THE EVIL LATE NIGHT SNACKING

Romyarts2014

Hey guys


Quick stats
396
21 years old..

Started MFP 3 days ago.

Usually at night I skype with family and watch movies or play games online on my bed and just relax lights of etc. BUT I ALWAYS ALWAYS had a bag of potatoe chips, bar of chocolate and some sort of pudding next to my bed and I would snack on that all night until it was bed time..

The last 2 nights I was not hungry and exhausted I fell asleep.
Tonight im feeling growling in my tummy and I want to snack, now i know I can control myself and drink another glass of water
but is there any way to incorperate a late night snack withouuuuuuut adding the pounds. Not like the chocolate and all of that but just something to nibble on.. or is this a habbit i have got to just get rid of... but at the same time I am thinking to myself no way gf you did not just take a walk or do cardio earlier to snack..

advice

thanks guys

MB_Positif

You'll get answers all across the board on this one. I am a night snacker. I do my best throughout the day to have calories left for snacks after dinner. I keep all of my meals somewhere between 300 and 600 calories and that leaves plenty of room for snacks throughout the day.

jenlindsaymorgan

You can snack on "better" preportioned foods. (100 calorie popcorn- 100 calorie chocolate covered pretzels- or 100 calories worth of candy). It is less than what you used to do and it isn't blowing your diet. Plus that stuff tastes good so it makes you feel like you are having something "bad"!!!

JoRocka

I don't start eating in my day till 10 or 11 AM. I'm up around 6/7.

So I tend to 'push' my food toward the end of the day- sure I like eating in the morning- but I like eating at night more. I can tolerate being hungry in the morning- It works better for me and it's sustainable- so instead of trying to push it off and force myself to be miserable- I just make it work. Try shifting some meals around and see where you are willing to push off something so you CAN eat at night since it's already your habit.

The other thought that I would recommend not keeping as many high calorie foods around that are easy to snack on- put them away - make lower calorie options more available and prepared for you to grab. I'll always grab whats on the counter if it's THERE.... or what's already pre-divied up. But if it's in the pantry I have to go dig for it I'm not even going to think about it.

I'm also lazy- I eat a lot less at home than anywhere else- because that requires getting off the couch LOL

caveninit

Nuts are a great snack...almonds, walnuts, pistachios, sunflower seeds. Pistachios are great in the shell...takes longer to eat them. You can make a batch of healthy trail mix with nuts, seeds, dried fruit, coconut, even a little dark chocolate chips and portion it out into single serving size bags. You will feel fuller and feel more satisfied snacking on that instead of chips. I usually have a Jello sugar free chocolate pudding cup at night. That's what works for me.

harphy

Boil a box of eggs and put them in the fridge. Whenever I'm hungry I simply peel one or two and eat them.

Romyarts2014

Thank you guys
well my net for the day is 560 or so..


So could I afford to eat a snicker
or is that a HUGEEEEEE NONO

StarFall90

I'm currently 344 and I would ALWAYS eat chips or sandwiches etc at night. I work an odd shift so I'm usually up until 6 am after work. I keep busy talking on skype or teamspeak to a bunch of friends and play league of legends. It keeps me occupied and if I get a craving I snack on sunflower seeds. Salty and nice protein which makes me satisfied. Frankly sunflower seeds have been great for my diet.

stefanieanne14

I, too, am a huge late night eater. I just factor it into my daily calories. I tend to eat 400-600 calories after dinner in snacks. I do have to say if you're only netting 560 cal/day you're going to get a lot of responses about eating more in general; If you like late night snacking, that might be a good time to get more cals in. A calorie is a calorie, really it doesn't matter so much what time you eat your calories as long as you're at a deficit (but not too big of one).

royaldrea

Thank you guys
well my net for the day is 560 or so..


So could I afford to eat a snicker
or is that a HUGEEEEEE NONO

Only a no-no if you don't have the willpower to stop after just one. If you're better off refraining from eating *high-calorie snack foods* on the whole, don't eat it until you're at the place where you're good with moderation.

If on the other hand, you are able to stop at just one, then go ahead! If you can afford it, and it will make you happy, it's a great choice.

