Night time eating/snacking

steph8679

Hey all!

So I have two separate issues going on here and I'm looking for some feedback and suggestions.

1. I work 12 hour shifts and get home at 830pm and feel like I'm starving. I will eat something for dinner and still don't feel full. It's like all of a sudden I need to eat everything in sight. Any suggestions of foods that may help with this?

2. My second issue is that I do great all day, follow my calories exactly, break up my meals to 6/day, and then night time hits and the snacking starts and my whole day of hard work comes undone. Any suggestions of how to avoid this? What works to help you?

Koldnomore

Your diary is closed so it's hard to tell but it sounds to me like both issues are related. You are likely either not eating / not eating enough/ or not eating the right things to help you feel full. When you are not getting enough nutrition your body will let you know. You will find that you are 'starving' all the time and never feel full.

Make sure you are not trying to create too big of a deficit (ie.your goal should be sustainable, no 800 calorie diets!) Make sure that all your meals contain a good amount of protein and fiber and also some fats - those things will help you feel fuller longer. And in the end if you find that you are a late night snacker (this is me also) you will need to leave room in your plan for eating more at night. Take a smaller lunch etc..

scraver2003

I have the HARDEST time with evenings. I want to eat the whole house.
- I have found smaller/more meals do not work for me. I like bigger/less meals. So each time I have a meal, it is a substantial, satisfying meal - with dinner being my biggest.
- I like my carbs and fat. Right now, I am focusing on eating what I want (and eating veggies, too) but keeping within my calories so that I am not feeling deprived. Maybe in a few weeks, I will try to proportion my macros better - but right now... I *need* my cheese on my sammiches, and a drink here and there, etc.
- I learned that HUNGER IS NOT AN EMERGANCY. It just isn't. But I do keep those 100 calorie packs of beef jerky on hand for emergencies. They help me make it to the next meal. I also sip on very diluted juice. (Basically enough to add flavor to the water) and that really helps curb my hunger. I do a ratio of about 1:5 - juice to water. (And I look for 100% so there's no HFCS)
- Then I sit down to my big satisfying dinner. I enjoy it. Then that is it. Each evening I don't snack my way to bed time is an evening where it gets just a wee bit easier.

lindseynoland50

I get the late night munchies as well. I know that if I don't eat something, then my entire day will go to crap. I try not to starve myself though. If I am hungry, I just make smart decisions. Sometimes an apple with almond butter will do the trick, or carrots with hummus. Popcorn with Louisiana hot sauce is a go to snack for me as well. Try adding more protein rich foods through out the day so you don't have that starving feeling when you get home. You have a very active job, so try eating ezekiel bread or brown rice with your lunch. I am no expert, but these things work for me!

Good luck and keep at it!

Branstin

Drink a nice glass of water before each meal and you'll eat less. You will then have calories left for a night time snack. Another option is to eat more filling foods during the day like fruits and veggies so you'll have calories for snacking.

steph8679

Thanks for the tips!

Routerninja

About 30-40 after dinner I have a 2 scoop casein shake mixed with lots of water. The casein powder is thicker and it helps me feel more full until bedtime and helps me to prevent snacking.

Anniebotnen

I like to make a big mug of decaf green tea with some type of herb tea (raspberry zinger is my favorite) and drink it after dinner. By the time I finish the tea, any urge I had to snack has usually disappeared. If not, I figure it is genuine hunger and I eat something nutritious, like some fruit or nuts.