That's what my grandma said to me on the phone this week. My daily 9:45 a.m. phone call had gotten her out of bed, and she was lamenting that by the time she ate breakfast that it would be time for lunch. I told her not to worry - I had already had a pre-run snack, post-run breakfast and would eat a mid-morning snack once I hung up with her. I had eaten enough meals for the both of us.
For some reason, she didn't think that scenario worked -- I have no idea why. My grandma, in all her wisdom, though, did hit the nail on the head - I eat. A lot. And often. In fact, I used to brag that I could eat non-stop at work and lose weight.
Recently, however, I started to consider that maybe I should switch things up and not put so much in my mouth. It might benefit me to start planning more substantial snacks instead of seeing how much low-calorie food I could throw into my purse because, let's be honest, no one has filled up on celery sticks alone.
Celery sticks and peanut butter? Now, that's a different story.
As I've been using Self Magazine's Drop 10 plan to inspire my lunches, I thought I could use the diet as a guideline for snacking. Their suggestions are more calorie dense, more filling and much more enjoyable. I've taken to packing an apple (with the core scooped out) topped with a bit of peanut butter and coconut and celery sticks filled with peanut butter. The hard-boiled egg has also been a top pick but mostly on mornings when I have oats or multigrain pancakes for breakfast.
I also packed a protein-packed treat for snacking this week - slices of turkey slathered with Laughing Cow and rolled up like a cigar. A winner if there ever was one.
The higher calorie snacks are helping a bit in terms of fullness - I am eating less frequently. However, old habits die hard and I do need to retrain myself. Just because I'm sitting at my desk doesn't mean I need to be chewing.
Or something like that.
How do you snack?
I now eat by the clock and I keep it to 4 times a day. Otherwise I overeat like crazy. I eat at breakfast at 8, then have a DP10 at 10:30 (one day I will kick my soda addiction), lunch at noon, snack of some sort at 3 (usually fruit paired with some sort of protein) and then dinner at 5:30. Luckily I have completely kicked the habit of late night eating, and one I hit the complete button on My FItness Pal it makes a switch go off in my head that says kitchen closed.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to try those turkey roll ups, they are making my mouth water!
DP10 is my vice, too!!
DeleteI"m eating graham cracker right now. I mindless eat at work.. a lot. I used to be so good but I just seem to be ravenous lately. Usually I eat breakfast at work, then around 10 have a snack (apple w/pb or almonds), lunch, then another snack in the afternoon. Yeah, then I have a piece of candy here or there, a handful of Goldfish or today graham crackers. I'm thinking those turkey roll ups sound pretty awesome.
ReplyDeleteI just started actually using myfitnesspal to track what I eat, and I am finding it REALY varies by day... the only thing I have going for me is that at work I have no choice but to eat what I bring. I cannot leave the building for breaks/supper and though there are vending machines I would have to have someone "man the desk" and clear through the locked door, so getting high calorie cravings take long enough for me to talk myself out of it (Thank Goodness!)
ReplyDeleteI too eat by the clock most days. 3 meals, 2 snacks spread out (7:45, 10, 12, 4:30, 8) with my schedule. I also log in myfitnesspal every day. And that has helped make it easier to loosely follow on the weekends when my schedule is different. I try to keep snacks under 350 cals, and typically in the 200-250 range, but so they all total out with the 3 meals to meet my daily calorie goal (food - exercise).
ReplyDelete