I have an awful habit of being unable to stop snacking. It's the reason why I can't lose weight and it's probably the reason why I even gained in the first place.
I go to school, so during the day I bring just enough food to get me by, and it's no problem (though I do have moments where I'd kill for anything to munch on). When I get home is the real problem. I just can't help myself from constantly reaching for something. All of my snacks are healthy, but they're just so constant that it's a real problem. I have big self control issues. Does anyone have advice that can help me overcome this?
eat things that take awhile like an orange or an apple... I also drink tea and sometimes just reading will take my mind off eating... I once read it takes 12 minutes for the craving passes!
I had to get hard on myself. I am sorry I don't have a better answer than that - but as you can see, the snacking is getting in the way of your weight loss.
I will say it has become way easier the longer I have repetitively made "no" decisions.
Eat more during the day. You're snacking all evening in part because you're hungry. The other part is that you've made it a habit.
Also, schedule your snacks. Plan to have a snack at a set time and then be done with it. Put off snacking until that time rolls around, and don't snack after that.
Choose carefully what you eat, and don't keep tempting foods around in bulk quantities, like large bags of chips or packages of cookies. You can't eat what isn't there.
No one can teach you self-control except yourself. Make a commitment for a set snack or two at set times (preferably no more often than two hours apart) and stick with it.
I too get the snack attack quite frequently. I have to force myself to plan out everything before I go into the kitchen to keep myself from mindlessly munching. If I'm eating something like crackers or popcorn (which are hard for me to eat in normal quantities), I measure it out, put the rest away and sit down at a table before I start eating. I find that if I start eating in the kitchen, it's going downhill fast. I also second the idea of not keeping tempting things in the house, especially in bags/containers with multiple servings. I can't keep tortilla chips in my house for this very reason .
What do you snack on? Is there anything you like well enough to eat, but not to overindulge in? Like for me, chips are too hard to resist not having too many. Fat free pretzel sticks on the other hand, I like but am more than happy w/ 1/2 a serving and it's only 50 cals. Also, try something like dum-dums or gum...sometimes just keeping your mouth occupied helps.
I'd like to say the one thing that helps me combat snacking or grazing is a distraction. Find a distraction of any kind. Or even study at the library in the evening. Go to the university gym.
If possible, the easiest solution would be to change up your environment and make snacking more difficult to do.
I'm the opposite, I don't snack at all at home but I feel so out of control at work with its subsidized canteen and no healthy options. I've taken to eating oranges, because by the time I've peeled it and gotten rid of all that horrible white stuff that I dislike, the cravings for snacks have pretty much gone.
Thanks for all the advice, everyone! Just having people reply to this thread motivates me to cut down on the snacking. I don't do it because I'm hungry - I have the urge to eat even when I'm full. It's really just something to do. I tend to go for snacks that will last me a little while, like an apple that's cut into pieces, grapes, raisins, etc, but once I'm done with one snack I just crave the next. I think what I have to do is try to stick to meals and plan out certain times to have a snack but not allow munching in between those times. I'll do my best to find activities to distract myself. I'm trying to write a book but have trouble making myself sit down to write, so I think that's a good start for a distraction. Two birds with one stone!
Have you considered having dinner when you get home? Then just have a small snack in the evening, like an apple &/ cheese ... some people find this works for them.
I have a problem with this too. I just count calories and I try to make them last all day. Lately, I"ve made a rule for myself. Nothing after dinner. Done. I sometimes feel like I'm climbing the walls, but I try hard to refrain. I might chew on lots of gum if I"m really desperate.
Tips for a constant snacker?
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