No snacking techniques

Zoodlebop

Just wondering if anyone has any good ideas for mental games or images to give yourself when the snacking temptation raises it's ugly head. I'm talking bowls of cereal before bed or chunks of cheese (particular weakness of my own). I've heard of things like folks keeping lumps of lard in the fridge, which they would have a good long look at when ever they were about to snack, things like that. The diet is good in general, but I'm having trouble stamping out this pansy, snacking shizzle.

Any good suggestions?

Thanks.

Jonny303

SNACK! but snack well!!

A whole punnit of cherry tomatos - approx 100kcal
favourite of mine is frozen raspeberrys. think its somewhere in around the same, possibly a bit more but just a small portion will keep u going for a while cos being frozen u wont b horsing them into you!

AARRRGH

You could make a chart of how many calories each exercise burns, e.g. running for an hour burns 300 calories or whatever the figure is, and put it up on your wall.

Then make another chart of how many calories are in the snacks you like to eat, and put that up beside it.

That'll make it pretty easy to see the bowl of cereal isn't worth an hours run.

Well, it would for me anyway.

EileenG

I have some photos on my fridge, clipped from fitness magazines, of women that I might sort of look like, if I got into amazing shape.

Brush your teeth after your meal and put on some glossy lipstick. That reduces the impulse to snack. Hope you are male, or that's going to be very weird.

If cheese is your downfall, buy stuff like whole chunks of parmesan. Great for cooking, not so good for snacking. Cottage cheese is a good evening snack, lots of protein that digest slowly.

As a last resort, you can buy stuff called gymnema sylvestre, which totally kills your ability to taste sweetness for a couple of hours. It's amazing how nasty biscuits are if you are going on texture only, there is no sweet taste. Cereal would be the same. However, you need to buy it in tincture or sucky tablet form, not a capsule.

Remmy

Every time you feel like snacking drink a glass of water.

unreggd

Wait it out

most cravings only last for about 10/15 mins


Worst case scenario if you cant help it, walk to the shop and buy somethin SMALL

prodigal_son

unreggd wrote: »

Worst case scenario if you cant help it, walk to the shop and buy somethin SMALL

Its said that people act somewhat like heroin addicts when hungry. Going to the shop while having a craving is not a good idea.

Also, If i get a craving, i have a carrot.

I have to wash it, give it a scrape, and then eat it. om nom nom..

floggg

I think by far the easiest way to avoid snacking at night is not to buy the snacks in the first place. You tend to get far less cravings when you know you have to go all the way down to the shops for a biscuit or two.

If cereal is your weakness, switch to porridge (its far better for you anyway), and your far less likley to crave it late at night. As was suggested above, switch to parmesan cheese etc.

Also, replace the snacks with healthy alternatives - nuts, fruit etc. That way if you do feel the need for a snack, it will be something healthy that won't do to much damage.

Finally, I find that eating smaller meals every 4 or 5 hours makes it far easier to avoid snacking. You should never really get too hungry if you do.

Zoodlebop

These are all good ideas.

I'm male, so the lipstick might have to go on hold, but brushing teeth after every meal is good idea.

Definately going with parmesan instead of cheddar. I'm off pasta for lent though, so not as much call for cheese now.

Water, and good snacking the way to go. I've started drinking a pint of water first thing in the morning. Helps with waking up, not being ravenous throught the 8am workout, etc.

Khannie

Like that tooth brushing idea. Very cool. (edit: no pun intended)

cardio,shoot me

im off dieting for lent

Bog Butter

My favorite snacks: Fruit or fried cruchy broccoli seasoned with spices. I also find the more sedimentary time you have the more hungry you get so being more active helps to decrease the desire for snacking.