how to flight the late day SLUMP

it's kind of a literal slump, actually, since I'll bet I almost never remember my posture like I sometimes do earlier in the day. shoulders back, head back, pooch in

I am a morning person in general but I notice that whatever else is going on, I tend to be do and feel better earlier in the day. so if I am going to have an Eating Binge, or any other thing I'm trying to avoid, the later in the day the more likely it is to happen.

a good way to fight this is - going to state the obvious here - keep blood sugar level. eating one of the donuts one of my co-workers brought in means a sugar spike and I assume that makes later in the day ...let's say more challenging.

what else?  I'm thinking of adding a "mid day check in" or tune up or something. where I take few minutes to be AWARE and review the good stuff I've done in the Magical Morning Hours (MMH!) and plan for any expected hiccups later.  like when I want to leave work but something comes up. like when I get home and all I want to do is catch up on OH and, frankly, eat a giant bowl of noodles.

any suggestions?

I'm thinking that something right when I get home from work that is calming and enjoyable but NOT white carbs!  (but the dogs are crazy and everybody  needs to be fed and the bird is screaming...)

Ya know Jackie I've identified the hours basically between 3pm and the time I go to bed as DANGER hours.  For some reason when the clock ticks 3pm I want to EAT and it's usually NOT something "good" for me.

I too NEED to get a plan for that time of day when I get home the dog is mini-walked and fed and I want to stuff.  I've thought about resuming my book reading, book writing, journaling SOMETHING other then the hand to mouth action that has been plaguing me now for 6 months.

I'm working through it so no immediate suggestions ...

I think this is very common. I know it helps me if I have eaten during the day and especially had a light lunch and a protein snack mid afternoon but there is something about the transition of work to home: I think I need to COMFORT myself. I think "happy hour" is the same thing, people want and need to wind down somehow.

I might make a list of things I could try.

Your picture, got me thinking, how about making a bowl of magic noodles with veggies ( all cut up by TJ's ) and maybe some tofu or shrimp or chicken breast sauteed with your favorite peanut sauce.  Than would be really filling and you could much on it all evening without doing much damage.  What do you think?

that would be as long as it was DINNER and not some big binge.

I really need to wind down some other way rather than using food to wind me down if that makes sense.

And here I thought I was being brilliant in coming up with a meal you can much on all night, when you are saying you need to find a way to unwind without using our favorite drug.   Got it now.  How about a reading, or taking a bath, or finding some me time things you love to do.  I too struggle with this time.  The evenings are when I reach for things I should not eat.  Sometimes, I find something else to do to nourish myself and relax.  I drink a lot of tea at night, and I hang out on OH, but I too could use some new hobbies.  When I am having an especially rough nigh, I might go out to get a foot massage for $20.  Interestingly, I am never hungry after one of those.  I think it is because I use food to relax and if I am relaxed the need for food is diminished.  I am curious what others will tell you to do.  Good thread.

you were being brilliant in helping me figure out what I was actually trying to ask. and those ideas are great, thank you! 

I don't think I can get any kind of massage locally late and without an appointment but that would be excellent if I could. if't funny I spend a big part of my day drinking coffee and trying to rev up and then I something later to relax: what's wrong with this picture!?

I know a lady who does a "chair massage" for $20 (and the shoulders and upper back are what need it most) I should ask her how  late she works.

I find I'm much more likely to binge on the bad stuff if I'm dealing with more than one binge trigger.
 
For example, I have multiple triggers, which all fall into the category of time, place, or activity.  My most likely binge trigger times are late afternoon and evenings; my binge places are my living room, usually when I sit in my usual place on the sofa, and my activity triggers are reading or watching t.v. If I come home from work, drop on the sofa and star****ching whatever is on t.v., look out. Binge City.

I am much more successful in resisting a binge if I am only managing one trigger at a time. So if it's late afternoon I try not to sit down right away -  keep off the sofa and keep the t.v. off. I may sort laundry, wash or fold laundry, clean up the kitchen, I've even been known to mop a floor. Anything but flop on the sofa and star****ching t.v.

And by the way, that bowl of noodles looks awesome.....

good points, TV really is a trigger all on  it's own and Coming Home From Work is a whole of mess of triggers all piled up on us at once. no wonder it's a bad time!

Are you saying you get the proverbial afternoon slump?  If so, I do to.  That is my weekest part of the day.  It's the time I want to reach for a pick me up bad snack like candy, plus a cup of coffee.  Boo hiss, bad choices.  I believe this time of day is "teatime" in England, where they have cookies and tea.....

If I did not understand your post, please excuse me, I am on Vicaden, post gallbladder surgery...LOL

However, if this is what your talking about, it reminded me of a Seinfeld episode (season 9, episode 18) where Elaine's office co-workers find a reason to have a cake every afternoon.  They celebrate everything just to have the excuse to eat cake at that time of the day.  Elaine gets mad and refuses to participate, and soon realizes that she had come to rely and had become conditioned and addicted to eating cake at that time of the day.  She finds herself exhausted, and in a slump without it.

Even the show show is meant for fun and folly, it brings an interesting problem to light.  The afternoon slump problem.  Here is a short clip of the point where Elaine tells her co-workers off for bringing cake every afternoon to the office.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOrMyi2m_4E

I just realized that the title is "late day slump".....so, I DO understand.  And my post in appropiate....Ha Ha...good to know