How do I prevent late-night binges?
Asked by lkcrawford86 on Dec 03, 2008
in Emotional & Behavioral Issues
I am a 23-year-old female, 5'6" and 150 pounds. I lost a significant amount of weight several years ago and put about half of it back on after 6-months of intense stress. I am trying to lose that weight again to reach the goal I set three years ago: 125 pounds. I am particularly determined as I am getting married in 9 months and want to look and feel great. I work out at the gym for 45 minutes every morning, alternating between cardio and weight-lifting. I try to stay around 1200-1600 calories per day, but I've found it extraordinarily difficult to stay on-task at the end of the day. My job is demanding and I work long hours, and though I'm not necessarily hungry after a healthy breakfast, lunch and dinner, I crave an extra late-night snack, which almost always puts me over my calorie limit for the day. Is there a good way to prevent this without settling for a bare-bones dinner?
Answer
Shave a few calories off each of your meals to make room for a late night snack. You are not describing binging behavior; rather, it sounds like a treat at the end of a hectic day would make life a little sweeter. You can reserve 100 - 200 calories for a satisfying snack. For instance, a toasted English muffin with jam and tea is only 117 calories and a Skinny Cow fat-free fudge bar is only 100 calories. If you allow yourself to have a snack, then you might even choose to skip it. Do not put yourself in diet prison. Learn to strike a balance between moderation and austerity.
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