Being bad in the Evenings - any suggestions?

I haven't been in here for a while, and I'm quite embarrassed that I regained a little bit of weight this past winter.  I'm very excited for this warm spring weather to exercise outside again, but I have been thinking about my real problem recently, and I think I'm "cheating" in the evenings, like thinking it's okay if I eat a snack and then feel so guilty and not actually log it in...I know this is a big no no.  I'll log my calories for the day and think about how I'm supposed to stop after dinner, but then I think I actually get uncomfortable with that "not stuffed"/empty feeling, or I'll think I did good for the day, and should reward myself.  I know this is bad of me!

While I have been gradually trying to decrease calories again and am trying to get more active outside of work now that it's warming up outside, I think I am blowing it in the evenings, and I'm really mad at myself!  Any advice to kick my but?  What works for you?  Help...

I have this problem, at night I just want to eat a lot.  I would save more calories for night time if this is your issue.  That way when you eat more at night you dont go over your daily intake.  Make sure you dont eat right before you go to bed though, give yourself 3 hours.

hiya..... I have the same problem too!!! I always tend to have a little nibble of something naughty like chocolate and then feel so bad that I start eating more and more!!!! [not good times!!!]

What may be a good idea is to balance your food intake during the day and have healthy snacks like fat free yogurt [which I love!], some fruit, certain types of nuts like almonds, and dried fruit. I always find that buying them small kiddie size lunch packs of raisins fill me up easily.

But back to the point, I would suggest having a square of chocolate if you really are craving it and then something nutritious like an apple which are really filling and healthy too. I hope this helps!!!! :D

Original Post by jsf07ehu:

But back to the point, I would suggest having a square of chocolate if you really are craving it and then something nutritious like an apple which are really filling and healthy too. I hope this helps!!!! :D

A square of dark chocolate tastes great when you eat it at the same time

I don't normally eat a proper meal until midday; before that point I just have pieces of fruit or plain yoghurt with bran flakes and chopped up fruit with a LOT of water.

Also, I tend to find that I get hungrier at night and can't really eat much in the mornings so I just save most of my calories for later in the day. Just listen to when your body tells you it's hungry and follow the impulse. Don't let other people tell you when you should eat, do what feels natural to you :P

I have a cup of dry plain Cheerios --one at a time! People laugh but sitting around watching TV or doing computer stuff allows me to snack but on something healthy and at a very slow pace. It works for me and after an hour of this I might have taken in 100 calories of healthy food.

I tend to have this problem too because i have Dinner at about 6pm and dont go to bed til midnight the 6 hour gap is pretty bad.

 What ive started doing is leaving 100-150cal spare for an evening snack, and then always have a pot of sugar free jello because if i have to binge then 9 calories a pot isnt gonna put me far behind.

I always brush my teeth after dinner so if I eat anything, it tastes awful. haha

If you feel the need for a reward for having a good day it suggests that your 'good day' food is a little dreary or repetitive... you're only tolerating it in the effort to lose weight?  Do you actively look forward to your healthy meals or are they a bit of a chore? One solution could therefore be to constantly reward your healthy lifestyle with the most fabulous, tasty, exciting food you can rustle up... within the calorie allowance.  When was the last time you tried a completely new food or a new recipe? 

If you're snacking because you feel a little empty after your 'good day' then pile up the vegetables on your plate at lunch and supper.  Have a big green side-salad as well.  You can go to town on extra portions of vegetables and salads because they're very low-cal and incredibly filling.  If you're still feeling empty later on a good snack is to chop up lots of different vegetables.... carrots, peppers, cucumber, celery.... and serve them with a big blob of hummus, salsa or some other reasonably low-cal dip.  Raw veggies take an age to nibble through and are very filling. 

Finally... if there are snacks in your house that you'd rather not eat, get rid of them.  Unhealthy snacks are a lot easier to avoid if they're not easily available.

Don't get mad... get creative.

I've read a lot of studies lately that suggest that you SHOULD eat (healthy snack) before bed. Your body be deprived of food all the hours that you are asleep.

