Late night snacking

yogswife
yogswife Posts: 10 Member
edited November 18 in Health and Weight Loss
I get so frustrated with myself. I stick to my calories all day and set myself up for staying on track but then after I sit down at night to relax I find myself snacking on just one more thing and one more thing. I need to find more will power to stop before I start. I always just feel guilty afterwards. While I have lost about 25 lbs I have been stalled the last few weeks and this late night eating and going a few hundred calories over everyday is the culprit I know.

Replies

  • estherdragonbat
    estherdragonbat Posts: 5,283 Member
    I try to set aside a few calories for a late night snack. Popcorn or dry cereal are my usual choices.
  • SassyCassie90
    SassyCassie90 Posts: 7 Member
    I know how you feel, except it's the mid afternoon snacking that's hard for me. But I try to save some calories because i know i will try to snack.. And choose things that aren't that bad. I am doing low carb, so like pork rhinds and and microwaved pepperonis or microwaved cheese (they harden like chips and I get my salty cravings conquered without feeling guilty!). Or I try to distract myself and walk around my place for a while or play with my kids if they're not sleeping..
  • CynthiasChoice
    CynthiasChoice Posts: 1,047 Member
    I don't know if this will help... I find that when I eat too many carbs for dinner, I'm looking for a snack later in the evening. For me, too many carbs means a small serving of potatoes, rice or pasta. A dinner with adequate protein and veggies keeps me satisfied all night, but if I add a starch then I'm hungry later. Not even necessarily hungry, just needy.
  • bytheplanets
    bytheplanets Posts: 11 Member
    Right there with you
  • yogswife
    yogswife Posts: 10 Member
    Thank you everyone for the replies. Maybe I need to save those extra calories for snacking at night. Also maybe look at what I am eating for dinner, maybe it does have to do with my cravings.
  • ShrinkingViolet1982
    ShrinkingViolet1982 Posts: 919 Member
    Part of it could also be the habit of it. What are you *doing* while snacking? Hubby and I have a really hard time not snacking while watching any tv or movie in the evening after little guy goes to bed. We had been doing it for so many years that it isn't that we were truly hungry, it was just part of the evening ritual.
  • Geocitiesuser
    Geocitiesuser Posts: 1,429 Member
    estherdragonbat wrote: »
    I try to set aside a few calories for a late night snack. Popcorn or dry cereal are my usual choices.

    This is exactly what I do as well. If I don't save calories for the end of the night I go over calories because if I do not have a small bit of food before bed, I will not sleep. My night time meals are around 300 cals. Just enough to hold me over.

    If it's a snacking sensation you need, look towards air popped popcorn, celery, etc. I saw a recipe for baked "string bean fries" the other day.
  • lucypstacy
    lucypstacy Posts: 178 Member
    Personally, I avoid late snacking like the plague, but that's because I have acid reflux.

    However, I echo what other people have said. You know you want to snack later, so leave a few calories open for it and have some decent snacks on hand. Popcorn is my personal fave.
  • jwcsanders
    jwcsanders Posts: 50 Member
    I have a thing for sweets in the evenings. My husband and son both like dessert after supper, so when they get theirs I have to really work hard not to get one too.
  • kimny72
    kimny72 Posts: 16,011 Member
    I try to save 150-250 cals for a late night snack, and once I've eaten it I brush my teeth. Usually works, but not always. When I don't have enough cals left for a real snack, I'll have a cup of mint tea and a small square of dark chocolate - it keeps me busy for a while but is at most 50 calories.

    Having said that, there are still some nights where my 150 calories of yum turns into 400 calories and I blow my deficit. I just chalk it up to being human and keep trying to improve my habits. Good luck :drinker:
  • inertiastrength
    inertiastrength Posts: 2,343 Member
    This is why I never eat breakfast... I know my habits (sounds like you know yours too) so I plan for them :)
  • Goober1142
    Goober1142 Posts: 219 Member
    My snack is a bag of smart pop popcorn, it's 120 calories portion controlled! Or an apple with string cheese. Then a cup of tea and brush my teeth. You can try going to bed earlier too, that might help.
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,130 Member
    Pre-log your day factoring in your late night snack, if you're struggling calorie wise maybe go for a 30 min walk after dinner.
  • Rusty740
    Rusty740 Posts: 749 Member
    tinkerbellang83 wrote: »
    Pre-log your day factoring in your late night snack, if you're struggling calorie wise maybe go for a 30 min walk after dinner.
    mrsnattybulking wrote: »
    This is why I never eat breakfast... I know my habits (sounds like you know yours too) so I plan for them :)
    CynthiasChoice wrote: »
    I don't know if this will help... I find that when I eat too many carbs for dinner, I'm looking for a snack later in the evening. For me, too many carbs means a small serving of potatoes, rice or pasta. A dinner with adequate protein and veggies keeps me satisfied all night, but if I add a starch then I'm hungry later. Not even necessarily hungry, just needy.

    All of these are great. Increase your low fat proteins (think chicken breast and low fat cottage cheese). Intermittent fasting by not eating breakfast is a decent way to eat those calories later in the day. Pre-logging you snack is great for your brain, you can look forward to that snack as a reward for sticking to your calories that day.

    :)
  • OhMsDiva
    OhMsDiva Posts: 1,073 Member
    Rusty740 wrote: »
    tinkerbellang83 wrote: »
    Pre-log your day factoring in your late night snack, if you're struggling calorie wise maybe go for a 30 min walk after dinner.
    mrsnattybulking wrote: »
    This is why I never eat breakfast... I know my habits (sounds like you know yours too) so I plan for them :)
    CynthiasChoice wrote: »
    I don't know if this will help... I find that when I eat too many carbs for dinner, I'm looking for a snack later in the evening. For me, too many carbs means a small serving of potatoes, rice or pasta. A dinner with adequate protein and veggies keeps me satisfied all night, but if I add a starch then I'm hungry later. Not even necessarily hungry, just needy.

    All of these are great. Increase your low fat proteins (think chicken breast and low fat cottage cheese). Intermittent fasting by not eating breakfast is a decent way to eat those calories later in the day. Pre-logging you snack is great for your brain, you can look forward to that snack as a reward for sticking to your calories that day.

    :)

    I totally agree. I do not necessarily fast in the morning, but until I get home at about 4:30 I normally have not eaten any carbs and I maybe will have eaten 400-500 calories of meat and veggies. I eat pretty much the same thing every day so I know what I will have every night except for dinner. I honestly do not feel satisfied until I have my evening snacks so I just plan my day accordingly.
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