Help! Cold weather hunger!

[CrimsonMama]

Well I am pretty sure it must be the cold weather! That and the clocks changing. But I'm mostly getting used to the clock change now.

My issue is I am just SO DARN HUNGRY at work I can't stop myself eating far too many biscuits and blowing my calories! With damage control I end up taking away things from my food plan in the evening to make up for it. So I'm not too much over my daily calories. But I want to eat better than biscuits!

The issue is I have breakfast at 8am then go to work. I don't get home until 2pm. I am not entitled to any breaks so I don't get a lunch time or any time to actually eat (or drink). The biscuits I eat are eaten on the job quickly between duties but I can't be seen sitting and having a snack per sè. My duties include serving tea, coffee, biscuits and lunch to the the elderly so I'm surrounded by food! But I've been used to this for a long time.

I have tried allowing myself two biscuits in my calorie allowance but I end up having four! I have planned food for after work of say soup and a crumpet but as I keep having the extra biscuits I have to deduct the soup and crumpet off the counter the calories. And I don't miss them but ideally I would rather have the soup and crumpet but I need it earlier to stave off this crazy hunger I feel at the moment! But I can't.

I know it doesn't sound too bad having four biscuits but they are 83 calories each! That's a lot of wasted calories!

I've tried having more calories for breakfast to 'fill up' but this week its not stopping the biscuit binge!

[PippiRuns 6kg Restart Jan 2025]

I wish I knew what to suggest. I think it’s horrible that you are not entitled to breaks, but you’ve got to work with what you’ve got...

Could you snack on almond? Would it be a problem if you had a hard boiled egg in your bag and stopped for three minutes to eat it?

[Elisabeth3 Maintainer]

Don't beat up yourself.

For weeks now I also eat more. It could be the winter or my motivation flattening.

A colleague of mine offered us a donut yesterday. I asked her if it's OK if I keep it for today. So last night I thought of this special treat at least five times. 🍩 😃 it was nice for a change.

Also, tonight I had soup and I still felt hungry. Had a slice of bread with cheese and ham. I feel better that I ate that.

Hopefully the motivation comes back. Give it some time.

Maybe you need those calories now.

[Icandoit2019]

I cannot believe you’re not allowed a lunch break or even a tea break at your work. Do you work in a care home how do they expect you to work without food for so long? What time do you start work can you eat later then eight so it won’t be so long till your next meal. I eat naked protein bars or a banana after a work out to tide me over till lunch, I find them filling.

Biscuits are so dangerous if your hungry as they just don’t fill you up but cost loads of calories.

Having said all that I think you’re doing amazing having lost 6st 7lbs!!!

[CrimsonMama in reply to Icandoit2019]

Thank you very much! I think some of my willpower is drained BECAUSE of losing so much weight and reaching my target. The motivation to say no to extra food is weak without the goal to lose pounds being present.

I do work in a care home. My actual hours are only four which is why I get no breaks. But with the school run and drive to and from work it makes the gap between being able to eat 8am-2pm. Although as I used to exercise at 2pm -and be on less calories when losing weight - I actually used to go until 4pm before eating.

I have recently changed my routine to exercise in the morning at 6.30am instead of 2pm. Maybe that's making me more hungry too?

Today I am going to try taking some cut up bits of cheese in my pocket to nibble on lol. I use 50% fat reduced cheese at 49 calories for 20g. I will try to just nibble a bit each time I crave a biscuit! See how that goes. I would try nuts as people often suggest but they seem really super high in fat and calories! Although there is some debate about if the fat they contain is different/good fat? I'm not too sure!

[PippiRuns 6kg Restart Jan 2025 in reply to CrimsonMama]

I think nuts are a good alternative because they are calorie dense. And you need calories/energy to keep going. I have never heard anyone doubt that the fat in nuts is healthy fat.

[elliebath Maintainer in reply to CrimsonMama]

Yes, some nuts and cheese in measured amounts would be a great filler.

Also, what are you eating for your 8am breakfast? From my experience a couple of eggs keeps me going for several hours , Boiled is quickest as you can get on with something else while they cook.

[CrimsonMama in reply to elliebath]

I don't really like egg white. Don't mind if it's scrambled cos then it's all yellow lol. But isn't something I can have at work and doesn't seem to matter if I eat well or more at 8am. The munchies start between 10-11am!

For breakfast I usually have a sandwich with ham and mustard or cheese and onion. Or toast with lemon curd.

[Lzlycraft]

What about a banana?

[CrimsonMama in reply to Lzlycraft]

A banana might work! Thanks. Maybe just before my shift starts!

