Bedtime Binge eating!

aladuke26

I need help!! I can't seem to stop the binge eating at night. I have been working out 5-6 days a week for the past 6 weeks, combining cardio with strength training, but I cannot seem to stop myself from eating at night. I start to crave chocolate or cookies or anything sweet. I have worked out soooo hard for so long and the scale has not budged!! Does anyone out there have any tips to stop the cravings that come at night? It seems as soon as I start to get sleepy, that is when I get the cravings!!!

aladuke26

I need help!! I can't seem to stop the binge eating at night. I have been working out 5-6 days a week for the past 6 weeks, combining cardio with strength training, but I cannot seem to stop myself from eating at night. I start to crave chocolate or cookies or anything sweet. I have worked out soooo hard for so long and the scale has not budged!! Does anyone out there have any tips to stop the cravings that come at night? It seems as soon as I start to get sleepy, that is when I get the cravings!!!

Fitness_Chick

bump for later:flowerforyou:

Phoenix_Rising

bump for later:flowerforyou:

Whew, someone who wants to answer later!! I have to comment to put in my own recent topics so I can come back and read the advice. I am a bedtime binger too. :embarassed:

krystalmoore1986

I do the same thing except I dont crave sweets I crave salty and protien like chips or packs of lunch meat. The only way I have found to solve it is to drink hot tea or drink three or four cups of water at once so my stomach is full then go to bed. I find myself irrationally worrying about being hungry in the middle of the night. The only time that actually happens is when i eat before bed though. I hope someone has some better advice for you.:flowerforyou:

Fab140

I'm a big binger too! And I eat way more if we don't have what I'm craving.

Do you drink alcohol? If so, what? I notice my cravings change with the type of alcohol I drink. I want something spicey or uber greasy when I drink beer. With wine, I want sweet things. And my captain and sodas bring on all of the above!!!

Right now, to remedy the binging, I'm trying to cut waaaay back on the alcohol. I hope it works!

dothompson

I also have this recurring problem. Here are a couple of things that have worked for me:

Make sure to eat all your calories and eat well at breakfast and lunch. When I eat too lightly during the day I might not even realize that I am hungry, but it translates to nightime binge eating.

This is often triggered by stress and will go in waves. I won't have a problem for several weeks and then every night I find myself at midnight with my fanny sticking out of the fridge. I can break that cycle by taking 1 tylenol PM about 7 in the evening, one pill doesn't even make me drowsy, but it takes the edge off the nightime demon that keeps me snacking.

Good luck.

msarro

Right before bed is usually when I have a big glass of silk. Its not really bad for you, but it gives you the chocolate taste - and I'll be damned if it doesn't take like chocolate milk. Only 140 calories for a cup.

Fab140

Right before bed is usually when I have a big glass of silk. Its not really bad for you, but it gives you the chocolate taste - and I'll be damned if it doesn't take like chocolate milk. Only 140 calories for a cup.

They make low fat chocolate milk too....hmmmmmmm......I may try that....

cmriverside

Great post!

(This is a question for Songbyrd! ) I remember one time her discussing eating something that is protein-high before bed. She said she eats cottage cheese. I tried that, and it was helpful. If the craving is for something sweet, I add some fresh fruit to it.

I also find that if I work out at 6:30-9:00 (not the whole time - but in that time frame) that I have less appetite afterward. If I work out too late, though, I can't get to sleep: so it is a fine-tuning experiment for each of us.

Eating every 3-4 hours helps keep your metabolism steadily working, too. If you stay up longer than three hours after eating, you will want to eat, so again, timing is everything.

Night binging is my downfall as well. I know a lot of people struggle with this, so I hope this thread gets some good input.

:glasses:

Fitness_Chick

:drinker:

heartshapdworld

I am usually able to control myself, but this past weekend I failed miserably! I will be lucky if I maintain this week!

