
    You're craving cause you need to eat?? Manipulate your calories so that you can have something that you want. If you are constantly depriving yourself I think that you are doomed.
  • LauraEWD
    LauraEWD Posts: 1 Member
    If you're craving sweet things I find soda water with diluting juice (or squash) of the sugar free variety very good, the bubbles in the soda help fill you up and the juice helps with the sweet cravings.

    If it's savoury cravings try something like preparing carrots and celery into wee sticks so you're ready!

    I also have found a variety of lower calorie substitutes for crisps and biscuits which when all else fails I turn to - not sure where in the world you are but if it's UK then Golden Lights are great crisps - less than 95 calories per bag - and Nairns Choc Chip biscuits are only 44 calories per biccy!
  • Jenninedinburgh
    Jenninedinburgh Posts: 70 Member
    and Nairns Choc Chip biscuits are only 44 calories per biccy!

    I was looking for MFP friendly choc chip biscuits today! Thanks :)
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