Popcorn - too much !!!

A

AnatW

Active Member
Hi guys,
This might sound weird...

I have a problem with popcorn !!! I can sit (after dinner)and eat 2-3 extra-large bowls of popcorn on my own !!! Of course, I make it non-fat in the microwave, but I have a feeling it adds about 500 calories. I am not hungery at all and yet I keep staffing my face with it ! Anybody else does that ? I have to have popcorn at least twice a week !
What can I do to control my cravings ?
P.S. I am trying to lose 15 lbs, exercise 4 days a week, and eat about 1400 calories (not counting the popcorn !).

Thanks !
 
My advice....factor in the popcorn! I allow myself one goody per day (on my non-pigout days) and currently it's sugar free fat free Jello Instant Pudding.

I know a bag of Orville Redenbacher Smartpop is about 240 calories, so you could buy microwave popcorn in bags and allow yourself one bag per day. Would that work? I has a little more flavor than totally plain popcorn.

You have to have SOME goodies, or it's extremely hard to keep to any reduced calorie regimine. Weight Watchers and all those plans have recognized this.
 
I'm probably the wrong person to reply, because I'm a card-carrying popcorn addict, and pop out a bag of Orville Redenbacher Smart-Pop at least six times a week. That being said . . .

Maybe you should analyze what your nutrient intake is, calories aside. (P.S. 1400 calories a day for a person exercising 4 days a week is probably insuffient energy intake; 1900 calories a day would be closer to a healthy intake.) It could be that what you're craving is popcorn's carbohydrate contribution, and maybe the way to control that is to up your complex carbs in your other meals. Or maybe . . . don't worry about it. Better to have 500 calories from non-fat popcorn than a candy bar!

Annette
 
I know what EXACTLY what you are talking about. I just love to sit and eat a crunchy food that I take from a bowl/plate/bag with my hands and put it in my mouth. It is relaxing or a means of escaping or something. But the calories do add up quickly. I've tried to substitute baby carrots or other vegetables, but it just isn't quite the same as popcorn, cereal, pretzels, animal crackers, etc. Substituting with some mushy food that you eat with a spoon and practically just swallow would never do.
Crunch and chewing is essential.

I honestly don't know a good way to deal with it since it is not realted to hunger or poor nutrition for me. It is just psychological. So I just try and psych myself out of it-- thinking about how many calories it is. Or how I will have to put in another exercise session to burn it off--and is it really worth it? Otherwise, I try and do what HoneyBunch (it was Honeybunch wasn't it) said--count those into my daily totals. And then, of course, you don't get to eat as much real food that does fill you up.

Gosh, I could go on. This whole scenario is the very reason why I don't manage to lose the 5-10 pounds I'd like to.

Jeanne
 
I'm glad I'm not alone here...

more than anything, I am upset about my lack of control.
Some days I just want to eat and not stop until I make myself sick. The thing is that I snack on popcorn because it is fat-free, yet calories do add up.
As far as increasing my calories... I am trying to lose weight rather than maintain so I think that 1900 calories might not do it and I should stick to lower calories. As is I am having a hard time losing any weight. I've been on this program for 3 months and I only lost 7 lbs. I have 15 more to go. FRUSTRATING !
 
Just a suggestion FWIW

Maybe try drinking large quantities of water with your first bowl. It will make you feel fuller and maybe make that next bowl look not so attractive. Just a thought. I love popcorn too.

[font color=green]BETSY[/font]
 
Not weird at all --I love popcorn more than I love chips (which is a good thing!) For Friday night dinners, I make popcorn my main entree.

I start out by eating my "must-haves" -- you know, the stuff that's good for you:
1st course: steamed baby carrots, cauliflower, mushrooms and brocoli. I eat these every night, rain or shine. And lemme tell ya, I eat enough to feed 2 or 3 people -- I'm such a pig! Matter of fact, I have to use a 2 1/2-lb barbell plate just to keep the lid on the over-flowing steamer.

2nd course: kidney beans, lentils, and black beans.

3rd course (main entree): POPCORN!!!! Orville R. Buttery Light (about 1/2 -3/4 bag depending on how well it popped). By the way, don't you just love partially popped corn? (Unfortunately, my poor teeth do not!)

Dessert: De-caf instant cappucino with skim milk and an apple.

By this time I am truly stuffed to the gills and it's time to go to bed. (I go to bed relatively early on Fridays (9 p.m.)because getting up every weekday at 4 a.m. takes its toll.)

Just a thought: Why don't you eat a late dinner and then that'll cut down the late evening snacks? Or spread your dinner-hour out longer? This is what I basically do. However, I admit that I live alone and don't have a husband and kids to feed and tend to so maybe this wouldn't work for you.

Like the others say, you can also factor or incorporate popcorn into your meal plan.

Don't know if I've been much help.

Patricia

P.S. My group leader at Weight Watchers told us once that one of her "flock" used a knife and fork with EVERYTHING she ate. And that included chocolate bars! That way she would have to take her time and be more mindful of what she ate. You might like to try the knife and fork method with popcorn. Me, I'm stickin' with the fingers!
 
Me too!

My mom and I make air-popped popcorn a lot at night while we watch TV- but then we add melted butter! It's so good! We made a deal to just make it every other night this week. Next week, we're going to make smaller portions. It is psycological- just to have a crunchy snack that lasts awhile. Sometimes my mom gets a mug of dry rice chex to snack on. Try that.

I actually just read in Fitness magazine that popcorn is a good snack because a bag lasts you awhile. At least you eat the healthy stuff:)

Another thing- magazines always say popcorn has lots of fiber and fills you up. But I just read in a book that you rarely get full from popcorn and I agree! You can just eat it and eat it!
 
