How do you crush those late night cravings?

northbanu

I often find myself standing in front of the fridge wondering what I should snack on. Fortunately there is not much in there that would REALLY tempt me ( things like left over pizza, a cheesecake, ice cream, etc...) , but I could easily eat beyond my goal if I succumbed to the temptation.

And what do all ya'll munch on at night if your that type?

P.S, Don't give me any of that "don't eat after 8pm" crap. I'm full of my own misguided diet ideas, I don’t need yours too. :bigsmile:

she_lived_wholly_forevermore

I'm usually craving something sweet/crunchy so I have an apple with pb2 or some popcorn.

stackhsc

low/no cal drinks, water, coffee, diet pop
pickles
pickled peppers
low cal yogurt

ZulyPastor95

I usually just tell myself remember you're trying to lose weight not gain more and that pretty much workouts for me. If not I would just look for those snacks that are only 100 calories. Or if I did sometimes decide hey I want that piece of pizza or chocolate I would add it to the calories for the next day so I would have to eat less the next day.

jim_just_jim

I just ate a small cucumber and washed it down with ice water. MMMM.
lol
Usually a Wasa brand cracker and some cheese or eggplant spread is good. Those crackers have 20 calories each for some of their flavors.

BombshellPhoenix

I usually save a decent chunk of my calories for late night snacks. My go to is ice cream.

Camo_xxx

4 oz grilled chicken breast
An ounce of Homemade mozzarella cheese
12 almonds
1/2 sweet yellow bell pepper
Pickled cucumbers w/ onion

Kalikel

I kicked the habit, but on occasion just want to snack. I don't eat for three hours before I sleep, though.

My favorite is the white, hard, crunchy part of lettuce with scoops of salsa. Sometimes I get the shredded lettuce and eat little bits of that like chips - sometimes with salsa there, too, but it's more dipping the shreds in. Lettuce + salsa = next to no calories.

Other times, fruit is good.

Once in a blue moon, I'll have toast.

Kalikel

4 oz grilled chicken breast
An ounce of Homemade mozzarella cheese
12 almonds
1/2 sweet yellow bell pepper
Pickled cucumbers w/ onion

Homemade mozzarella. Damn impressive.

cocoa4life

Change your focus. Get busy doing something you love late at night. ... A puzzle, reading a book, .. dance in your living room?
The cravings are your body adjusting to the new you and it takes a while to adjust... so put your mind somewhere else.
I'm guessing you were probably in front of the TV and a food ad came on and away the subliminal messages went and before you know it you think you're hungry.

Have been on quite a journey. It started with health which subsequently resulted in weight loss. Now I sleep better, am a healthy weight for my height, have more energy and my state of mind is transformed.

I've tried many things in the past, but the only way I had reduced my weight to this level in the past was effectively starving myself. In your 20's this might seem to work. But now have a family to think of and so the healthy way is the only way.

There are so many knock on effects from being healthy my life now is transformed.

Would love to share my tips and any resources that I've found helpful along the way.

Don't underestimate the factor of state of mind when considering the need to lose weight. If you're over weight it's obvious you need to eat healthy and get active. WE all know refined sugar is and and we should drink more water, but there is a state of mind that prevents or hinders us from just sticking to those two things alone...

That could be the inherent feeling of self worth. The feeling you don't deserve to be thin, happy, successful...

Conquer this and I reckon you'll achieve a lot more than just weight loss!

zericaaaaa

I also save a pretty big chunk of calories for the evening hours. lately all I've been eating is egg white omelets with cheese and salsa, wheat thins, fiber one brownies or cheddar pretzel thins. I never get sick of egg whites though lol you can eat a pretty good amount for 50-75 calories

Unknown

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northbanu

pickles
pickled peppers

Been hitting those pretty hard last few days. Good "fridge grazing" fare.

eggplant spread is good.

Heck yeah, baba ghanoush. Forgot about that one! Good stuff.

I usually just tell myself remember you're trying to lose weight not gain more and that pretty much workouts for me.

Yeah, willpower, plain and simple. That's what ends up getting me out of the kitchen.

jessilee119

Sometimes I give into them. Other times, like tonight, I go to bed early and tell myself I'll get up earlier in the morning to do some exercising (the getting up early part usually only happens about 30 % of the time though lol). Goodnight all!!

walterm852

I think the answer will be different for everyone but here are a few things:
1) dont eat after 8pm crap really isnt crap. after you make it 3-4 days and find out you live (I have acted like a cage animal going thru withdrawals so I am not saying its easy for everyone
2) Veggies- carrots, celery Cukes ... just eat eat eat
3) frozen pineapple chunks curb my sweet tooth

melly0907

Hot cup of tea works for me every time !

stackhsc

for what its worth the more often you say screw it, close the door and walk away, the easier it get so to not even open it...... its hard but it does get easier, its habit and generally you probably arent even hungry... been there, many times. its such a hard habit to break and such an easy one to pick up again lol

BombshellPhoenix

I think the answer will be different for everyone but here are a few things:
1) dont eat after 8pm crap really isnt crap. after you make it 3-4 days and find out you live (I have acted like a cage animal going thru withdrawals so I am not saying its easy for everyone
2) Veggies- carrots, celery Cukes ... just eat eat eat
3) frozen pineapple chunks curb my sweet tooth

I think he was referring to people that go, "OMG eating after 8pm makes you instantly store fat, don't do iiiiiit!" Not that not doing it isn't possible.

