Insomnia from eating too little?

krissypea79

Hi guys - I was wondering if anyone has experienced any sleep problems that they can attribute to too few calories? Or maybe it is because I am trying to be done with all my meals by 8pm, so when I stay up until say, 11 or 12, I am hungry again? Should I be eating my last snack a little bit later on nights I am staying up later? I am curious because right now it's midnight and I have been lying in bed restless. Granted I am an over-thinker by nature, and I am going through a self-induced breakup (just happened today) and am by no means feeling proud of it, so it's on my mind...but overall I feel relieved with my decision, so I think there might be more to it than that - has anyone experienced a difficulty falling asleep and/or staying asleep when cutting back on calories? Do you think I should be eating later, rather than being done by 8? I am not an extreme night owl, but there are nights, like tonight, where I am up until 11 or 12. If I'm going to do this, I want to do it right!!! Thanks in advance for any input!

~Kristin

pink59eldo

I've been having the same problem but I finally started losing weight, so I thought I'd get over it. Over the weekend I threw off my routine and I've gained it back now I'm back into the routine of starving by the time I go to bed. I wake up several times at night because I'm hungry or just restless..it's weird. I wish I had an answer for you, but I'm curious as well.

CPrincipeDeSA

If I'm hungry I have difficulty sleeping. Then I'll usually have a glass of milk (2% or no-fat of course). Or I also heard that bananas have a sleep inducing chemical. Maybe half a banana. A cup of hot tea is good too. Just something to settle the stomach a little bit.

MissMaryMac33

If you have calories left and it's late at night....eat something. It really doesn't matter all that much when you eat them.

I do find if I eat carbs before bed I don't sleep as well -- so usually I will just have some greek yogurt or string cheese (if i'm doing ok on sodium that day)

krissypea79

I usually do chamomile tea, but the past few nights, that hasn't even worked! I resorted to my Melatonin last night because that works, and although it's natural, I only take it as needed. I do feel hungry and my stomach is grumbling, so perhaps a banana or something would work. I will try that next time - thanks for the replies so fast!!!

Contrarian

There is no reason to stop eating at a particular time. If you feel peckish, have a snack.

krissypea79

Looks like I will try moving my last snack (which IS usually a Greek yogurt - I am obsessed with it!) up a little later then, on nights I choose to stay up. So maybe instead of making sure I have it at 8, I'll have it at 9 or 10 - thanks for the suggestion!

krissypea79

There is no reason to stop eating at a particular time. If you feel peckish, have a snack.

Thanks! I have read so much competing information about this. I guess WHAT you choose to eat later at night matters more than actually eating later at night. When I worked in the restaurant biz, I would come home (sometimes at 2am or later) and eat pizza or a sandwich...probably not AS good to eat late at night, but a banana or some yogurt I would imagine would be just fine.

killagb

There is no reason to stop eating at a particular time. If you feel peckish, have a snack.

Thanks! I have read so much competing information about this. I guess WHAT you choose to eat later at night matters more than actually eating later at night. When I worked in the restaurant biz, I would come home (sometimes at 2am or later) and eat pizza or a sandwich...probably not AS good to eat late at night, but a banana or some yogurt I would imagine would be just fine.

Still really doesn't matter as long as you are maintaining a calorie deficit.