Why can't I stop eating in the evening?

[Pernod]

Every evening dh & I have a well balanced cooked meal and dessert, then every evening I sneak off into our computer roon, next to the kitchen, & continually smuggle out food to scoff whilst on the computer. My weight is suffering badly as a result and I'm desperate for advice as to how to change this habit. I just can't seem to relax in front of the tv or any-thing as I constantly think about food.
HELP

I often want to pig out oin the computer. I swapped the biscuit box for sunflower seeds and funnily enough i don't do it now!

i dont gett hgis piggin out whilst ont he pc thing
i never do ti
nto saying i dont scoff but never hwen on pc

arent your keyboards realy rank?

No solution for how to stop, but maybe change what it is you eat? I often sit with a bowl of blueberries, and that satisfies me completely and is much better for my figure.

Are you unhappy Pernod? Is the food to comfort you?

The thing with junk food is the more you eat the more you crave it. You need to go cold turkey - in the past I have found even within a few days the cravings fade or go completely. You also need to drink plenty water as thirst is often mistaken for hunger. I suggest you get one of those bottles of mineral water with sports cap and sip on it in the evening. It will give you something to do with your hand and mouth (no vulgarity intended) so it distracts you from food. Give it a week!

I often did this but have now substituted the "bad" snacks for "good" so I now eat fruit and pumkin/sunflower seeds etc. It was tough to begin with, but after a couple of weeks your body adjusts and that becomes the norm.

FOTM, why don't you make a huge bowl of fruit salad to last you a few days - it'll keep if you put lemon juice on it - that'll save you preparing it every night. Or how about muesli bars - not the naughty ones with loads of sugar and chocolate though. Cereal? A bowl of crunchy nuts perhaps or ready brek/porridge with a little honey or brown sugar. Ooooh I bet you're frothing at the mouth

I still stick to my lots of water theory though

Thanks every-one, I really like the idea of sipping water and fruit, especially blueberries!

Mumbum - I don't think I'm particularly unhappy but I think it's just a stress relief after running round after 3 small children all day!

Do you like Fry's chocolate cream? It doesn't have milk in it so slightly less fattening and I find the dark chocolate reduces cravings too. I love it!! Or Fry's Turkish Delight - it's just gelatine!

My mum swears by Green & Blacks dark chocolate when craving chocolate as you only need a small piece and isn't as addictive

I load my fridge up with plenty of virtually fat free/low fat yoghurts for evening snacking. I love fruit but there is a limit to how much I can eat!
Either go cold turkey and cut it out completely or replace with alternative healthier snacks.
The other thing is to think about why you are doing it - ie. is it just habit, or is it some kind of reward for feeling tired at the end of the day, or maybe it is pure comfort eating? Drink plenty of fluids, try to vary your eve activities - cycle ride, walk, go round to a friend’s house etc to help break the routine of flopping in front of the computer.
The other thing that my mum always says is "if you don’t buy it, then it isn’t there to haunt you in your cupboard.." Only shop when you are mentally strong, happy to go in and buy only decent food with a shopping list etc. Get the junk out of your house and away from your mouth

it could be boredom, too. 99% of telly is boring, basically. try to do something else with your evenings, read a book, go outside and do gardening, knitting, go for a swim, anything.

Right, it's nearly time to start the bed time routine, am feeling strong at the moment about not snacking tonight! Went to Tesco's earlier & got in loads of fruit. Will try & ignore huge Father's day Toberlerone bar in fridge!
Tomorrow night will be tough as it's the footie!
I do read alot in the evenings but it's between 8 & 9pm (just before Big Brother) that I struggle to find things to do and so therefore pig out whilst surfing the net!

I find dried fruits like apricots, dates and raisons in a bowl with nuts works really well
I like the idea of the bottle of water as well,
I have the same problem, we eat really well all day 2 set a good example to the kids, but as soon as they go to bed I just cant help snacking

Eat fruit,popcorn,or have a drink.
I like cocoa (made with 75% water) lime and soad or soda with a really nice cordial and/or Angostura Bitters.
Or how about beef consomme??
Biltong (dried beef) is nice.
My fave munch at present is peas in the pod.

pernod - I really want to lose some weight for my mums 60th in August - will be meeting a lot of her friends for the first time and family I haven't seen for years ( i live in america). I am terrible for evening snacking and drinking - could we make each other accountable? I'll do it if you do it!! no starting weight necessary, just weight loss. I think I will have to do the cold turkey thing, because 1 brownie leads to 4 brownies for me....anyone else??

Hi Apronstrings - that sounds a good idea! I'm currently nibbling on raw mushrooms!
Any-one else up for this?

me me me, i really need to lose some weight!
Iv done good 2night though (so far) not snacked at all

hi - me neither - currently drinking diet coke to bloat stomach!!

how did you do tonight? I weighed myself this am - but haven't done very well today. completely lacking self discipline i guess...ah well

I didn?t do very well last night .
Ate half a bag of revels,
How did every one else do?