Sleep eating issues

92019start
92019start Posts: 80 Member
edited June 2018 in Health and Weight Loss
I have a really interesting habit where I wake up an hour or two after falling asleep and go to the kitchen and eat. I’m not hungry—I always have a good snack before bed. I really want to stop this habit but I’m not even fully awake so I don’t know what the solution is. If I were awake I could stop myself. I plan each night to try to realize what’s happening and turn on a sleep meditation, but I don’t seem to remember to do this ever in the moment. Any ideas how I can creatively solve this sticky habit? I’m not taking any kind of sleep medication or drinking alcohol, in case you’re wondering. I go to bed around 9pm and wake up at 5am, usually getting a good solid 7 hours in there.

I do use this sleep app called Pillow and I just listened to the audio recordings for the first time. I think what happens possibly is that my husband comes to bed and this wakes me up each night. He goes to bed just after ten, and in the recording I can hear him come in and then hear myself getting up. Maybe I should ask him to block me? Or maybe the door just needs some lube so it doesn’t squeak and I need earplugs?

Thanks!!

Replies

  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,120 Member
    Have you always had the habit or has it started after changing something in your diet?

    Having a snack before bed doesn't necessarily mean you're not hungry, are you getting enough food the rest of the day? Are you getting a good balance of nutrition?
  • 92019start
    92019start Posts: 80 Member
    tinkerbellang83 wrote: »
    Have you always had the habit or has it started after changing something in your diet?

    Having a snack before bed doesn't necessarily mean you're not hungry, are you getting enough food the rest of the day? Are you getting a good balance of nutrition?

    Yes, my TDEE is around 1,800 and I’m eating around 1650 each day.
  • 92019start
    92019start Posts: 80 Member
    My husband says I shouldn’t worry about it, for what it’s worth! I’m not obese or overweight, but it just feels wrong to wake up and eat, lol.
  • rj0150684
    rj0150684 Posts: 227 Member
    If it isn’t causing you problems, maybe don’t worry about it. You could also try leaving the light on in the kitchen so maybe it’ll wake you up enough to realize what you’re doing.
  • Dani9585
    Dani9585 Posts: 215 Member
    Sensor alarm near your kitchen to wake you up if you head out there?
  • 92019start
    92019start Posts: 80 Member
    Dani9585 wrote: »
    Sensor alarm near your kitchen to wake you up if you head out there?

    It’s worth a try! I’ll test that out. Thank you!
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    I had this happen once to me toward the end of April. I actually cooked a meal while asleep. I found the whole experience very unsettling but it only happened that one time. I am fairly certain it was brought on by the stomach flu I had the week prior because I didn't eat much for 6 days straight.

  • 92019start
    92019start Posts: 80 Member
    NovusDies wrote: »
    I had this happen once to me toward the end of April. I actually cooked a meal while asleep. I found the whole experience very unsettling but it only happened that one time. I am fairly certain it was brought on by the stomach flu I had the week prior because I didn't eat much for 6 days straight.

    That’s pretty astounding! I only manage cold foods like cereal. A whole meal? Lol!!

    Thank you for sharing. Makes me feel less weird :-)
  • SCoil123
    SCoil123 Posts: 2,110 Member
    When I was losing weight the first time I had this problem. I was also in therapy for my eating disorder at the time and it was my first attempt to lose weight in a healthy way. I would eat full boxes of cereal though and not remember at all until I got up to make breakfast the next day. For me I got professional help to address sleep eating.

    If it gets any worse I’d recommend seeing a professional. It can be anxiety related. It doesn’t just affect your calorie intake but also your quality of sleep which is important
  • 92019start
    92019start Posts: 80 Member
    SCoil123 wrote: »
    When I was losing weight the first time I had this problem. I was also in therapy for my eating disorder at the time and it was my first attempt to lose weight in a healthy way. I would eat full boxes of cereal though and not remember at all until I got up to make breakfast the next day. For me I got professional help to address sleep eating.

    If it gets any worse I’d recommend seeing a professional. It can be anxiety related. It doesn’t just affect your calorie intake but also your quality of sleep which is important

    What kind of therapist did you see? What did they say or do to help you?

    I don’t think I have anxiety. I just think it’s leftover from a time when I was being too restrictive with my eating and now, even though I’m eating adequately, my brain just has this habit hardwired. I realize it can affect sleep, for sure.
  • JaydedMiss
    JaydedMiss Posts: 4,286 Member
    i put an alarm on my door when i was sleepwalking outside...it didnt work sleep me would turn it off....sleep me is a smart little *kitten*. ..but it may work for you? Flip the switch on before bed atleast it will remind you of your goals when it goes off and maybe snap you back into it a bit. Maybe even stick a list of your goals or a few pics on the fridge to focus on when alarm goes off. If all else fails work on making a snack readily available and planned in for sleepy you to go for if you can snap self into it to reach for that
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    92019start wrote: »
    NovusDies wrote: »
    I had this happen once to me toward the end of April. I actually cooked a meal while asleep. I found the whole experience very unsettling but it only happened that one time. I am fairly certain it was brought on by the stomach flu I had the week prior because I didn't eat much for 6 days straight.

    That’s pretty astounding! I only manage cold foods like cereal. A whole meal? Lol!!

    Thank you for sharing. Makes me feel less weird :-)

    I cooked chicken from raw and I reheated some sweet potatoes. Turns out that even though sleep me used a meat thermometer on (it was left out) I still got ill for a few days either from the chicken or cross contamination. Needless to say I don't recommend it.

  • SCoil123
    SCoil123 Posts: 2,110 Member
    92019start wrote: »
    SCoil123 wrote: »
    When I was losing weight the first time I had this problem. I was also in therapy for my eating disorder at the time and it was my first attempt to lose weight in a healthy way. I would eat full boxes of cereal though and not remember at all until I got up to make breakfast the next day. For me I got professional help to address sleep eating.

    If it gets any worse I’d recommend seeing a professional. It can be anxiety related. It doesn’t just affect your calorie intake but also your quality of sleep which is important

    What kind of therapist did you see? What did they say or do to help you?

    I don’t think I have anxiety. I just think it’s leftover from a time when I was being too restrictive with my eating and now, even though I’m eating adequately, my brain just has this habit hardwired. I realize it can affect sleep, for sure.

    I saw a therapist who referred me to psych. I take a sleep aid now and haven’t slept walked or eaten in years
  • nowine4me
    nowine4me Posts: 3,985 Member
    There’s a podcast called Inner Effort by a guy named Allen Standish - who conquered that habit. It’s not a problem for me, so I don’t recall the take-away, but I did find it interesting.
  • 92019start
    92019start Posts: 80 Member
    nowine4me wrote: »
    There’s a podcast called Inner Effort by a guy named Allen Standish - who conquered that habit. It’s not a problem for me, so I don’t recall the take-away, but I did find it interesting.

    Thanks! I will check it out!
  • 92019start
    92019start Posts: 80 Member
    nowine4me wrote: »
    There’s a podcast called Inner Effort by a guy named Allen Standish - who conquered that habit. It’s not a problem for me, so I don’t recall the take-away, but I did find it interesting.

    You don’t happen to know what episode he talks about it?

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