How to avoid late-night snacking?

bpurc22

Oh I mean SNACKING. Not just a few pretzels or some peanut butter, I mean I start eating and can't stop and destroy my goal & progress.

How do I stop this? Ugh

kbanzhaf

Could you treat your kitchen like a restaurant? After 7 PM (or whenever you eat supper/dinner), it is 'closed' and off-limits. You can't order a meal once a restaurant is closed......you can't get food from your kitchen once it has 'closed' for the night.

Be sure you are eating a supper/dinner with protein which can help to keep you feeling full longer.

OR.....save some calories for a late-night snack--but have a plan for that snack. You could even take it out of your kitchen ahead of time, so you can use the kitchen is closed concept as well.

Good luck! It's a hard habit to break.
Kaye

auntdeedee87

I save cucumbers or pickles for those times.

I can eat an entire cucumber and not feel guilty. I feel full, but it's not going to undo my day. Also, sugar-free Jello.

I also will pick up a pack of chewing gum and keep my mouth busy that way.

It's mind over matter! If you absolutely can't concentrate on anything else, have something, but control yourself, and make it a good choice that you won't regret.

Sidesteal

Oh I mean SNACKING. Not just a few pretzels or some peanut butter, I mean I start eating and can't stop and destroy my goal & progress.

How do I stop this? Ugh

Instead of changing this behavior, have you ever attempted to just eat less calories during the day so that you can snack at night without going over your daily goals for intake?

Candeka

I'm a late night snacker as well and what works for me is coming on this site. Anytime my brain starts to crave icecream or chips or something (I live with other people so those things are always in my house).... I just log onto this site or a different one to distract me!

rayleansout

Go to bed early and get up earlier to do morning cardio, a few days of that and you will be ready for bed early!

Cdcaldwe

Benadryl.....lol

tessaquinn

i have the same problem! even if i am deathly full, i continue eating! i have a serious problem!

Helloitsdan

I recommend you eat a bowl of cereal before bed.
GO!

SwankyTomato

I drink water. It is a HARD habit to break, but you can do it.

healthier_shana

I have a huge problem with this also! Honestly, I just go to sleep earlier than I used to and find I eat less. Or if not to sleep, it helps me to at least close down the kitchen and be in my bedroom with everything I need (water, laptop, book, whatever) by 8pm, so I have no reason/excuse to be in the kitchen.

gentlebreeze2

I am a late nite snacker... but I plan my snacks (and the rest of my menu) the day before. I won't give up my snacking, but planning keeps everything under my calorie goal. On those days when I need more, I make sure I get the calorie burn in to cover them.

IHeartNewMe

A few suggestions come to mind:
--Try eating more calories during the day. So, not so hungry at night.
--Eat a bigger portion of protein at dinner, like suggested above.
--Drink more water throughout the day, and a nice big tumbler of water with dinner.
--Drink a cup of cocoa or decaf at night. SwissMiss makes a delicious "diet" cocoa called Sensible Sweets. It's really satisfying.
--Drink a protein shake at night after dinner like EAS AdvantEdge. They really fill me up.

Hope some of these suggestions help.

TheYankeeBelle

It seems like this is more of a distraction/boredom issue. I would agree with the other poster about logging onto this website. I also follow a lot of fitness and weightloss Twitter feeds and they are constantly posting articles that are motivating, so I read that when I have the urge to do something/eat something that will undo my progress. And one look at old photos of myself will definitely put a curb on snacking. Make a new habit to replace your snacking; whatever you can do to distract yourself, do it for 21 days straight. That's how long they say it takes to create a new habit. Good luck and keep us posted!

jamielynnbruh

When dieting and exercising your body craves crunchiness! Eat some crisp celery, or a pickle! Or some lettuce! Anything crunchy! and it will help with those late night snacking! Also, sometimes your body can mistake dehydration for hunger so make sure you are drinking plenty of water throughout your day!

kenyonsmom10

Oh I mean SNACKING. Not just a few pretzels or some peanut butter, I mean I start eating and can't stop and destroy my goal & progress.

How do I stop this? Ugh

Drink A BIG glass of water.... I mean BIG and GULP it do not sip it..... it works.... eventually you will not even feel like eating at night. Also you can do this right before going to bed.

jlewis2896

I drink tea or coffee -- nice and warm and not too calorie-laden.

