Night time is my worse time as well. This go-round of trying to make permanent changes instead of temporary ones, I'm trying to go with the flow. I've always been a late night eater and have never had success at curbing it for long. So now I'm having a 10pm snack on purpose. I'm saving enough calories and usually have a greek yogurt and a vitatop, or two vitatops. If I want something more crunchy, I toast the vitatop. If I want sweet, I microwave one of the chocolate ones.
I think that's the smart way of doing it.
My husband has not changed when he is eating. He's eating when his body tells him he needs food and he's dropped 15 pounds in the last 6 months. He's 3 pounds from goal. He swims a mile 3 days a week, watches his portions, but eats WELL, even drinks his glass of wine with dinner and eats his late night snack. It's what works for him.
I know lots of things say not to eat after x o'clock, but if that doesn't work for you, find something that does. There is no one prescription/plan we all fit into.
Last edited by berryblondeboys; 06-23-2011 at 08:59 AM.
Afternoons are a little rough for me at work. I get snacky. Fortunately, there's no snack machine at work, so I'm mostly limited to what I've brought myself, usually fruit of raw veggies, so that's fine. But if there happens to be stuff in the kitchen (meeting leftovers, someone's birthday cake, vendor visits) that's when I'm most susceptible.
The other dangerous time is right before dinner. If I haven't had a snack, or my lunch was too small, I'm really hungry, and I'm usually tired from the day and thus more prone to bad decisions. I usually have to figure out and make whatever it is that we're going to eat, and unless I have a plan in place, I have some trouble with this and it makes me grumpy. This is a time when I've been known to start grazing and pack in way more calories than I intend.
Fridays are especially bad for this because: 1) my energy reserves are at their lowest, and 2) my planned meals are too, by that point in the week.
The late afternoon/evening EVERY day is my difficult time. I usually want a glass of red wine when I get home from work, and if I have it I end up eating too much before, during and after dinner. 3-8 PM is the timeframe in which I struggle. I am very good during the day. I usually exercise in the morning, then pack a cooler of healthy food for my breakfast, lunch and snack at work.
When I get home from work, all **** breaks loose-usually between 5 and 5:30. I start eating popcorn, pretzels, leftover pasta......I eat carb-heavy in the evenings and usually drink a glass or 2 of wine. If dinner is ready, and I eat as soon as I get home, this does not happen. Or, if I go somewhere right after work, and get through that time until about 7, I don't desire the wine or extra food. Unfortunately, most nights I have to go home right after work. I have an 11 yr old son, and I'm the cook of the family. Their snacks being in the house is what kills me.....I'm working on it
Between 2-5 is rough for me. I get really snacky at work. I try to eat dinner between 5:30-6:30, so around 5 my stomach starts talking to me! I find that a lot of my calories in the day come from snacks which is fine with me because I consider them to be pretty healthy (cheese sticks, almonds, sweet potatoes, brussel sprouts,...oh, and the occasional FiberOne bar...yum!!).
For me, it's late afternoon (between 3-6 usually). I don't know why, but everyday around that time before dinner I start just wanting to eat. Usually I'm not even hungry...I just have intense urges to eat SOMETHING. After I eat dinner I'm usually fine unless I stay up super late, but those few hours before dinner are ridiculous. That's when, if I let myself, I'll eat most of my calories. Maybe I'm not eating enough earlier on in the day? Who knows?
After 7pm is my worst time. Once the kids are in bed all I want to do is sit on the couch and watch TV. If I start snacking then it is a huge trigger to binge.
I find if I can come up with something else to do, like play piano or just occupy my hands while I watch TV it helps but I definitly have my days!
Definitely the late afternoon - 3-6. I eat breakfast at 9, lunch at 11:30 and dinner sometimes as late as 9. Lately I have been making sure I have a healthy snack before I leave work so I don't snack the entire time I am making dinner.
Evenings are definitely the hardest for me. I normally structure my eating plan because I know of my tendency to want to eat more at night and the fact I like freedom, variety, and spontaneity.
Dinner in order of ideal:
Option 1: 500 calorie or less meal
Option 2: 500 calorie or less meal with a 150 or less calorie snack
Option 3: 700 calorie or less "good choice" restaurant meal
Option 4: 700 calorie+ "splurge" night
Obviously Option 4 is not preferable and needs to be infrequent for lasting success. Some people plan for their splurge days, but I don't like to.
Ironically enough I'm not a big dessert person normally, but find that an evening sweet snack seems to satisfy my cravings the best. Examples: Skinny cow ice cream sandwiches, WW orange & ice cream treat, Kashi chocolate & oatmeal cookie, frozen fruit bar, etc. Sometimes just plain popcorn satisfies me. I try to have decent snakes on hand. If I don't I might end up snaking on something high calorie!
When I eat this way caloric intake in a day ranges from 1,000 to 1,800 and averages to around 1,300/ day. I believe it keeps my body adjusting to a consistent daily caloric intake and holding on to the pounds.
This wouldn't work for everyone but it works for me, my weaknesses, and preferences.
That's a good idea I am going to start saving some calories so I can have a late snack. Ill try a yogurt with fruit so I'm not so tempted to go for the junk thx
My most challenging time is when I go to the beach with my teacher and classmates and that was our beach party....I consider this as challenging time cause there I encountered lots of foods and desert...And I am so happy on that day cause there we had a roll playing about some story.
