Over-eating In The Evenings

[Michele Dochat]

I really tend to over-eat in the evenings when I do it. Not sure if it's boredom or what it is, but that is always my bad time. Sitting in front of the TV and munching. I've been trying to choose healthier snack to keep at home because I know this about me, but I find I'm having a tough time.

Do any of you have suggestions to get through that time of day?

I know some people have told me to get up and do something other than watch TV, but it's my guilty pleasure. I work all day, I work out MOST days, I come home and make dinner for everyone, I shower and then I get the jammies on and relax, often not until around 9pm. If I have cleaning to do I skip the gym and get my AP that way. I am not willing to give up TV...so I need help figuring out what to eat that WON'T send me over my points, or at least not as FAR over them!

[Jules Jordon]

I don't know if this will help you or not, but it really helps me! I brush my teeth for the night! I personally find brushing my teeth a real chore (of course I do brush them) and I don't want to be doing that more than twice a day.

So once I've had my evening meal, I brush my teeth and I know then that is it and nothing more will be eaten before breakfast the next morning. Obviously I can still drink water, which is good, but nothing else. But unless I want to brush my teeth again - And I don't!! - I won't eat again for the evening!

[Melissa]

I guess the way I keep from snacking at night is we go to bed so dang early around here, typically in asleep no later than 10:30 (sometimes in bed by 8). We are like old people, but my husband gets up at 4 and by the end of the night i'm smoked from spending all day with my daughter. haha!

When my hubby was in Iraq though I never went to bed to super early in the morning and found snacking became a habit. I wasn't on ww then so I just didn't give it much thought. Which is probably a big reason I need to lose this weight now. :P Go figure!

Drinking water when you are craving other foods helps. If you just need something to do with your hands then maybe pick up doing something with your hands while watching your tv shows.

[JACKIE]

I do fined myself hungry,but when i get up of my butt and do something around the house it kind of take away from being hungry.

[Darla]

I have the same problem. I'm going to have to try the brushing the teeth theory. Many people have recommended it, probably because it WORKS.

[Bonnie]

Do you knit or crochet or do some kind of hand work? If you have something in your hands, and gum in your mouth, it's easier not to eat.

I have a tendency to eat most of my daily points from dinner on to bedtime too. But for one thing, I don't eat my weekly points, just my daily ones. And I rarely let myself have more than one sweet treat....like if I have a WW 2 point bar or some ice cream (sometimes I have a VitaTop with it). But I almost always have a bag of 94% FF popcorn each night besies the sweet treat.

[Michele Dochat]

I tried brushin my teeth right after dinner last night and that worked. (this time)...I will stick with it and see how it goes. I did eat kind of late, it was after 7, but that is typical for me.

I like the idea of crocheting or something like that too...I'll add that in and see how it goes, I have loads of yarn I haven't yet used!

[JACKIE]

chewing gum really make me hunger. Is it just me are what ? I want to chew on a piece while i work but it make my stomache growl lol.

[Sarah]

Ohhh, good topic. I was going to suggest knitting or something to do with your hands as well. Counted cross stitch might be a bit too involved if you're watching TV, but spool knitting would be super easy--you can practically do it in your sleep!

[JJ]

I don't eat after 7 pm. My dinner is around 5.30 pm to 6 pm. If I am hungry I would make a fruit juice 2 1/2 hours after dinner but this is very rare.

What I usually do before taking a meal is drink one glass to two glasses of water. It will help to fill me up.

[Tanya]

This is my worst time of day as well. I also have as similar routine - I work out at lunch so after dinner, baths, homework, I am ready for my couch time by 8 or 9pm!
I was going to suggest the brushing teeth thing...i just hate the taste of eating something right after you brush your teeth. I also will go up and watch the tv in our bedroom...that helps as it takes me out of the family room which is so close to the kitchen. As well, I lift weights in front of the tv sometimes. I know that sounds really nerdy but I just sit and do some curls, some sit ups...in my pj's. But it is something to do that your body will benefit from. I also save at least two or 4 points for the evening for a snack of some kind....Skinny Cow has these really great ice cream cups - like ice cream sundaes we used to be able to get at the local store. They are really good and filling enough to get me through that hard part in the evening. I find that my hunger is ravenous from 3pm until bedtime. So I feel your pain!

[Arlene]

And here I thought I was the queen of late-night snacking! I nibble between dinner (at 7 or 8 p.m.) and midnight-ish, when I get off work. I've found the only way to stop is to be too busy to eat. I think I've figured out that I snack at work when I'm bored. When I get involved in doing a page, I don't think about food.

I like crochet and counted cross-stitch. I should pick up a project to work on on my nights off!

[Brandy]

TV is my evening treat to myself too! I get out my air popper and make some air-popped popcorn. If I need a little flavor, I use a few sprays of oil spray and add either a Splenda/Cinnamon mix or some seasoned salt. If you don't spray it first, the flavorings won't stick. It fills me up quickly and I can pretend like I'm in a movie theater! It's 0 pts if you eat 3 cups or less. (I usually stick to a cup.)