I’m getting a better handle on these moments when I feel a bit out of control with snacking, and it’s been on my mind a lot lately as you can tell from my posts about 10 Things to Tell Yourself When the Nighttime Snack Monster Attacks and Nighttime Motivation: 5 Tips for a Sticking to Your Goals.
Now I’m going to share 5 tools to stop overeating or mindless snacking. I shared almost this exact same list during my My Day Friday post a couple weeks ago as my plan because I was struggling. Things have been better, so I’m rearranging my list and sharing a super helpful tool (with a giveaway!)
These are things I try to remember and hopefully they’ll help you too.
5 Tips to Stop Overeating or Mindless Snacking
1. Wait It Out
So many people swear by just waiting a craving out. Y’know what? I am NOT one of them! If I could stop and say, “let’s wait 20 minutes and think about it.” I could probably say, “it is ridiculous to think you should follow some popcorn with chocolate and follow the chocolate with some more popcorn.” I turn into a irrational maniac when I start snacking.
What I do agree with is waiting it out by keeping yourself busy with something else, which brigs is to…
2. Distract Yourself
It is a heck of a lot easier to wait it out if you find something to distract yourself. I’ve tried with work – “I can snack after I get x,y, and z done” – but that one rarely works for me and I usually fall off task pretty quick and find some excuse to give in.
I love tasks that make it really hard to snack like painting your nails. That way you can’t stick your hand in that bag and it forces you to wait.
3. Keep Your Mouth Busy
Many of the choices I make are things to slow me down. Things like sipping some almond milk, chewing gum, or sucking on a lozenge are helpful to prolonging, if not stopping, snacking.
4. Change Your Tastebuds
The thing that works the best for me is to brush my teeth. It helps make the things I’m craving not sound so good and I rarely give in after I’ve brushed my teeth.
5. Make Better Choices
If you must snack on something, it’s always a good idea to make better choices. You’re always going to be better off with an apple over a Snicker bar.
I was excited to try MealEnders as a Sweat Pink Ambassodor because they are a lozenge that I new would help me to wait out those cravings, keep my mouth busy, and they claimed to reset your tastebuds.
Truthfully, I was thinking it was clever marketing on a plain old lozenge or hard candy. I had no idea how amazing they would be!
First, the flavors are delicious!
I knew I would love the chocolate ones. The Mocha and Chocolate Mint start out with a chocolate outer coating, followed by a coffee and mint lozenge in the center. The citrus has the flavor of a yummy margarita, and the cinnamon, which I thought I’d like the least, tastes like a Cinnabon and is delicious!
After that delicious outer coating comes the lozenge that makes your tongue begin to tingle. This was the really interesting part! It numbed my tongue a bit and I no longer wished to snack. It is awesome!
I love these because I know I will get a tasty little snack and it really does stop my desire to eat.
Are you dying to try them???
MealEnders is offering you a pack of one of each of the four flavors to try for yourself!
I would love to try these out. I eat dinner somewhat early every night because i get up so early in the morning to workout. I always feel the need for something sweet like an hour after dinner. I would love a healthy option to turn to!
We do a 5pm dinner and I’m always ready to snack when he kids go to bed at 8 – staying up until midnight, that leaves me a lo of time to ruin my day. These are great – you’ll love them!
So glad you got to do this review! I have trouble with nighttime snacking and wondered if they worked! Thanks for the info!
Emily recently posted…Advocare 10-day Herbal Cleanse Review
You’ll love them, Emily! They taste good and they really do change the feel of your mouth and cravings. Good luck!
I am a crazy snacker. I just love snack food! I have insomnia so I’m at my worst at night.
Nighttime is he worst for me too – it’s like I’m out of control!
And I don’t want to drink more water because then I’ll have to get up more when I’m finally sleepy. I also just love candy! The struggle is real!
I would especially love to try the Mocha flavor. My biggest issue is cravy sweets post dinner, especially chocolate!
The mocha is delicious! Chocolate is my biggest nighttime downfall too!
Would love to try these!
I want to try this because I just started an online grad school program in January and I am constatnly hungry when I am studying and doing homework.
I always want to snack when I have work to do too! You’ll love these!
I would LOVE these! I always have have something sweet after I eat. That usually turns into something else, etc, etc. I would love to see if these would stop my cravings in their tracks!!
Deneene recently posted…Weekly Menu Plan & Fitness Recap {2/22}
I want to try these to keep me from overeating!
These sound awesome. I’m so bad at waking up in the middle of the night and snacking!!!
I always want something sweet after dinner
I am always ready to snack at around 8 and would like to not overeat!
I would love to try these for in the evening. I can go all day being really good but when the sun goes down I turn into a food monster and want to eat everything and can’t seem to get full!
my snacking has gotten out of control lately. I think because of being cooped up inside. It’s really starting to effect me weight.
I hear ya! I struggle so much at times!
I have never heard of MealEnders… so interested to try them. I will definitely share with my coaching clients!
I found a brilliant way to be more mindful about what I eat. I can eat whatever I want, but I have to take a picture of it first. I don’t have to post it or share it anywhere, this isn’t about shaming myself. It’s just about making more conscious choices. It’s kind of like keeping a food diary, but it’s quicker because it just takes a quick second. But I think it’s really steered me to make some better choices. #SITSSharefest
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That is super smart! I love the idea of taking a moment to be conscious of what you are eating – it helps with impulse and portions I would expect!
These are great. Thanks for the ideas!
Anytime Shannon!