Late Night Eating

bethany_jurries

I know I should not be eating at night. My trainer says that the carbs and cals at night are hard for the body to digest but at night I always get a craving to eat something. It is about an hour or two before bed and then I regret it. I do not go over my cals until the snack I eat. I do not know if there is some trick or something to help me change this. I think if I were to stop the snack at night I would lose so much more weight. I need some tips or advice. Anything that has worked for anyone else?
Thanks and God Bless!


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tammietifanie

Try drinking Tea I have the same problem and i find when i drink a big cup of tea it helps me to stop craving... I also tell myself no eating after 8pm and no carbs after 4pm If you do crave something try air popped popcorn... NO butter

ldbenincasa

Uugh! I feel your pain and frustration. Night is my hardest time as well, especially if my husband is snacking. The only advice I really have is to brush your teeth. I find that food doesn't taste so good after I brush. I am interested in hearing the advice you get. Last night I ate an entire box of Special K Crackers. I opened them just to get a few, but made the mistake of eating them out of the box instead of counting out my serving and putting the box away. I kept count for quite a while, then just gave up and ate the entire box. Uugh!

amyalwaysonline6

Try saving some calories for a small snack. I don't think it really matters what time of the day you are eating. Try brushing your teeth, I can never eat anything after I brush my teeth.

BrendaLee

Save a couple of hundreds calories until bedtime. There's really no problem, from a weight loss standpoint, in having a snack before bed.

ivykivy

Yes I save at least 500 cals for night times. If I get hungry at 2am I just log it on the next day. Your digestive system works fine at night. But if you're worried choose a protein snack instead.

Save a couple of hundreds calories until bedtime. There's really no problem, from a weight loss standpoint, in having a snack before bed.

bethany_jurries

Thanks everyone very much. I know today I got into a cooking mood and made a bunch of chocolate chip cookies and then I ate two just before I posted this! I will have to try those tips!

inigomontoya

I had a friend who was a weight lifter and he would get up 3x a night to eat to keep his metabilism up. he would eat a bowlI of mixed veggies, california mix. he would lose fat by eating more!

thumper44

I satisfy a couple of cravings with my chocolate protein shake at night.

Sometimes 1/2 a banana is added - sometimes 1tbsp of Peanut butter.

pcbta

a lot of professionals also say it doesn't matter WHEN you eat, just how much. eat when your body tells you to....

Cindy

TaraJ16

the last time i eat is at 8 and i go to bed at 11. i find if i eat any later then that then i have a hard time sleeping because i feel sick.

i have huge mugs that hold 2 cups (16oz) of water. So at about 9:30 when i'm starting to feel hungry and like i want to snack i just make myself a cup of tea. i add a tiny bit of milk and a pack of splenda. and by time i'm done by tea i'm not hungry anymore

Peschuntz

Night eating is not necessarily psychological. In fact, low serotonin levels, also responsible for depression (but physiologically based), can cause hunger at night. Many of us crave carbs, which have a known effect of increasing serotonin levels. The question is: Why can't we crave something good for us, like broccoli or carrots?

pillboy

but is eating late at night really that bad? i have a decent size bowl of cereal every night like special k or bran flakes and its double the recommended serving suggestion about 12 every night about an hour before i go bed,and i have lost 56lbs in 4 months,i have a friend who is a pro body builder he says its not that important if you eat late at night or not if your goal is purely weight loss your body can not tell the time,as long as you exercise and active and watch what you eat you will lose weight

christine918

I eat a 100 calorie bag of popcorn, and a 90 calorie frozen yogurt (chocolate) ice cream cone like right before I go to bed every night if not more than that! As long as I have the calories left, I loose weight. If I don't I gain. I have gained and lost 4-5 lbs in one day depending if I go over my calories or not. I have lost 20 lbs all together though. 159 then 137 now.

Lyndo

I have 3 kids & baking is one of the best things I do...
but until I am strong enough, & have enough will-power I told I cannot bake for them, So no more cookies no more cakes & pies.... I am still a great mom without all those yummy things,
when I become better at eating my portions then I will bake again!!!:drinker:

I do not eat after 6pm those are my rules

rachelmommy1

Yeah.....I completely wrecked my whole day yesterday. I'm an emotional eater so when my guy and I argued last night I headed straight for the pot pie in the freezer and the slice of cheesecake in the fridge......not only did i wreck my weight loss for the day, this morning I'd packed on another lb.
Grrrrrrrrrrrr..........they should make serotonin water......like vitamin water.......lol Liquid prozac! LOL

bethany_jurries

I will have to stop the baking too. I just was going on my trainers opinion she told me that eating most of my carbs for breakfast and they will burn off by bed time and then do not eat late because it will cause my body to store the fat. But if I can eat at night I will feel less guilty and I can save calories for later at night! This works thanks for the help. I knew the site was awesome but I never used the message board! You all are so helpful and eager to give help. We are all fighting for the same cause so I guess this is my support group!!! THANKS!

clk238

Hey just one more bit of advice from a fellow late night snacker:

1. are you really hungry? or is it just habit or because hubby or roomate are snacking? if you are really hungry, you should try eating the same ammount during your day but break it up into smaller meals more often. it will help you not crash at night.

2. if it is habit or you are doing it b/c those around you are, try working out instead. not necessarily a big workout (you dont want to get your HR up just before bed) but do crunches or pushups or something. This is a good seratonin booster too! so while hubby is on the couch with the chips you are the hero on the floor doing ab exercises while u watch tv. do household chores, cleaning, laundry, anything to keep your hands busy

3. don't keep any snack foods around. (but you know that- hence, no baking)

Veronica320

Uugh! I feel your pain and frustration. Night is my hardest time as well, especially if my husband is snacking. The only advice I really have is to brush your teeth. I find that food doesn't taste so good after I brush. I am interested in hearing the advice you get. Last night I ate an entire box of Special K Crackers. I opened them just to get a few, but made the mistake of eating them out of the box instead of counting out my serving and putting the box away. I kept count for quite a while, then just gave up and ate the entire box. Uugh!

That sounds like a great idea! I hate the way EVERYTHING tastes after brushing my teeth. Thanks!