How do you stop from snacking at night?

kristidem

I've gotten myself in to a bad habit of snacking at night (too many corn chips with melted cheese). What do you to not snack at night?

dls06

I don't. I save calories. I am a big night eater and there is no way I could stop.

HMonsterX

I don't. I save calories. I am a big night eater and there is no way I could stop.

This. No reason NOT to eat at night, as long as you keep that calorie deficit.

avk9802

Drink a bunch of water.
I snack at night a lot too. 7-eleven fruit cups are my favorite night time snack.

SageGoddess320

I brush my teeth. Everything tastes like crap after you brush your teeth :sick:

jacksonpt

I shop better. I'm much less likely to snack if there's nothing in the house I want.

I'm a VERY disciplined shopper. Eater? Not so much.

Floridaboiler

The brush your teeth idea is a great one.

I have to force myself to not eat. I will sometimes just start chewing gum like crazy so at least I have something going on.

Purse_lady

:flowerforyou: I snack on things are "free" foods like celery (no peanut butter or cream cheese), carrots, cuccumbers, etc. Or if I've allowed for some extra calories, I will eat a Slim Fast 200 calorie bar or 1-2 100 calorie snack packs.

piratetink

oh, good question! That's really been one of the things wrecking me - a few "treats" after everyone else goes to bed. I have found that having a cup of tea (usually decaf, herbal or flavored) and playing Words with Friends has been helping me keep my mind off of what might be in the cabinet to eat.

kaybelmore

If you feel like your late night snacking is going to far there are a couple of great tricks that work pretty well for me. Might be worth giving them a try.
1) Create a ritual for snacking. Pick a specific time at night and your favorite snack and make a habit of out it. For example between 9:30-10pm every night i have my fav snack (a bowl of cereal with fresh berries and almond milk). This method lets you snack but it gives you something to look forward to and if you take the time to prep something that's a little treat it will mean more.

2) It sounds silly but brushing your teeth will help too. If I'm bored, not hungry, and just looking to nash for something to do, I'll brush my teeth a little early. Once your mouth is all minty fresh you will be less likely to want to eat.

But if you are really hungry, by all means you should eat ^.^;

monty_williams

I don't know about the corn chips, but if you like a late night snack, allocate some calories for it in your diet plan. Alot of people, myself included, like to eat something before going to bed, there's nothing wrong with that, you just have to plan for it. For a diet to be successful, you have to be able to adhere to it, so make it part of your planned food intake.

MJ7910

i tell myself that i am done eating and i am done... 7 pm... protein shake after workout. that's it. then i just don't go in the kitchen. i know i can't have anything so what is the point. my calories are tracked for the day and i'm done. that's it.

blethenam

oh, good question! That's really been one of the things wrecking me - a few "treats" after everyone else goes to bed. I have found that having a cup of tea (usually decaf, herbal or flavored) and playing Words with Friends has been helping me keep my mind off of what might be in the cabinet to eat.

Yes, Words With Friends keeps me from snacking at night, too.

Captain_Tightpants

I drop three teaspoons of Benefiber into my water bottle at about 7 or 8pm and chug the whole thing. It's been working to fill me up nicely for the evening.

fatboy235

I drink water and after I put my son to bed either go work on a wood project in the garage or put in a first person shooter on the PS3.

prism6

flavored water and light popcorn

alisatomp

i drink coffee and eat some crackers ..it helps a lot.

Teirza

I don't keep snacks in the house. My weakness is ice cream and if it were there I'd eat it without control, though since I've used MFP and been able to see exactly what my food looks like broken down into calories, sugar, protein etc. it's easier to keep it in check. If it's not there you won't eat it. You could keep some popcorn if you are dedicated to eating at that time or eat throughout the day planning for you to have a few extra calories in the evening.

But really, don't buy the chips and cheese. Drink a glass of water. Brush your teeth. And post your food diary. I'm less likely to eat after I've posted for the world to see that I'm done eating.

