Afternoon sweet attack!

[Hello Kitty]

Every afternoon I get a wicked sweet tooth. This is very strange for me because I used to not be a sweets person.

I plan for it in my daily calories, but really 200 cals could be 'spent' better and I think it's hindering my weightloss.

I WFH, and it always hits in the afternoon, when things are more quiet, and I'm a little mindless. It doesn't happen during the weekend when I'm likely out and about, and I usually abhor sweets then. Oh, and I've tried fruit. Not the same as some frosting or something. It's not a true hunger, b/c even if I'm full from a balanced healthy lunch, it still hits.

Any ideas on how to avoid it?

[apoppy]

I find that I crave sweets in the afternoon if I don't get enough protein in the morning. Non-fat yogurt, an egg, peanut butter, or even a glass of skim milk can be very helpful in reducing my sugar cravings.

Have you tried chewing a piece of gum or having a hard candy when the cravings attack? They can help without costing too many calories.

[laura]

I have no ideas how to avoid it, but it happens to me too, and even though I *know* it's 90% out of boredom or just the afternoon drag, it's always there. I usually keep those 100 calorie chips ahoy or oreo cookie packages in my drawer for this reason, but I would *love* to know if anyone can figure out how to make it go away entirely!

[Hello Kitty]

So I ate a doughnut today :p

I'll try harder tomorrow b/c I really didn't try today. Maybe gum will work, or maybe a different kind of snack or something. I have noticed milk helps. I had that for my morning snack though, so I avoided it today.

I'm interested in finding out how to beat it. I almost wonder if I just said no for a couple days, I could break the habit?

[lainey]

Hey Seb's Kitty! Remember me? :p How's it going?

About the sweet tooth, mine hits at night after dinner when DH and I are watching TV. I got over this by eating cereal (Kashi w/ soymilk - yum) and let that be my treat, instead of my chocolate chip cookie (the bakery kind). I've also joined a gym and DH and I go at night so I don't have the opportunity to eat my cookie. Try to avoid the temptation. You work from home, so don't buy any sweets. If I had something in the house, then I would eat it!

I think if you can go without it for a couple of days, that could kick the habit.

Of course this is all coming from someone who went out for dessert the other night and got a milkshake and a brownie!!!!!!! hehe

[beachlvr]

My afternoon sweet tooth hits when I don't get enough protein at lunch. I'm a vegetarian, so the not-enough-protein is a frequent issue for me.

Perhaps add some meat or a piece of string cheese to your lunch and see if that helps.

[Hello Kitty]

Lainey - it's so hard being at home. I've even made frosting when desperate :o

What's weird is you all mention protein, but I feel like I eat a lot of it. Usually about 30% of my calories are from protein, so maybe I need more carbs or fat during the day? Hmm.
---
Today, I knew it would be coming and I ate some pudding at about 2:00, before the craving usually hits. So when it was around 3-3:30, I really didn't want to gorge uncontrollably on sweets.

I'll try something else tomorrow and see what happens.

[zoe]

I am such a huge gum-chewer at work to avoid snacks -- I probably chew too much! But it helps!

[HEW?B]

I keep Cracker Jack flavored rice cakes in my desk for this very reason. I JUST had one!! 60 calories per cake. Low sugar or sugar free jello with fruit in it are also great.

[sheartm7]

I've noticed that Swiss Miss will help curb my afternoon chocolate cravings. They're delish.

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B0005ZIJ3U.01-A3CDPEGSIQM61V.MZZZZZZZ.jpg

[jenjunum]

Can you brush your teeth? Sometimes when I'm at home (surrounded by food) and I want to have a snack but know I'm not really hungry I just brush my teeth. It's kind of nasty to eat a dounut when you have minty fresh breath and it kind of takes the hunger away.

I need to keep a toothbrush and toothpaste at work so I can do this. I have the afternoon candy jar problem too (the secretary in my suite has a huge jar of candy on his desk and often delivers sweets to my desk!).

[Anna Low]

What about animal crackers? Those work pretty well for me in a pinch.