Okay..This is a huge issue for me that hinders my weight loss efforts. Once I snack between meals with a fruit..I tend to make snacking into a course meals.
So my question is ..Does snacking between meals, good or bad with your efforts?
Liliann-
Personally I think snacking is a good idea. Limiting yourself to three meals sets your blood sugar aflutter making you want to eat. As long as your snacks are about 25% of the calories of your a regular meal (400 calorie meals, 100 calorie snack for example) you are doing your body a favor. Better than dumping all your calories into three larger meals. Good job on your loss
I eat 5-6 mini meals a day. I usually eat breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner and if I have calories left and am still hungry I have another snack. I have low blood sugar so this keeps me "even" all day. Maybe if you plan your menu out for the following day it would be easier to snack and know what you're allowed?
I also do the mini meals thing. It's nice because my tummy never gets rumbly (yay metabolism!) and I've noticed the weight coming off easier.
Planning out what you're going to eat the day before helps a lot. That way you're not standing in front of an open fridge or cabinet thinking, "What should I eat?" for 30 minutes (as I'm prone to doing, lol).
It's a hard habit to make, but once you get used to it, it becomes the norm.
I'd second what other people here have said. Snacking is REALLY helpful for me - especially an afternoon one (that's all I do really) otherwise I over eat at dinner. Plan your snacks along with your meals and include a touch of protein and fat (like a few nuts). Maybe a veggie snack instead of a fruit one would help? Save fruit to eat with meals?
Thank you..Thank you.. That's the buzz am hearing about planning meals ahead for a successful weight loss. I had tried planning meals, but failed and never gave it much chance. I am convinced to plan ahead..so before I go to bed, will plan my meals for Saturday. Again..Thank you..
You're not alone, Liliann! Fruit just doesn't "stick" with me and I know from experience I can't count on a fruit snack to equal a hunger-filling snack. If I try to have fruit alone as one of my 5-6 mini-meals I fail horribly!
Like others have said, maybe try building your snacks like mini-meals in the sense that you incorporate a bit of fat and protein into the mix. Instead of just berries, maybe berries with walnuts and yogurt, for an example. (And berries + walnuts + yogurt = 3 superfoods at once! Yay!)
Oh! About planning...I'd be completely adrift without my freezer. I've learned that if I keep quick foods in there I do WAY better. I'd love to be really good at meal-planning, but there are just those days when you come home with absolutely no idea what to do. It's like...super-advance planning—I put stuff in there planning to eat it sometime and when the time comes that I need it, I do!
Good luck! I know you'll figure this out and find something that works great for you.
I'm a mini-meal person too... I really just eat whenever I feel I need something, but this is only because I've gotten very good and making proper choices and can trust myself. (Plus I don't keep bad things in the house!)
Try pairing some protein with your fruit it might help. Apples and PB, or a string Cheese... Those things help me feel more full/satisfied and keep me from eatting more. Carbs alone (even fruit) usually cause me to be hungry sooner and I eat more.
I don't know if you're like me, Liliann, but I simply cannot eat fruit alone. If I do, I end up hungry a few minutes later. One fruit I can't eat much of is apples- it is a trigger food for me. Hence, I eat veggies with dip instead for a snack, a couple of Wasa Crisps with a low fat cheese spread, cheese stick or cottage cheese- usually something with protein helps keep the hunger at bay.
I save my fruit for a side with my meals. I enjoy fruit and don't want to give it up, but must have it at the end of a meal, or like I said above, it makes me hungry. I also can't eat anything sweet first thing in the morning, as I end up craving sugary foods and other carbs the rest of the day.
Definitely have a couple of healthy snacks every day, just watch what triggers your appetite and avoid it.
I'm definitely like Steel... I have to have a protein with my carb. I like the Kashi cereal bars as they contain protein, fiber and of course, some crunchy carbs. That's what I usually eat for breakfast or snack. Eating fruit alone just triggers the hungries a few minutes later. Another trick with the Kashi bars or other high fiber snack is to drink a cup of water after eating it. It's not enough to wash it down, but it swells up the fiber and makes me feel more full (fuller?). I am also a mini meal eater.
Just like Steel, I can't eat a breakfast that is high in sugar in the morning. It seems to set the tone for the day!
In my case, I sometimes feel like I need more volume of food. I buy the prewashed, precut veggies. At first, I used a low fat dip with them but now I just eat them out of the bag. I can't get into too much trouble eating carrots and celery. I stop when I'm no longer hungry. And it really help me stay low calorie.
My dog watches me eat the raw veggies & now she begs for some as treats. LOL.
Snacking