I can not sleep if I am overly hungry before I go to bed. A string cheese (around 80 calories) is usually enough to fill me up so I can sleep.

Well, if most of your snacking happens at night (which is true for some of us)

It never hurts to fill the house with good things..keep bowls of pre-cut vegetables or fruit..anything low calorie and healthy. That way when you grab a handful of this or that while watching tv or whatever..you're not going to undo your whole day.

I love the sugar free puddings or some very light popcorn at night..makes me feel full if I didn't eat much for dinner, but even if I did..it lets me have my snack mood without adding many calories.

It's nice because you won't have to feel you're forced to change your whole routine, you know? Making comfortable, easy switches can be the difference between sticking with a plan or falling off the wagon.

A diet shouldn't be miserable.

This is what i do at night. i set a time 2 have 2 snack at nite . my time is 8:00 and 9:00. i have kellogs fiber plus bar choclate chip. it kill that want for chocolate. At 9:00 i have pop weaver popcorn whole bag. The big bag. if u set time table you will stisk 2 it. Good luck

clara

I like the sugar free jello option...I've recently started making it on Sundays...i buy the big box of it and make it..it tends to last the week. Buying the premade cups costs a lot more than the box of mix. 

I have usually maxed my calories by dinner- even though I do try to leave some calories for a treat (chocolate)- but I usually "need" something more.

I drink a lot of herbal tea because I tend to snack at night (watching TV, kids in bed)

Hot water with lemon and a little honey helps too.

Another thing that has helped is emailing my daily food log to a friend who is supporting my weight loss plans. Once I have done that- it helps me shut down my eating- I feel more accountable somehow- if I eat more after that  I feel like I am lying to her. I don't know why that guilt works but it does for me..

Drink something before you eat something.  You may just be thirsty.

I especially like instant miso soup becasuse its fast, easy, tasty, filling, and did I mention only 30 calories?

Stay away from diet sodas, though.  I've been hearing research reports lately that drinkers of diet soda tend to put on unhealthy belly fat.  I'm sticking with iced tea for a cold beverage these days.

Good luck!

I just want to say "thanks" to everyone for these suggestions.  All of these suggestions are very helpful...many ideas I had never thought of, and I feel less discouraged.  If you all can successfully make it through the evenings, I guess I can too.  Thanks.

i think your just bored in the evenings. i think this way .stay away from the kitchen ..,if you cant touch it, you cant put it to your mouth ,and you cant eat it...its kinda hard when your kitchen is in the middle of everything.so if your in a house just go upstairs for the evening. and dont keep snacks in your room.i keep a gallon of water in my room to avoid going in the kitchen ....and if your talkin about late night snacking maybe you shoud try going to bed early.or doing something you like to do .or save your favorite snacks for the weekends. these things helped me i hope they can help you

I have the same problem at night! It's more the "empty feeling" that is hard for me to get used to, I know that when I was smaller I didn't have that empty feeling/hunger and as I ate more and gained more, the habits became out of control. I've recently checked myself and struggle with late nights because I am a Night Owl! .. I think for me it's the "filling" something inside of me, so it may be more psychological than actual hunger, I've come to realize that for myself recently. So I've started munching on baby carrot sticks at night, they help and as GI Jane said the nibbly feeling gets satisfied and it's low in cals! Good luck on your path! I am in the same boat. 

I keep water close by (flavored with lemon usually). When I feel like I want to snack (especially late at night) I take a few sips. If the hunger pangs just won't go away, I'll pop a 100 calorie bag of popcorn. If I'm pretty deficient in my calories for the day, I'll sometimes get a tablespoon or peanut butter or a few natural (no salt) almonds as well.

Or get a piece of fruit like a big apple - it takes a while to eat and the crunch is quite satisfying. :)

Water, veggies and cut back on the tv.

I LOVE snacking, and what works for me, is a later dinner (around 730 or 8) with a small dessert (100 cals) around 9 and around 10 0r 1030 I go to my bed and read until i'm asleep.  Oh course you can use this around whatever time frame you go to bed.