Putting on weight due to new working hours. Help!

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Hello

A few months ago I started working 10-2 Mon to Fri. I've been piling on the pounds ever since.

Problem is, I don't have breakfast (always feel slightly sick in the mornings, have never enjoyed breakfast), and so by the time I finish work and get home by around 3, I am starving. I've been raiding the fridge like a mad thing and eating a huge meal at that point. Then when the family get in a few hours later, I eat another huge meal. Then I have taken to snacking later on in the evening.

It's like I can't stop myself. Since the new hours I have no will power and no idea how to plan my meals. The change over has thrown me and I have begun thinking "Oh fuck it" as I tuck into all my food. This is dangerous as I can feel the weight creeping back on.

I was hoping you lovely people might be able to give me some ideas or tips on how to adjust to these new working hours so I am not stuffing my face at every given opportunity!

Thanks

I constantly battle with my weight. I am currently having some success with the 5:2 diet (and I never thought I would be able to manage the fast days). There is a whole thread on it. It's very easy and convenient. It's working for me.

Hi paffle thanks for posting. You've reminded me of past success doing the 5.2. Hmm I think I'll be able to work that into my week. Good thinking, thank you!

That just leaves the other 3 days to think about...

You need to pre-prepare your lunch. Get a lunch bag and in the evening put stuff in.

my work patter changes soon and this weekend I'm ordering food that should last me for the week to prepare the luchea I want/ should be eating. Otherwise I'll be fecked - either hungry or eating rubbish.

Have a protein shake before work- will stop you feeling starving at 3pm

Can you have a small snack or mini-meal at 12ish? My colleague works the same hours as you and has a small sandwich or mug of soup at midday.

Thanks all

The guy I sit next to doesn't like eating at the desk so I can't have a soup (would've been ideal) or snack at my desk really.

Protein shake might be an idea. I've never tried one in my life...any recommendations please?

Whilst I get what you are saying about not being able to handle breakfast in the morning honestly I think overcoming this is going to be the best thing you can do.

I'm field based, when I first started this job I used to be like you, I wouldn't eat breakfast and then power through on coffee during the day and when I got home would be starving and would just binge completely.

Now I follow a mostly low carb diet (this is just what works for me) but I have to eat something in the morning or else I will most likely binge.

Why do t you try and start off small, with say a piece of fruit, and try and work your way up? Maybe try a smoothie with some fruit, spinach, avocado and almond/soy milk? Or a small amount of yoghurt? Over time your body will adjust to it, it may be the case that right now you don't enjoy breakfast because you're still so full from eating later in the day previously!

Eating a low carb high fat breakfast (usually eggs with loads of veggies for me!) means I have energy for the day and don't want to snack. I sometimes take some lunch out with me (chicken salad or the like) or a protein shake to have whilst I'm on the road (I use my protein) and then in the evening I'll have a big but largely carb free meal. It's working wonders for my energy, skin and weight loss.

Hmm. I get what you are saying about breakfast. I really need to have something before I leave in the morning or at least on the way in.

I quite like those little pots that have strawberry sauce stuff at the bottom, then yoghurt, and you put in granola (I think that's what it's called!! It's lovely crunchy bits). They sell them at my work but they are expensive. Also no idea how calorific they would be. Perhaps I could make my own? No idea what the actual ingredients ate though, that strawberry stuff at the bottom of the pot and the crunchy bits. God I'm not making much sense am I? I'm rubbish at this haha

I'd suggest those pots probably aren't best as they are full of sugar, sure I saw an article the other day that said they had about 20g of sugar in them.

Why not just get a pot of Greek yoghurt and put some fresh fruit in, maybe a dash of honey if you need something sweet. Cheaper and slightly better for you. I get milled linseed from lidl - about £2 a pack but lasts me for months - and add that to yoghurt.

I really would look at foods with a low sugar content.

Sounds like you need overnight oats. Loads of recipes online but I like this one:

www.slimmingworld.co.uk/recipes/overnight-oats.aspx

Prepare the night before and either have before you leave or when you get to work. There must be somewhere you can have a snack that's not at your desk - kitchen area? Outside?

Meg that's ideal! Thank you. I'm sure I could stomach some of that before I leave for work.

There are loads of places I can eat at work but I'm so busy and I'm only in 4 hours so I don't like taking a break really. But I suppose it's doable. I'd rather try and eat at home before I leave if I can though. I'll try and train my tummy!

As holdon says those pots are full of sugar, so hopefully this recipe is a healthy alternative