Night Snacker...

Yeah I said snacker not stalker. I sometimes have trouble sleeping or staying asleep. When I get up I head to the kitchen. Usually I can control it but sometimes ( like last night) I go completely off my nut. Any tips short of chaining myself to the bed?

Replies

Sue_Smiles

I keep water on my nightstand and take a drink. If that doesn't stop the hunger pains, then it's time to get up and have a piece of fruit.

waverly9876

Drink a big glass of water. But if that doesnt fill u up, I say have few almonds or nuts.

MZNIKKIBOO

BUMP--OMG I DO IT TOO LAST NIGHT ESPECIALLY MY HUBBY BROUGHT SOME SNACKS FOR KIDS HOME AND THEY WHERE ON COUNTER I JUST WANTED SOME SO BAD SO EACH TIME I GOT UP I GOT SOME!! BAD ME!! I KNOW!! BUT I THINK IMA GET SOME MINI CANDY BARS AND ALLOW TO HAVE EM ONCE IN A WHILE SO I DONT HAVE TO HAVE IT WHEN I SEE THEM!

emmerrs

This may or not be helpful, but recently I've been sticking with this mantra: we can't control our feelings but we can control our choices.

I'm a big mindless eater and an emotional eater. I find taking satisfaction in having the self control to stop making bad choices one at a time gives me even more will power to keep going. When you get up and walk into the kitchen just think to yourself "Am I really hungry? Does this fit with my goals for the day??"

Sometimes you really just want something, but making yourself responsible and owning up to the fact that YOU are consciously making a bad choice or eating when you don't need to helps me.

That said, eat when you're hungry and try to find something that's low cal. I LOVE sweets, and chocolate so I nearly died of happiness when I discovered Jello pudding (refrigerated) that's only 60 calories per cup. It's normally enough to kill the craving and I don't feel too bad, even if I do go over my goal with it.

sleepytexan

My son has this issue; in his case I believe it is caused or exacerbated by a med that he takes for anxiety. We have been weaning him off it and he will be done this week; we have seen some improvement.

If you take any meds, check to see if Night Eating Syndrome (NES) is a possible side-effect. If yes, see what you can do to change or eliminate those meds.

You may also find improvement by eating a hearty breakfast and taking Melatonin and possibly Valerian Root (natural supplements available at health food stores) about 1/2 hour before bedtime.

Melatonin is lacking in many people with NES. It is a naturally occurring substance in humans that helps you fall asleep. Valerian Root (stinky!) assists people in STAYING asleep through the night.

On a practical note, you could plan for the extra calories, and make sure to eliminate all bad foods from the house.

best of luck and blessings.

GooneyAngel

I used to be the worst about getting up at night and snacking! Unhealthy snacks, too! That was a big downfall for me. I slowly rid my kitchen of ALL cookies, chips, ice cream....etc... you get the picture. And in it's place put healtheir snacks. Fruits, veggies. Now when i get up "hungary", I will have a banana, apple or celery....It took a lot of telling myself that I would not get something to eat!! It took me about 3 months of talking myself out of eating when I woke at night. Now I wake up, but most of the time, do not eat anything. It is a tough habit to break, but, patience and self-disipline worked for me.

BossLady5

I find that if I the earlier I eat dinner, lets say between 5:30-6:30p if I'm not in bed sleeping by the 11ish area i'm craving snacks :explode: :explode: :explode: . If I eat by lets say 7ish, I'm ok the rest of the night :blushing: . I don't know what it is...