Speaking of popcorn has anyone tried..

Kettle Korn? I love this stuff. I was okay with regular popcorn and then my sister got me hooked. It is like lightly sweetened popcorn. I don't even know the calories and fat because I refuse to look.

SusanR
 
thanks for the advice !

It's a struggle, but I'm glad it's not just me ...
I also am single, no kids or husband, and my life is pretty boring right now. I think that has a lot to do with pigging out ! I am very much an emotional eater and it's hard for me to control that. I do once in a while snack on a mug of bran-cereal (no milk) for the crunch. If it is a good day, that is enough for me. But, when pig-out day comes, I usually go for a second cup. Hey, you only live once...
 
RE: Yum

I love popcorn too. (That kettle corn is outrageously good...FYI there is a microwave brand out there that uses sucrolose instead of sugar.)
I agree that of all the snacks you could choose, low-fat popcorn is pretty good! But, when trying to loose weight, eating carbs at night, even popcorn, can sabotage you. And you know that, it seems. You are asking for suggestions to control your eating at night?
The ONLY thing that works for me is to not keep my "craving" foods in the house. If I want popcorn, I have to get in my car, drive to the store, and I buy ONE single bag of microwave popcorn (or grab bag of chips, or single ice cream bar, etc.)
If I have to get in my care and go get it, I am much more likely to weather the craving. (Especially when it's cold or rainy!)
Just an idea. :)
 
RE: Carbs/Popcorn

The popcorn bag I just read stated one cup had 23 carbs and 90 calories. The bag contains 6 cups popped so that equates to 138 grams of carbs and 540 calories. I dunno...does anyone else have the stats from your popcorn nutrition count? My brand of reference was Jolly Time Healthy Pop. Adding mine up just made me sad.....:(

D.
 
Your problem doesn't sound weird at all. I have the same problem with a long list of things. What did jump out me was your calorie count--not sure what you do on your 4 days of exercise, but I think you could probably lose while eating 1800-1900 a day if you're working out hard. Just from personal experience. I wilt after about 2 days of 1400 calories.

Kath
5'3.5, 119
 
Too much of a good thing can do in your diet. The problem with popcorn is it's so light and fluffy, who can eat just a little? There's a Kettle Korn man at a mall nearby me and he makes popcorn which is an exquitsite mixture of salt, sugar and oil. My daughter bought an enormous bag one day and ate a little. I plowed thru it thinking hey, it's popcorn how bad can it be? Turns out that kettle korn has 140 calories per cup! Ouch! Still, popcorn has tons of fiber so if you like it with only a little salt and flavoring it can be an awesome treat. Newman's Own makes a lite popcorn which is fabulous when you can find it!
You just have to do the math and know when to stop!


B http://www.plaudersmilies.de/natur/petals.gif obbi
 
I had another pig-out day yesterday...

Saturday came, I was thinking about snacking on popcorn. So I snacked on 2 bowls. Then I exercised for 60 minutes. At night my dinner was... popcorn and yogurt. I must be sick...
By the way, I do not buy the popcorn in bag but only the kernels. I put them in a glass bowl, spray with fat-free oil-spray, sprinkle salt and pop in the microwave for 5 minutes. No extra fat needed.
Today is Sunday, I am working, so it will not be a popcorn day.
 
Wow...it's not just me!!

I LOVE popcorn!! Hubby calls me "Popcorn Girl"! hahahahaha. This is how I make it -- I take a very small pot, put in 1 1/2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil (60 cal.), and then 2 Tablespoons of corn (100 cal.). Voila! A 160 calorie yummy snack. And that tiny amount of oil is satisfying, and it helps the salt to stick (I love salt!). Don't know what I would do without that filling snack. Many times I'll pop some, and throw it in a bag, and take it with me when I have to run the kids to strings practice, or soccer practice. It takes my ravenous hunger away, so I'm not raiding the fridge when I get home. :) Take care!!

Hollie
 
RE: I had another pig-out day yesterday...

IF, and only if, this really does bug you--because as some have pointed out it could be worse, say if you ate too many cookies--you should just give it up the popcorn altogether. This is what I was thinking for myself this weekend with cereal (in a bowl with milk this time).

I had gone outside for a walk/climb some hills workout and when I came back in I was hungry. I really wanted cereal and thought, well just have it rather than something else which may not be satisfying".

So I ate one bowl, calculated to be 350 calories (Raisin Bran, sort of high in calories). I soooo much wanted another bowl. But doing the math stopped me. I figured another bowl would have essentially undone the workout I just did. Somehow I managed to stop myself, but I was really thinking that maybe it WOULD have been easier to have just had something else in the first place.

Was one bowl satisfying? Or is it the act of eating and eating this crunchy food which is satisfying--and if so, isn't this a short-term satisfaction vs. the long term satisfaction of feeling thin?

As I said before, I still don't have this all worked out. We have to just keep trying to not overdo it. Never give up! Each time we pass it up, we make a little progress. Never quit trying! Jeanne
 
I don't think twice a week is bad. I also wouldn't worry as much about the calories in popcorn as the fact that most microwave popcorn is made with partially-hydrogenated fats, which contain trans fatty acids that are bad for the arteries.
 
I've ALWAYS LOVED popcorn (i have to confess when i needed to lose weight in my early 20's i'd go on popcorn diet NOT health I know

Anyhow last summer I broke a tooth on an unpopped kernell - and $500 (with a crown and insurance) - well let me say that was the end of my love of popcorn :(

hope noone else has to go this route
 
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