No snacking after dinner! Who's in??

[summerisacoming]

I'm not very good with diets and I really don't want to try one then have it fail. So this is my plan:

As soon I have finished dinner, I'm going to brush my teeth and make sure I don't eat anything else that evening. Simple.

Ok, it's not the most imaginative of plans, but here's why I think it will make a huge difference:

1. My worst snacking is in the evening
2. Eating chocolate in the evening makes me stay up late (caffeine) so I'm tired for work the next morning
3. Am I right in thinking that eating right before bed makes you store more fat?

I am 5'8'' and since having kids I now weigh around 12 stone (size 12/14). I want to be a size 10 again!

I'm going to start small and do this for 1 week, starting today. If all goes well, then I'll aim for a month, then two months (should be a well-formed habit by then), then drop sugar.

If you're in, let's report back every evening right before we go to bed to confirm that we didn't eat anything after dinner.

So who's with me?? Come on!😁

Day 47

I fasted again today. I last ate around 8pm last night and didn't eat today until 11pm, so 15hrs. I'm not going to make it a strict diet/lifestyle that I follow because I'm very aware of the temptation to flit between diets and then they all fail, when all you needed to do was commit to one. So I am still very much commited to this, although it obviously feeds in nicely to IF.

My diet today: 11pm porridge (w/ seeds, nuts, fruit), 3pm 100g chocolate, 6pm veg lasagna & salad. I'm half proud I managed to skip a meal, but then half annoyed at myself I ate so much chocolate again. I feel quite hungry now, and just typing that has reminded me how little protein I eat.

Anyway, I'm feeling great. Love how my clothes fit better, but still a while to go! I'm going to keep experimenting with IF in the next two weeks, after which I will focus solely on stopping sugar.

I hope everyone is getting on well. Anyone want to share an update?

Whoops... the 11pm should read 11am (otherwise that would be pretty imporessive!)

Are you off sugar already or generally trying to cut down on sweets? It's tricky. I don't like telling people that I'm sugar abstinent because I don't really want to discuss it and I definitely don't want to tell anyone about my super weird deals with the universe so I've got a caveat in my deal that when social situations demand for it I can have the minimum amount that is socially acceptable, eg if someone has invited us for a meal and made a dessert I can have whatever portion they want me to have. I need the caveats because otherwise if I break my rule (and sometimes I have to) I then go completely overboard and binge thousands of calories for the next few days. So I'm not sure of you are as rule bound as I am (or as weird as I am) bit I definitely recommend caveats in any rules you make for yourself. (Umm...talking of overthinking....)

Super well done on the 16h fast. Being busy definitely helps and it's so nice to be the focus on something else and for eating to just not be a consideration at all.

Day 11 (I think)

So on Friday, which marked the official end of my contractual obligations with the universe I did after dinner have 4 bramley apple pies. I was just too stressed, too annoyed and too upset to resist when I didn't have to. Today was ok. Had a packet of crisps after dinner but that's still ok I think. The problem I have is that there are two more apple pies left in the packet and I want them.

Day 1 of no mumsnet in the day

Pretty much did this. I was too busy anyway but it did help to remind me that I don't want to go in anymore when I mindlessly opened MN.

In other news (apologies totally misusing this thread to offload some of my worries. Just ignore me) I did some office work (between 1-2am) and am feeling slightly better, because at least now I kind of know what I have to do even though the how isn't that clear. I'm also feeling worse because I've realised that there's more to do than I thought and I definitely won't finish it this weekend and I probably won't make my deadline (again). I wish my job was to make run on sentences. I'm really good at that. not exactly a shortage skill unfortunately.

Day 12 or day 0

Had a party today so everything went out the window. Ate lots of cake and ate the remaining two Bramley apple pies after dinner. I didn't even try, expect or plan not to so I think it's ok. The future looks so bleak right now and I'm so tired I don't even have the energy for any self loathing. I'm not sure if I could just write off the day or would I have to start my count from zero?

Day 2 of no mn

Had no time to be on it anyway.

Morning everyone! Another week of no snacking in the evening (and kind of no snacking between meals 😬) except for a meal out one evening but....I skipped dessert! Didn't want it. Enjoyed my meal though I slept badly that night and felt hungover the morning after despite not drinking.