LisaMom2Lucas

I have to have something to eat at night.. we eat early with the kids, around 5:30-6:00PM and I'm up until 11 or 12 most nights, I've tried not eating but I cannot go to bed hungry, I just can't fall asleep.

So like the other posters, I just plan for something. I try to allocate around 200-300 calories, if I eat less, that's great, but again, I know I HAVE to eat at night so I'd rather have extra calories, than use up all of my calories during the day and still eat something at night KWIM?

The one thing I have changed with my nightly snack is instead of junk that I used to eat (chips, sweets, etc) I'll try to have a mini meal, a mini bagel with light cream cheese, a bowl of cereal with skim milk, toast w/ a little pb and low sugar jelly, string cheese and ham roll ups, some fruit, etc.

EuroDriver12

night eating is the worse as after u eat u either sit on the coach or go to bed n what do you think happens to all the calories n carbs???

why do you have chips in the house anyway??? have healthy foods instead so if u do get "cravings" n u bindge its on almonds, apples, healthy foods with protein or good macros!

other good solution is.. GO TO SLEEP EARLIER! lol

bcattoes

I've always been a night eater. I often eat half my daily calories after 9:00 p.m. (I eat late dinners). I have a desk job so I just don't need many calories during the day.

JGT2004

I snack at night instead of eating a big meal. Save calories for it during the day. And a suggestion instead of corn chips and cheese... I've been hooked on the Laughing Cow cheese wedges with reduced fat wheat thins. I like a lot of the cheese so I do 2 wedges for 1 serving of chips and I measure it out. It fills the salty/crunchy/cheesy void for me.

Plus they have a ton of different flavors of cheese (regular swiss, french onion, garlic, and my absolute fav... queso blanco).

HMonsterX

night eating is the worse as after u eat u either sit on the coach or go to bed n what do you think happens to all the calories n carbs???

Depends if you have created a calorie deficit for the day. WHEN you eat is irrelevant.

Run4UrHealth

I just commented on a peanut butter thread. I was say that when I get hungry right before bed I get a spoonful of peanut butter and I am satisfied.

tmthy99

I am a huge late night eater so i just try to keep busy doing something other than wonder into the kitchen, i do try to hold some calories in case i absolutely need a snack. There are great snacks for late night just try this " i will only eat from the fridge after 6pm " so that means no chips or candy ...

melsinct

Will power. Eat a filling dinner and break the habit of snacking at night. If you do snack, choose good foods that fit within your calorie goal.

MelissaW1978

Once I'm done eating for the day, I hit the "complete" button and go brush my teeth. After that I only drink water and eat nothing. Also I have an upstairs and I try not to go downstairs (where the kitchen is located) once I brush my teeth. These are my tricks and they seem to work well for me. Good luck:-)

gorgeouss9

keep some calories left over for night snacking. and try to snack on protein filled foods: cheese, milk, etc.

j77r68

I do a few things. I wait awhile to see if i am actually hungry because that is part of the reason why I look the way I do right now. I try to have some water first to see if that will satisfy my hunger pang. But if I have some calories left I will try to find something that will not affect my numbers. Or I brush my teeth like other members suggested, orrrrr, I just go to bed depending on the time of night.
I know being on this site has helped me HUGE, I am doing so well right now at controlling my calorie intake.
Good Luck

sbrooks0387

i complete my food diary. or brush my teeth. i also have started drinking a lot of tea at night so i don't snack.

melsmith612

I shop better. I'm much less likely to snack if there's nothing in the house I want.

I'm a VERY disciplined shopper. Eater? Not so much.

This! And I keep things like mini bags of popcorn, baby carrots, and almonds around for weak moments. Also, I find that if I eat a mid-morning snack I'm able to hold off on eating lunch until 12:30 or 1pm and with eating lunch later I tend to eat dinner around 6:30 or 7pm and then there's less time available for snacking before bed.