Bedtime Hunger

aeb5

I started my weight loss journey on July 1st, and I am using the recommended caloric intake from MFP (I think it's about 1500 calories plus workouts). Generally I feel full throughout the day with 3 meals and a snack, however, I start to get really hungry right as I get into bed (around 1030). I can't eat this late, even a snack, because of heartburn issues. Is there something I can do to help balance this? Do I need to eat more calories? Eat when I am not hungry? I feel like my dinners are pretty rounded, and I do feel full after I eat. Thanks.

cmriverside

I have to time my last meal to be within three hours of my bedtime or else the same thing happens to me.

mbaker566

can you have a glass of milk or something similar before bed. or tea?
i often have a float

Crafty_camper123

Have you tried just going to bed hungry? Or does it keep you up? For me, I get a little hungry before bed when my calories are lower on most nights. But, once I go to sleep it goes away.

WholeFoods4Lyfe

Perhaps try to increase your calories a bit during the day? Maybe your deficit is too aggressive.

emmamcgarity

Maybe a planned snack an hour before bed?

aeb5

Crafty_camper123 wrote: »

Have you tried just going to bed hungry? Or does it keep you up? For me, I get a little hungry before bed when my calories are lower on most nights. But, once I go to sleep it goes away.

Yes, I have, but some nights it will keep me up.

aeb5

WholeFoods4Lyfe wrote: »

Perhaps try to increase your calories a bit during the day? Maybe your deficit is too aggressive.

That's what I was wondering. I was just going through and doing some calculations, and it seems like I am on target but I also don't want to be feeling hungry all the time. I wonder if upping my calories at snack time (between lunch and dinner) would help.

Crafty_camper123

If you find your deficit isn't too aggressive, consider looking at your protein and fiber intake too. If I am low on protein, I find I have a larger appetite even if I am getting enough calories. This might be something to analyze as well.

Billy323

Don't eat after 8 if you can help it. Chug a cup of water right before bed. Not too much so you have to pee at 2am but enough to stop the hunger. Works for me

mholl15

Honestly, it's just your mind playing a trick trying to get more calories into you. Try going to bed at 10am or if you half to snack, eat half of a avocado or a half of a banana or some dry roasted unsalted peanuts or simply just drink about 8 ounces of h2o

lorrpb

Eat a bit more for your last meal or have a snack as late in the evening as possible. Have you tried experimenting with different foods and how they affect you? I like a cheese stick or a few spoons of yogurt for a late snack. Or hard boiled egg.

Are you eating at the same times as you did before you started your weight loss journey?

hesn92

eat dinner later maybe? save a snack for an hour before bedtime or something? I find that going to bed hungry isn't that bad because I don't feel hungry while I'm sleeping lol

aeb5

lorrpb wrote: »

Eat a bit more for your last meal or have a snack as late in the evening as possible. Have you tried experimenting with different foods and how they affect you? I like a cheese stick or a few spoons of yogurt for a late snack. Or hard boiled egg.

Are you eating at the same times as you did before you started your weight loss journey?

I am eating at the same times as before. I generally will have a snack around 3 or 4 and dinner around 7 or 8, bed around 1030. I find the hunger hits right at 10.

DancingMoosie

My mom likes something like a cheese stick. Would that give you heart burn? I usually just pop a tums when this happens to me, but its usually in the middle of the night/early morning when it wakes me up.

psychod787

cut out the snacking maybe and eat a higher protein/ fat meal?

kellytheisen75

I have had the same issue. I ended up drinking a glass of water half an hour before bed and that has helped me. My calorie intake is also higher (1800). The method I use is 60-80oz water through out the day with breakfast around 8 am snack at 10:30 lunch at 12:30 snack at 3:30 then dinner between 6:30-8 and bed at 10-10:30. If I feel like I need something between dinner and bed it is something small or just water. For me I am trying to change many years of bad habits so my mind will try to fake me out which is why I try to just stick with water.

NovusDies

I have acid reflux and I have found I can usually have 4-6 saltines with a cup of water right up to bedtime without repercussions when I need it. My "dinner", however, is not much more calories than a snack for most people so that might give me additional leeway.

RadishEater

what about gum causing heart burn? That is my go to evening "snack" it keeps me from munching on things in the kitchen while I clean up then read before bed

Dakase83

I find drinking a full 8oz of water before bed helps.

Mithridites

cup of chamomile tea or almond milk, or chamomile tea with almond milk
makes me sleepy too!

Crafty_camper123

RadishEater wrote: »

what about gum causing heart burn? That is my go to evening "snack" it keeps me from munching on things in the kitchen while I clean up then read before bed

I've actually been known to use gum as an "in a pinch" heartburn remedy. I'm not sure why it works, but it works. I suspect it has something to do with the saliva from chewing keeping the acids in my stomach and not in my esophagus? It also helps me not bored eat by ruling out bored/habit hunger vs true hunger. (If the hungry goes away when I chew gum and drink a glass of water, it means I wasn't really hungry.) Might be a good thing for OP to try!

spiriteagle99

If I am really hungry at bedtime I can't sleep, so I'll eat a banana, milk or a slice of good cheese. That calms my stomach down.

aeb5

Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone!

Sp1tfire

Perhaps more protein at dinner, increasing the veggies or drinking a glass of water before bed? When I was recomping I had to be almost uncomfortably full at dinner to not eat extra calories before bed.