A maintain on the scales this morning, I'll take that but this is not my plateau, I won't have it! Not so soon, it's time to get a bit tougher during the day 💪

36 days now, and I feel so much healthier than when I started. No weight loss for over a week though, but the rain has quite often stopped me working in the garden. I need the exercise to stop me vegetating in front of the tv. Found some knitting to keep my hands busy.

My tastes have changed to savoury, which surprised me because I’ve had such a sweet tooth all my life. I ate some tinned fruit in syrup a couple of days ago, and it was unbelievably sweet.

Setting my food window alarms this evening. Making them louder and giving them their own ringtone. Eventually I’ll include food plan in the alarm labels. Two meals and one fruit snack daily. Two cups of coffee within that time, and loads of water.

I need to focus very hard to get this as close as possible to automatic by September. I would be good to see several pounds off by then.

Day 48 (yesterday)

I'm not sure how I did this day. I went to a small party at someon's house, expecting (wrongly!) that there would be food, so didn't have dinner first. There wasn't any proper food, just dessert-type food, so I ended up eating cake for dinner. But then technically didn't snack after 😅. Hmm... I'll count it as a win anyway! It really is impossible to give up sugar, it's everywhere.

Day 49

I am stunned by how easily I've managed to give up breakfast. I've been religous in what I eat for breakfast and when I have it for as long as I can remember, so I was expecting it to feel awful. As much as I enjoyed it, what I didn't realise is how rushed most of my breakfasts are now (since kids) and how long they take. These last couple of mornings of foregoing have left me with so much more time to get organised and leave the house in a relatively ordered fashion.

So I'm going to plan to have breakfast if I want it and I have time to enjoy it (I suppose this is linked to Mindfulness). But if I'm in a rush, it's so much easier to skip it. And the thought, "I'm giving my digestive system the biggest rest I can manage" is very motivating.

@TooManyNameChanges12 Good advice regarding the caveats. I can't see any way around it. If a friend slaves over a cake, and then you don't eat any - I just don't think I'd be able to say no. I wonder how sugar-free people handle this type of situation? They must have techniques that don't lead to it being really awkward or ruining the vibe.

Although, thinking about people with allergies/intollerances, I suppose it might be awkward on one occasion, but then people remember pretty quickly. I have a friend who never drinks tea, and there was only one occasion (many years ago) when I made him a tea and he refused it. I ended up throwing it away, but I also never made him a tea again.

Ahh... I always go round in circles with this: one moment I think, yes, occasionally and socially it is fine to break the sugar rule; but then I'll think, no, addicts don't occasionally dabble - it's not possible.
Maybe a middle ground is having such a tiny amount of anything sweet that's offered, that friends start to understand that sugar isn't your thing.

Anyway, sorry for rambling.

Well done on no MN and hope work sorts itself out!

@Badatmostthings Well done on another week! And it is indeed going to get tougher - 11 days!

@GallstoneGertie Amazing, 36 days, well done!
"Two meals and one fruit snack daily. Two cups of coffee within that time, and loads of water."
This sounds so impressive, are you currently doing this or is this the plan?

Tbh@summerisacoming it’s a bit of both, in that it’s my plan long term, and I’m trying to stick to it just now while I work out calories and carbs, and low-fat for my gallbladder and prediabetic for my age and weight.

It started off no snacking or sweet stuff after dinner, to avoiding corner shop treats during the day in the hope of losing weight. Then I realised I didn’t feel like eating until much later in the morning. Then I came across intermittent fasting which I already seemed to be doing without realising it.

So now I’m getting more focussed on making sure I eat all the right things, and don’t become complacent. eg portions start getting just a little bit larger, or I order double cream instead of single, or tortilla chips instead of crispbread.

Day 50 (yesterday) - Day 50!!!

Can't believe it's been 50 days (with the odd exception).

Day 51

@GallstoneGertie Very much trying to not get complacent also, but already I can feel complacency setting in. Like tonight, for instance, when I wasn't even hungry, had a pretty chilled day (bar a mega tantrum - from my kid, not me!) and had a couple of a sweet snacks during the day, so wasn't particularly craving sugar. I had to stop myself thinking, "I'm pretty established at this. I could have a treat tonight and it wouldn't really change anything, no big deal."