ETA: **

tibby531

personally, I have celery as a late night snack. I've paired it with almonds, peanuts, tuna, or other veggies. it's crunchy, so my brain is told that noms are happening, and the mental craving is appeased.

DeterminedToLoseIt02

Absolutely have the Snicker! If you don't have the things you love you'll slip up way more.

I have my butterfinger ice cream in the freezer and I keep my favorite chips around the house for whenever I need a snack.

Mischievous_Rascal

Thank you guys
well my net for the day is 560 or so..


So could I afford to eat a snicker
or is that a HUGEEEEEE NONO

Your NET is 560 for the day? Not sustainable. Figure out your TDEE and take a reasonable - no more than 20% - cut from that and eat some food. This isn't a race. Here's a good calculator to help you figure out your actual daily calorie expenditure:

http://scoobysworkshop.com/accurate-calorie-calculator/

I also do intermittent fasting, so I don't start to eat until 10 am or noon, so most of my food is eaten between 6 and 10 pm. I could never give up my bedtime snacks!! (Yes, snacks , plural.) As for Snickers, as long as you get enough protein and fat, and have a reasonable amount of fruit, veg and grains, you can eat whatever the heck you want. Who wants to give up chocolate, especially Snickers? Snickers makes life good...

Best of luck!

cerumens

I set a mental rule in my head that I will not eat after a certain hour. For me it is 6pm. This just works. I also put my first meal later in the day like 10 am. I tend to eat the majority of my calories between 3-5 and have a snack right around 6pm. After that I allow myself hot beverages that taste like a treat like General Foods International Coffees - French Vanilla Cafe which is only about 35 calories a serving or I have really good teas with stevia. If I drink hot beverages for some reason my stomach doesn't feel hungry. Edited to add - I basically follow intermittent fasting with a 10-6 feed window. Sometimes 8-5 if I am up really early that day.

autumnsquirrel

Hey guys


Quick stats
396
21 years old..

Started MFP 3 days ago.

Usually at night I skype with family and watch movies or play games online on my bed and just relax lights of etc. BUT I ALWAYS ALWAYS had a bag of potatoe chips, bar of chocolate and some sort of pudding next to my bed and I would snack on that all night until it was bed time..

The last 2 nights I was not hungry and exhausted I fell asleep.
Tonight im feeling growling in my tummy and I want to snack, now i know I can control myself and drink another glass of water
but is there any way to incorperate a late night snack withouuuuuuut adding the pounds. Not like the chocolate and all of that but just something to nibble on.. or is this a habbit i have got to just get rid of... but at the same time I am thinking to myself no way gf you did not just take a walk or do cardio earlier to snack..

advice

thanks guys

Hi, friend:) First off, good for you for being on here. It will help you learn so much about daily foods, daily intake, etc. Secondly, have you spoken with your doctor about starting a new lifestyle change? She/He may be able to map out what you need to have through your day, including snacks. I recently started a low carb lifestyle change. I am full by the end of the day and have no desire to snack. I keep things high protein. If you like natural peanut butter, measure out the serving size and put it on celery or just have it off the spoon:) Again----check with your doctor because you may or may not need to watch sugar milligrams and such. Feel free to add me to your friends list. And much luck and blessings on your journey:)

autumnsquirrel

I set a mental rule in my head that I will not eat after a certain hour. For me it is 6pm. This just works. I also put my first meal later in the day like 10 am. I tend to eat the majority of my calories between 3-5 and have a snack right around 6pm. After that I allow myself hot beverages that taste like a treat like General Foods International Coffees - French Vanilla Cafe which is only about 35 calories a serving or I have really good teas with stevia. If I drink hot beverages for some reason my stomach doesn't feel hungry.

This is an excellent rule. By default, that is when I stop eating for the day and it has made a huge difference. You have some good suggestions here.

dlionsmane

Timing of meals doesn't matter. Staying in your sustainable, reasonalbe calorie goal is. Netting 500's is not a good idea... using the Scooby workshop calorie counter is. use a sustainable deficit (20%) and eat to that number. Save calories for a late night snack. Problem solved. Good luck!

usmcmp

I skip breakfast and save a chunk of calories for evening when I like to snack. I stay up and talk on Skype or study until 11 and I'd hate life if I couldn't snack. You can eat whatever times you like, it's all about overall calorie intake.

