I can't stop snacking. Help.

[Junkfoodmum]

Apologies for the long post in advance. Name changed for this because I'm slightly embarrassed. I start every day really healthy, plenty of fiber, protein, healthy fats etc up until the afternoon. Then in between sleep deprivation (two young kids) and a stressful job with long hours I start snacking on chocolate or whatever I find. By the time it's dinner time I have about 100kcal left (trying to lose about 2 stones from my last pregnancy). Every day I tell myself that I will be better this time but I find myself in front of the fridge right before bed. If there is no junk food it's something else because I'm bloody starving and I really don't have the willpower or mental energy to stick to a deficit. Also I can't even find any food I fancy that much any more, I don't know what happened to my palate but it's so hard to get motivated about feeding myself with two littles to think about. I'm feeling really disheartened because I don't feel healthy and really want to eat better and lose weight. I would appreciate any advice please, I feel as though this is very hard with young kids.

Can you make room in your food plan for some treats earlier in the day?
Like a small piece of chocolate around 10 am, or after lunch.
So it won't be "healthy-healthy-healthy-healthy-healthy-LOTSOFSNACK", but instead a mix during the day, more balance?

Forget the treats. If you are really going to change food isn't a treat. A bit of chocolate is part of a balanced diet if you enjoy it. Treats are the enemy of anyone who wants to lose weight.

It's really hard to lose weight when you have so much else going on in life you can't just focus on doing that. I have had the don't fancy anything feelings. That can lead to you ultimately eating junk.

It's really, really difficult when you have so much going on life to lose weight. So hard.

Advice. I don't have much really but think about healthy things you think you can eat. Make your own meal plans around that. Eat other things than the rest of the family if need be. You will be hungry sometimes. Sometimes you will feel starving

But you can do it xx. Don't count calories as such. Just be very aware of what you are eating every day. Do as much exercise as you can. Understand that this is a long term change in life. Not just a temporary eat a bit less to lose a stone or two.

It's very hard with young kids. But then people say it's hard when you are older. The reality is it is hard any time in life.

I've lost 8 stone in my 50's. It has been a long hard road to get there but so worth it.

PM me if you want to chat and a bit of support.

I feel for you.

But don't, don't, don't go down that road of having a bit of chocolate as a treat. With that mentality you will perhap lose weight but will never sustain it. I know it's really hard to resist. You have to focus on something on your mind that will help you stop..

Xxxx

One of the things I did was to learn about all the snack foods ( upf etc ) and what they were actually made of. And what they are doing to my body. Made me change my mind from …. oh nice to ohhhh gross. So many podcasts around about this type of thing. It is not ur fault they are made to be addicted and I was to.

Try and eat more of the decent food at mealtimes? Feel your pain though. I managed it in 2019 lost two stone bmi 22 but one stone has crept back on and it’s the bloody snacking that’s done it.

The only way I can manage this is to stay out the kitchen after the kids go to bed.
which isn’t particularly helpful from a house cleaning perspective.

The only way I don't snack is to not have it in the house, remove all snacks. If there is a packet of Jaffa cakes I'd eat the lot, crisps I'd eat 2 bags.

I learnt my triggers are thirst and boredom, so now I drink herbal teas when I want a snack and keep busy.

Still have a blow out and grab chocolate from the shops but it's a good start.

Maybe your calories are a bit low as well and you are genuinely hungry?