Also? I made a resolution to floss every single night this year. This makes me NOT want to eat afterwards, so I do my dental ritual early -- and I spend a lot of time on it -- so I don't want to eff it up by eating afterwards.

artemis222

Oh I mean SNACKING. Not just a few pretzels or some peanut butter, I mean I start eating and can't stop and destroy my goal & progress.

How do I stop this? Ugh

Instead of changing this behavior, have you ever attempted to just eat less calories during the day so that you can snack at night without going over your daily goals for intake?

^This.

I used to be a huge snacker. I like to keep veggies and fruit around to snack on. If you're looking for something more fibrous and salty try just having one serving of Triscuits. There's nothing wrong with eating at night. I try to not have any unhealthy snacks around the house. Period.

raquelfrederick

Brush your teeth, nothing tastes good after that

judgejava

Put of a photo of yourself on the cupboard or fridge or the packets of the snacks you would eat, if you like the way you look then its not a problem i guess,if you dont then it may stop you snacking, or a sticky note with your weight on and your goal weight.

If this dont stop you snacking you dont really want to change anything so again not a problem.

Or everytime you want to snack down a pint of cold water, it will satiate you

Cheers

ywhitted

I have this issue myself... The things I try are
A big glass of water.
If water will not do, the light yoplait yogurts. they come in dessert flavors(100 -110 calories)
Or a the sherbert push pops (depending the brand 50 - 80 calories) -only 1 though

cbbarge

This used to be my problem because I'm a bored eater. I started eating dinner later. I get home from the YMCA at 7:30 and usually finish my dinner after 8:00. Once I'm done dinner and have my final portion controlled snack, I close out my diary and then I know I'm done for the night. I still see my husband snacking late at night but I'm not even tempted at all!

cal1973

Oh I mean SNACKING. Not just a few pretzels or some peanut butter, I mean I start eating and can't stop and destroy my goal & progress.

How do I stop this? Ugh

Instead of changing this behavior, have you ever attempted to just eat less calories during the day so that you can snack at night without going over your daily goals for intake?

I do this.. ^^

missjelika

This is what I do: before I snack after I know I should be done eating, I enter the thing I feel like snacking on in my food diary, just looking at my cals go into the red is enough to let me know it is not worth it. :noway:

CharlieBarleyMom

OK - I know where you're coming from. I am at that point too... it is not about hunger all the time. Sometimes it starts out as hunger, but we've come so far we know we can overlook a small hunger pang when we don't really have the calories budgeted for another snack.

For me this happens when I get home from work at midnight. Sometimes it is innocent (dangerous) thoughts that I need to satisfy a small craving - and then who knows how many tortilla chips (baked not fried as they may be, they're still laden with salt, calories, and guilt) enter my gullet... only to realize that the craving wasn't satisfied -- not even mollified! Nope - just gets bigger and more out of control.

The other night I stood in my kitchen after having fed the dog thinking - This is not the time to be opening those chips Peg - you are a little hungry but those chips are not going to do it for you... well, what WILL do it? I don't know... maybe a bowl of cereal... too many calories... because I'd need 2 servings so between Almond Milk and the cereal I was looking at 240 calories... so instead I BELIEVED my small inner voice that said I AM STRONG and just need a few tortilla chips.

At least 2 servings of tortilla chips later (140 cal each) - a handful of walnuts or two - two or three fistfuls of organic granola cereal (210 cal per serving) - I finally decided that I'd better have that bowl of cereal before I do some HUGE damage to my day.

I had a couple hundred calories left from the day -- but I went over of course. My biggest problem was what I call "piggie eating" - it is non-measuring, snuffalufagus eating! Just eating like there won't be enough time to get it all in if I don't work it. That's what I need to work on -- I am working on it.

I am starting to not allow food into my kitchen that is not separated into individual servings. I think that is my downfall and may be the same for the OP. If you had a bag of one serving you could eat through it and not feel so bad... but if you allow free feeding (which is what I allow for my cats) you lose control. I lose control too. This is a deep-seeded issue that you need to work on - find the issue behind it. When you can name it you can start to control it.

