Diario de BuffyBear, 11 oct. 11

Ditto. I'm mindless eating all the time now only none of it is low carb or healthy! Instead of taking pictures showing how big my belly is growing each week maybe I should take pictures of my butt each week. Maybe it will motivate everyone to just say no. 

Buffy you need to address WHY you are eating.....are you bored, frustrated, upset....etc. Then you can deal with it. If it is just old habits creeping in - try start a project (sewing/knitting/drawing/etc) when you sit down at night, to take your mind of eating.  

May I suggest putting those unflattering "fat" photos of yourself on your fridge, and pantry? Would that stop to give you pause to actually think before snacking? 

I also agree with triaby...Why are you sabataging yourself? I tend to be a late night snacker purely from boredom. Once you know why, you can correct... 

I do it myself, late at night! I was hungry, and crying out I was hungry to my husband. I did not have a chance to cook, which I seldom do anymore. My main priority is babysitting my grandson, and having Nick, my son help me. Actually the other way around, my daughter asked Nick. I was lucky to get a walk in, but my downfall would be the peanut butter, and the peanuts, or sometimes nuts! I do not know if I go over the actual amount. Some things are in certain amounts. Are you weighing or measuring things? I have a notebook on how much activity it takes to be able to loose 1-2lbs per week! But, do I do it? No! I have that treadmill and keep saying, winter I will do this! I will watch T.V. and do it! So I am bouncing back up,and down by half a pound or a bit more. It is just the small things we do wrong, but they do count! I also have a food scale to measure the veggies, which I have not done either. So, for me I need that extra push, that I guess I am not getting from being in the house! It is always the small things, that usually add up! A bit more cheese, including cream cheese, small, but significant! I am going to look at phase2 again, and for vegetarian to see the correct amounts, on everything! Sorry, maybe not much help! No, no, no insults! I have done mindless eating, being in front on the T.V. or computer. We should enjoy it peacefully on a table, where we can be more in control, and accountable! I have a table outside, I might start doing that till the weather permits, anything to break a certain cycle! It takes time, and it is very hard! Also, we need to make sure we eat enough, my main problem! So hang in there! Sorry I could not be of more help for you! 

Buffy - You make me feel guilty, looks like I have been watching you *smile*. How can that be possible? I know about this late eating as well and that is one of the reasons why I don't have my dinner before 7 pm. I agree with the rest, there is a reason for it and to eliminate the reason might help to stop it. Triaby - I had to smile about taking the mind of eating when you sit down at night. Most of us are in front of the computer then, talking about nothing else (almost) then our eating habits and how to deal with it. So, our mind is completely focused on food. I myself find it easier to have it on my mnd and not in my mouth :-)  

Buffy - great job on recognizing something and calling yourself out on it!! And I mean that... great job! Mindless eating can be for a wide variety of reasons...so coming to the answers of the WHY might not be so easy. Sure, it can be boredom, stress, emotional eating... but it can also be that you're not feeding your system the proper amounts of fuel at dinner, to eleviate the 'hunger' triggers later in the evening. You just might actually BE hungry. Or thirsty, which often mimics hunger. You could be having hormonal swings which trigger hunger signals in the brain. Or you could just be losing ground in your overall focus and motivation. EITHER WAY... I would stand to bet that you can outsmart this situation before it does any real damage. Even in a low carb lifestyle... total calories do matter. And dependent on your goals, and your commitment to yourself - today is the day to take this by the horns - and figure out WHAT TO DO. Either plan in a snack in the evening - or eat enough protein at dinner so you can mental reassure yourself this is NOT hunger... and push through this and do not eat in the evenings. That and making sure your water is plentiful.. and the 'desire' to mindlessly eat should go. Keep coming here and keeping us posted as you progress thru the next few days. Much Love. 

I don't have much new to add, I agree that figuring out WHY is very important. Are you upset or worried about something/someone? Are you angry with anybody? Bored, lonley, thirsty or are you really truely hungry? You have been losing, I didn't really look at your food journal, so are you getting enough protein? How about TOM/Hormones, they drive me crazy sometimes & compell me to want to eat & eat & eat! All that aside, for tonight make a pact with yourself, have a plan to distract yourself long enough to try & figure out why you are reaching for food. Drink a glass of water first, then think about it some more. Go for a walk, doing laundry helps for me, sometimes I just need something else to do. Perhaps that sneaky carb monster is just trying to crack your new good habits & some of those old ones are hanging around. With the weather starting to cool down, maybe? You did a good thing asking for help, I hope somebody here has something that will steer you in a good direction! Have a great day & remember how far you have come! 

Buffy,I feel your pain....I am trying to set my head that after my evening meal...THE KITCHEN IS CLOSED...Worked last night..Of coarse it helped that hubby couldn't eat. When I did want to munch, I asked myself,WHY.answer..Habit not hungar. nonna 

OOOOOh thats hard, and maybe you could read a book..and keep water close by...some times I am thirsty and that will make you think your wanting food instead...I agree with all the above comments too...Nip it in the bud now and you won't be upset with your self later...{{{HUGS}}} 

Liltagirl - You have an excuse. If you keep your wits about you you'll do just fine. 

i dont really know much about atkins but i low carb for life.it looks like u could eat more meat.it fills me up.on my plan i could snack a little on good snacks and not feel guilty.i hope u figure this out.good luck 

In our house it is nothing to eat at 7:30 or so because of our schedules. Sometimes I just want something sweet to say you are done. That used to be pepsi for me, that was so sweet and I could nurse that all night if I chose. Now without pepsi (I miss that crap terribly) I play a mind trick on myself. Stupid-yes but I figure my body has had enough sweet in the past it can go find the leftovers stored in my butt and thighs!  

All great ideas....sorry, I got nothin' new....but I know you've got the persistence to figure it all out and kick this nighttime snacking out where all the Halloween ghosts and goblins can take it off to who-knows-where! LOL! 

Buffy I just looked at your food diary - if you are recording correctly all you are eating, I think some nights you are hungry because you have not eaten enough - your calories are too low.....I actually don't think it really matters when you eat, just how much you consume over a period of time that matters.  

Buffy I agree with triaby and that you need to address why are you doing all the "snacking" even if it's good foods. Are you not eating enough because you are hungry, or is it more emotional stress, bored, nothing to do but raid the kitchen ! Great job on calling yourself for what you are doing, but look deeper for the reason...  

Tracy and Notfast - You have a good point. I've got to figure out the reason why - and am sure the problem starts in my head. 

Icy - Got plenty of "fat photos". And i do not know why I am my own worst enemy.  

Ekaterini - You hit the nail right on the head - and I'm sure the TV has something to do with it. All those commercials for junk food don't help much. 

Buffy I hope you managed a night without beating yourself up.....♥