Night time eating

eras616

I can have great eating during the day, but at night, my eating is a complete disaster. It is so embarrassing. Any pointers? Please help. Again, I exercise and eat great throughout the day. I just can't control myself at night....at all!

jamaicanlady

It used to be so hard for me too, but it gets easier with time. Try and try again. It took about 3 months to rid myself of that bad habit, but now I challenge myself to go to bed hungry every night, and it's not a problem anymore.

stephabef

I didn't have this problem when I first started, but it's crept up on me now. I don't have much less to lose, and each time I have a bad night I feel like I'm going to gain it all back.

taso42

take your dentures out right after dinner

eras616

Challenge myself to go to bed hungry...I like that idea. I usually go to bed completely stuffed. And then I am not hungry in the morning. Thanks!

ilike2moveit

I have the same problem.

taso42

Challenge myself to go to bed hungry...I like that idea. I usually go to bed completely stuffed. And then I am not hungry in the morning. Thanks!

Came back to offer a non-snarky reply...

I think this is a very bad mindset. You should never really go to bed hungry. If you are more comfortable eating at night, then just plan accordingly and make sure you have the calories left to do so. I am the same way - I am most content when I eat near bed time, so my days are usually structured to allow for that.

You should never really feel like you're going hungry. That is not a proper setup for long term success. And long term success is what it's all about. Not dropping a few lbs fast and then stalling or relapsing back to old ways.

TrudyJo195

I totally agree with you. I to sometimes have problems with eating at night. Love the popcorn. But going to bed hungry just keeps me awake until I get out of bed and get into the fridge. So spread those calories out and keep on working out and you should be good to go. If you are hungry and you don't eat then your body thinks it's starving and will store the fat. That's not a good thing, that just causes discouragement.

jamaicanlady

Re: going to bed hungry, I probably should have qualified it. And also, say that it will work for some and not for some. It works great for me and I NEVER wake up in the middle of the night, nor have any problem falling asleep. Actually, I started doing it based on Tony Horton's Power 90 Diet Guide:

"Stop eating 3 hours before bed. By allowing your body to sleep in 'fasting mode' meaning you are not in the midst of digesting a meal, your body will access stored fat for energy. What better time to be slightly hungry anyway than while you sleep? You wake up hungry, and per this plan, you eat breakfast on schedule!*"

* It also requires you to eat breakfast.

Apparently it doesn't work for everyone based on the replies above, but it has been working brilliantly for me. And funny enough, when I wake I'm not even hungry. I wake at 5 am and work out for 1 - 1 1/2 hours and then have my breakfast.

eras616

Thanks for the feedback. Even if there are differences in the responses, I appreciate having them all so that I can look at them and try to find something that works for me.

Saruman_w

Any particular reason why you eat at night? Boredom? Emotional? Or just a habit that's developed or a long period of time? I'd try to find the root cause and deal with that. Find something else to do to keep your mind off wanting to eat.

tcycato

I have the same problem- tried stopping eating after 7pm etc but if I go to bed hungry I wake up, toss and turn for hours and end up getting up at 3am to eat something to go back to sleep. So I save 200 calories from my daily allowance to have a bowl of cereal or bread and honey before I go to bed and sleep well! It might not be right but it is for me now! Quality of sleep transcends the 7pm rule for me.

mkath4

I have the same problem. Once the kids are in bed, the snacks and wine come out. I finally decided that it had to stop (except for the one 5 oz glass of wine.) As soon as dinner is done, I log onto MFP and fill out my food diary for dinner. I add in the wine for later in the evening. If I am short on calories, I will add in some type of fruit for later. Once I click that button, no more food for me. I have already completed my diary.

Acg67

Challenge myself to go to bed hungry...I like that idea. I usually go to bed completely stuffed. And then I am not hungry in the morning. Thanks!

if you're not hungry in the morning, don't eat and instead eat the majority or all your cals at night, that's what i do

Re: going to bed hungry, I probably should have qualified it. And also, say that it will work for some and not for some. It works great for me and I NEVER wake up in the middle of the night, nor have any problem falling asleep. Actually, I started doing it based on Tony Horton's Power 90 Diet Guide:

"Stop eating 3 hours before bed. By allowing your body to sleep in 'fasting mode' meaning you are not in the midst of digesting a meal, your body will access stored fat for energy. What better time to be slightly hungry anyway than while you sleep? You wake up hungry, and per this plan, you eat breakfast on schedule!*"

* It also requires you to eat breakfast.

tony horton is a broscientist and his advice should be taken with a grain of salt

mattquit

i had this problem before. i realized that i was binging (don't know how to spell). eat equally in the morning, afternoon, and night.
what i am trying to say that worked for me is i ate more

AutieBell

Eat smartly at night. Nothing heavy and try to do it at least 2-3 hours before you plan to go to bed. I find fruit or a sugar free pudding or something small can satisfy me without undoing everything I have done with the rest of my day. Just be smart about it and don't get out of control. Keep reminding yourself why you are doing all this. I have always had a problem with night eating because my schedule for work is seriously messed up and sometimes that is the only time I can e at. Just be sensible about it and don't binge. It does take a bit to get used to it but never starve yourself at night.

nygiantschick

take your dentures out right after dinner

LOL...I actually have a tip that I use- I brush my teeth after Im done eating and that is the signal to my body that we will not be eating anymore tonight!! (but the denture removal thing is pretty much the same idea lol).