[elliebath Maintainer in reply to CrimsonMama]

Instead of lemon curd try banana and/or crunchy peanut butter, or mashed avocado. The latter are healthy fats and very sustaining.

Better still, ditch the bread altogether (an empty carb) just whip them into greek yoghurt to eat with a spoon or make a runny smoothie to drink.

I also mix chocolate flavour protein powder with banana and greek yoghurt for a quick breakfast. Mmmm

[Lzlycraft in reply to CrimsonMama]

I empathise with you. I used to volunteer in an OPH where there was an abundance of cake, biscuits and choccies. Abstinence was the only solution for me!!

[CrimsonMama]

I have a plan! I am going to try it out today!

I just had breakfast. I'm taking my cup a soup in and will try to have it before my shift starts at 9.45 or else take it around on my tea trolley with me! I have cheese cubes in my pocket to nibble about 10.30. And at 12 noon I will have a Jaffa cake to satisfy my sweet tooth.

At home after 2pm I have a slice of fruity bread to toast. And then I will be on track for my normal meal times at 4pm and 7pm.

[BonnieBoo7]

Oh, so know what you mean. I'm so close to reaching my goal, but the dark nights and cold weather are definitely having an effect. I gave up rubbish sugar and alcohol at the end of last year. People kept trying to give me 'healthy' forms, such as coconut sugar, but I didn't want to perpetuate my love for all things sweet. It was the best decision, now I can even tell if someone uses semi skimmed milk rather than skimmed in my coffee as it tastes so much sweeter. I actually don't crave anything sweet now and am (unbelievably) happy never to revert. Sadly I could murder some hot buttered toast right now, so haven't managed to cure myself of everything... I'm sure it's the time of year! We just have to stay strong!

[CrimsonMama in reply to BonnieBoo7]

Agreed! And thanks. It does help to know I'm not the only one struggling in this weather! But I started my journey this time last year so I managed it then! Mind over matter! Lol

[BonnieBoo7]

Too right! We've got this! Fitter, stronger, healthier! Grrr (growel for motivational purposes only :O)

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to BonnieBoo7]

I do like a motivational growl

How are things going? Have you thought of joining a weekly weigh in? They're so good for getting to know people and supporting each other for as long as it takes. And I recommend using the Daily Diary for logging your meal plans and chatting about all things food. The more you get involve, the more you'll get out of the forum.

This will help healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

[Cosmo501 Restart May 2024]

Arghhh... all these situations are really frustrating! I sympathise!!

I’ll tell you what usually saves me, and stops me going off track- I keep a small bag of just a few nuts in my pocket or shoulder bag, so I can try to stave off a bad decision by nibbling those discreetly first! And if I only have a small amount in my pocket, that means I don’t have the opportunity to scoff loads of nuts ‘by mistake’ 😂

You are doing so well though with your weight loss! You can’t beat yourself up too much about a couple of biscuits here and there. But... I do know how it can lead to a slippery slope, well, for me it can!

Best of luck finding a resolution for this conundrum. It’s all part of the journey, recognising our obstacles and finding ways to overcome them!

[CrimsonMama in reply to Cosmo501]

Thanks again! I keep thinking about nuts but they do seem high in calories! My plan today went really well! I had soup at work just before my shift started and then nibbled cheese as I went around which worked great! The taste of cheese seemed to take away my sweet craving. Later I did have my Jaffa cake because I allowed it in but I was quite busy and could have easily not had it as the soup and cheese got me past the week point (10-11am time slot).

Tomorrow I am going to try chicken soup instead of tomato so I'm looking forward to that!

[sunny369]

I was wondering if the dark nights and cold were weakening my resolve as I have been really hungry coming home from work after being quite good all summer.

After a snacking disaster on Wednesday night, tonight after work I ate a banana standing at the bus stop which seemed to help a bit.

It is 6 hours without a break at my work which in my case is often 11-5. Since my body thinks it would like lunch somewhere during that time of day I often feel peckish, and very hungry by the end.

Biscuits and sweets are often lying around at work but I try to make a habit of resisting them. I usually have some snacks in a small tupperware box, things like cheese cubes or brazil nuts, and a few grapes or apple slices or olives. Some days I can manage to eat them, other days I can't, just depends on whether I can find the opportunity to subtly sneak a nibble.

I thought about a cuppa soup but generally I am trying to avoid processed carbs so wouldn't work for me.

[CrimsonMama in reply to sunny369]

Sounds very similar to me!

[Lilly1986]

Do you have breakfast before you start work? If so what do you normally have?Why don't you try getting lower calorie biscuits or is it just what your work has?x