I'm a maintainer, but figured this topic applies to all of us so I'm posting it in this forum.
I'm wondering how much people nibble throughout the day. I nibble quite a bit -- at least 200 cals most days, often more. I'm undecided about whether to change this pattern. On the one hand, it leaves me with fewer calories for my official meals. On the other hand, I ENJOY having a few nibbles while cooking, evening out that wedge of cheese, grabbing a handful of granola cereal, etc. My main concern with nibbling is that it's so easy to delude myself about how much I've eaten, because we all know that slivers and handfuls don't "count." How about you guys?
Interesting question. I try to stay away from nibbling because one time I tried to use portion control as a dieting technique and managed to portion myself to a 30 pound weight GAIN. Yes, ate small amounts of foods, but evidently decided that they didn't count or else some other fairy tale. There are days with my dieting history where I feel as though I live in another universe!
I used to nibble on things all day long from the time I got up to while I was preparing meals and then through the night.
I can't be trusted with nibbling or any access to snack foods, they scare me now! It was one of THE hardest habits I ever had to break but now that I did it, I am trying my darndest to never go back.
I'm a maintainer too and I can't nibble or, like John, it turns on my hunger signals and I eat more. I still map out my day's calorie plan and stick pretty closely to it...nibbling would screw that all up for me, LOL.
It is the same for me and sometimes I actually forget about the "nibbles" I had because it's so small then wonder why I gained. Like you said, I delude myself into thinking it wouldn't count much. I plan and/or count everything that goes in the mouth, minuscule or not since that is the only way I can have a handle on it.
Almost zero. I nibble for me turns on hunger. Once on it is hard to turn off. No nibbles for me.
This is almost exactly what I was going to say. I don't graze, nibble or snack. I eat my meals and that's almost always it. It's nice because I've noticed a large decrease in the amount of time I spend thinking about food. A nibble of something can turn into a binge for me so I just don't do it.
I would like to add that this behavior was not in my nature. It took a few years to get to this point.
I try not to, but inevitably, I end up nibbling a bit. Usually one or two cereal bits from my boys, a chip and maybe a bit of veggies while making dinner. Usually under 30-50 calories. I account for it.
It is not something I particularly want to do, but it has not hurt my food plan...just need to keep it small.
I nibble, mostly while cooking, and I enjoy it. Although there have been times where I sampled my cooking too much and ended up full before dinner so I wasn't able to have any with the family at meal time. But that was my choice and it works for me .
I had read an article in the past that daily nibbles here and there can add up to an average of 600 calories a day. That scared the bejeezus out of me!
I will have to see if I can find the link. It added up things like the broken cookie eaten from the cookie sheet, the 2 chicken nuggets your little one left on his plate, etc. It was interesting and only 80-100 calories here and there but it added up fast!
How much do you nibble?
How about you guys?
