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!😁

That sounds like a completely normal snack for me 😁(well, the one-month-ago me!). Thankfully, my DH doesn't like sweet things at all, otherwise I'd have to ask him to also eat them away from me. Greata that your OH is up for that.

I don't think this is that bad, for someone who is ill. I eat awfully when I am. I hadn't considered what I'd do if I got ill - normally I don't eat much, but what I do eat is terrible (and lots of fruit). And, also, you had to wash the jar, right? 😅Hope you feel better and can get back on it!

@summerisacoming I think I've said this before but I'll say it again. Thank you so much for this thread. It has been an absolute gamechanger for me, and so straightforward. Although not always easy!

My clothes are looser and things are getting done in the evening, not left till the next day.

Hello all, I am back to report just over three weeks since I started. I have been allowing myself a small sweet snack straight after my dinner (e.g. a two finger kitkat) and then the kitchen is closed. I had one night where I fell off the wagon (crisps, chocolate and cashew nuts) but otherwise all good and I am pleased to report that I am three pounds lighter and can squeeze back into some summer cut off jeans that were a complete no go three weeks ago 😀. Thanks for the initial challenge OP, just the kick I needed.

Day 26

Super busy day, barely had time to snack. Literally just sitting down now for the first time since dinner 😫.

Silver lining though: I'm too exhausted to want to snack. Going to collapse into bed now... and do it all again tomorrow!

@GallstoneGertie So glad you're still here. Honestly, this is such a good motivator for me too. I'm so shattered now, and yet I still had to make sure I can on here to log it. Also agree about the productivity, I feel unstopable!

@Whatevergetsyouthroughthenight Three weeks is amazing, well done!

@summsummerisacoming I was just about to say the same! You're doing amazing! Nearly a month for you! I've done 2 weeks so far.

This group has been so good for me too! I'm now using my evenings so much more productively than just sitting stuffing my face on rubbish. I did fall off the wagon post baby shower for my SIL as I got home late and sitting in traffic I ended up snacking. Definitely felt the effects of eating rubbish.

I’m useless with snacking too. Have been on WW since January and was doing very well but snacking was always my nemesis.

Our WW coach snacks herself sometimes but I replaced my usual crisps etc for Pop Chips, popcorn etc. This worked for a while. I really do need to get back on the healthier snacks eg apple and cheese.

Another pound off! My friend commented on my newly emerging waist today too 😁. Well done everyone, slow and steady we go without feeling deprived.

Badatmostthings well done you!

Wow that's amazing! How long have you been doing it so far? Same as summer?

I first weighed myself the week before Summer started this thread and had started to knock the snacks on the head so 5 weeks ago and I'm 4lbs down.
I lost baby weight 10 years ago this way but I thought being in the midst of peri the weight wouldn't drop off as quickly this time....so far so good 🤞

You're doing amazing to lose a 1lb a week nearly!
I stopped breastfeeding my youngest nearly 2 months ago. I lost the baby weight over the first 9-10 months pp but it's all started to creep back on as ive snacked far too much. I know hormones play such a huge part as well etc.
Hopefully I will start to see some results in the coming weeks. 🤞
What kinds of food do you eat in the day?

Day 27 (yesterday)

Didn't go great. I was with kids (my and others') the whole day, and was desperate for something sweet. I'm not sure how common this is, but I'm a massive hypocrite pretty strict on not letting my kids have much sugar, and therefore don't really ever eat sugary treats in front of them. It's also because I don't want them to start continuously asking me for some 😅. So, in summary, my only chance to enjoy some chocolate was after they went to bed - and I succumbed! 😫

Day 28

Back on it today. I actually feel really bad about yesterday (I just really felt like I needed a reward for entertaining kids from about 9am to 7pm). I need to think of another reward.

Thank you - but after yesterday, I'm not sure I can justify still counting up the days. Do I need to start from 1 again? I'll try to see it as a little slip... and carry on 😁

Amazing. That's exatly how I'm thinking about it: this isn't a grueling diet, it's a subtle, gentle new habit that we're forming, which will take time to work, but work it will!

On no @summerisacoming don’t go back to counting from the start again!! You’ve done amazingly well and one evening off doesn’t change that. I’m factoring in snacks/wine on one weekend night every week, you’ve been so much more consistent

@Lemoncurdslice Great, that's all the encouragement I need, thank you!

Bring on Day 29 💪

@abbs1 Thanks a lot, and right back at you - two weeks is great. I'm so glad I no longer have to drive long distances because I used to eat so much crap on those journeys, and I'd justify it by thinking it's to give me energy to keep me alert (aka a safety measure 😅).

I don't look much different, but definitely feel it around the waist. Yesterday I was idly thinking about the amount of time I've wasted on tv and snacks. Had to turn away from those thoughts rather quickly, and remind myself how much better I'm doing now.

I agree, no need to go back to the start. And I think isn’t it a healthy new habit if you can occasionally reward yourself like that when you’ve had a hard day or a special
occasion happening, without totally losing your overall discipline?

Trouble is that every day is a hard day sometimes! But I think if we make our norm no evening snacks, then all good.

Day 29

I had a really great moment today: I was getting ready for work and realised that my usual light trousers were all in the wash. So I pulled out my jean drawer (I have loads) that I haven't looked at for ages, due to none of them fitting, and optimistically tried some on... and they fit!

This is a pair that definitely didn't fit around March time. And comfortably fit as well - I wore them all day and didn't have to (discreetly) undo the button while at my desk. I'm so excited about all the lovely jeans I might be able to fit into again!

I should say that these weren't my tightest jeans, so I'm not rushing to try on anymore on for a week or so, in case I'm massively disappointment.

Does anyone else have clothes they have refused to give away with the hope they'll get back into them?

@GallstoneGertie Glad you're feeling it too!

@Beginningless Yes, that's a good way to think about it. There will, of course, come days when I will want a dessert after a special evening meal, so the habit has to be solid enough that the whole plan doesn't come tumbling down.

What a great feeling that must have been Summer, hold onto that for your more difficult evenings!

For the poster who asked about what we're eating for meals, well generally I'm having porridge sprinkled with fruit and flax seeds for breakfast, sandwich or egg on toast with a bit if salad for dinner and then tea is anything from quiche, lasagne or a roast. Heck it could even be pie and chips and that's followed by something like strawberries and cream or a brew and biscuits.

I'm really not watching what I'm having at meal times and because of that I will reach a plateau soon which will make me address that but one thing at a time. For now, no snacking is the thing and we're doing brilliantly!

No definitely keep counting as others have said. I am too. We can't completely deprive ourselves of everything on special occasions etc.

Oh same! The trip was meant to be 2 hours there. Took 5 hours as there was just crash after crash on the M25 and A3. Absolute nightmare. Coming home was 3 hours but I definitely turned to the snacks probably more out of boredom and trying to keep alert and concentrating on the road. I hadn't done a long drive like that for over 2 years.

This is amazing progress! 👏

I definitely have bits in my wardrobe that I'm desperate to wear again. I still have far too many days I'm just too bloated and no jeans are comfortable.

Tonight I nearly went in for a snack but painted some of my kitchen instead once the kiddies were in bed to keep me distracted.