I mean I cooooould not eat after 8pm. But I train at night and love my snacks. It's what has made this sustainable for me. I tend to eat less in the day and more in the evenings. It's whatever works for you for overall sustainability

wamk40

You sound like me! I go for boiled eggs. Top them with something like melted cheese and salsa.

BetterKimmer

Cottage cheese, yogurt (half and half) with pineapple chunks or wheat toast with some nut butter. Combos of slow digesting protein and satiating good fats make you feel full and happy. It probably is true that one should not eat within so many hours of bed, but I almost always eat close to bedtime, all while I lost 75lbs and got in the best shape of my life. Go figure.

northbanu

Hot cup of tea works for me every time !

Good one. I used to drink tea at night all hte time. I'm a coffee fiend, so a hot drink at night is a good substitute.
I think I'll start that again. Plus making it is a good fiddling time waster.

You sound like me! I go for boiled eggs. Top them with something like melted cheese and salsa.

Perfect timing. I just returned from the kitchen after putting a dozen eggs on to boil.

h7463

Hahaha! The only way for me to deal with late night cravings is to actually plan for them!
Tonight is bake night, and there's fresh sourdough bread smell all through the house. I bake the good stuff, whole grain flour and all, and I knew this afternoon that I will have to have some of it! I'm still 400 calories under my goal today, and I have plenty of leftover calories since weekend. I'll be good to go tonight! :laugh:

lizzybathory

What helps for me is distraction, over anything else. If you can pick up a hobby that will keep you engrossed, you probably won't even notice the cravings if it's not genuine hunger.

I snacked way too much and gave into cravings when I'd come home and watch TV and look at the internet every night. Reading is different; when I'm reading, I'm in another place, mentally, and I can't as easily pause what I'm doing to go get a snack. Same thing if I'm writing, or if I'm sewing, or playing an instrument.

Keeping myself busy is the only way I've ever succeeded in putting down the snacks and actually losing weight.

northbanu

I think the answer will be different for everyone but here are a few things:
1) dont eat after 8pm crap really isnt crap. after you make it 3-4 days and find out you live (I have acted like a cage animal going thru withdrawals so I am not saying its easy for everyone
2) Veggies- carrots, celery Cukes ... just eat eat eat
3) frozen pineapple chunks curb my sweet tooth

I think he was referring to people that go, "OMG eating after 8pm makes you instantly store fat, don't do iiiiiit!" Not that not doing it isn't possible.

I mean I cooooould not eat after 8pm. But I train at night and love my snacks. It's what has made this sustainable for me. I tend to eat less in the day and more in the evenings. It's whatever works for you for overall sustainability

"I think he was referring to people that go, "OMG eating after 8pm makes you instantly store fat, don't do iiiiiit!" Not that not doing it isn't possible. "
That's exactly what I was talking about. I suppose I COULD stop eating after 8, But then I'd have to eat dinner in the car on the way home. Or what if I stay up until 2:00 a.m? Should I not snack at midnight? Huh? Huh? Pshh

Beezil

Saving about 200 cals for something in the evening after I work out has worked for me in the past - but I have less cals to work with now that I'm trying to lose this 10lbs I gained back. I plan my food for the day the night before now, usually plan to eat something semi-sweet after workouts to satisfy my cravings. Sometimes I slip up and have extra stuff but I just try to work it off with extra exercise if I can. If you really have 0 calories left for the day, drink a cup of tea - seems to quell my appetite.

lindainprogress

sometimes I just go to bed early. I am lucky I have no trouble sleeping. other times I will eat something that takes awhile to chew. cabbage or parsley work for me. also those tiny peppers are terrific crunchy snacks. I have also just chewed a clove or garlic, with that strong flavor in your mouth it is hard to eat anything else.

aimforhealthy

I'm such a longterm sufferer of late night munchies too. What's helped me (and I was very skeptical of this at first, too) - flavored hot herbal non-caffeinated tea. For some reason drinking a cup of that just makes me not be hungry and not want munchies anymore. If the munchies come back (hello, chronic insomniac here) I'll have a 60-calorie cup of unsweetened applesauce. The fiber in that usually helps keep me full enough to make it to bed time without binging.

northbanu

I'm such a longterm sufferer of late night munchies too. What's helped me (and I was very skeptical of this at first, too) - flavored hot herbal non-caffeinated tea. For some reason drinking a cup of that just makes me not be hungry and not want munchies anymore. If the munchies come back (hello, chronic insomniac here) I'll have a 60-calorie cup of unsweetened applesauce. The fiber in that usually helps keep me full enough to make it to bed time without binging.

I'm gonna have to get on the tea wagon. I used to drink hot tea at night all the time. Don't know why I stopped, but looking back, it was also when I weighed 180lbs. Hmm.... Coincidence?

2013sk

Try and save some calories for the evening if you can.

I normally cant - So if I want something I just have it & don't bother beating myself up about.

Hey - I am at the gym tomorrow burning it off anyway... So its not a problem : )

Now if I wasn't going to the gym..... It would be a different story hahahaha