I am having the SAME problem. It's getting to the point where I feel like a binge eater. I've found it most often happens when I am somehow "emotionally" unsatisfied with what I ate for dinner...like it wasn't enough of a mental treat or something, so I don't feel satisfied emotionally.

In those cases, I try to slow down and savor preparing my meals and eating them. It helps somewhat--moreso than if I nuke and scarf, in which case, my meal is over in less than 10 minutes.

If it's just been going on for a couple of weeks, I'd monitor it. Maybe you just aren't getting enough calories, but if you think it's more of a bad habit or the start of something more uncontrollable, it's worth considering what's going on "up there."

I definitely feel your pain.

I am a chronic snacker, too and in the evenings are the worst! I sometimes will chew on a stick of sugarless gum (I keep various flavors around) to make me feel like I'm snacking-my jaw is getting a workout anyway and I can't chew anything else while I'm chewing gum!

quote:<HR>Originally posted by kirby111:
Constantly doing something as small as a puzzle or game will stop you from snacking, TV encourages it. Also, at 5'5" and 120 you do not need to lose weight at all. Gaining a little weight would be a problem though.<HR>

If I could say "&^%$% you" to this poster... I would. I think that is the rudest thing I've ever heard. ****, even the girl who posted recognized that she's at a healthy weight. For all we know she could have just lost a bunch of weight to get to her very slight stature. Kirby are you a MAN because if you are be prepared to be slammed by women in this thread.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by BuffyFan:
Thanks for the responses. I think you both hit the nail on the head - I am not mentally satisfied with my dinner.

I have always like to have a snack in the evening and it hasn't really been a problem with my weight (I have had problems with my weight, but it was because I ate too much of EVERYTHING).

But lately it has been worse - I think I am doing that "emotional eating" thing that I thought was a bunch of ****. I look at that eating time as a reward and relaxation after my toddler goes to bed.

I need to start having a cup of hot chocolate ONLY as a treat. I am going to try that tonight.<HR>

Sometimes if I'm not too hungry I'll wait until my toddler goes to bed to eat dinner. That way I can enjoy it and not scarf it down and not even taste my food.

I used to go to a personal trainer. His advice was never eat any carbs within a few hours of winding down at night. In other words, eliminate your carbs at dinner if you are just going ot sit afterwards and watch TV, and if you are going to snack at night, don't eat carbs.

Now, I know there is no true scientific evidence that carbs are any worse at night than any other time of the day. I am not anit-carb, I eat lots of them. However, I can certainly see how people would cut calories if they followed this rule. I found that everything I wanted to eat in the evening was carbs. There simply wasn't anything else that appealed to me. If I couldn't eat the carbs, I just didn't eat anything..results..less calories.

I will add that I was injured at the time and not running. I was doing alot of weight lifting and low impact cardio. I don't follow the "no carb in the PM anymore", I just know that it can work.

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