Late night eating!

One thing that I have been trying to change in my weight loss this time around is the night time eating!!  For some reason I would do great during the day, stay on track, drink my water, avoid food pitfalls at work, but then when I would get home, making dinner, I would reach for the chips and in a matter of a few minutes I would consume half the calories that I had eaten all day, and that was before eating dinner!  Another pitfall for me is late night eating.  I have 3 beautiful kids, but once they are all in bed, my husband and I get to watch our shows and more chips would appear.  And I would never put some in a small bowl, or measure it out; I would eat straight out of the bag, so who knows how many servings that is when you aren’t paying attention!  So, I’ve come up with a few strategies that seem to be working. 

1.       When I get home from work, I make a small snack, or heat up some vegetable soup, sit down and take a moment to catch up on my kid’s day, and transition to the rest of the evening.  Doing this, I’m not only spending quality time with my kids, but I am not thinking about food when I am making dinner, and my hand does not reach for the chips!

2.       After dinner, I do have a small treat.  Whether it is a cookie, a small scoop of ice cream, a skinny cow ice cream sandwich, pudding, etc…  Once I am done with that, I make an imaginary rope across the kitchen that the kitchen is closed for the evening!

3.       If I am really struggling with wanting to eat, even though I am not hungry, I have used those Crest Whitening strips for my teeth.  You need to leave it on your teeth for ½ an hour and by the time that is done and I brush my teeth, I’m usually fine.

4.       On the weekends, when my husband and I are chilling out, watching a movie after the kids go to bed, I will either make 94% fat free popcorn, or I have recently been eating more veggies as snacks with fat free dip, like sugar snap peas, carrots, pepper strips etc…Not only are you getting more veggies in your diet, but they fill you up to.

5.       Keeping yourself busy is also another way not to pig out in the evening.  I like making jewelry, so that usually keeps me busy, or I’ll fold laundry, or clean out a drawer to distract myself.

6.       I also made a list of why I want to lose weight, and usually reviewing that will help me meet my goals.

Jillian Michaels, from the Biggest Loser, offers this advice for late night noshing:

1.       Don’t eat while standing up, in the car, or on the go.  If you sit down and pay attention to every meal, you will be more relaxed and you are less likely to overeat.

2.       Don’t skip meals.  You may think you are saving calories, but you will only eat more at your next meal.

3.       People eat at night because they are bored.  Take up cross-word puzzles, call a friend on the phone, or go for a walk.

4.       Brush your teeth.  You are less likely to snack if you have a minty clean mouth.

5.       Try a cup of hot tea; the warm liquid in your stomach can help you feel satiated.

Jillian’s last piece of advice:

“When you are fulfilled – say you have a productive job, joyful activities, and healthy relationships, you’re much less likely to mindlessly eat.  If you start taking charge of the external things in your life, it will be easier to take charge of the internal ones.  Finding non food ways to fulfill yourself will pay off for your body, but it will also help you relax and become a happier human being.  When you take the time to look after yourself, you tell the world that you’re worth it, and that you deserve the best life has to offer.  Once you project this kind of attitude, you can’t help turning it into reality”

I think that’s pretty good advice!