o ruin a good diet - How Late Night Snacking Can Do It.

As a wife and mom of two young girls in Spokane, I have become obsessed with “the square meal” making sure there is a protein, starch, veggie and fruit. I research a lot on the web and especially like Food Network.com to find recipes and new twists on things to keep meals interesting (the occasional pizza has been ordered due to new recipe results I would rather not discuss). I work really hard and feel that I do a good job when cooking for my family.

And then comes bedtime for the my girls …….

As in a bad movie of “will she do it” I pace around the kitchen wondering if I am hungry? Not at all! I plant my butt back on the couch.

Then like a delicious nightmare, a fast food commercial, my mind wanders, I bet I have some chips and cheese in the kitchen.

No! Resist temptation, I tell myself, all the while my feet, which seem to now be possessed by the fact there may be the fixin’s for a yummy snack awaiting, are walking to the kitchen.

The fridge door opens…. I have cheese, the pantry, uh-oh I do have tortilla chips, back to the fridge, oh no! I have salsa and sour cream!

Ignoring every voice telling me that I do not need this, I begin pulling out the cheese grater and a plate, once the cheese hits chips there is no turning back…

Before I know it I am cozy on the couch with my cheesy chips drowning them in sour cream and salsa. I don’t think about my choice until I head to brush my teeth for bed, then the reality of yet another chapter of my Late Night Snacking Story is written.

Time For A Change In My Spokane Snacking Habits

I decided it was time to change, instead of focusing on eating, I would start working out. If I was going to consume the extra calories I should at least put in the effort to work them off. I also found following tips to be useful:

When the urge to snack arrives, down a full glass of water, chew some gum and wait 30 mintues, then decide. Floss, brush your teeth and mouthwash right after dinner, this helps you remember you are done eating for the day. Find something to keep your hands busy such as folding clothes, knitting, scrap booking, etc. Go to bed! If you know you are going to snack, give yourself permission to go to bed early, rest aids in weight loss also. If you must snack, choose protein such as a few almonds or maybe a piece of turkey. Try herbal tea or a Special K Protein water. With these things in my I headed for my first workout with a personal trainer. After only one workout my hopes of getting back into shape have returned.

So, let’s go back to the point of my story …the late night snacking. I am not saying that I no longer walk the kitchen in search of comfort food and I am definitely not saying that I have not given in to the temptation of digging in. But since starting my workouts with my personal trainer, I have definitely found some control that I had lost for a long time.

When thinking about snacking I remember that I am about to ruin all the hard work I put in today at my trainers studio. Who wants to work twice as hard knowing that you will be held accountable not only with your workouts but also while keeping your Food Journal to monitor calories. I know I don’t!

Just don’t give up on your desire to attain your fitness goals. Look your temptations and discouragements (and snacks) in the eye and decide that you are bigger. Clean out your cupboards.

By: Zach Hunt

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Spa Resorts