What helped you avoid night eating?

braineybrawn

Always hungry at night. What helped you stop eating late/waking up and snacking? I started eating whole oats + protein powder and it's been very satiating. Looking for more tips too!

AnnPT77

For me, getting a solid breakfast with plenty of protein, then more protein through the day, helped reduce evening cravings. But things like that tend to be somewhat individual: Consider noticing when you have better or worse days, then look at your food diary (plus related things like exercise and sleep) to see whether you can figure out what improves the situation or makes it worse. It's kind of like a one-person science experiment!

Some people find that they need a bedtime snack to minimize hungry wake-ups. Don't be afraid to try that. The idea that eating before bed automatically causes weight gain is pure myth.

For many people (not all) so-called whole foods are more filling, so suppress craving mopesre, compared to highly processed foods. High fiber foods can be particularly good (which may be part of why you're finding oats and protein powder filling). But some people find fats filling, others protein, some need some high volume food (such as a big heap of low-cal veggies). There's a thread here for volume eaters, if that sounds like it might be true for you:

https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10563959/volume-eaters-thread/p1

Three other things I can think of that might influence evening cravings for some people:

1. Sleep quality/quantity. If that's sub-ideal, improving it may help. Evening is farthests to from our last sleep, so we can be fatigued. Fatigue makes the body seek energy, and food is energy. Voila, cravings!
2. Stress. Stress is fatiguing, among other reasons it can spark appetite. If your life is high stress, maybe explore other stress-management methods. People use all kinds of things: Stretching/yoga, other mild exercise, relaxing music, prayer or meditation, adult coloring books, warm aromatherapy bubble baths, journaling - you name it.
3. Over-exercise (or particular types of exercise) can spike appetite for some people. Maybe notice whether your cravings are worse when you've been more active, or done some particular activity. If you can find the pattern, there are various ways to adjust.

Best wishes for finding a solution!

Hobartlemagne

I did well shifting the calorie distribution in the day so Id have a pretty small breakfast, a little bigger lunch, and even bigger dinner plus a 160cal/30g Protein drink before bed.

ehju0901

I'm in the same boat as you, and what I find helps me is just to give myself a sweet snack. I usually like to have a rice cake or two with peanut butter, or a protein shake.

cupcakesandproteinshakes

I just go to bed. Simple. I don’t have a problem getting to sleep hungry though.

xbowhunter

cupcakesandproteinshakes wrote: »

I just go to bed. Simple. I don’t have a problem getting to sleep hungry though.

This!

Unknown

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danrdavidson

Going to bed a bit earlier has really helped me. I also avoid keeping anything too tempting around the house. As a result, the worst it usually gets is a bowl of plain yogurt or apple slices with some peanut butter. If I keep cereal, chips, or similar snacks around, it gets much harder to stay on track.

lisakatz2

This is a really good post. I often get sweet cravings at night. I simply brush my teeth right after dinner and go to bed early. Helps a lot. I also make hubs hide his candy, so I don't go foraging.

mgalsf12

If I am really hungry before bed I will eat an orange or a banana. Then I floss and brush my teeth. It's my reminder to my self that I am done eating for the day.

vivaitalia3718

I was a terrible late night snacker! I committed to do intermittent fasting, 8:16, where I do all of my eating in an eight hour period and avoid anything with calories the other 16. I had a reminder set in my phone where I would log in the time I ate my last meal and it would alert me after 16 hours had passed that my eight hour eating windows was open. It was difficult at first, but because I made a commitment, I was determined not to cheat. Lots of water and tea helped minimize cravings. Especially hot tea in the late evening when my stomach just wanted something warm in it.

ErinLarson1425

Camomile tea in the evening helps me sleep and not want that popcorn and carmel apple snack.
Sometimes I'll make Golden Milk.
Always changing the ingredients and ratios
Coconut or anyother plant based milk
Whisk
Turmeric
Ginger
Cinnamon & or
Honey