.

Hmm...I actually do this too. Like you, I've lost around 100 pounds (around 70-80) and have kept it off for two to three years. I usually eat pretty well and don't tend to deprive myself of things I want, but sometimes something just seems to snap and I just can't seem to stop eating (even to the point of sickness >_<).

I wish I had some advice, but I thought I'd at least let you know that you're not the only one.

I tend to over snack also and I'm not the only person I know of. So many of my friends have told me that they do the same thing. It is a hard thing to manage but it makes me feel stronger when I defeat my cravings. When I'm struggling I often chew a piece of sugar free gum or drink water. I also like to take my mind off of eating by doing stuff around the house, or better yet, exercising. I hope this helps.

Good for you for losing so much weight and keeping it off! 

I know that often when I'm eating straight out of the package I feel like I'm not the one in control.   I'll eat a little bit, and then a little more, and then go back and take another handful, until I have no idea how much I've eaten.   It helps me to admit to myself that I'm going to eat some, then take it down and measure out a serving and put the package back away.  Then I drink some water while I'm eating it and make sure I log it in here. 

What is your trigger?  Mine is boredom, when I get really bored or really tired I get this snack attack need and also have the problem that if I start I can't stop.

Knowing what triggers me I can head it off and either go for a walk, go to bed early or have foods that are low calorie and boring to eat like cracker breads so I pig out on those, only end up eating about 60 calories and end up full and not wanting the other naughtier things.

I think knowing your trigger is really important and then having a plan on what to do when it hits.

sugar, fat and salt addictions are hard to erase from memory.

What I do is mix a glass of hot apple cider with honey..sip slowly. Some herbal teas like peppermint work too.  Finding the ideal drink for you is a test.

I will sometimes eat a bowl of oatmeal, bran or other bulk cereal, anytime of the night or day...this fills the gap and helps stop the cravings.

The next thing you have to do..is not have snacks a round at all.  I keep only one: popcorn, which I air popped and add low fat flavour.

It is up to you...if you want to lose this weight and keep it off you have to avoid the white sugar, white flour, white fat and cut way back on the salt.

It is not easy especially if you grew up eating all these things.  I made the decision to not be over weight or obese...it is a choice.. A Life changing choice.

Good luck, stay determined...you can do it!!

I feel the same sometimes, I'm 27 and lost 75 pounds... it's been a challenge. I just keep in mind how miserable and guilty I will feel if I indulge in very negative eating habits. I remind myself that I will physically get ill and sometimes it works and sometimes I just don't care and eat a handful of miniatture chocolates.

I've been doing what themassageguy says... and it's worked TODAY LOL A good herbal tea or chai with a splenda-- yum.

Get rid of all that food that tempts you as well. Just chuck it all out in the dumpster immediately. Sometimes it's what you have to do. I take my goodies to work and set out for my co-workers so at least it doesn't go to waste LOL

Good luck and HTH

I've lost a lot of weight too and also struggled just insane night time hungry horror attacks wanting the snacks. It'd get to the point that my night time snacking would just end up ruining a whole day of dieting right! So I started hearing a lot of recommendations and followed them ALL...at night...eat an apple, slicing it in 8ths and sit down to munch on that. Try to avoid too many liquids at night because they tend to stay in us since we're sleeping and then show up on the scale. We use our water most efficiently after waking up and maybe quit around 7 or 8 pm to avoid water weight.  I'll very often take a bunch of celery and carrot sticks to FEEL like I'm eating something and best trick of all....I'll actually go to bed early just to avoid the snacking if it's too strong...and studies say going to sleep we lose weight...you can probably Google that info, but my scale has proved it true. So..lastly...if you can record either with DVR or whatever system you have considerdoing so because I'm so serious when I tell you that all those brainwashing food commercials REALLY do a number on us and they sure can lead me to the kitchen if not even a run to the store! I record EVERYTHING now to avoid those commercials and fast forward through them all. I've always got my favorite programs to catch up on and can watch any of them anytime I want . These are all the tricks I use and they all work. And I guess I could admit to the fact that I had to WANT them to work too.  Also and this is so amazing to have discovered.....about the last 6 weeks in a row there has been some sort of special occasion each weekend and then I find the very next following day I'm craving  bad foods because (I think) from eating bad foods the day before! Amazing discovery for me actually....felt like a little scientist with myself as the lab mouse under scrutiny!  I just cannot believe how one meal of wrong foods will want to lead me to another the very next day. So....I will eat more frequent meals the next day and if I have to I'll add more of my "on program choices" just to avoid the bad foods. To me it's better for me to maybe eat a little more of my good nutritional choices than eating high calorie high fat high carb, high sodium type foods. This has helped me to NOT reach for more bad stuff. By the second day I have it back under control and I'm back on program. I've since decided though I simply don't care what special occasion it is because I'm not caving to join in with everyone else to eat the bad stuff anymore...it's just not worth it when I've worked so hard to lose my pounds and still have more to lose you know? At this rate and with summer gatherings upcoming I'd never reach my goal if I kept caving every so called "special occasion" . I hope some of these tricks I use will help you too. Stay strong ...whether at night or weekends and don't let friends, family or tv commercials sabbotage your great work. Remember all our bad habits can be changed and we know this because we have others who have been succesful to teach us "we can do it too".  Make sure you tell yourelf this....."nothing tastes as good as thin feels" or just shake your head when you think of or see foods you really don't want to eat and say inside. "no".."nope"..."no way"...."NO". It workds too.  In time this snacking habit will change and you can try replacing it with something good. Summer is coming and it sounds like we both want to enjoy that so no time like the present for us to be strong and be determine and change some habits before the habits change us.

nnylyma>  I'm in the exact same boat.  I have lost 170 lbs. over the past 4 years.  I started by reducing my intake and switching over to healthy eating.  I work out 3 to 4 days a week, and am a frequent runner.  But when I sit down in the evening I get an uncontrollable urge to go eat something sweet or salty.  If I do...  I have an extremely hard time stopping.  (if I can at all)

I'm just glad to see I'm not the only one in this crazy mental dilemma!

