Monday Maintenance: When the Snacking Becomes Too Much

Hi!

My name is Sarah J and I love to eat. I love snacks and treats and sweets and meals. I am like a hobbit in the way that I just want all the meals all the time.

In my opinion, there should always be second breakfast and I am pretty sure you must be aware of brunch, breakfast, and lunch but have you heard of linner? It's a mixture of lunch and dinner.

On top of your meals you've got your snacks and if you have a body type that doesn't burn an incredible amount of calories or you are attempting to maintain work-outs like The Rock, your body just doesn't need em. Food is meant to fuel you and some of the things we eat are just empty calories, meaning we will be hungry again pretty quickly.

I know this, I have been through all of this and yet here I am once again writing my feelings out instead of eating them.

It's called self-control coupled with some basic food knowledge and that plain and simple is where the health industry tries to trick or at least snag your money.

Yes, group work-outs and fitness plans are great, but if you struggle to maintain the rhythm or find yourself broke after a few months, listen up.

It's calories in and calories out. Get back to the basics. What are you eating?

I am 5'9 and when I want to lose weight I need to hit around 1,200 calories. When I want to maintain my weight it's about 1,700. Making any type of consistent change will allow you to see where your real problems are and can then make adjustments accordingly. Finding someone who is in the same boat as you can most definitely make the struggle a bit easier. You can motivate each other.

Does it have fiber and protein? Those are the two things that are going to help with digestion and staying full. Then you add in water to help get things moving and you are really doing something good for your overall health.

I made the decision to use the tracker on my Fitbit to start inputting what I have been eating and wasn't shocked but also wasn't impressed with what I discovered. I am basically eating for two...and not pregnant.

You're not supposed to eat for two even when you are pregnant but I eat for every reason under the sun; I am hungry, bored, sad, happy, tired, cranky, and stressed. So if you are dealing with the same thing, you are not alone, and let's create some type of plan.

If you already kind of know what you are eating and how many calories it contains it helps you stay focused and not thinking about where you will find your next meal.

Replacing one or two meals with a protein and fiber-filled shake will really help you stay full and give you energy and then also choosing some snacks that will keep you satisfied but won't crush your calorie goals.

• celery with a bit of peanut butter
• apples with peanut butter
• pickles
• cucumbers and hummus
• carrots
• nuts and cheese
• rice crackers with peanut butter