I can't stop SNACKING! Help me please! How do you stop yourself from snacking?

I have this problem. I just cannot stop snacking! It's not even unhealthy foods, I snack on bread mainly and Philadelphia soft cheese (light). I always get cravings for anything starchy or rich in carbs. Obviously this is having a disastrous effect on my waist line. How does everyone else stop themselves from needlessly snacking? I'm not even hungry when I do it - its pure greed and lack of will power.

Thank you in advance.

I know how you feel! I actually have/had the same exact problem. The advice I was given (that surprisingly worked for me the very next day) was to eat a lot of protein. Low carb/ high protein! You would think that lowering the carbs would make you want them even more but it definitely got rid of that need for snacking for me. Eat small things all day long. Eliminate "fake sugar" apparently this makes you crave sugar, too.

I gave up my rockstar, nutrigrain bars and special k. I ate all high protein food (turkey, light cheese sticks, almonds) and I was so happy that I didn't rush in for the peanut butter! Give it a shot, at this point- it can't hurt.

PS- I also suffer from greed and extreme lack of willpower!

I am the same way. I looooove starches and carbs. I had to ween myself off them and towards better snacks. Once I started weening myself off, I found I do not crave them as much. Try substituting your bread and cheese for pretzels and string cheese. You can have a small handful of pretzels and if you "peel" the string cheese, both will take you longer to eat and will hopefully keep you from diving back in. Try sliced apples with peanut butter or spread your soft cheese on a stalk of celery. I keep yogurt, string cheese, pretzels, grapes, celery, etc on hand but also have some 100 calorie packs when I need something sweet. :)

Try to remind yourself you CAN snack. Snacking is not evil if you do it right.

Good luck!

Try portioning things out into baggies. That way, you can't eat more than a portion at a time. It sounds like you might be boredom eating as you're eating without any real hunger to speak of, so when you get the urge to snack do something with yourself instead: tidy, take a short walk, draw, write, busy your hands. And stay out of the kitchen!

Cutting out artificial sugars is a good idea, as Hope has suggested, both in regards to snacking and on a whole. Protein will help with fullness, but so will fibre. A good filling snack that's still fairly low-calorie is vegetable crudites with hummus. The apple and PB is also a very good suggestion as it is suitably filling. Air popped popcorn with some spices or cinnamon sprinkled on is a brilliant fibre source and a wholegrain. If you're after a sweet treat berries and some natural yoghurt work well. Of course, don't stop yourself having bread once in a while. Royal put it nicely: snacking is not the enemy if you can do it the right way. It actually promotes a healthier metabolism.

Last but not least, make sure you eat plenty at other times in the day: try starting off the day with a low GI, high fibre breakfast such as oats or a bran cereal, accompanied by a protein, as it will keep you fuller and energetic for longer. And balance at the rest of your meals out - protein/carbs/healthy fats/fruit or veg. Good luck!

DRINK! I drink insane amounts of no calorie flavored water it really helps fill me up, jut plain water works well too.   if you need to chew something either chew gum or what I do is cut up lots of celery or carrots and just eat them raw. you can eat as much of them as you want without feeling guilty

I used to be the exact same way when I started my diet over a year and a half ago. I was seriously just greedy, I think it started when I was a kid I always tried to keep up with my dad and my brother in terms of how much I could eat. So when we would order nachos at a restuarant I would try and get the ones with the most cheese just so that my brother couldn't have it. Haha. But part of that stayed with me as a grew older, you start eating thinking it's inconsequential until I turned 18 and had put on 20 lbs. Even after I started working out I would come home soooo hungry and eat 3 bowls of cereal.

It's different now though, it took awhile to adjust my eating patterns but you just have to take that first step and say no for just one day. Don't let that compulsive mentality get the better of you, it's like trying to quit smoking. You know you shouldnt and you dont want to but you smell it and something clicks in your brain and before you conciously have time to respond and asses the situation you're already sucking it back.

Eat protein, take it slow it is an uphill battle and it will take more than one shot, but put it away. Just tell yourself to put it away, and if you can't stop yourself throw it out. I've chucked lots of food if I can't keep my hands out of it. I did the same thing with cigarettes, buy a pack have a drag feel disgusted and then just throw out the whole pack after snapping them in two. And I've spent a lot of money just doing this alone.