A good trick is to first identify the foods you tend to binge on. Then, instead of keeping those foods in the house, find a restaurant/store where you can buy one serving at a time instead.

I love ice cream. But if I keep a tub of it in my freezer, when I have an ice cream craving there's no way to control how much of it I eat. Instead, when I have an ice cream craving I go out to get a scoop or, better yet, frozen yogurt instead. This does two things: (1) it limits the amount of the food you'll eat by controlling portion size, and (2) when you have to go to the trouble of leaving your house for your craving, you'll be less likely to actually give in.

i do the same thing!  the issue with me isssss that i'm with my mom for the summer, and she had no qualms about stocking up on chocolate and ice cream, which are killers for me.  i hate it when you have that conversation with yourself.  "do i REALLY want this?"  well, no...but then i go ahead and eat it anyway.  balls.

My trainer gave me this advice and I just wanted to share it - she says from breakfast till your last meal eat  every 3 hours (i.e. don't go over 3 hours without eating).  Not only does this keep your metabolisim going but I find when I do this I never get those crazy cravings and was able to drop 20 pounds.  I find buy sticking to a certain time to eat my meals and my snacks makes it so easy.  For me this is much easier through the week and on those weekends when I do get off schedule those are the times when I eat way too much usually towards the end of the day.  Another thing I have found helpful is to have a bottle or glass of Peirrier or club soda around 6:30, no calories and the bubbles fill your belly.  I have a cheat day once a week too but I am trying to switch to a cheat meal.

Congrats on your weight loss and actually maintaining it (that's the hardest part for me).  I have just recently started going to the gym between 8 and 9pm.  I never thought I was an evening workout type of person but I love it.  Sometimes it takes a bit of effort getting out the door (I try changing into my workout gear earlier in the evening) but once I'm there I feel great.  There's no time for eating or drinking and by the time I get home, I'm tired.  I unwind for 30 mins and then usually head off to bed where I sleep better as well.

One is too many and a thousand is never enough. 

I have this problem as well...in fact 1 out of every 32 people in the USA do!  I'm reading a great book called "Crave" www.cravethebook.com/

that is helping alot!!! Please try to get this under control ASAP otherwise it will consume your life and your binges will become much more frequent and addicting. GOOD LUCK!!!! And remember, it's not about wanting food, it's about replacing some negative emotion of yours with the food.

The one thing I do when I get those ravenous cravings is to take a little bit and then dump the remaining down the drain.  I have never had a desire to eat wet sink food.

Yes! When I do this kind of crazy eating, I get a "glazed over" look as I head toward the kitchen! The only thing that works for me is to go ahead & get a small amount of whatever the craving is, & take it outside to eat it.  I keep telling myself that I will go back for more later if I need to, but right now I occupy myself with an outdoor activity (I love being outside, day or night).  If it is bedtime, I'll take the small amt. of food with me to get ready for bed & finish it while I do my bedtime stuff (washing face, pajamas, etc.), then brush my teeth & go to bed.

I also have less cravings & binges since I eat so many fruits & vegetables every day.  I really believe giving your body food that contains a lot of nutrients cuts down on cravings.

Good luck!  It sounds like you are doing great, losing a 100 lbs!!

Congratulations on your healthy life.  I also have lost a lot.  185 lbs.  Kept it off totally for 3 1/2 years but the last year has been hell.  I have gained 12 lbs and feel like I am a totally failure even though I still have so much off.  I read all your replies and am so glad I am not the only one with this problem.  I get tired of the constant fight but know it is worth it.  

Thanks.

I used to think that I could get rid of a craving by just eating a little piece of whatever it was that I was craving....this did not work for me, because once I start eating I can't stop.  I read that cravings actually come in waves, so if you can get over the peak of it, eventually it will subside!

Original Post by themassageguy:

 It is up to you...if you want to lose this weight and keep it off you have to avoid the white sugar, white flour, white fat and cut way back on the salt.

  I don't that's necessarily true for all people. Many don't feel the need to do give it all up and would end feeling deprived of the things they enjoy. True, these aren't the best for you, but if eaten in moderation, one can still successfully lose weight and keep it off.

 My advice is similar to someone else's - what is your trigger? Is it really random or does it just feel that way? I overeat when I'm bored as well. You may not be the same way, but if you are and you find yourself with lots a free time and nothing to do, consider taking up a new hobby. Dance classes are fun and you would be active. Learn to sew, or play an instrument, or even find a book series that will keep you interested.

 That may not be your trigger, but it's helpful to know what is. Everyone here has great advice and they've learned it through experience. Good luck =)

the best thing to do is to have your own cupboard and stuff with healthy snacks, like raw nuts, special k bars, dried fruits...etc...and whenever you feel like eating just go there. do not go anywhere else, like the fridge for example