You don't need a special diet or to give up anything. Start with the individual servings of chips or your usual snack to help with portion sizes.

auntiebabs

Hey guys


Quick stats
396
21 years old..

Started MFP 3 days ago.

Usually at night I skype with family and watch movies or play games online on my bed and just relax lights of etc. BUT I ALWAYS ALWAYS had a bag of potatoe chips, bar of chocolate and some sort of pudding next to my bed and I would snack on that all night until it was bed time..

The last 2 nights I was not hungry and exhausted I fell asleep.
Tonight im feeling growling in my tummy and I want to snack, now i know I can control myself and drink another glass of water
but is there any way to incorperate a late night snack withouuuuuuut adding the pounds. Not like the chocolate and all of that but just something to nibble on.. or is this a habbit i have got to just get rid of... but at the same time I am thinking to myself no way gf you did not just take a walk or do cardio earlier to snack..

advice

thanks guys

I find REPLACING a habit way easier than ELIMINATING it.

So, healthier snacks.... Now lots of folks might take you right to the healthiest option, but I've found stepping things down makes it easier to stick with long term... First order of business steer clear of trigger foods.

Buy the Individual serving size... I grew up in a large family and was always trained to by the better price per pound value. But the problem with that is there is more there to eat and I'll just keep going. So if you buy the less economical individual sizes.... you've got portion control build in.

Or REPLACE eating with another habit... (I play solitaire on my phone when I watch TV.... can't do that with cheeto crumbs on your fingers. )

FatFreeFrolicking

Hey guys


Quick stats
396
21 years old..

Started MFP 3 days ago.

Usually at night I skype with family and watch movies or play games online on my bed and just relax lights of etc. BUT I ALWAYS ALWAYS had a bag of potatoe chips, bar of chocolate and some sort of pudding next to my bed and I would snack on that all night until it was bed time..

The last 2 nights I was not hungry and exhausted I fell asleep.
Tonight im feeling growling in my tummy and I want to snack, now i know I can control myself and drink another glass of water
but is there any way to incorperate a late night snack withouuuuuuut adding the pounds. Not like the chocolate and all of that but just something to nibble on.. or is this a habbit i have got to just get rid of... but at the same time I am thinking to myself no way gf you did not just take a walk or do cardio earlier to snack..

advice

thanks guys

Pretzels
Hummus with veggies
Popcorn
An apple with peanut butter
A banana with peanut butter
Nuts
Veggie chips

Make sure you are paying attention to serving size. Weigh all food with a food scale for accuracy.

bodiva88

If you're at net 560 and have a snicker you're net 780 or so for the day. That's not enough calories. Maybe you're hungry at night because you aren't eating enough. And it would be a good thing to most days have most of your calories in things that nourish you with the occasional calorie dense treat (maybe on a day when you've excersized a lot and have banked some crazy cals).

FatFreeFrolicking

Thank you guys
well my net for the day is 560 or so..


So could I afford to eat a snicker
or is that a HUGEEEEEE NONO

You should be netting AT LEAST 1200 calories a day.

Someone your size could easily eat 2000 calories a day and still lose weight.

Why are you only netting 560 calories?

You are eating way too little for the amount of calories you burn through exercise.

How tall are you?

SeahorseDolphin

I know this doesn't work for everyone but I have found something that works for me because I am the same way. No matter what, I always felt like I was starving at the end of the day even though I really wasn't. I have always been a night snacker.

Recently I kinda fell into intermittent fasting. I kept pushing more and more calories to the end of the day and finally got to the point where I was ONLY eating at night. Basically I don't eat all day and then at 8pm when my bf gets off work we just gorge. It is awesome. I'll have my coffee in the morning, do a fasted workout, have an under 200 calorie snack then have a HUGE dinner. Sometimes it's hard to eat enough calories.

This obviously isn't for everyone but it has changed dieting for me forever. This is something I can sustain for the rest of my life (besides maybe active days out) to keep my weight in check. I will admit the first week I felt hungry all day long. The second week was better but still tough at times. After that I'm no longer hungry during the day. Your body doesn't care about when you get your calories.

