carb-saving...i have to stop this, help!
 

I keep my carbs under 20g a day. Usually around 15g to 18g. I have been on induction for three weeks this coming tuesday, and am going to move on to OWL after week 4. BUT I have a problem, and I know it might be slowing my loss:

I don't eat much during the day, between the hours when I wake up and when I get off work. By the time I get home, I have consumed maybe only 8g carbs by 5, and if I work til 9 I have had about 11g carbs. I have spaced out my meals and snacks and only eaten when I am hungry. But I am dealing with being a previous nighttime binge eater, and I still carry on this behavior. So anyway when I get home I automatically have a snack because I always am hungry after work, which is fine, but after that, I continue eating. As I said I never go over 20g. But I save my carbs up for a mini binge at night. I mean, I don't STUFF myself, in fact I have only stuffed myself on Atkins once, and it was not something I want to do again. Ever eat egg salad made with 4 eggs and follow it with low carb ice cream AND pork rinds? I felt like a hiefer. It was that experience that made me understand that fat and protein are self-limiting.

So if anyone else does this, or DID do this and found a way to stop, drop a line here. Thanks.

It seems like you're having good weight loss though? If so, then I wouldn't worry about it.

I did the same thing when I was on Atkins. It drove me nuts and then I recently switched to Neanderthin and stopped doing it.

Now I just keep to a winter-type paleo diet and am feeling much more energetic then I was on Atkins and there is no carb counting involved.
I simply plan my meals when I am hungry according to the rules of paleo eating.

It's the eating at night thing...I hear it slows loss?

I usually eat most of my carbs at my evening meal - hasn't stalled me at all. It's a personal thing that you will have to work through - if it works for you great! Besides you are sticking to 20 carbs - so you are doing well - having only started this month your weight loss is right on track! I don't think I ever read anything in the book that says you have to have all your carbs in at a certain time! Good Luck

.........you just need to give it time....its hard to change habits...you already did one thing....and Im sure not long before you will change this one too...I see the beggining on your post here :-)......so....give it time...and Im so sure.....you will figure out the best solution for yourself...:-)

It kind of sounds like you are eating out of habit, nto hunger though. If it is hunger, then yes eat and don't worry. If it's just night time grazing, then you might want to do something about it. Set up a specific schedule for yourself if that happens to work for you. If not find something you can do in the evening to help relax. It might be good if you found a new hobby so there is no way your mind can relate it to food (such as movie = popcorn or computer = nuts).

If you keep your hands and mind busy, maybe you can keep them out of the fridge. When you do go get something to eat, take a moment to ask yourself why you are getting it. Is it hunger, if so how would you rate your hunger on a scale of 1 - 10. I think I read one person stating they rated satisfaction that way. 7-8 was satisfied while 10 was overstuffed and miserable. 5 ment maybe eat soon and a 3 ment you should of eaten a half hour ago :) If you answer your not really hungry, then just walk away and do something else. Maybe plan fo rone specific meal or snack, and just remind yourself at what time you have tha tplanend for.

thanks everyone :)

I've always been used to snacking any time of the day. But I found after having kids I began to be more of a closet nighttime eater. I would always wait until the kids went to bed and then it was my time to have seconds on dessert or something I knew was around that there wasn't enough for "everyone" to have as dessert so I'd save it for ME. It also was a time to "unwind" from the pressures of the day and I'd have my coffee, Yes I used to drink caffeine late at night too, with my treat. It became somewhat of a ritual for me. I still have my ritual but on a much smaller scale, now it's with a small LC treat of 3 grams or less with decaf. I think if you're not ready to change the habits of late night eating, then taylor the foods you do eat to be less dangerous and you'll be fine. Of course, my first suggestion would be to drink a glass of water first and see if you're still hungry in 20min but late at night that will just make you want to get up and use the potty. Maybe instead you could go for something with more fat as Dr. Atkins says that helps fill you feel fuller. Protein works too. Then save a bite or two of something sweet (1 carb portion of an atkins bar or something) to finish off with so you fool your tummy and tongue into thinking you just ate more of that goodie then you really did. That's one thing I did on induction. I'd cut atkins advantage peanutbutter bars or those apple cinnamon white chocolate covered bars into quarters. When I wanted a treat I'd have my decaf or water and 1/4 bar and take tiny bites and savour every bit of it. I rarely ever even ate a whole bar a day but it was enough to know that I could have my quarter bar that evening and enjoy it. Good luck, Annie

Do you eat breakfast? I mean really have something to eat within 15 minutes or so of waking up? Many reformed carb addicts don't eat breakfast and haven't done so for years. Even thinking about eating breakfast makes them cringe.

I discovered that not eating early leads to bingeing at night so eating breakfast is something you may want to do if you don't.

Karen

I eat breakfast, I always have.

I eat at night too, but I also study and go to bed late. About how many calories are you consuming per day? What you are doing sounds normal to me, just keep the carbs low like you are doing and you will be fine. But you may want to eat less ice cream, it stalled me and other people have complained of the same thing.

I am always hungriest at night. Or so I think i am hungry. It may be habitual also...but I still do it.