Eating all my calories pb before bed or other things don't help me. I am not eating because I am hungry. It is stress. What are some good way to combat stress or break the stress eating?

Thanks

lisarae

I tend to eat a lot of calories a few hours before bedtime. I "save" them for nighttime, so it's within my calorie limit, but probably should be spread out better. Brushing my teeth by 8:00 is the only thing that works for me. After 8, the fridge is closed.

Connie48

Another night time binger....my problem is beer. I drink beer then want something salty like chips! If I don't drink beer, the cravings aren't too bad. Usually after about 3 nights of no beer I can kick the cravings/munchy habit...problem is I REALLY like beer. I go for weeks without it, lose weight, start drinking it again, get the munchies again and start the cycle all over!:drinker:

Fab140

I am usually able to control myself, but this past weekend I failed miserably! I will be lucky if I maintain this week!

Eating all my calories pb before bed or other things don't help me. I am not eating because I am hungry. It is stress. What are some good way to combat stress or break the stress eating?

Thanks

The best advice I have ever received is "write it out". If you write out the stress (or talk it out) you're less likely to harbour the stress and turn it into something else.

cmriverside

I need help!! I can't seem to stop the binge eating at night. I have been working out 5-6 days a week for the past 6 weeks, combining cardio with strength training, but I cannot seem to stop myself from eating at night. I start to crave chocolate or cookies or anything sweet. I have worked out soooo hard for so long and the scale has not budged!! Does anyone out there have any tips to stop the cravings that come at night? It seems as soon as I start to get sleepy, that is when I get the cravings!!!

Are you eating enough - and 5-6 times a day??

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/23912-links-in-mfp-you-want-to-read-again-and-again

:glasses:

saito

When I am feeling the urge to binge. . .I brush my teeth and snuggle in bed with a good book. . .or I might take a relaxing bath. I used to eat a protein bar or sugar-free jello at night, but now I am not eating after 7:30/8:00. It's hard to change habits, but you will feel better. Just say 'no' and shut those pantry doors! You can do it!

aladuke26

I am trying to eat 1200 calories, but if I work out and burn say 500 calories, I will eat those. Should I be eating those extra calories? Usually breakfast is a whole wheat english muffin with pb, and I also drink decaf coffee with sugar free coffee creamer. A lot of my calories in the morning are from all of the coffee creamer I use! Lunch and dinner are usually pretty good; Lunch a tuna fish sandwich and dinner maybe grilled chicken or chicken shish-ka-bobs or chicken stir fry. The binging starts around 9pm or 10pm. I just want to raid the fridge, part of me feels like it is out of boredom. I don't know though.

msarro

Yes, if you're burning 500 calories you eat those as well. Otherwise you'd be at 700 total for the day, and that'd put your body in starvation mode.

aladuke26

Thanks. I think I really need to try something different. I find myself watching tv at night, and as soon as my husband falls asleep on the couch, I raid the fridge! Maybe if I read in bed, that might help.

aladuke26

But it just seems like I am not going to lose weight if I eat those extra calories. I mean once I stop the binge eating at night!!:ohwell:

Phoenix_Rising

I am trying to eat 1200 calories, but if I work out and burn say 500 calories, I will eat those. Should I be eating those extra calories? Usually breakfast is a whole wheat english muffin with pb, and I also drink decaf coffee with sugar free coffee creamer. A lot of my calories in the morning are from all of the coffee creamer I use! Lunch and dinner are usually pretty good; Lunch a tuna fish sandwich and dinner maybe grilled chicken or chicken shish-ka-bobs or chicken stir fry. The binging starts around 9pm or 10pm. I just want to raid the fridge, part of me feels like it is out of boredom. I don't know though.

Sounds exactly like what I do, except I'm only burning 200-300 cals exercising, and I eat them all. My weekends are the worst for nighttime boredom eating. It's boredom or stress everytime that gets me late at night.

dewpearl

This might sound too personal, but I've just had a look at your profile. I've got 0 experience with that, but I heard from a friend that she was like a zombie in the first months after her child was born.

