Snack attacks!

I do not claim to be a perfect person when it comes to my diet, as I used to EASILY down between 3,000 and 4,000 calories a day last fall when I literally did not filter what was going into my body in the least... but, as of late, I do eat very healthy at my meals. Where MY current temptations often arise is in those moments of weakness and cravings lurking between the meals, and I am almost certain I am not alone.

Those times of the day (for me it is usually between 3 and 4 pm, or a few hours after dinner) are crucial for you in reaching your weight loss goals. Do not cave, my friends! But also, don't deprive yourself completely because when you don't leave that wiggle room for your healthy snack attack, then you are going to end up caving (and grabbing the bag of chips and salsa at 11 pm and binging when you otherwise could have left room in your day for a few hundred calories of good snacking, like celery with natural PB and raisins, dark chocolate dusted almonds, or cottage cheese with fruit! But, that's just a hypothetical example... I would never do that.... *cough cough* ;)

Using the app myfitnesspal has been SUPER helpful to me! I plan my meals out ahead of time, allowing for a few hundred calories of snacks in my day, that way I am setting myself up for success instead of filling up every calorie with my meals and then feeling stuck without room for those snacks. It may seem like that goes without saying, and it definitely isn't rocket science, but you'd be surprised how many people do not allow for those healthy snacks. Especially if you are training hard and doing anything with high intensity, you are going to need those snacks to carry you throughout your day. Protein shakes and lower calorie/lower carb protein bars have been a great tool for me in the snack department as well! Shout out to my Quest bars!! :)
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/

Here are a few healthy snack resources for you to go through and find your favorites!:

http://greatist.com/health/100-calorie-snacks
http://greatist.com/health/88-unexpected-snacks-under-100-calories

Another word of advice: DO NOT DRINK YOUR CALORIES!! This is such a crucial piece of information, and one people often overlook. If you are consuming it into your body, it most likely has calories and it ALWAYS had some sort of contribution even if it is zero calorie, like artificial or natural sweeteners, sodium, etc...


Whether your drink of choice is fruit juices (OJ, apple, cranberry, grape were some of my favorites back in the day), Starbucks milkshakes.... errr I mean frozen coffees, alcohol, or pop (soda, coke, whatever you call it in your region), you are consuming calories and NEED to count those into your daily intake.

Those are the calories that can sneak up on you and completely blow your weight loss goals if you aren't careful in monitoring them and regulating them. I highly recommend drinking as much water as you can (about half of your body weight in ounces) and incorporating some green or herbal tea into your day, as it can help rev up your metabolism and give your great health benefits. You don't have to eliminate the drinks above altogether, just be aware of what you are consuming, and if you MUST drink your calories, be honest with yourself about them, and don't count that creamy, sugary, delicious frozen coffee as just another beverage like water when in actuality it can have upwards of 500 calories! They are so good though, aren't they? :)


As in everything, it is all about finding the balance that works for you, but at the end of the day... be honest with yourself, try to limit the calories you drink, and find a way to fit those healthy snacks into your day if you find yourself having those snack attacks! :) You'll be happy you did!


From the ultimate snack attack queen, I hope you have a great day and find some great new snacks to indulge in that will fuel you on to finish a great week! Ta ta for now!

Courtney