New and intimidated

Hi, you can add me as a Friend if you'd like. I felt very much the same way (and still do at times). But the fact that you joined is already your first success! I have found new snacks to eat late at night that are way healthier than my old choices, and if I am in the mood for something that has more calories, I make sure that I exercise more and leave room in my daily total for them. I too, love to snack at night while reading a good book or watching tv (after my daughter has gone to bed because that is my only "alone time"), so it would be very difficult to not have that time for myself. Since I enjoy this time, I decided I did not have to give it up, just make it healthier.

If you want to learn how to eat more to lose more, I'm your girl! I used to eat very little, thinking that that was the way to weight loss, but have since "seen the light", so feel free to add me if you think I can help! :flowerforyou:

Feel free to add me if you'd like. I don't worry about the snacks so much (if you look at my diary I eat plenty of them and they aren't the healthiest of options), as long as they fit into your calories for the entire day. I pre-plan my days Mon - Fri for breakfast, lunch and daytime snacks, and dinner too if I can, and I always leave room in my diary for an after dinner treat of approx 150 cals. I just crave something sweet to eat between dinner and bed...

Late night snacks are a problem for me too, I get in from dance class after midnight and am generally famished as I didn't have time for a proper dinner before going out. Yesterday lunch time I steamed some chicken to leave in the fridge which I then had when I got in, still not ideal eating before going to sleep but at least it was healthier than my usual stodgy carbs/chocolate based snacking

I used to snack too much at night and I found that what worked for me was to give it up completely. I have a good sized evening meal and then that's it for the night.

What helped me give up was eating plenty at the evening meal, and then if I really did feel hungry later in the evening I'd have some hot milk (sometimes with some decaff coffee). The fact that milk is a fluid rather than a solid got me out of the habit of having something to chew in the evenings! Now I rarely feel I "need" the milk. I still have the occasional snack, but it's not a habit any more. I used to snack almost every night.

I know what you mean about the success stories. Some of them are amazing! But then, I've been reading these boards and see people who are not losing weight so well for various reasons, so I think there is a mixed bunch here. It also seems to me that some of the groups are less "confrontational" (too strong a word, but I can't think of the right one at the moment) than the main forums and so less intimidating. I'm new here too and I've tried other similar websites in the past, but this one seems to work the best for me.

Good luck!

I can understand the feeling uncomfortable. When I first signed up, the age differences ( I am 46) and the fact that I really don't see folks as big as I currently am made me feel bad. I' ve since learned there are great folks here and we all work together for a common goal. Add me if you would like.

I used to snack too much at night and I found that what worked for me was to give it up completely. I have a good sized evening meal and then that's it for the night.

What helped me give up was eating plenty at the evening meal, and then if I really did feel hungry later in the evening I'd have some hot milk (sometimes with some decaff coffee). The fact that milk is a fluid rather than a solid got me out of the habit of having something to chew in the evenings! Now I rarely feel I "need" the milk. I still have the occasional snack, but it's not a habit any more. I used to snack almost every night.

I know what you mean about the success stories. Some of them are amazing! But then, I've been reading these boards and see people who are not losing weight so well for various reasons, so I think there is a mixed bunch here. It also seems to me that some of the groups are less "confrontational" (too strong a word, but I can't think of the right one at the moment) than the main forums and so less intimidating. I'm new here too and I've tried other similar websites in the past, but this one seems to work the best for me.

Good luck!

i agree- my evening/after dinner snacking seems to be mostly habit- often I'm not even really hungry, just want something to munch on. sometimes i can just drink water and not snack at all, sometimes replacing something i love (microwave popcorn) with an alternative (air popped popcorn) is enough, sometimes if I'm really craving something (chocolate) I just go for it and make it work with my calories. Since I know I like a treat at night I try to plan ahead- I input what I'm going to eat the night before so I know how many calories I have to work with.

Also as previous poster mentioned dont try to eat under your alloted calories, this will backfire and hurt your weight loss efforts in the end.

one more bit of advice- take before pics and measurements! you'll be glad you did once you get close to your goals (sometimes your brain doesnt catch up to your body and doesnt "see" the weight loss. good luck! MFP is a great place to find support and friends

Don't feel intimidated by the success stories, add them as friends and use them as inspiration :-) People on here are really friendly and full of good advice. Add me if you like and I recommend CJS3001 - she was my inspiration.