Lately I've really been careful about eating the right things in the right amount at the right times of day. Miracle of miracles, I don't want to eat at night. I'm satisfied with my water bottle. Once in a while if sore weird craving that has nothing to do with hunger grabs me I go for a mini microwave popcorn (100 calories and 9 grams of fiber) I add a TBL of parmesan cheese and it's delicious.
PATHFINDER52 10/23/06 10:52 A
A needlepoint thingy! What a great idea. I think I have two of those stuffed in a drawer someplace, I could take them out and keep MY hands busy too!
And, with the holiday's coming soon, we could all be making holiday gifts as we avoid our late-night boredom eating!
Stay well!
--p
ANAUTHOR 10/21/06 2:04 P
These are all great ideas and I thank you all. Unfortunately, I've tried them and they work most of the time. but I still hit one or nights a week when a craving hits around 10pm, and I'm too tired to fight it. If there's nothing good on TV, and there usually isn't, I go to bed and read, but for some reason I hate going to bed that early even tho I always read before I go to sleep.
By the way, it's not potato chips. I wouldn't dare have them in the house. It's my husband's totrilla chips with fresh salsa that I crave.
BUT, I may have found a solution – keeping my hands busy. Watching TV is so passive I think it leaves most of the brain (and certainly the body) hanging around getting bored. I remember a time, years ago, when I was doing crafty things and I NEVER ate in front of the TV. Last nite I bought a small needlepoint thingy. Needlepoint might be too small and anal, but I'm willing to learn to crochet or even knit. Well, maybe not knit.
Any other suggestions for things to keep hands busy in front of the TV?
DOTFRAN-COL 10/20/06 7:05 P
Now here are some excellent ideas!! I will try and do that. I think the portion thing is good. It's one of those things I hadn't really thought about till I signed on with SparkPeople. Thanks.:-)
DOTFRAN-COL 10/20/06 7:03 P
Do you like to read or peruse a good magazine? When I think of it, this helps me alot. When I'm into a good book, the time flies, and I NEVER think of food. WDYT?
PATTI4 10/20/06 6:50 P
My time is at work with snacks all around me. Monday I will bring just my snacks and try to put blinders on. I like your ideas for late night eating also. After I eat I can not tell you what I ate because I did not give it a thought.
PATHFINDER52 10/20/06 6:45 P
You know, the common wisdom is to do all your eating with utensils at a table and without distractions -- but that just doesn't happen, does it?
Here's what I try to do. . . 1. Eat my main meals at a table (although I confess, sometimes for lunch, that table is my desk).
2. Plan some sweet snack (right now it's sweets I'm craving) for evenings after dinner and ONLY TAKE THAT away from the table. So, instead of the bag of cookies, it's 2 Oreo's and a glass of skim milk.
3. Sometimes I leave the floor that the kitchen (and hence the food) is on and watch my favorite TV shows somewhere else -- basement, bedroom -- for me, these are at least one stairway from the food!
4. Finally, whether it's salt or sugar I crave, I try to keep small serving packages of VERY LOW CAL options that will meet the craving like: For salt cravings: Dill pickles, V-8 Juice, Light Popcorn, selected Cheeses, Pretzels, and even just celery sprinkled with salt! For sugar cravings: Dove dark chocolate pieces, Fat-free pudding or hot chocolate, carefully chosen cookies, Skinny Cow ice-cream treats or strawberries with Coolwhip.
Good luck on the late night thing -- I hope you win your battle with the potato chips!
--p
ANAUTHOR 10/20/06 2:40 P
I do just great with my eating all day long. But at night, around 10 or 11 when I'm tired enough to be vulnerable I find ways to rationalize a healthy snack which sometimes leads to an unhealthy snack which sometimes leads to oh, what the hell, have some chips. I think it would help to keep my hands busy, but I don't know how to knit or crochet. Any ideas about how to break this bad habit?
