Help needed on GRAZING. (snacking)

Today and the rest of this week and month, I am going to really work on not eating for 3 to 4 hours.  I ate breakfast at 9, so nothing in mouth other than water until noon minimum and 1 the latest. 

I have to stop the grazing.  So that will be my next project.  To stop grazing.  I know this is sabotaging me, so I have to get it under control ASAP.  I am not aiming for perfection but I need to manage this better.  

What have you done to stop grazing if you have had this issue?  Any tips and suggestions welcomed.  Thanks again for your continued support.

We've spoke on this before and I still struggle with it.  I'm approaching it similarly to you by timing my feedings.  I don't think in terms of meals when I'm in the grazing mode. 

I try to eat every four hours around 9am, 1pm, 5pm, 9pm.  Not set in stone but as a guide.   Two hours is minimum for maybe a popsicle or 5 cal sf jello if I'm struggling badly.  Six hours is maximum without substantial protein.  Even if I'm not hungry I'll have half a shake.  I know totally skipping meals will become an excuse to graze later. 

Late night is my problem these days.  If I graze at night I subtract it from breakfast.  I also plan my day so I know how much food is left to stay on plan.  On tough days I add extra veg because the calories are nil and I like well seasoned veg so its satisfying.  I also build in sf popsicles, fudgesicles, creamsicles, and jello with sf preserves into my menu for anytime I'm feeling weak.  As long as I'm not binge eating I give in sometimes.  Otherwise I do more damage by later going after something that totally blows my day.  Or even worse, I go into low cal binge eating mode.   

I don't have this mastered by any means but its getting better.  Its not affecting my weight and I'm not binge eating anymore which for me starts with grazing.  For now its controlled grazing but hopefully we can both eventually eliminate it entirely. 

Thanks.  I don't know if it will be totally eliminated but I definitely need to be mindful of it at all times.  Thanks for the ideas.  I did make it for my 3 hours and will eventually make it to 4.  I am not hungry in 3 or 4 hours.  But after 4 hours I go on ahead and eat to eliminate overeating later.  I am not big on veggies but I am going to get big on them.......:-) 

I appreciate your support and input greatly!!  BTW - I will keep trying on the Jello.....:-)

Hi,

At one of my support meetings they recommended that we should keep something in the pouch every 2 hours  (lite snacks of course - yogourt, a banana, a few pieces of cheese, etc..) so that we don't get that starving feeling we get when we get an empty pouch. 

You may want to try and schedule your meals/snacks throughout the day to help keep you on track.  Yes it can be as boring as watching paint dry but we gotta do what we gotta do for the best results.

Just my $.02. 

Thanks so much for your 2 cents.....:-) lol! This does not work for me and my program does not advise eating every 2 hours. Everyone's program is different. My program actually suggest 3 meals only with no snacking.

Since I can't do that, they recommend every 3 to 4 hours. 4 hours being best.

I have been advised as while to eat something small every 2 to 3 hours.  Turkey jerkey 35 calories stick, yogurt 80 calories, cheese stick 90 calories, a few nuts 120 calories, a piece of fruit under 100 calories, or veggies under 100 calories. I lose weight when I stick to eating often low cal foods. Cucumbers, carrots, a piece of lean meat etc. 

Thanks so much!! Great ideas on various snacks.

Mr D_A and Ms HF, I think the 2-3 hour idea is great and it worked for a while for me as a newbie.  Problem I had was I could not sip my water and eat so often (drink too soon and I dump).   I most definetly agree that allowing myself to become hungry is bad news. 

 Good Topic and replies Ladies

Well...whenever I graze and snack with my band I need a fill and don't' have proper restriction, but I agree with the others,  to help with grazing eating very small protein dense meals and use these snack as meals, just eat 6 small nutritious meals to replace with the snacks.