What do you do in the evenings, to not mindlessly eat all the time

[Booksandpens]

I need to lose weight, and I've basically decided I need to stop snacking and drinking fizzy drinks. But I realised I snack all the time! The DCs are in bed and my first thought is what should I eat now...

So what do you do instead? My evenings are very unproductive as youngest doesn't usually go to sleep on time, so I've got in the habit on not doing much and eating loads. I need inspiration to do the opposite, do loads and not eat much, but I don't even know what to actually do that won't wake the DCs up, especially the youngest.

Eating was my reward for making it through the day. Needs to be enjoyable. Do you have any childcare? - partner, babysitting exchange?

Hot bubble bath
Exercise
Evening class - a friend does silversmithing and loves it
Pub

Can you exercise? A couple of nights a week I go out and run or Zumba. I'm home, showered and back in the sofa by 8pm. This means that a) there's less time to snack and b) if I do I've 'earnt' it.

I also plan small, low calorie snacks to fulfil the need for that something sweet. So, yoghurt and honey. Or I've found the small mini magnum (Morrisons versions) are only approx 100 cals. Or an Options hot choc (40cals). I use My Fitness Pal, so I pretty much plan these little snacks into my allowance.

I've got a DH, but he's as bad as me (but skinny, thanks to his job), and he finishes work too late for me to go out for evening classes unfortunately.
As I'm a sahm at the moment, we can't afford babysitters (although if we stopped buying snacks, we might be able to arrange for one every now and again)
Bubble bath is a good idea, and I've stuck unflattering photos in the kitchen as a reminder to not open the snack cupboard. I hadn't realised I have a double chin until I saw a recent photo!

I have MFP, but I don't use it regularly enough, and then wonder why the weight is creeping up again. Ok, I don't have to wonder, as I know what ridiculous amounts of biscuits and chocolate I've been eating recently!

Read and pust on MN - very time consuming :-)

Sleep!

Drink lots of herbal tea? Worth a try

I have taught myself to crochet. It is wonderfully relaxing and creative, and means my hands are busy!

Sweet tooth snacking is my bugbear. I find these useful :

• pint of water when I get in from work
• rooibos tea with milk and half a sugar gives me something sweet that lasts 15 mins, instead of chocolate that I’ve demolished in one minute
• time consuming recipes!

I rotate between reading, knitting, playing video games (very, very badly), making patchwork quilts, jigsaws. Some quite fuddy duddy things but I enjoy them and they all keep the hands busy!

Brushing my teeth early can be helpful, as well as nice bits of grooming.

You don't need to go to a class to exercise. YouTube is your friend. I do a 20 or 30 minute workout when dinner's cooking then another 20 mins or so once DS is in bed. Once you've put the effort in you don't feel like eating rubbish. I don't buy chocolate and biscuits for the house or I'd eat them, but i'll treat myself occasionally if I feel like it. I started this routine a year ago after too many winter nights in eating crap left me feeling, well crap. Getting started is the hard part. Highly recommend body fit by Amy on YouTube. She gives easy/moderate and advanced options on every video and they're really short.

I don’t eat my dinner until about 8pm generally, which means I then don’t need to snack in the evenings as I’m not hungry.
If I ate earlier I’d probably snack!

Maybe reading - maybe a big book so no fingers free to eat. Could you make a few Christmas or birthday cards or presents depending on your skills? I usually do ecards now but there are a few I send real cards to.

Do you need to have the snacks in the house? If you do due to children/DH could you put a label on them saying who they are for. If you want have a treat box for yourself with healthier snacks.

Paint nails lots of coats so takes ages to dry

I've been meaning to do some knitting /crochet, so might start with that!
I do need to exercise more, but my knees are knackered, so it has to be really low impact. I guess I should create a schedule to get in a habit!
Writing is a great idea, I keep meaning to catch up with friends but never take the time!

Thanks for all the suggestions, hopefully following these will help me lose weight and feel more productive!

On a serious note buy healthy snacks that you will still enjoy. Strawberries, seedless grapes etc

Go to bed early.

I knit a lot. DD is constantly getting onto me for forgetting to eat in the evening.

Fat lot of good it's done me. I'm about a million stone; sitting still knitting isn't going to do it no matter how little I eat!

Mumsnet!

Also, 2 nights a week I go to an exercise class (zumba and West end workout).

Another night is my WW meeting and then I can have something I've been wanting all week if I have the points left and sometimes even if I haven't .

Reading.

Plenty of sex?

Seriously though, if you're eating when you're not hungry you are filling a need you've not identified. Do you know what you want or could a bit of counselling help to identify it?

I definitely have been eating a lot more just to have a way of handling parenting stresses! And then the mood swings from too much sugar don't help create a peaceful home, so I'm actually sabotaging myself with my coping mechanism.
I lose lots of weight on holidays, but as soon as I'm back in the house I go back to the bad eating habits straight away.

Brush your teeth early in the evening.
Chew gum.
Drink unsweetened fizzy water.
Buy and have available some healthy snacks - carrot sticks, hummus...

Stop buying the foods that are so tempting.
Make a rule that if you are going to eat something sweet you have to bake it yourself.