How do I not open the floodgates again?

Help!  I've been counting calories for a couple of weeks now and had been doing great, eating under 1600 every day while also exercising 30 minutes a day.  Things have been working great, I even made it through all the Holiday feast temptation relatively unscathed, even losing a couple of pounds.

Then, last night happened -- I've always known that my problem has been evening/late-night binging.  Not sure why, most of the time I'm full after I eat my dinner, but then I want something for a snack.  But once I eat a snack, it's like I open the floodgates and want to consume everything in my kitchen--more specifically, every JUNK food in my kitchen.

I avoided my biggest tempations (Breyer's ice cream) by not even buying it, because when I have it, I'll eat one container in a single sitting.  So I thought I was safe, but last night I found an opened container of planters mixed nuts... and proceeded to finish the rest of the container.  Then I went on to an unopened container of planters nuts, and finished half of THAT off as well.  So after I calculated what I ate, I realized I ate over 1200 calories after dinner alone, ending with roughly 2500 for the day.  Now, I remember from when I was super active that 2500 is not horrible, but I still feel so ashamed at eating so mindlessly and not being able to control myself.  Also, I'm concerned that this might start happening more often.

So, how do I control myself?  How do I keep the 'floodgates' from opening in the first place?

Karena, I know how you feel.  Been there and felt the horror of wondering why the heck I did it. 

It's done, over...now to take a peek into the reasons.....
    - are you hungry or bored?
    - how much protein are you getting during the day
    - are you logging all your foods and spacing meals out
    - try having a glass of water when the food 'attack' mode comes along, then try to wait 15 min and see if you still have the ravenous attack mode going on

Original Post by devilish_patsy:

Karena, I know how you feel.  Been there and felt the horror of wondering why the heck I did it. 

It's done, over...now to take a peek into the reasons.....
    - are you hungry or bored?
    - how much protein are you getting during the day
    - are you logging all your foods and spacing meals out
    - try having a glass of water when the food 'attack' mode comes along, then try to wait 15 min and see if you still have the ravenous attack mode going on

  

 

 I would say bored more than hungry...initially.  Yesterday was a rainy day and couldn't really do outdoor activities.  I think I was also somewhat bored with the types of food I've been eating. 

BUT, once I ate a few nuts, I just could not stop.  That's why I describe it like floodgates opening.

Most of the days have been a breakdown of 55% carbs, and then 20-25% each of protein and fat.  Yesterday, with so many of these nuts, it ended up beaing 50% fat, and about 25% each protein and carbs.

I've been really good about logging, and also really good about spacing out the meals--except that I do tend to eat the majority of my calories in the evening.  But when I try to eat more during the day, it doesn't help me from eating less at night, it just adds to my overall totals.

I'll try more water -- I don't think I drink enough, most of what I drink are other types of drinks, like coffee, tea, and sports drinks (though no soda).

I am more likely to eat mindlessly in the evening too. Often have luck with just telling myself that if I still want it in 15 minutes I'll have it. Then 15 minutes later I'll do the same. Often if I can put it off twice like that I no longer want it so badly and if I do, I am able to eat with more control.

What if you were to log the foods you want to eat BEFORE you eat them?  Maybe seeing those numbers before the "damage" is done would encourage you to stick to just one serving or none at all if you've met your calorie requirements for the day.