SusanRenee35

I also get the munchies later in the evening as well & I like to add a snack to my food diary first thing in the morning a little snack for myself & then shape my day around it. I like filling up on tea also. My fav snack is the frozen yogurt's from chapman's> They don't tastle like yogurt at all but jusy like regular ice cream! They have many naughty flavors as well so it seems to satisfy me!

Marisa223

I drink a ton of tea. I browse through the tea isle when I am grocery shopping too, so I have a variety at hand. I also like the idea of setting a cutoff window for food. Mine is no snacking after 8:00. Only tea, and if I need something I stick to a small serving of fruit or vegetables.

A friend of mine made a sign for her fridge that said, "If you're not hungry enough to eat an apple..... YOU'RE NOT HUNGRY!" It is a simple but very effective way to remind yourself to check in with you're body.

dls06

I don't! I plan out my day to include late night. I have always been a late night eater and plan to continue so I make it fit. I don't believe it's when you eat it's what you eat.

Breakfast
Sugars - Granulated (sucrose), 1 tsp 16 4 0 0 0 0
Coffee - Black, 10 fl oz 0 0 0 0 0 0
Milk - Reduced fat, 2% milkfat, 1 fl oz 15 1 1 1 13 2
Spices - Cinnamon, ground, 0.25 tsp 2 0 0 0 0 0

Lunch
Thomas' - Sahara Whole Wheat Mini Pita Pockets, 1 Loaf (28g) 70 14 1 3 160 0
Generic - Beef Rib Eye Roast, 1.5 oz 102 0 7 14 37 41
Alpine Lace - 25% Reduced Fat Swiss Cheese, 0.75 oz 70 1 5 6 90 15
Mister Mustard - Hot Mustard, 1 tsp 5 1 0 0 80 0

Snack
Clementines - Raw, 1 fruit (74g) 35 9 0 1 1 0

Dinner
Chicken Breast - Boneless Correct, 3.5 oz 152 0 2 33 29 87
Grilled Eggplant - Eggplant, 6 ounces 41 5 0 2 0 0
Mccormick's - Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning, 0.5 tsp 3 1 0 0 373 0
zucchini and yellow squash , 1 serving 83 10 5 4 16 0
Generic - Pepperidge Farms, Light Style, 7 Grain Bread, 2 slice 90 18 0 4 150 0
1 Tbsp Smart Balance Light W/ Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Buttery Spread, 0.5 tablespoon 25 0 3 0 35 0

Snack
Orville Redenbacher's - Popcorn, Smartpop, , 1 bg 260 48 4 8 320 0
Cucumber - Raw Peeled, 3 slice 3 1 0 0 0 0

Snack
Mister Mustard - Hot Mustard, 0.5 tsp 3 1 0 0 40 0
Thomas' - Sahara Whole Wheat Mini Pita Pockets, 1 Loaf (28g) 70 14 1 3 160 0
Hellmans - Real Mayonaise, 0.5 tbs 45 0 5 0 45 3
Chicken Breast - Boneless Correct, 1.5 oz 65 0 1 14 12 37
Calories Carbs Fat Protein Soduim Choles
Totals 1,155 128 35 93 1,561 185
Your Daily Goal 1,410 159 47 88 2,500 300

stevenronaldson

You seem to eat a massive amount of junk food... chocolate and sweets every day, sometimes for breakfast! It shouldn't be that difficult to replace them with something more nutritious that will leave you extra calories for a bigger snack later in the evening if you want one.

I do the same, I often snack on something while I wait on the kettle to boil, or if I head to the toilet, I poke my head into the kitchen and have a handful of something, but if you actually want to cut fat as your profile suggests I think you need to be looking at snacks that are less packed with sugar and empty calories

th2much

this is what works for me Once dinner is done I clean up kitchen and go upstairs . If I stay down watching tv I know I would like to snack but if I am upstairs I will talk myself out of coming down to get snack. I also keep cucumber/celery sticks to snack on in daytime when I am down stairs.

Kasedilla718

I will tell you what I do that works for me....As soon as I get done eating dinner I go straight to the bathroom and brush my teeth. I am too lazy to have to brush more than once so it truly helps to keep me out of the kitchen.