This week we identified a common theme with the members here, SNACKING at night and eating right before bed.

Now before we go too deep I want to point out that in addition to "snacks" often not being calculated into your daily meals therefore driving calories UP and being a big contributor to slow weight loss and regain...eating at night can and WILL interrupt your natural sleep patterns because your body is trying to WORK to digest what you ate. AND....if you have reflux, heartburn or GERD eating within 2 hours of bed could absolutely be a HUGE contributing factor in your issues even if you are on medication to control your GERD.

But I also GET it. I've got a husband who hasn't ever struggled with his weight and he can do things like sit on the couch with a box of crackers and eat ONE and no more; like some sort of crazy Superhuman.

I also regained BIG time because I trained myself that after my daughter went to bed...andI was alone because my husband was deployed or working night shift as a Police Officer (and I was working 45 hours a week too...) I could "relax and unwind" with some snacks. So yeah, I'm speaking about this because I have personal experience dealing with this issue.

So here's the deal. You can't use SIT there in the evenings and white knuckle through this and suddenly be able to not have a snack. You've got to DO something and take action so you can actually change long term.

Here's some ideas on what you can do to prevent snacking.

1) Stop using paper plates. Seriously. Stop it. I get that they are "easier" but not only are you literally tossing money in the trash every single meal you are using it as an excuse to not DO stuff around your house. After dinner washing the plates will distract you and keep your fingers busy WHILE your food digests. PLUS there are massive mental health benefits to keeping a clean and organized home. Washing your dishes and cleaning the kitchen is a positive mental boost that will help your attitude overall improve. ALSO once you do the dishes and clean the kitchen you can consider it CLOSED for the night. Use the practice of dishes and cleaning off your counters and stove as a way to end your day of eating with a very strong message to yourself that you are DONE in the kitchen.

2) Call a friend or family member. Seriously just call to chat. While those group chats we are all in are fun and super easy it's nothing like connecting and hearing someone's voice. Call your loved ones and just chat like they used to in the olden days before text messages.

3) Read a book, take a virtual class OR practice a hobby. So many of us claim to fight Fatbrain at night....so why keep space available for it to slide in your mind and remind you about those chips you bought "for the party" but never used? It's been proven over and over again that spending time on an activity you love will improve your mental health. People who do that on a regular basis are often less prone to suffer from stress and depressing.

4) Go to bed earlier. Seriously the body is a very complex thing....but a lot of the time we confuse the signals it sends us. And after being Obese for so long we often MISINTERPRET the signals it sends us. Specifically your body may tell you it's hungry simply because it's TIRED and it knows when it gets FOOD it stops being tired. So plan to go to bed a bit earlier than you have been.

In the comments below share a hobby or pastime you love to do!

I'll start with mine, I'm currently taking a photography class online. It keeps e reading, thinking creatively and NOT thinking auto food...and keeps me busy practicing for my homework assignments, plus I often enroll my daughter as my Assistant and she's happy to help, like she did for this one.

Now it's your turn! What can you DO to avoid snacking?