How do you handle LATE NIGHT MUNCHIES?

13suzie

I am very regimented all day up until the end of dinner. After kids are in bed and I get my second wind, I get the munchies. How do you handle munchies? Looking for advice since I am just starting my program.

Mokey41

Save 100 calories or so for snacking and plan ahead to have a 100 calorie popcorn bag or some fruit or veggies.

buzzcockgirl

Sometimes, I just go to bed.
If I'm upstairs in bed (watching TV or whatever!) I'm less likely to snack, as to when I'm watching TV right down by the kitchen.
Location, location, location!

martinh78

Save 100 calories or so for snacking

THIS

tlheppler

I have had to learn how to live feeling hungry. Its not fun, but feeling hungry is far better than the alternative.

Heaven829

i used to go lay in bed or clean... and if it really got bad i would go brush my teeth and rinse with mouth wash

calisunrise

fall asleep. seriously, it helps me

Bobby__Clerici

I get those, and the late night munchies can ruin my whole day of clean eating.
My final meal is an hour before bed....I need that or I fail big time...

Stdavis53

If you can't help but get something to eat, make a green salad. No cheese, meat or eggs. Just a bunch of spinach, romaine, maybe some cut up carrots and use just a little low cal dressing. (I use a 1 cal per spray spritzer) You can have a huge late night snack, and only rack up about 40 calories.

kr1stadee

I always plan out a decent snack for the evening. If I'm still craving after that, I'll have some herbal tea, a big glass of water, or brush my teeth (or all 3).. I've gone to bed hungry on more than one occasion.

betoarango

Go to bed early... LOL

I always leave myself 100 or so calories (2 hersheys nuggets worth) and eat them in bed... Help me sleep better,..dont feel deprived of chocolate... and not enough to trigger chocolate binge.

By the time Im done i'm too lazy to go all the way to the kitchen for more.

Also doing IF (I try for 1 or 2 days of ESE a week) have helped me to appreciate Hunger and cravings as not necessarily bad or uncomfortable, just something that is there , and will be solved in the morning...

ellenasl210

I've tried a lot to help with my late night munches haha. The one thing that worked for me was replacing the habit with a cup of tea or coffee. I was never actually hungry, it was just a habit. Hopefully this helps(:

1yoyoKAT

I brush my teeth, that seems to help. Also, I recognize that often it's being tired that gives me the munchies at night, so I go to bed.

zentha1384

If i have calories left I have popcorn, if not i will make myself to herbal mint tea. The facts it has flavor and no calories puts the craving as ease a bit and the liquid fills me up so I feel less hungry.

quirkytizzy

I get those, and the late night munchies can ruin my whole day of clean eating.
My final meal is an hour before bed....I need that or I fail big time...

This has been my strategy as well. I'm the kind of person who will wake up from a dead sleep at 2 AM hungry as hell and tear apart the kitchen for a stray cookie. The closer my final meal is to bedtime, the less hungry I am.

JanaCanada

I don't know if this is you, but before joining MFP, I had the "reward" mindset...like when the kids went to bed after a long day of being a mom, I felt I "deserved" a hot fudge sundae / bag of chips & dip / half an oven baked pizza. You get the idea. Bad mindset. :embarassed:

Now that I have joined MFP, I have learned to reward myself for a hard day in other ways instead of consuming wheelbarrows full of high calorie and high fat foods. I've gotten pretty "zen" about it: from long, hot bubble baths to "me time" just reading a book or wandering around Pinterest.com, catching up on e-mails to friends & family..or online shopping. :bigsmile:

But as many others have already said, I try to "save" 100 calories or so for my evenings, and IFI feel the munchies coming on, I indulge a bit. After all, what's a bubble bath without a piece of Godiva? :laugh:

twinkychops

Sometimes, I just go to bed.
If I'm upstairs in bed (watching TV or whatever!) I'm less likely to snack, as to when I'm watching TV right down by the kitchen.
Location, location, location!

me too! or I do some extra cardio to allow for an extra snack!

Photomandy

I struggle with the same thing. Hot cocoa helps me...

Also, going on MFP for inspiration!

