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?

We have similar tastes. I broke down and had off-plan popcorn just a few days ago. I have young kids so I can't go on a munchie run at night. Unfortunately, I also can't keep all my "trigger" foods out of the house especially because my 7 year old ds tends to be too thin. For me, the break through is learning to get right back on plan after a slip up.

I say look on the bright side. At least you are not lazy!

Yes yes... at least you WALKED to the store. It could have been much worse.

For evening popcorn munchies, DH and i use a "Whirley Pop". It takes about 5 minutes.... fresh kernels and a table spoon of olive oil! That is all!

I have been dreaming of honey-nut instant oatmeal all day. Unfortunately, it is in my cabinet. Will be resisting the rest of the evening.

I have done what you have done only with sweets. Debit cards can be dangerous for someone with a craving. Thanks for sharing.

Sharon

cheesy popcorn $3.00

coke $1.50

20 year old maurice gibb cd $ priceless $

wink

I save 1/3 to 1/2 of my calories to eat at night, because I just really enjoy eating when I'm at home. Eating at work (snacks and lunch) is so functional. Eating at home is for feeling good. So I get all my functional eating (lots of protein, the majority of my veggies) eaten during the day, then at night I can eat "for fun." (Which, realistically, means more protein and veggies, then a cup of hot chocolate. But somehow it -feels- more fun.)

Thankfully for me, I live 15 miles from the nearest convenience store. If it's not in the house I can't eat it, and I rarely have any triggers foods in the house. I'm too cheap to spend the gas money to go into town...and if I would walk there...well then I would burn it all off anyway.

I also budget in for a popcorn snack once a week as well. I have some 100 (me) & 300 (DH) calorie bags in the house; I have some cheese sprinkles for the plain 100 cals bags which helps them taste better. On occasion (maybe once a month), DH & I might buy a white cheddar popcorn and share it with our dear Fido as he loves it too.

I allow myself this, and then do extra well that day and for the rest of the week, and find this is helping me avoid binging. I chose popcorn as they say it is the best choice of the snack-type foods. I am trying to teach myself how to eat some "fun" stuff in moderation as well; I'm getting better.

You are still doing very well, SUSAN; forgive yourself and move on ...

PS ~ like Robin and others, I also budget in a few healthy snacks daily for the evening as well: fruit, diet puddings or jello, source yogurt/35 cals, chz, or nuts, etc. I love baby cukes salads too.

I actually plan a bunch of snacks for the evening.

A 70 calorie bag of popcorn AND an 80 calorie SF/FF yogurt with fiber one cereal AND 2 - 5 calorie Hunts Jello cups AND cucumber salad AND every now and then an orange or an apple. I also have either a cup of hot tea or a cup of 25 calorie hot chocolate.

When I first started this journey I made a strict rule to not eat past, gosh I don't remember, maybe 7:00 or 8:00. Then it came to be that I was wanting something for the night times (& trusting myself more) so I shifted around my calories and added in some night time snacks.

Ok, you know how it's polite to write "spoiler" in a thread title if you're going to spoil a show. Well it's also polite to write "warning: popcorn discussion" in titles! LOL!

I am a popcorn addict. But like others have said, it's part of my budget. I get a 200 calorie mini meal after dinner and if popcorn is part of that mini meal, so be it. Pop, on the other hand, is not in the foreseeable future...ever. I have to jut give it up or be fat forever. Sweeteners give me migraines so it's full sugar or nada for me.

I pig out during the day. Unfortunately, I have a job that involves a lot of driving and I stop by convenience stores when I'm stressed. I start a new job on Monday which should keep me more stable in one setting so I won't have as much opportunity to do that. Thank goodness!

Oh convenience stores...

They were my ultimate downfall-- the anonymity plus the abundance of bad choices.

I have a big problem with evening/nighttime foods. Because of my glucose issues (liver does not produce enough) I have to eat all day long, so being on a restricted calorie diet means that by dinner, my dinner is all I can afford. I have yet to make myself stick to it, though, so i keep going over

My fave, healthy anyway, is a big plate of cut up veggies with a little homemade dressing and a small glass of chocolate milk.

I find it necessary to eat very frequently as well. If you eat the right foods, there's no reason why you can't spread your calories out throughout the day AND evening as well.

I think I will have less problems tomorrow, as I did well enough today that I am only 86 above maintaining. Considering the 780 cal binge last night, that is awesome, and furthermore, I managed to spread them out enough that I am having my last calories, with a decent amount of food, about an hour before bed. I should note that I always eat dinner an hour before bed because of bf's schedule.