My problem with binging is that it very much relates (along with the stress) with tiredness. If I don't have enough hours of sleep, I am less able to control myself, to say "stop" and not to crave sweets.

So I'd suggest you take it easy on yourself, don't obsess over food, avoid chocolate because it's bad for your little one (if you're breastfeeding) and allow yourself time to adjust to the new situation. Don't plan to lose all the weight in the next couple of weeks. You and your child being healthy is the most important thing and you'll drop the pounds in a little while, you'll see. Once he starts walking and you'll have to run all over the house to protect him :laugh: ...

Sorry for not having a quick fix :blushing: and good luck :flowerforyou:

dewpearl

And join us in the Challenge for BINGERS thread

P.S. Coffee makes me as hungry as a wolf.

jamerz3294

Oh baybee.... I know ALL about night time binging! And aye yup, when I have a nightcap, boy howdy, then I really get the munchies! I dunnoo.... I just try to keep my Food Diary up on my screen till I hit the sheets, it makes me log everything I eat, and then I hafta think about it.

aladuke26

Thanks so much for the advice. I am really hard on myself. My husband keeps telling me that "you just had a baby, and It is gonna take some time to get that weight off." He says I'm doing a really great job, and he is very supportive. I've just never been this heavy in my life, and I just want to fit into my old clothes again. By the way, what is the Challenge for bingers thread?

alf1163

How old is your baby? Are you nursing? When you workout and burn 500cals, is your binging within your 1700 cals you should be eating??

I agree with your husband, if you just had a baby, give yourself time to lose the weight, enjoy your baby, you will lose the weight.

If you are nursing you still have to nourish your body, you are also burning extra calories when your breastfeed. Consult with your doctor before putting yourself on a low calorie diet.

If you are eating over the 1700 cals you should be eating when you workout then you will not lose any weight...

Eat every 2 to 3 hrs so you are not very hungry at night. Do not buy the foods that you tend to binge on. If you are binging on chocolate, cookies, etc do not rebuy when that is gone or better yet, throw it away!!

When you have the urge to binge, drink some water or some tea, or get in the shower or take a bath, brushing your teeth will help as well. Stay away from the fridge/pantry/kitchen. Reading might help, cuddle with your husband, anything to stop you from going in the kitchen. If you have eaten all your calories it is boredom, habit or stress what is pulling you into the kitchen. If you occupy yourself with something else the urge/craving will go away. If you have some calories to spare then have a little of what you are craving. If nothing works and you do binge, pick yourself up and try again the next day...give yourself time, it will get better.

And yes, joing the bingers challenge. I am in this group. We are just posting our challenges and our successes and supporting each other. We post everyday how we did and how many days we have not binged at all. If we fail then we go back to day #1. Some are doing mini 10 day challenges. I am on day 7 today of not binging but this is my third round trying to reach at least 10 days. This is the first time I have gone this far...Join us!!! :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

saito

About the eating your exercise calories. . .no matter how many calories I burn, I still stick to eating 1200-1400 calories. My friend is a trainer and that is what she suggests. . .it's working! If I feel hungry at night, I keep South Beach Protein and Zone Protein bars handy and I drink a tall glass of water. Then I brush my teeth! It takes some getting use to. . .but your body will adjust to not eating at night. That's when your body doesn't need as many calories because it starts to shut down. Just take one day at a time. . .it took me months to get back into my prebaby clothes!

P.S. To get my pregnancy weight off, I did Body For Life. . .

Fitness_Chick

:drinker:

simlane

i like to go to sleep with a little something in my tum.. i make sure i leave enough cals for what i fancy, sometimes it may just be a hot drink but toast or a few breadsticks are what i mostly have, otherwise i dont sleep well knowing i want something. not too helpful but its a suggestion of what i have had to do xx
:flowerforyou:

Fitness_Chick

:drinker: