[rockinrobin]

The key to spreading out calories is PLANNING it out IN ADVANCE. You map out a food schedule for the day and evening ahead of time, knowing where every meal and snack is coming from. Makes it MUCH, MUCH, MUCH easier to adhere to a calorie budget.

[Bridezilla]

Thanks for posting robin =) I'm trying to stay the **** away from convenience stores and even grocery stores for that matter! I'm making my bf come with me with very firm instructions to not allow the impulse buys. =p

[Skittlez]

Ugh we have a gas station that's a block away, I can walk there whenever I want. It's my downfall lately, I'm considering having the husband steal my debit card and hide it so I can't go anymore :-P

[srmb60]

Wow! An awful lot of us actually get ready and go out to get something!

What if you changed into pyjamas right after supper? Would that help?

[Trudiha]

Originally Posted by SusanB

What if you changed into pyjamas right after supper? Would that help?

If I was putting on boots, coat and gloves, a pair of trousers wouldn't be a deal breaker.

Living in a small community helps me, the woman in my local shop asks how much I've lost and tells me how good I look every time I go in. Binge attempts turn into sugar free gum/diet soda buying exercises.

[srmb60]

Hmmmm .... maybe I should speak to all the tellers in our variety stores

[Eliana]

I don't tend to leave my house at all once I'm home in the afternoon. I make poor DH go.

[dolphinea]

Originally Posted by SusanB

The other evening, I put on my coat, boots, mitts ... and walked to a variety store to get cheesy popcorn and a coke. I actually had to use my debit card because I didn't have that much cash.

Can you imagine? All I had to do was NOT go out! But I chose to get all dressed up for that. I put more effort into that than I do cleaning my kitchen some days.

Maybe if I had typed all that before I got dressed ....

How about you? Where are you getting that food that you scarf in the evening?

I think this is an addiction issue. I have a background with recovery from alcohol addiction, and then cigarettes, and now I'm taking on food. The energy you describe is right there with going to the store for a quart of beer or a pack of Marlboros.

Thanks very much for being so honest and posting this! You have reminded me what I need to do when this takes hold of me -- do all the things to love and heal myself that I can, that don't involve a quick fix from a foodstuff. Like, ask my husband for an oil back massage or foot massage, get into a hot bubble bath with candles and music. Those both work.

Prayer and a few tears too, because I never get like that unless it's on the other side of some stress or pain I'm trying to repress.

[ThinkinThin]

That's so true if I go to the store right next to my workplace, I don't buy as much junky stuff because I see the lady everyday almost (and she's thin). So, guilt/embarrassment can be a powerful tool!

[shortandfluffy]

Wow.. this sounds so much like me. I have left the house before just for some hot cheetos.. I think a lot of us can relate to this in one way or another.

I am pretty much a block away from Sonic. I will drive there in my PJ pants.

[kellost]

I save between 100-200 calories for an after dinner snack while watching tv. It's usually something sweet or chocolatey or dessert-ish. My dh does make air popped popcorn pretty often, and we top it with butter spray and flavored salts. Other times, I'll eat a single serving of cereal, without milk, for the crunch factor it provides.

The evening snack is helping me stay on plan. I have a really hard time when I'm over my calories or can't "afford" an after dinner snack.