LATE-NIGHT
Snacking
For some it’s a handful of chips, for others it’s a few cookies, ice cream, or popcorn. At the very worst, it can be the caloric equivalent of an entire dinner or more. No matter how committed you are to your meal plan during the daytime hours, a late-night snacking habit can result in unwanted weight gain due to a hiked-up calorie count. Since most of us are winding down from a long day, the evening is often the most vulnerable time we want to reward or entertain ourselves with mindless snacking. Understandably, giving up late-night snacking is not as simple as pledging to stay away from the pantry. Increase your willpower and create healthier eating habits when you follow Dr. Kim’s suggested “5 D’s”.
1Delay
Set a timer! Try and wait 15-20 minutes before giving into temptations so that you don’t make any rash decisions. Typical food cravings will only last for this amount of time, so give your body a chance to let the urge pass naturally.
2 Distract
Get in a new mindset. You can’t spontaneously eat if you’re busy doing something else. If you’re feeling hungry late at night try to read a book, take a bath, listen to music, draw a picture, answer emails, or whatever else is necessary to divert your attention. You may find that after some distraction, you aren’t even hungry anymore.
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