Snacking Challenge - Want to join me?

[akashavi]

OK, I'm no fitness chick or personal trainer but I do know a few things. One very important truth in my own personal fitness challenges is mindless eating and/or late night snacking. I'm actually wrestling with the gremlin at this moment. I have calories to burn today but don't want to succumb to the snack beast. So, to that end, I propose a challenge and hope I won't be posting to myself all month. 🙂

Here's how it will work. We all have our snacking issues. Define yours and set what you feel is the issue you need to address on a daily basis to achieve your goals. For example, you might have trouble during the afternoon or late night. (I seem to have it all :(). Anyway, challenge the gremlin to a duel by keeping score here on this thread: You vs Gremlin - a running tally for the rest of this month (April). It would go something like this: Me: 1; Gremlin: 0 - and keep a running tally through the month. Simple, right? Kind of a man vs. food thing...

I fought the gremlin last night so I will reply to this post with the first entry. If this just becomes a log of my personal progress, so be it. However, I do hope to see some others join in for camaraderie. 🙂

[akashavi]

April 5th - Me: 1; Gremlin: 0

[bklynite]

I'm IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have issues with not eating enough and then scouring the area for something to eat. I am also an emotional eater so I seek things that make me "feel better" when I am dealing with something. I fight to replace those times to find something else to do. I mentioned in another thread about being on a challenge with my daughter that includes not eating after 9pm. We are a checks and balance for each other and now that I am on my 3rd week, it doesn't bother me that much. One sure way to avoid the snacking is to keep it out the House!!! If I buy something for my children it is usually single serve. I have a free day on Sunday but I still remove all treats for the rest of the week.

What do you do?

[marybeth95]

Great idea! When I'm at work I tend to do much better than when I get home. By the time I get home in the afternoon I feel like I HAVE to have something before supper. I feel like I'm starving! Granted, I should probably snack on an apple and peanut butter or some almonds in the afternoon, but of course junk food is my go to. Then at night when I go to bed I want something not so healthy. I'm starting today! This will help me hold myself accountable!

[akashavi]

In the past, I've used jasmine green tea with a bit of honey as a means to thwart my gremlin. I also allow some quasi-healthy chocolate snackies during the day as part of my afternoon snack to try combatting the cravings (current one is from Costco: Ancient Grains Quinoa Clusters with Dark Chocolate, Acai & Blackberry). It helps a lot if I stop what I'm doing, pause, and enjoy the snack - savor every bite - especially the chocolate. (I tend to eat really fast otherwise and then, poof!, all gone and not very satisfied. :() I also try to drink 12 oz of water with my snack to fulfill my water intake too.

[HelenaFitbit]

I'm in! I have to battle my gremlin while at home, suddenly I crave everything on the fridge!

[RonnieP]

When I saw this I immediately thought "Who can snack the most" and wanted in.  I don't have a weight issue (just lucky) but I do know that snacking is not healthly for me.  I work at home so my biggest issue is that the snack drawer is never too far away.  It seems like every time I walk by I grab a handful or pretzels, nuts, crackers, or chips.  I do love my carbs!!  My wife even points it out to me because it's become such a habit.  There's always fruit in the house but that's too much work.  This will keep it front and center in my mind now and hopefully I can make the change.

[raewynjoy]

Hi there I would love to join your challenge. I have lost 40 kgs but over the two months i have been so naughty with sugar & bad food & have piled back 7kgs. I need to join you today. I wanted to start a 21 day Easter Challenge to get rid of thos unwanted KGS but not sure how to do it. 

[akashavi]

April 6th - Me: 2; Gremlin: 0

[akashavi]

Hi bklynite,

I went through a similar problem last night. I was well under my caloric budget going into dinner. I didn't give in to snacking yesterday (outside of my planned eating). But I did end up consuming more calories than I budgeted for during dinner. My goal is "kinda hard" so I'm trying to adhere to my budget closely. I think blowing my budget and starting this challenge is what kept me from giving in to the gremlin last night.

If you missed it in the initial message, you keep track cumulatively of the number of days you've defeated your gremlin like this: (Day of Month) - Me: 2; Gremlin: 0

I just entered my second day so you can see my day 1 and day 2 pattern develop. I hope that explains how I envisioned the tracking method. 🙂

[HelenaFitbit]

The gremlin: 1

Me : 0

[bklynite]

Aw akashavi I understand. Me 1 Gremlin Zilch.

If I make something for dinner to truly like I might have to indulge. I intend to save it for lunch but it doesn't always work. I think it may be better than munching all night on junk. I won the battle last night but barely. I was babysitting and I was not as busy in my house so I almost went to munching. I watched the clock and stopped before 9. Then I went home and made it to my 10k goal by doing all of my steps in my room. I no doubt burned off anything I ate earlier. Small victories add up. We can do it.

[bklynite]

helenarriaza what happened? How can we help make this day successful!

[HelenaFitbit]

@bklynite I kind of bumped into a box of donut holes. They were gone in minutes! 

But tomorrow I'm doing Zumba, so I'll burn those babies 

[RonnieP]

Gotta keep your eyes open at all times for all the traps out there.  I had a light breakfast so my last time past the snacks I filled a bowl of cereal to snack on when I should have reached for the banana instead.  Now if I can make it through the afternoon...

The Gremlin won today.  Tomorrow is another battle.

[HelenaFitbit]

Yeah, I've been there @RonnieP. Cereal is not a safe food around me. 

[bklynite]

ok. It happens and we can't undo it. So enjoy the remnants and have fun at Zumba. Tomorrow you'll be tied then the next day pull ahead.

[bklynite]

Ronnie you can do it! have some water and get something tasty that will help fend off the gremlin later.

[akashavi]

April 8th - Me: 3; Gremlin: 0

Yesterday was a weird one. I was a victim of my own and my kids' schedule and didn't even get a chance to eat dinner until 9:00 p.m. - that's well outside my personal time to stop eating for the day. However, I had developed quite a defecit due to all of the running around I did so I didn't feel the least bit guilty eating that late. I chose wisely (hard to do sometimes) so to my mind, I beat him! 🙂

[akashavi]

helenarraiaza ~ I've been interested in Zumba for a while now. I know lots depends on the class instructor but do you find it fun? About how many "steps" do you think you get from Zumba? My only Zumba style exercise seems to be with the vaccume when nobody is around...