Most people eat all day but I know myself well enough to save it for nighttime

JoRocka

Thank you guys
well my net for the day is 560 or so..


So could I afford to eat a snicker
or is that a HUGEEEEEE NONO

You should be netting AT LEAST 1200 calories a day.

Someone your size could easily eat 2000 calories a day and still lose weight.

Why are you only netting 560 calories?

You are eating way too little for the amount of calories you burn through exercise.

How tall are you?

was hoping someone would catch that.

or maybe this is a confusion of terms/typo issue.

RunMyOregonBunsOff

Please eat above your BMR and then you will be healthier and be able to stick to this much longer. Eat the snickers and find some healthy foods tomorrow. Do some research and set yourself up for success. You don't have to cut out your favorite snacks, just get lots of nutrient rich foods so you won't be so hungry for unhealthy food and eat fewer calories than you burn (most of what you burn will be by just being alive, not through exercise). Good luck.

Edit for typo

FatFreeFrolicking

Thank you guys
well my net for the day is 560 or so..


So could I afford to eat a snicker
or is that a HUGEEEEEE NONO

You should be netting AT LEAST 1200 calories a day.

Someone your size could easily eat 2000 calories a day and still lose weight.

Why are you only netting 560 calories?

You are eating way too little for the amount of calories you burn through exercise.

How tall are you?

was hoping someone would catch that.

or maybe this is a confusion of terms/typo issue.

I don't think it's a typo! I looked at her diary and her total calories for today were 1385. She burned 827 through exercise. That's a net of 558 calories. YIKES!

She just added 296 calories worth of snickers… bringing her up to 1681 calories for today.

alexflynn011

Lack of food --> BINGE

ncgingerich

Thank you guys
well my net for the day is 560 or so..


So could I afford to eat a snicker
or is that a HUGEEEEEE NONO

Your net for the day being that low could stifle your weight loss. You need to be eating back enough of your exercise calories for your net to be high enough that you actually lose rather than alter your metabolism so you end up not losing or worse gaining. I try to make sure my net is at least 1100. Another thing... An occasional candy bar won't hurt in my opinion.... Everything in moderation is a good philosophy to have. Best of luck!

bigmamabird

I'm a nighttime snacker too! My go-tos are Popcorn, a piece of fruit or hummus and veggies. If you like to snack at night, by all means, do. But give yourself healthy, filling choices.

autumnsquirrel

Thank you guys
well my net for the day is 560 or so..


So could I afford to eat a snicker
or is that a HUGEEEEEE NONO

You should be netting AT LEAST 1200 calories a day.

Someone your size could easily eat 2000 calories a day and still lose weight.

Why are you only netting 560 calories?

You are eating way too little for the amount of calories you burn through exercise.

How tall are you?

was hoping someone would catch that.

or maybe this is a confusion of terms/typo issue.

I don't think it's a typo! I looked at her diary and her total calories for today were 1385. She burned 827 through exercise. That's a net of 558 calories. YIKES!

She just added 296 calories worth of snickers… bringing her up to 1681 calories for today.

Oy...back awayyyy from the snickers. Not a healthy snack if you want to lose:/

usmcmp

Thank you guys
well my net for the day is 560 or so..


So could I afford to eat a snicker
or is that a HUGEEEEEE NONO

You should be netting AT LEAST 1200 calories a day.

Someone your size could easily eat 2000 calories a day and still lose weight.

Why are you only netting 560 calories?

You are eating way too little for the amount of calories you burn through exercise.

How tall are you?

was hoping someone would catch that.

or maybe this is a confusion of terms/typo issue.

I don't think it's a typo! I looked at her diary and her total calories for today were 1385. She burned 827 through exercise. That's a net of 558 calories. YIKES!

She just added 296 calories worth of snickers… bringing her up to 1681 calories for today.

Oy...back awayyyy from the snickers. Not a healthy snack if you want to lose:/

Absolutely nothing wrong with a snickers bar. Stop food shaming. If she's eaten fruit, vegetables and lean meats she can have a Snickers or cake or cookies guilt free.