Soups are good, with one slice of bread. mm satisfying

Like mentioned before: PROTEIN.

When I eat carbs in the morning, I'm always more hungry.

But when I eat protein (2 egg whites), I feel a LOT better. I don't feel the need of snacking. :)

Why are you snacking?  Are you hungry or are you bored?  Do you need to snack as much when you are busy? 

If you're hungry, keep carrots and other vegis around. 

If you're bored, keep carrots and other vegis around, and do something when you feel the need to eat. 

eating foods high in fiber (like fruit) with a high water content (like soup) will help you feel full longer. but i know how you feel. i love to eat for entertainment. still, high water content. soup, fruit, veggies. it helps.  

I'm an emo snacker myself (furiously chewing piece of gum right now to stave of the snack craving!). The soup suggestion is right on target- I'm not a big soup eater due to high sodium content in store bought soups, but I made a chicken soup this week and I felt fuller longer, and lost some weight to boot! (today had chicken soup with an open faced sandwich and apple for lunch, beef stew for supper. Sooo yummy!)

I love lalabanana's idea of portions put into baggies. One of my problems is that I have young school aged children, and while we have plenty of healthy snacks for their lunches, we also have the Teddy Grahams, gummy/fruity things, crackers, etc. So I have ample opportunity all day long to just dip my hand in that bag/box...I've got to try that baggie thing!

Could you please explain to me what is hummus and what does it taste like.  I am supposed to be following a very strict diet due to a varitey of health conditions (low carb, low fat, low sugar, low salt and low calorie)  The carbs are the most important due to recent diagnosis of diabetes type 2.

I have the same problem as the rest of those responding, and I have herd of hummus before, but noone has ever explained it to me and I am a chicken to try things without a bit of information about them...lol

Hummus is a paste or dip made of chickpeas (or garbanzo beans). It is typically made of chickpeas, a small amount of oil, lemon juice and then whatever flavour that may be preferred - garlic, corriander, chillies, red pepper... It is a wonderful dip and accompliment to crudites, as a spread in pitas or on toast/sandwiches, or as a baked potato filling just as a few examples. Have a look for it in your local store, and try it! Chickpeas alone are lovely and nutritious too.

Original Post by littleschrei:

I have this problem. I just cannot stop snacking! It's not even unhealthy foods, I snack on bread mainly and Philadelphia soft cheese (light). I always get cravings for anything starchy or rich in carbs. Obviously this is having a disastrous effect on my waist line. How does everyone else stop themselves from needlessly snacking? I'm not even hungry when I do it - its pure greed and lack of will power.

Thank you in advance.

 

 

 

GOTH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! meaning GET OUT of THE HOUSE!!!! Even if you dont have anywhere to go. Try a walk, or a hike. Find some trails around your house that you can bike to and then walk around at. ICall some friends to go hang out, f you have a dog walk him. Or pick up a book, start a project. Anything that keeps your hands and mind busy. When i first wanted to stop i would make collages from magazines. It was fun and it kept me away from the pantry. Now i study, work out, run, surf, or SOMETHING. As long as your out of the house youll be fine. Libraries are good too. If there is something your interested in you can find information about it there.

Thanks so much for the information on hummus.  I think I can do that.  I love reg chick peas in a salad.

The best thing sometimes is substitution. I love laughing cow cheese slices. It is so good, and smooth and better for you than the philly cheese. I buy the container, and eat one wedge (predivided) when i crave cheese. I eat 6 times a day now too.

I have 2 eggs and 2 turkey breakfast sausages for breakfast every day and I still crave carbs an hour later. =/

• drink lots of water.  try flavored if you like
• coffee or tea (hot liquids) tend to suppress the appetite
• chew sugar-free gum
• chew ice cubes
• go for a walk
• distract yourself (call a friend, read a book, get on cc)
• it helps me to do something with my hands (so they can't be putting food in my mouth) ie paint your nails, sew/knit, draw, write, etc
• as others have said, increase protein
• eat low-cal high fiber foods like celery or carrots (dip in salsa for more flavor)
• exercise.  for a lot of people it suppresses the appetite