Eating too much in the evenings

[Ashes29]

Since moving in with my boyfriend I have gained almost two stone. He works nights and I overeat when I'm on my own. I eat more food, or chocolate. Any tips to get me out the habit

[Honey10 1lb]

Good morning Ashes29, I live on my own so I too eat considerable amount of my calorie allowance in the evenings. With my work often simple don't get a chance to eat probably at lunch, literally homemade smoothie consumed on the run. So late afternoon when return from work, I eat a hot meal with plenty of vegetables. Often have a yoghurt and cereal bar.

For me I need to be kept occupied, distract myself with household chores, paperwork or me time soak in the bath.

Hope this helps.

[Hidden]

Hi and welcome to the forum Ashes29

I would like to invite you to join our Newbie Club, which we hope will be a good place for you to connect with members, who are also just starting out, or re-starting.

If you just post a few words on the November Newbie Club thread to introduce yourself and respond to others there you will soon feel part of the club.

Follow this link to the Newbie club: healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

Please read all the information carefully, it is very useful and can be referred to whenever you want to check something.

It just remains for me to wish you well on your journey

[Itsbab]

Hi I too if I overeat tend to be an evening snacker so have a few snacks ready, weigh out small bags of nuts so you know the calorie value, freeze grapes, lovely in the summer and 20 grapes are 60 calories, chopped bowl of carrots, celery ( aids sleep) etc.

Also as Christmas is coming up why not make a few gifts for others have a few cups of fruit/herbal teas to keep the hunger pangs away.

I’ve learnt to ease off a lot on evening snacking it’s hard if you’re on your own but for me now it’s a case of letting myself down or helping myself in the end.

Popping on here too helps massively, good luck👍

[cazlooks]

Simply don't buy the sweet stuff, you don't want or need it, get those healthy snacks lined up in the fridge, all chopped etc so you only have to reach out. For the first few weeks you will be miserable (sorry) because your body will be looking for it's sugar/stodge hit. But soon your body will recognise how good you feel on the good stuff and it will start wanting that instead and you will only occasionally get a need for a sugar hit. cx

[Ashes29 in reply to cazlooks]

Thank you just so hard with busy work

[Gaynor123]

I used to find evenings worse but everytime i think of food ill go and do something.keep busy. Even if it walking up or downstairs and drink a glass of water.it goes away. It do get easier i promise. 6 months now and hardly think of food on evening. I dont buy sweets or unhealthy food.if my girls want things we pick it up on the day. Less tempation. I find sugar free jellys fab.and fruit x good luck.keep active on here x

[Ashes29 in reply to Gaynor123]

Thank you

[elliebath Maintainer]

Rather than deny yourself all the things you like, if you seriously prepared to work within a calorie allowance, you can still build in a couple of evening snacks if you really want them.

You dont mention when (or if ) you eat a main meal or whether that's eaten alone or together. So use the NHS link (posted above from Cracker ), for the Newbie Club, find out your Bmi and calorie allowance, then plan 2 proper balanced meals a day . Any recipe based on eggs or cheese, fish and veg, meat and veg, or veg and veg ... can be a hot or cold meal, but do calculate the portion size and calories. My guess is they will use at least 2/3 of your daily calories, leaving you some for evening snacks .... but again, make the snack portion a controlled size. eg small bag nuts, small kit kat, small pot jelly, one scoop icecream.( of course these aren't the healthiest choices in the world, but I'm being realistic😆)

By giving yourself permission for a couple of evening snacks, you are far less likely to binge on them, and soon you may find you don't need them at all and will develop other ideas to fill the time.

[Active_43 in reply to elliebath]

^ what elliebath says.

[Ashes29 in reply to elliebath]

Thank you

[Wadestreet]

Welcome! With chocolate I gradually cut it and to the point I did not know when I started. Then when I got stronger I cut all out. It's been almost month. You can do this mind over matter with one day at a time. You can do this!!!

[13Valerie]

Welcome Ashes29 you've answered your own question in a word.. HABIT😊Time to make a new habit... join a choir, go to a class... whatever tickles your fancy. Anything that keeps you active while your bf is working.

This is a wonderful time of your life and you're sowing the seeds for the future.... so it's worth giving it some thought.

Best wishes 😊

Valerie