How Do You Thwart Getting Late-Night-Snacky?!

whitswilson

I practice daily fasting between the hours of 8pm and noon the following day, but it gets SO hard, sometimes, because I'm such a night person and am up late, all the time. I'm curious to find out what other people do to conquer their late night cravings. The fasting has been excellent for my hiatus hernia and has really helped to reduce my morning nausea.

I do my best, but I'm sure there are tactics, perspectives or strategies I haven't thought of.

katkins3

After dinner and clean up, I get a bottle for water and leave the kitchen. THEN, I announce, out loud, even though I may be home alone: " The kitchen is now Closed!" Sappy, I know, but it works for me. The kitchen is closed for the night, can't go in there, for any excuse....

LyssieLou

Hi, I am a terrible night snacker... I'm working on stopping and so far what's helped me is reading instead of internet or tv....when I'm online I always snack and especially watching tv... by reading I'm lying in bed, not near food. And I'm lost in my book, my mind doesn't go to food because I'm so lost in reading.... or if I'm actively cleaning or something... anything to keep my mind away from snacks... I crochet too haha keeps my hands busy and I have no free hand to snack with lol...hope this helps a little

nineteentwenty

Honestly the only thing that works for me is going to sleep. I started working out early in the morning so that by the time 10pm rolls around, I pass out.

LyssieLou

Kkallisti wrote: »

Honestly the only thing that works for me is going to sleep. I started working out early in the morning so that by the time 10pm rolls around, I pass out.

I agree! Can't snack if you're sleeping : )

Itreadlightly

It is a habit that takes time for your body to adjust to- no eating between 8pm and noon ( for me the time frame is 7p-7a) after about 3 weeks you adjust and the mental fight is over for the most part.

PrincessClub

My evening routine is as follows: make dinner, eat dinner, go for a long walk, clean up the kitchen, then make a hot tea and relax.

The hot tea is a good substitute for the snacking I used to do during my nightly TV time and I'm less likely to want to dig around in the fridge if the kitchen is clean because in my mind it's "closed for the night!"

whitswilson

katkins3 wrote: »

After dinner and clean up, I get a bottle for water and leave the kitchen. THEN, I announce, out loud, even though I may be home alone: " The kitchen is now Closed!" Sappy, I know, but it works for me. The kitchen is closed for the night, can't go in there, for any excuse....

Hhahaha I LOVE THAT. Doin' it. This is EXACTLY what I was hoping for... a tactic I, literally, would have never considered, otherwise. Thanks for this lol

whitswilson

Itreadlightly wrote: »

It is a habit that takes time for your body to adjust to- no eating between 8pm and noon ( for me the time frame is 7p-7a) after about 3 weeks you adjust and the mental fight is over for the most part.

That's some interesting insight- knowing this might help me push through harder.

whitswilson

PrincessClub wrote: »

My evening routine is as follows: make dinner, eat dinner, go for a long walk, clean up the kitchen, then make a hot tea and relax.

The hot tea is a good substitute for the snacking I used to do during my nightly TV time and I'm less likely to want to dig around in the fridge if the kitchen is clean because in my mind it's "closed for the night!"

A walk and hot tea- I like that. So simple, eh? I can do that.

azulvioleta6

I'm also a night person.

I've been working on this for several years and have sort of trained myself out of the habit.

Sounds strange, but eating more earlier in the day seems to help. I try to have a substantial breakfast with a significant amount of protein. Being very well hydrated helps too.

For a while I was sleep eating--no more Ambien for me!

trjjoy

Why curb your snacking? Sub high-cal snacks for low-cal ones.

303lissy

trjjoy wrote: »

Why curb your snacking? Sub high-cal snacks for low-cal ones.

I tried that. For me, it's not so much that I'm actually hungry, it's that I want salty crunchy chips and I want them RIGHT NOW OR I'LL STARVE. Lower calorie/healthy snacks never made that voice shut up. So I'm working on just ignoring it (and not buying the crappy salty crunchy snacks).

I also sip a flavored magnesium powder before bed which also helps. That's become the cue for my body to start wrapping things up, it's almost bed time.

Numer1ca

This is why I changed my bed time. At night my ability to say "no" is significantly depleted from already having made decisions all day.

If I go to sleep, I can't eat.

Diana6ft

If you're craving salty and crunchy foods at night out could indicate dehydration.

Mavrick_RN

I floss, brush my teeth and use one of those non-alcohol anti-plaque rinses. After all that I don't want to get my teeth scummy again and food tastes pretty icky for awhile anyway.

abbietaylor1

Mavrick_RN wrote: »

I floss, brush my teeth and use one of those non-alcohol anti-plaque rinses. After all that I don't want to get my teeth scummy again and food tastes pretty icky for awhile anyway.

I agree with this - brushing teeth is a really good call. Having brushed my teeth I associate this with "not eating" as it is usually right before bed or after breakfast so the cravings deplete. Plus nothing tastes right after you have brushed your teeth!!

mamakimkim

Soy milk really tides me over. 8 oz of Organic Edensoy Extra Vanilla soy milk (tastes better than the others but not huge calories!) always feels like a satisfying treat and the protein in it will help you to feel sated

kmbrooks15

I love dill pickles, and they're very low-calorie. They make a great snack, especially when I'm craving salty. If I'm craving sweet, I'll have a cup of decaf coffee with Splenda and some sugar free french vanilla creamer. Flavored water is also good (not a big coffee person in the warmer weather!).

Can I ask why you fast from 8 pm to noon? I would be ready to kill someone if I went that long without eating. Just want to understand your reasoning.

sault_girl

I eat supper late in the evening (rarely before 8pm, as late as 10pm in the summer), then clean up and it's time for bed. If I'm done eating/cleaning up early, I work on a crochet project, paint or colour (33 years old, still love my colouring books). I'm usually in bed before 11pm.

elainebinney

I have a hiatus hernia too and interestingly salty foods seem to aggrovate it! I used to be a terrible night smacker. I found that changing my diet COMPLETELY led to me feeling fuller. Cous cous is a real filler for me and I keep some for snacking - a spoon or two fills me up!

Also, if you slice sweet potato/carrot/beetroot very thinly (using a potato peeler is good) lay the slices on a plate in one layer and microwave them, they turn into lovely crisps. You can put salt on them to itch that craving

MichaelfromNE1

I work nights and struggle to find a balance during an ever changing life schedule. I try to eat only at night when working nights and avoid eating before I sleep. Exercise when working consists of increasing my steps and taking stairs throughout my shifts. I can't exercise when working 12 hour nights. I push the water and fresh vegetables and try to limit my salt intake. I make up for the exercise on my off days. I still have a hard time writing everything down because of my hours.Sometimes I have to write down my food plan before or after the day and adjust according to actual intake when the day is done. The key I think for me is not eating before bed or sleep.