Morning hunger vs evening hunger

Kotuliak

I usually eat breakfast. On the rare occasions that I don't, I sense hunger, but it doesn't bother me. I certainly don't feel tempted to snack. It is almost an abstract awareness of hunger without the emotional element.

When I get hungry in the afternoon, either I'm busy or I don't have any crappy food around. It's more bothersome than the morning hunger, but it passes without much temptation.

The only time I ever have trouble sticking to my diet is after dinner. I may want more food, I may be drawn to junk food, or I may want a drink. Either one of those will only reinforce wanting more. That's the only time I fail, and I fail often enough that it poses a problem with my lifestyle.

Where is the question here? Manyfold ... why, is it normal, how to deal with it, how to change it, etc.

TheRealParisLove

I think the question is: Why is hunger harder to resist at night than in the morning?

The answer is that hunger is a stressor in you life. Coping with any stress, even stress that is welcomed (like falling in love or going on an exciting vacation) uses energy. The better rested you are, the better able you are to resist any kind of stress. Just like a child who has not had enough sleep, adults also lose the capacity to control their emotions when tired.

I have this same issue. I eat more at night. To off set this habit, I don't eat my first meal until around 2-3pm most days, and finish eating around 9pm or so. I eat large meals and large portions over that 6-7 hour window and feel uncomfortably full. The awesome thing is that I feel so full that even though I stay up until 1-2am most days, I'm too full to eat all evening and manage to stay close to my calorie goals.

This is called intermittent fasting. Many people have success with this method of meal timing. You may want to give it a try and see if it doesn't work for you, too.

MyJourney1960

I have a similar issue, and while I know that the important thing is to stay within the number of calories, and so technically I *could* save all/most of my calories for night time eating/binging, it doesn't work food ME to eat that much at night and still lose weight.

What I started to do in the month or do that I've been on MFP is trying to eat better during the day add protein that keeps me satisfied, eat a good snack about 4-5pm ( I work till Six, get hone around seven), and write down my evening foods BEFORE I put them in my mouth. This last trick has been very helpful - nine times out of ten, I'll just let it go because when I start to write it down and realize that I am going over my numbers, it is easier for me to stop.

Kotuliak

This is called intermittent fasting. Many people have success with this method of meal timing. You may want to give it a try and see if it doesn't work for you, too.

Thanks! I think this may actually work for me!

TheRealParisLove

I have a similar issue, and while I know that the important thing is to stay within the number of calories, and so technically I *could* save all/most of my calories for night time eating/binging, it doesn't work food ME to eat that much at night and still lose weight.

What I started to do in the month or do that I've been on MFP is trying to eat better during the day add protein that keeps me satisfied, eat a good snack about 4-5pm ( I work till Six, get hone around seven), and write down my evening foods BEFORE I put them in my mouth. This last trick has been very helpful - nine times out of ten, I'll just let it go because when I start to write it down and realize that I am going over my numbers, it is easier for me to stop.

I agree that pre-logging is also very helpful. Here in Portland, OR, restaurants are required to put calorie counts on their menus. This has been a blessing and a curse; I'm better able to make healthy decisions, but sometimes the whole menu just doesn't have anything reasonable on it. You'd think the kid's menu would be better, but sometimes the kid's food choices are even worse! I've found that senior menus are the best bet at most American Food style restaurants (think Applebee's type of choices).

TheRealParisLove

Thanks! I think this may actually work for me!

Do some googling on IF. There are a lot of different methods, and not all methods work well for everyone. Good luck!

fairfatandfabulous

I have pretty much the same problem. All day I can be great. Came night time and a different me starts looking in the cupboards, hunting for junk food. I try and leave going for a walk or any exercise until after my evening meal, that does help a little. Its harder now in the winter cold and dark at 6pm.

fairfatandfabulous

your profile picture is great. love it:)

Kotuliak

your profile picture is great. love it:)

Thanks, I figured I may as well go all the way...

lmsky12

I always feel hungriest in the evenings. I try to eat reasonably during the day and don't snack. I plan my day so I can eat more in the evenings. I like to eat a big ole bag of low-fat popcorn as my last snack in the evenings because it is a lot of food, very filling, and portion controlled. After dinner, I continuously sip on water until I think it's late enough to eat my popcorn and not be hungry again before bedtime. This is just what works for me. Good luck!