Snacking????

Hi My Fellow Mayers, I just wanted to post this question to all of the May babies...... Does anyone have problems with snacking in between meals???? If not how do you not snack? I have a desk job and I sit in traffic a lot, so I am constantly nibbling on something. I try very hard not to by drinking water but even that does not help all the time. I just seem to be hungry all the time. Please help me!!!!! Andrea

Hi Andrea, Yes, I have found it to be a problem. Yes, some days I feel hungry all the time. Yes, some days I have blown it BIG time! I have not found THE answer but these are a few things I am trying that seem to help me a little. 1.) Plan my meals and snacks ahead of time. 2.) Buy and have on hand ( or in my purse) safe snacks and healthy things I LOVE. 3.) Write down everything I eat ( EVERYTHING ! ) it is for my eyes only but the honesty helps me track where I am and what I am doing. 4.) Set goals for yourself. Even small goals ex. for where you like to be by the middle of Oct. weight wise or size wise. 5.) Dream about how you will reward yourself when you make your goal. Write down your reward so when you get there you will know and recieve the payoff. 6.) Pray for help with my compulsive eating habits. OT Our support group had a family picnic last Sunday. Everybody brought a side dish and dessert. We were able to taste and try others recepies as well as get the recepies. I made a pumpkin pudding that was a big hit and our groups leader made a cheesecake that was 'to die for' . I will write the recepies below. It can be fun to learn and prepare ahead so we get the snacks but use them for our benifit not our destruction. Cuz we are WORTH it !!!! Pumpkin pudding ( made it for a crowd so you can half it if you want.) 3 pkg of sugar free inst. butterscotch pudding, 1 small container of cool whip FREE, 4 cups of 1% milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Mix well.( can be garnished w/ extra cool whip and a sprinkle of cinnamon.) Cheesecake: 1 pkg vanilla sugarfree pudding mix. 16 oz. sour cream. Mix well and enjoy ! Way easy and very yummy. I am not the quickest learner but I am beginning to see that: * I CAN have lots of various things that taste great and are enjoyable. * I am not on a diet, I'm just learning to eat healthier. * I am not deprived. ( if I get into the 'poor me' thing I will eat bad stuff out of rebellion ! Ever do that? ...guess who PAYS? * I can enjoy this process and succeed at my goals. * I am surrounded with great support, if not at home or work ...it is available right here at OH. * This is a wonderful adventure ! Hey, we could even start a recepie exchange right here for our fellow Mayers ( anybody interested?) Blessings, Mary

Hey Andrea, I am allowed to snack, 3 snacks , 3 meals, but my problem is choosing a healthy snack...for instance it's so easy for me to go the vending machine and get junk...I saw my nut today...I was honest, she told me that if I do go there get popcorn or pretzels...I too have a desk job, and am always on the road...My office is right next to the cafeteria...its rough.Good Luck, let me know what works for you

Hijack... You mentioned that you eat pop corn for a snack. I love pop corn but it is on my list of foods never to eat. I had a handful at the movies the other night and felt scared to death that something might happen to me in the movies.

I have lots of "safe" snacks nearby, in case I need them, but for the most part, try not to snack at all because it's been a problem for me in the past. Read: a "snack" used to consist of 1/2 a large bag of snack mix. The only exception is when I get home from work, I eat a string cheese stick. I need the extra protein, and it keeps me going until I can get around to dinner, which sometimes isn't until 7 or 8 o'clock. Like the other poster, I too record EVERY SINGLE thing I eat so I can go back and take an honest look at it later. Our local support group also has a WLS Buddy program - we email each other every day telling what we've eaten and how we've done on exercise, water, etc. Sometimes, just thinking, if I eat this, I'll have to tell Marsha about it (we actualy have the same exact surgery date and surgeon), is enough to keep me from eating it.

Andrea, Yes, I'm a snacker and all I can do about it is to make sure I plan ahead and bring my meals and snacks with me so I am eating "legal" stuff that is low fat, no sugar and not many calories. I also keep track of everything I eat and all my exercise in fitday.com. It really helps. Lori 384/293/170

During the day I don't have much of a snacking problem. I think that's because I try to drink a lot during the day - to make sure I get my fluids in. I think drinking water really helps curb snacking. My worst time for snacking is at night, while watching tv - a very old habit that I find very hard to break. So now I simply snack better. I mostly snack on soy chips. They are low cal/low carb and have protien. I don't eat a whole bag like I would have in my earlier days, lol, maybe 7-10 chips and it satisfies me.

How do I not snack? I eat 3 meals a day and 3 protein supplements. I eat about every 3 hours or so - there isn't time to snack! I drink a protein shake on the way to work in traffic. That starts my day. Then a few hours later, I have breakfast. Usually something easy - cold cuts, tuna salad, hard boiled eggs, etc. Then a few hours later...lunch. Salad w/ meat and dressing, cold cuts w/ side of vegies, etc. Mid-afternoon, another protein shake. Dinner, protein and a vegies. Before bed, another protein shake.

Hi Andrea, I try not to snack at all but if I do I will have some string cheese, a handful of peanuts or a piece of luncheon meat. During that time of the month win I have that sweet craving I have been eating a snack bag of the 100 calorie oreo cookies (I usually eat half one night and the other half the next night). But, like the others I grab a bottle of crystal light or vitimin water and it usually cut the craving for snacking when driving home and/or sitting at my desk. Good luck! B Jay

B-Jay Lol at the "hijack" you must be on BAF...lol, I have absolutely no problems with popcorn, it wasn't on my list at first but my nut allowed it at 3 mo.