Old Habits Are Hard To Break

emrj0810

I have been fully dedicated to MFP for about three weeks now, and I am quite proud of my determination to continue. I haven't been able to stick with a weight loss regimine ever; until now that is! I have lost 8 pounds so far, and can't wait to keep seeing the numbers on the scale go down.

The problem that I am having is, I tend to have about 300 or so calories left after dinner, which leads to snacking at night. I have heard before that eating at night is not good for your body. I am usually up pretty late into the night, and I have a bad habit of having to eat while we watch our evening TV shows. I make sure to stay under my calorie goal with my snacks, but they generally make my sodium levels go over (Pretzels or Salsa and Celery tend to be my snacks of choice). I try my best to drink my 8 glasses of water a day, but that doesn't always happen.

I feel always guilty for eating so late at night. Do I need to start eating larger meals so that I don't have "snacking" calories left?(btw, I am not necessarily HUNGRY when I am snacking, I think I just do it because of habit) Or, is it ok to snack at night as long as I'm not surpassing my goal?

Maryfullofgrace

Can you go to bed earlier? I sometimes snack at night too, and I find if I go to bed, even if I don't actually go to sleep but read or do a puzzle or something, it keeps my brain engaged so I don't end up snacking. Or what the heck go to bed and get extra sleep! Sounds good to me!

MB_Positif

I am also a night snacker and I try to save calories for it. It doesn't really matter when you eat your calories, I am pretty sure the eating late thing is a myth, good luck! Feel free to add me as a friend!

MB_Positif

Can you go to bed earlier? I sometimes snack at night too, and I find if I go to bed, even if I don't actually go to sleep but read or do a puzzle or something, it keeps my brain engaged so I don't end up snacking. Or what the heck go to bed and get extra sleep! Sounds good to me!

I personally wake up starving like a maniac if I try this! I have low blood sugar so I really do have to eat something after dinner or I start to feel crazy CUTE DOG!

emrj0810

Going to bed earlier isn't always an option (I have a 2 year old and a 1 year old that think it's fun to fight bedtime ) lol, but keeping my mind engaged in something else like a puzzle or a book is a great idea!

kandyjo

Would it even help you to have bigger meals and no calories left if you snack outta habit anyway?

If you just HAVE to snack, cut up some apple slices or something... Something with less sodium and that is healthy anyway...
I'm a snacker, but I just have to purposely tell myself "NO"... I usually get a GIANT glass of water and sip on that and it seems to help.... sometimes, I do hit the crackers or soemthing, but I just have to get firm with myself and not allow myself to go overboard....

Good luck!

kandyjo

Don't know if it's a myth or not, but if I eat later, I don't lose like I do when I eat earlier.... I have heard the saying about eating BIG for breakfast and tappering your meals down throughout the day.... to where your evening meal is smaller and not as many cals as your breakfast... I know that I FEEL better when I eat like this and the scale is kinder when it is weigh-in day... So, maybe it's not so much of a myth.... or maybe I'm just weird :laugh:

I am also a night snacker and I try to save calories for it. It doesn't really matter when you eat your calories, I am pretty sure the eating late thing is a myth, good luck! Feel free to add me as a friend!

kmbrooks15

It doesn't really matter when you eat as long as you stay under your calorie goal. There are some who swear by not eating after 7:00 PM, but I haven't found it to be a problem. If you're concerned about sodium, try having a smoothie or some yogurt instead. Sometimes I have a Skinny Cow ice cream bar (only 100 calories). Also, I will have a cup of hot tea (I like flavored teas...my favorite at nighttime is Celestial Seasonings' Sleepytime Vanilla) with a little Splenda...that kind of helps curb the munchies. Often, I'll drink the hot tea sitting up in bed and end up sleepy enough that I put the cup on the night stand and go to sleep almost immediately. You can also try some of the Smart Pop popcorn if you want something salty but not too salty; they have mini bags that are 100 calories each.

I get the nighttime munchies, too, after my kids go to bed. I think it's emotional eating because that's kind of a lonely time of day for me since my husband is not in my life any more. I try to play a game on my smartphone while I watch tv, or read if there's nothing on. I get my Kindle Fire in a couple of weeks, so that will help, too. If I keep my hands occupied, I'm less likely to eat!

emrj0810

I think that's my problem as well, I feel like I have to constantly be using my hands to eat, so the popcorn would be a good option for me (ice cream bars only last so long, then I feel bored again!) lol

(I too, am looking forward to my Kindle Fire! )

Amandaconda21

You and I are always discussing food! lol funny. Anyway, I believe in staying under your calorie goal and that is all that matters. Who cares if you wake up at 1am to snack, or eat pretzels while you watch TV. It is a hard habit to break, I know. You have firsthanded witnessed my ravenous snacking. I agree that you need to find something to do with your hands or just pick something like an apple, or popcorn. Surprisingly I have managed to curb my snacking A LOT. It's hard! If you need that salty fill, get low sodium popcorn, if it exists, and get a no sodium seasoning, that tastes like salt. Also, I know how much you love cereal! I have discovered that special K with 1/2 cup of skim milk, 2 splendas, and a small, cut-up banana is just as good as that super sweet **** we love It runs me about 200 something calories. I usually do it at breakfast time, but if you can afford for you evening snack..YUM! Good job keep it up!

wolfchild59

I eat late all the time and still see losses on the scale the next morning. I workout late at night and usually eat something when I get back. Heck, the other night I got home at 11:20pm had half a s'mores cupcake and two servings of PB2, showere and went straight to bed. Woke up bathe next morning to a lower number on the scale.

I often eat pumpkin seeds, PB2, mini Luna bars, Greek yogurt...basically whatever we have around and strikes my fancy, if I have a higher than expected burn for the day and haven't eaten enough to stay at a 1000cal or less deficit. I've eaten food while sitting in bed and laid down and gone to sleep with no ill effects. Our bodies burn calories whether we're awake or asleep, so I don't buy into the whole eating late myth.

Ultimately, I burn 1-1.2 cal per minute when I sit at my desk at work. I burn .9-1.1 cal per minute while I sleep. I eat every two-ish hours at work and I sleep for six-ish hours each night. So, the way I see it, having a snack close to bed time isn't going to cause any harm because my body will just burn it off while I sleep anyway.