I also have a friend's birthday party (a big one) at the end of Aug to look forward to. Hoping that will give me motivation for the no-sugar plan. If I manage to lose weight, I'm going to treat myself to a nice, invariably expensive, outfit 🤗

Hope you're all sticking in there!

This week's update. Minus 1. Being honest it's actually getting harder to stick to. I could absolutely wolf a family pack of kit kats tonight. Trying to stay motivated but it's very difficult. Well done to everyone who, s carrying it on.

Hi all I’ve read this very inspiring thread today and plan to do the same thing as OP: commit to one week, one day at a time. I’m doing 5:2 as well but find that while I’m fine on my fast days, my eating days can get totally out of control snack wise. Hope it’s ok to join in with you.

42 days now, (six weeks) and being careful not to relax my vigilance around certain triggers. School goes back in a fortnight, and I'm not looking forward to all the snacks etc that I'll have to order. I'm cooking for the freezer mainly for myself atm, with the aim of having something very easy to defrost and/or microwave when life gets stressful.

Day 55

Sorry for lack of posts - I've been on a short break. I have managed to keep with it mostly, apart from a couple of chocolates after dinner (2 one night, 5 another). They came out after dinner and I resisted for a while, then gave in!

Realised I'm never going to be able to go sugar free unless I tell people. Kind of dreading being that person who constantly reminds people of their diet, having to explain it, etc. But, so be it. It will hold me accountable, which is clearly what I need when out with friends.

Tonight went well. Finished dinner and did my teeth around 8pm.

@Beaverbridge Keep with it! I keep expecting the evening cravings to have completely gone by now, but still have some tough nights. Remembering that what we're doing is really difficult (and impressive!) keeps me motivated.

@MikeHannigansStripyShirt Yes, great to have you with us. One day at time is definitely the key. How long have you been doing 5:2?

@GallstoneGertie Well done for 42 days! And also for getting prepared for term time. My kids are young, so I just don't buy them anything I won't be able to resist. I'm not looking forward to when they start asking for certain snacks or buying them themselves!

Well where have the weeks gone?! I forgot my weekly weigh in this morning but I have made some night time observations over the weekend...
I no longer need to reach for the gaviscon and haven't done so for weeks now 👍
I have stopped snoring (I can't believe I ever did 🤨)
Also my under eye bags are much better, almost disappeared in fact.

So the weight loss may be slow (but that was always going to be a bonus because I am most definitely not dieting) but I have certainly not gained(at -3) and the above benefits are not to be sniffed at.

Oh and my teeth are getting whiter 😁

Day 56 (yesterday)

Day 57

I also can't believe it's been almost two months. I haven't eaten a choloate bar in a few days, but I have eaten chocolatey cereal as a snack instead. I'm trying to get out of the habit of popping to the shops.

So the countdown is well and truely on. This Saturday is Day 61, when being sugar-free begins! I will definitely be taking it one day at a time.

@Badatmostthings Those are huge benefits, well done! 👏

@summerisacoming can I ask....when you say sugar free how strict are you planning on being? Are you avoiding foods with added sugar or are you going further and thinking of cutting out lactose, fructose etc? I'm thinking of doing a no added sugar version so I'm not taking fruit and carbs off the table. Does that make sense? Just checking what I'm getting myself into here 🤣

Day 58

Done. I'm definitely savouring any treats I have now, knowing they will be amoung the last.

@Badatmostthings Oh, sorry, should have said only added sugar! Gosh, I couldn't live without fruit. Basically, cakes, chocolate, biscuits. I gave up fruit juice and fizzy drinks about 10 years ago, and have no desire for them now. Hoping I'll feel the same about the above in a year from now.

Two more days!! 😬

*among

Morning all. This week's weigh in. Minus 1, was hoping for minus 2 which would take me into a lower stone bracket. Hey ho, try again another week. Good luck folks.

@summerisacoming great, ok I "think" I can do this! I do need to, I have to admit after maintaining again that I have plateaued and it's time to get serious.

@Beaverbridge That's great! How much is that you've lost in total?