Snacking - need accountability to not do it!

#21

That’s great! (also - I had no idea that there was a surcharge -for bodyweight?!)

(Doug) #22

Well done, Madeleine, and great topic. There can be so many ‘mental’ reasons to eat, and it’s important to keep our eye on the ball. Heh - easy for me to say…

#23

Days 4 and 5 done!
This has been really interesting. I don’t think I realized 1) how much I grazed 2) how often the grazing replaced meals. Since my fast I’ve had 3 full meals per day and it turns out I can eat a lot of food. I’m probably eating a bit more than usual since I’m still in the post-fast feasting phase, which is dominated by a wonderful feeling of nourishment and gratitude.
I don’t have a scale so I’m not sure exactly how this is playing out in terms of size/weight, but despite a whole lot of food I still have that slightly leaner look that I get after several days of fasting. Clothes are fitting fine and my belly feels flat, so … I don’t know, CICO, it’s not looking too good for you right now.

(Cathrine Helle) #24

Grazing is a hormonal issue for me, mostly emotional eating during the week before my period. I don’t any longer, but it took me a while of logging my eating patterns before I realised. I would usually eat/snack continuously throughout the day, and in sum eat far less than normally with proper meals. This, of course, does nothing to help appetite control.

I still give myself some slack this week, but I stick to meal times and also IF. By slack I mean that I will have some low carb dessert or dark chocolate, but often times I don’t need it when I’ve had a high fat meal right before.

I’m really glad you’re bringing this up and sharing your experiences regarding this, as I think it’s a topic that’s often overlooked :slight_smile:

(Chantay) #25

This really struck home with me! I wonder if we could have an accountability check-in section, there are definitely some things I could stand to be held accountable for, and snacking is one of them. Snacking, and on top of that it’s amazing what I can justify every day (e.g., I’ve been so busy and working so hard, I can have a couple extra pieces of cheese! I moved 2 tons of hay, I can have an extra burger!) I’ve been SO good with my macros, but I know I’m over on calories. Everyone says not to count calories, but I’m starting my third month, and I don’t think intuitive eating is my thing yet. I just want to get into the 150s, damnit!

#26

You could use this thread as an accountability check-in. Just post your particular goal around snacking (none at all? or if you do, you need to make yourself some on a plate and sit down to eat it?) and then let us know how you’re doing.

I used 3 meals/day as a template to start even though I think that’s really arbitrary, and also know that I will probably eventually gravitate to fewer meals. I just didn’t want any reason not to be successful, and knowing that my next meal is never more than a few hours away has made this no-snacking thing pretty straightforward. Unlike many folks on here I do get hungry but it’s never something I can’t manage for a couple of hours. Eventually I’d love to go purely by hunger and intuition, but first I need to get a handle on the habit of mindless eating.

#27

Days 6 and 7 no snacking: check!

(Chantay) #28

I would love to be on the no snacking train with you! During weekends, I will eat three times a day with one scheduled snack after a lifting session, but during the week I would like to fast until dinner time (same rules about after lift snack.) I’m going to not be a munching asshole today, and stick to the plan!!

You motivate me to take control of this ridiculousness!

(Siobhan) #29

It isnt the raise in calories that is the issue with snacking, regardless. As someone else mentioned sometimes people eat LESS when grazing… and yet still stall/gain weight.
Its more due to the fact that when you snack throughout the day it gives less/no time for your insulin to drop sufficiently enough to be able to access body fat stores.

Either way… not snacking can help.

#30

Yeah, I’m not very interested in calories (although I think it’s fun to find things that go contrary to CICO :smirk:) and honestly even insulin isn’t my main focus when it comes to not snacking even though I know it’s better to not keep it high all the time. My aim is to connect more to eating when I’m actually hungry, and I think that ending the habit of snacking is my first step. My eating doesn’t feel super dysfunctional, but there’s a lot of eating when I’m procrastinating or just at random junctures in my day.
Correction: there’s BEEN a lot of eating when I’m procrastinating etc. :slight_smile:

#31

Day 8 done (and this afternoon was a close call! I was about to put my hand into the macadamia container and then I realized that I’d break my streak - and that I’d have to come onto the forum and fess up!).

I still haven’t really started a new habit for those moments when I would be inclined to snack, and I think that’s what I was planning originally. Starting tomorrow, if I find myself wandering into the kitchen between meals: one deep breath and just a quick check-in to put a name to how I’m feeling (anxious? bored?). I might build on that but I’ll start there.

(Chantay) #32

Dying to know how your day 8 went! My day 1 was good! I’m a few hours early, but the rest of the night I’ll be out in the garage, well away from food, covered in old vehicle grime. Pretty unlikely I’ll break. Thanks for being a kick ass internet role model!! :heart:

#33

Aww - thank you!

And good for you :grinning: Our respective Days 1 and 8 done!

(Chantay) #34

I sucked today. Couldn’t nail down anything remotely resembling a schedule with the damn holiday, plus we were racing to wrap up a big car related project before our four day weekend was over, so the whole day felt like snacking when we got a chance to grab something. Going to roll with it, cause I can start sticking to a better routine tomorrow, since I’m back to work. Weekends/holidays totally screw me up!

How’d you do, Madeleine? :slight_smile:

#35

It’s really hard when your schedule is wacky! Good luck today, Chantay.

Day 9 was good for me. It’s not automatic yet but I’m plugging away. I’m looking forward it to becomings second-nature but I think it will take a while!

#36

Days 10 and 11 - done, but I’m getting a bit loose with what I consider a “meal” so I’ll work on that this week.
@Chantruese Chantay, are you still there? How’s it going?

(Chantay) #37

Yay!!! Good job!!

I’m still here! Going strong, been too busy to snack, which is perfect!! Thanks for checking in on me! :slight_smile:

(Chantay) #38

Still at it! I don’t actually know what day I’m on! I’m going to call it day 7 (since I know I sucked out loud on the 4th.) I feel like I’m getting more control of the snacking, BUT I also feel like calories might be creeping up at meal time to compensate. I’m gaining weight on keto, but trying to be patient about waiting for full adaptation. But it’s been 2 months! Seems like it should be better by now, damnit! =)

#39

Great! Yesterday was day 14 for me.
Not sure if this will help you but I realized I had to make a shift a few days ago, and it’s this: I try to really pay attention as I’m eating - enjoy the food and the feeling of nourishment - and then when I’m full let that register (it’s a sense of satisfaction and … I don’t know how to explain it - closure?). Somehow that has really helped the not snacking. I don’t feeling like I’m fighting something or trying NOT to do something and instead putting my focus on the eating part.

(Cathrine Helle) #40

What a wonderful approach! More often than I’d like to admit, I eat my meals with a sense of urgency. I am in charge of family logistics, and for many years this meant limited time to consume a meal - there was always something happening between dinner an bedtime. I used to eat very slowly, but over the years this has changed dramatically. I think I need to rediscover what it’s like to actually enjoy and appreciate my food while I’m eating it. Thank you for your insight :heart: