The gloves are off! The snack attack is going down. In the last two weeks I have lost 10 pounds primarily by changing what and how I snack. If you want to talk about motivation, seeing results has given me all the motivation I need.
Julia Cameron views the snack attack as kind of like a “B” movie. It waits until your weakest moment and “eats you alive” (pun intended). It sabotages your best intentions to get healthy. So what do I do about it? I prepare for battle – pre-made snacks that are healthy, stem my particular cravings and still taste good. See below for a few lifestyle snack changes I’ve made.
Snacks I used to Have:
Fruit (banana, grapes, orange or Gala apple) – every day
Tortilla chips and salsa
Handful of Triscuits with cheese (cheddar)
Pretzels
Granola bar
Snacks I Have Now:
Granny Smith apple – once or twice a week
Fresh green beans, broccoli or carrots with garlic hummus
Lettuce wraps (green leaf lettuce, deli meat and honey mustard)
½ cup of low fat cottage cheese or two low fat mozzarella cheese sticks
A few almonds or pistachios
My success at replacing my favorite snacks with healthier ones has helped me to feel energized for more healthy change. I feel better after I eat them (no tummy ache or food hangover) and now the new snacks are becoming my new craving!
I do still allow myself an old snack once a week or on the weekends, but the difference is now I balance it out by having a more healthful dinner later on AND I watch the serving size. I used to have a “handful” of Triscuits as a snack, but what I didn’t realize is that I was having 2 to 3 times the serving size. I really don’t need that much. I am just as satisfied with 6 Triscuits. I don’t need 15!
It all comes down to a principle that my mom taught me many years back. Whenever I would go try to sit down with a bag of chips, she would tell me to grab a handful and put the bag away. If I wanted more I could get up and get more. Usually after the first handful I would realize I was full and would never get back up to get that second handful. Snacking consciously is what she was trying to teach me. Thanks for that one, Mom! You were right!
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Healthy snacks...that doesn't include chocolate? I wish I liked healthier things, and that they were cheaper. I think one of the things you allude to is moderation. If you ate the entire thing of humus in one sitting, it wouldn't be as healthy as just a few dips. While I feel inclined to eat the food we have on hand, I've been trying to watch the balance and maintain some moderation. But sometimes I just need that chocolate hit!
ReplyDeleteI'm proud of you for the progress you've been making and the affect it has had on your confidence.
I think chocolate can be a healthy snack if you make it a couple of bites (or pieces) of dark chocolate. Try 60% cacao or above.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your encouraging words!