22/01/2021
HOW TO AVOID OVER SNACKING IN THE EVENING...
1. MAKE SURE YOU ARE EATING ENOUGH FOOD IN THE EARLY PART OF THE DAY... Particularly Healthy fats, Protein and Fibre. These keep you feeling fuller for longer and help control blood sugar balance by slowing the speed at which your carbohydrates are released.
2. COME AT IT WITH CURIOSITY..
Ask yourself, am I actually physically hungry or just emotionally craving. If you are physically hungry, eat a significant whole food based snack first.. If you still want something sweet after that, you will definatly have less of it.
If you are craving emotionally due to boredom or stress but aren't actually hungry, acknowledge that and address that first before eating. If you are stressed release some of those stress hormones by going for a fast 10 min walk, playing with your dog, doing 2-3 mins of deep breathing, journalling on the issue, picking up the phone to a good friend. Again, if you still want something after that, you will likely make a better choice around what and how much you eat.
The Brain/body just wants the reward hormone Dopamine to be released to ease the stress/boredom etc. and it's screaming at you to take action but we can choose different ways (examples above) to give it that reward. Once it gets that, it won't shout as loud at you!!
3. CHANGE UP YOUR ROUTINE AROUND YOUR MOST TRIGGERING TIMES
If you keep everything else around that particularly triggering snacking time (e.g. sitting in the same seat watching the same programme at the same time) it is SOOOOO much more difficult to change the habit of snacking itself. Get creative with the ways you can change things up so that you are not simply relying on will power.. Will power comes and goes. It's the building of new habits in place of the old that will support you when that will power inevitably disappears!
You're starting point is awareness. Start to bring awareness into what times and situations you feel most cravings and then you can start to do something about it.
Happy Friday everyone,
Cathy