Discouraged

lucerorojo

Try this. Since it isn't hunger making you get up and eat, each time you wake up and do NOT eat cookies (or anything) put away $2 (or whatever you can afford) into a special savings account. You can look at as a reward and that should break the habit. Or, for a punitive measure, if you do wake up and eat, you must give the $2 to charity.
I've found that paying myself is a good incentive.

I would second eating a bigger dinner if it is hunger driving it. Sometimes I'll wake up and I am hungry and I'll eat something--usually a few almonds, or if really hungry a mini Lara bar. But that usually happens when I've worked out and don't eat back my exercise calories.

hroderick

serindipte wrote: »

I save some of my calories for a late snack and there's nothing wrong with a couple of cookies. A whole sleeve, not good but a couple is fine if it fits in your calories.

100% agree
I don't sleep well hungry so save 200-300 calories for a bedtime snack. I don't usually have cookies, but would not feel guilty if I was really hungry for them. I also find the second one isn't nearly as good as the first so quit there.

jheye

My go to in between meals snack is celery. If you specifically want something sweet, you might try watermelon. Since it has so much water and some fiber, you get a lot more volume for the same calories of a cookie. You can even freeze it to make a watermelon popsicle!
https://cookthestory.com/frozen-watermelon-the-easiest-popsicle-ever/
Ultimately you want to break the habit of eating in the middle of the night. One option would be to wait 30 min before snacking- extend that to 45 min, and hour, and you might get to the point where you just go back to sleep in a few weeks, but it may really mess up your sleep in the meantime. Another option might be to eat a snack, like watermelon, immediately before bed. Maybe that will keep you from waking up.

ceiswyn

My recommendation is... save a cookie's worth of calories for the night. Then eat a cookie.

sugarlemonpie

Hmmm... Altered my post after reading more of the thread.

I am of the same recommendation as others to talk to a doctor, your sleep should be deep enough that you don't wake up ravenous in the middle of the night! Drink lots of water, keep water by your bedside, and before you get out of bed just chug it and try to go back to sleep.

Pre portion some snacks, or keep a protein or fiber bar or something on your bedside. As soon as you're up and hungry, your brain in tne middle of the night won't be as rational as the one during the day! So try to keep yourself out of the kitchen of temptation.

mbaker566

i try to save calories for a bowl of ice cream. real ice cream. and not a serving. a substantial bowl

Snowflake1968

I save calories for an evening snack and it's usually grapes, laughing cow cheese wedge and some wheat thin crackers.

nowine4me

If the cookies are in the house, it will be hard to break the habit. Would you get out of bed and trek to the kitchen for an Apple?

I keep sugar free gummies in my night stand. If I wake up to pee and have a craving, i DONT leave the bedroom. I crawl back in bed, eat my gummy and fall back to sleep.

dawncarley22

Shyla57 wrote: »

Ok now I need some help I need something to snack at night I have this bad habit where I want cookies or other bad stuff. I know you not suppose to eat during the night but is there something I can try since I can't stop.

Try hummus (my favorite is the regular and garlic)...and good thin crackers...I enjoy the garlic and herb as well as the sun dried tomato crackers......I love popcorn and sunflower seeds but only do that on my 1 cheat day a week. I miss snacking but try to drink water and it will fill you up quicker with the crackers and hummus. I limit myself to 15 of those crackers with 2 TBSP hummus for one serving in the evening. If you can avoid eating or snacking after 6pm!!!

getfitwith_aish

Yogurt, protein shake

happytree923

Have you tried practicing good sleep hygiene? You shouldn't be waking up like that every single night. Google sleep hygiene for more info but basically it means limiting exposure to light before bed, giving yourself time to wind down, not drinking caffeine ten hours before, sleeping in a dark room, etc. If that doesn't work it's probably a good idea to see a sleep specialist.

mkculs

I also think you need to focus on why you are waking enough to even think about eating. Do you have sleep apnea, perhaps? Most night waking is so brief that we don't remember it.

If you can, see a doctor and discuss your sleep pattern. S/he may suggest a sleep study. This can save your life--literally--because undiagnosed sleep apnea can kill you.

In the interval, have you thought about placing one cookie by your bed, to eat when you wake? I'd personally want to stand, to avoid getting crumbs in my bed. On the other hand, I know that for me, standing might mean I become even more awake, so I might just pull the covers up so any crumbs fall there and I can shake them into the carpet, where I can vacuum later. I'm not encouraging or recommending this as a real solution--just a stop-gap until you can find a more permanent solution to the night waking. That's the real issue; if you didn't wake, you wouldn't be awake to get cookies, right?

Good luck.

mywayroche

Eat a snack. Cut back slightly on your other meals to compensate if necessary

ScrapStitching

Late night eating (alone) is a problem for me too. I always plan a snack and have set bedtime to 10 p.m. instead of midnight. It's the best thing for me right now.