Also- I set a time and do not eat after that time- for me it's between 7:30 and 8:00 pm so I have at least 2 hours of no eating before bed. Plus make sure you are eating ENOUGH during the day. If you are hungry you may be setting yourself up to eat late. I also like to drink a cup of hot tea (non-caffeinated) at night. I also try to keep myself busy (I do clean in the evening like vacuum/straighten up just to keep me occupied) in the evening and NEVER watch the Food Network at night- too many food cues for me!!!

Like others have said-it will take some time to learn this new habit.

gillleeman

Start your day by logging last nights evening meal and snacks. Then finish your day by logging the following days breakfast and lunch. I struggled to eat less at night, but never had a problem with eating a small breakfast and lunch. I find that by logging my eveing meal and snacks at the beginning of my 'day', I can then stick to calories better. It also helps because I prefer exercising first thing before breakfast. I've had more success since trying this out.

Slimmasaurus

Eat what you need, sensibly - then, when you've had enough, get up and brush your teeth, use mouthwash and floss.
The minty taste suppresses appetite, and I don't know about you but I HATE eating after I've brushed my teeth!!

rachmaree

Perhaps you aren't eating enough during the day and you're just hungry? You could try to 'save' calories for the evening.
There was some good advice in this thread... you need to work out why you're eating. If it's boredom, maybe you could get out of the house in the evening, or find something to do. I try to not keep stuff in the house that I wouldn't want to eat as I'm a definite boredom eater.

servilia

Challenge myself to go to bed hungry...I like that idea. I usually go to bed completely stuffed. And then I am not hungry in the morning. Thanks!

if you're not hungry in the morning, don't eat and instead eat the majority or all your cals at night, that's what i do

Re: going to bed hungry, I probably should have qualified it. And also, say that it will work for some and not for some. It works great for me and I NEVER wake up in the middle of the night, nor have any problem falling asleep. Actually, I started doing it based on Tony Horton's Power 90 Diet Guide:

"Stop eating 3 hours before bed. By allowing your body to sleep in 'fasting mode' meaning you are not in the midst of digesting a meal, your body will access stored fat for energy. What better time to be slightly hungry anyway than while you sleep? You wake up hungry, and per this plan, you eat breakfast on schedule!*"

* It also requires you to eat breakfast.

tony horton is a broscientist and his advice should be taken with a grain of salt

This! If you're not hungry in the morning, don't eat then!

HMonsterX

Remeber that eating late at night will NOT cause you weight loss issue by itself.

What happens is people eat their normal cals during the day, THEN eat more at night, and blame the weight issues on the eating late part, when really its simply a calorie excess.

If you keep your deficit it doesnt matter when you eat at all.

It may help makes keeping to your deficit easier, but metabolically speaking its the same..

I intentionally eat very little during daylight, knowing full well i prefer eating at night, and will be eating at night.

sweetcheeks27

I'm glad I found this thread, my husband works graves so I get bored at night and munch. Thanks for the tips!

AussieNikki

I am a night owl so I always allow myself enough points (I am doing Weight Watchers) to have snacks at night, plus some fruit or a veggie snack

SpringFever19

I also try to keep myself busy (I do clean in the evening like vacuum/straighten up just to keep me occupied) in the evening and NEVER watch the Food Network at night- too many food cues for me!!!

Like others have said-it will take some time to learn this new habit.

I feel like any time I watch Food Network I start drooling... Just thinking about it now has me halfway to the kitchen! I've recognized nighttime snacking as a problem for me for a LONG time: my mother always eats late, because for most of my life she worked second shift, and would need something when she got home around 1130. It's second nature for me to be reaching for something, anything, around 930. I'm aware of it and still working on it. On another post someone suggested Atomic Fire Balls (hot as.... and low cal for a few), which is something I want to try.

GaiaGirl1992

I know how this works....I either wake up around noon or have classes until noon, and that's when I start to get hungry. Then I eat something small around 3 or 4pm, then dinner at 6, then a snack before bed...almost all my cals at night!!!

Julie2402

Hi, i too have had that problem, like one of the other posters i slowly took control of it and i feel really good when i go to bed feeling empty! Try reading or doing something that can help take your mind off the food! Keep perservering, it will get easier!!

jamaicanlady

Challenge myself to go to bed hungry...I like that idea. I usually go to bed completely stuffed. And then I am not hungry in the morning. Thanks!

if you're not hungry in the morning, don't eat and instead eat the majority or all your cals at night, that's what i do

Re: going to bed hungry, I probably should have qualified it. And also, say that it will work for some and not for some. It works great for me and I NEVER wake up in the middle of the night, nor have any problem falling asleep. Actually, I started doing it based on Tony Horton's Power 90 Diet Guide:

"Stop eating 3 hours before bed. By allowing your body to sleep in 'fasting mode' meaning you are not in the midst of digesting a meal, your body will access stored fat for energy. What better time to be slightly hungry anyway than while you sleep? You wake up hungry, and per this plan, you eat breakfast on schedule!*"

* It also requires you to eat breakfast.

tony horton is a broscientist and his advice should be taken with a grain of salt

I wasn't quoting Tony as an expert by any means. Just showing why I started doing this. Like I said, it works great for me.

ashiggins

Hey Erin! I have the same problem, I really liked one person's idea of brushing your teeth at night when you're done eating---this helps me! Also, I would suggest making your food diary available to your friends. This way, your friends can hold you accountable and see how much you are snacking. Mine is open to my friends and it makes me very aware when I go log 500+ calories of snacking for the night---it may help you think twice about having that extra cookie or bowl of icecream Good luck! I'm here for ya!