Everyday Systems

So what I'm beginning to understand totally is that if I snack I end up binging that day 98% of the time. I'm finding my weekdays have been binge free, but my weekends are another story. And I'm not saying I binge on all desserts, as long as it's food I'll eat it....

If I tell myself no snacks, then I start to feel like it is the end of the world or something, so I have not really put any restraints on my weekends. I do have to say that I'm starting to incorporate eating 3 squares which I'm pretty comfortable with now.

My question is, does anyone else have that problem, especially in the evening if you allow yourself a snack, you end up binging or blowing the rest of the night? Did you find yourself in a better place now?

I changed my screen name from Debrabuf to NoSnacker because it fits me during the week, and I'm hoping the new name rubs off on me.

I find that particularly crisps (or potato chips) are my trigger for binging, it's like they flip a switch in my head. I only have them on S days but when I had some yesterday I even had to go and have a shower, just to distract myself and try to flip the switch back again and erase the 'want to eat more' feeling. It did work though. I never eat after my evening meal though, between lunch and dinner is my danger time.

It might sound dracstic to go and shower just to get out of that
'binge-head' thinking but it did really work for me. And I also find that having 3 squares on an S day does not only help, but feel right too.

I don't have issues with binge eating, so perhaps I'm not the person to be answering this. (Or maybe I am!)

I do not give myself permission to go insane on S days. I have normal meals at normal times, and perhaps I'll have a snack or a special dessert. I no longer keep snack food at home, which helps a lot.

I don't feel deprived. I do allow myself to have second helpings of my meals, if I'm hungry. But I don't go nuts, just because it's an S day. For me, that doesn't make sense.

I too had to change my S day to eat whatever you want but keep it to 3 meals days. If I snack, I binge. Now I plan to have exactly what I want on my (one) S day. Last weekend it was an enormous sweet muffin for breakfast, pancakes for lunch, and movie popcorn for dinner. Of all the "S"s, I think the biggest problematic S is the snacking S. At least for me.

I have some mods to keep my S day eating under control.

The Sitting mod. No eating in any position other than sitting.

The NEP mod, which can stand for No Eating from Packages or No Eating without a Plate. If I want to eat a snack on an S day, it has to go on a plate or in a bowl first, and I have to close up and put away the package before I can start eating.

The "no keeping food outside the kitchen, and no hanging out in the kitchen" rule. All food must be kept in the kitchen, and I don't hang out in the kitchen except when I'm preparing a meal or snack or cleaning up after one.

The 30 Minute Mod. When I've had a meal or snack, I can't have anything else for another 30 minutes. Also known as "you just ate, you don't need to be eating again". Seconds of the same thing I was eating on an S day are OK, and dessert is OK, but not any additional, different foods. I have a problem with adding on to meals and snacks, if allowed to do so, and it can easily turn into permasnacking. For example, I'll have a bowl of cereal for breakfast. Then I want a little more after that, so I'll add on a piece of bread. This mod is designed to prevent that behavior. This rule could also mean that you can't have seconds of snacks until 30 minutes have passed.

I replied to your other post on the "walking away" post before I saw this one! I am totally in your boat! I am a binger for sure....but only when I'm snacking. I almost never binge at mealtime.

Skykitty - like the shower idea and finding the 3 squares help! I might end up like a shriveled prune!

Who Me - I am going to really try to clear my head and not have any snacks around, unless I go out for it.

Marianna - I do find one of my S days is calmer than the other for sure and yes, S snacking causes issues for me tooo.

Nicest of the Damned - I do recall you sharing these great weekend concepts...Now I need to apply it..especially the 30 minutes.

Tobiasmom - loved the response on my other post!

THANKS EVERYONE!