Feel free to friend me if you need some extra accountability.

stephdeeable

I tried a bunch of different things to help curb my snacking at night, and then realized it would be so much easier to stop fighting it and just save a few hundred calories for after dinner. Because despite my best intentions, I knew I would just do it either way, so I'd rather make the room for it.

However, if you have more willpower than I in this area, all the other suggestions are pretty good. Distracting yourself, exercising, water, gum...etc.

JigglyPig

I always plan out a decent snack for the evening. If I'm still craving after that, I'll have some herbal tea, a big glass of water, or brush my teeth (or all 3).. I've gone to bed hungry on more than one occasion.

I like this idea.

AverageUkDude

I eat. I tend to eat 6-7 times a day dependent on working out etc, one of my last meals tends to be a whey protein drink late at night, this keeps me full till i wake up.

JustPeachy044

When you feel you're "hungry", decide what is driving the hunger. What is the motivation? Are you really bored, lonely, etc.? Sometimes I go, go, go all day and then once there is a chance to breathe at night, I want to eat. Especially potent desire to eat if I have not eaten well during the day or eaten on the run. I want time to savor and enjoy my food. One way to combat that is to try and not eat on the run during the day, try to give yourself 15 minutes to eat each of your daytime meals and be conscious of what you are eating, try to enjoy it or at least sit down to eat!

Examine your sleep habits. If you don't get enough sleep, you will possibly think you are hungry. The hormones that regulate hunger are supposedly linked to those that regulate sleep. If you are short on sleep, you may think you are hungry. Similarly, you may be dehydrated/thirsty. Try drinking a big glass of water and see if that helps before you eat. Better yet, drink plenty of water during the day!

If you are actually physically hungry in the evening, find something that meets your nutritional needs. Maybe you are low on protein and should reach for a protein rich snack. Have foods you like that are nutritionally dense available and ready, so that when you are hungry you have a plan. It helps me to keep plenty of fruit on hand, so I will reach for a banana or orange when I do want to eat at night.

Hope you find a solution. I am hopefully not being preachy, I can relate to your problem as I have had it often myself. When I try to figure out how to beat the night time munchies, the above describes the thoughts and experience I have had trying to beat it.

ladyrider55

I make some air-popped popcorn when I'm watching a movie before bed and drink a large glass of water. Last night I found a few pieces of hard candy and that helped me too.

13suzie

Thanks for all of the great tips! Keep them coming!!!

Seems common tips are:

Brush teeth
Go to bed
Save a 100 cals for late night snack
Appreciate the hunger feeling
Drink water

13suzie

Go to bed early... LOL

I always leave myself 100 or so calories (2 hersheys nuggets worth) and eat them in bed... Help me sleep better,..dont feel deprived of chocolate... and not enough to trigger chocolate binge.

By the time Im done i'm too lazy to go all the way to the kitchen for more.

Also doing IF (I try for 1 or 2 days of ESE a week) have helped me to appreciate Hunger and cravings as not necessarily bad or uncomfortable, just something that is there , and will be solved in the morning...

----
What does "IF" and "ESE" stand for?

Graceious1

If I have the munchies I feed it. I have worked out that I usually have the munchies because I still have calories to consume. When I upped my calories from 1300 to 1500 that stopped. MFP is a great way to meet people who have been successful and also track your calorie intake and expenditure so good luck with your healthy living.

TheRealParisLove

I fast during the day. I'm a night eater as well, but I can go all day without eating and not feel hungry or tired. If I skip breakfast I am hungry by lunch, but I will eat fewer calories overall through the day, so I just have my "breakfast" at noon.

LadySylvanas

Sometimes, I just go to bed.
If I'm upstairs in bed (watching TV or whatever!) I'm less likely to snack, as to when I'm watching TV right down by the kitchen.
Location, location, location!

^This^

newmooon56

Thanks for all of the great tips! Keep them coming!!!

Seems common tips are:

Brush teeth
Go to bed
Save a 100 cals for late night snack
Appreciate the hunger feeling
Drink water

Each person would feel differently and choose differently. I try to recognize when Im not actually hungry and have come a long way with myself in that regard. If I just cant control it - carrots or something else low cal- a veggie munch session will never give me guilt. If Im truly hungry- some protein - in a very measured amt. Sometimes I do try to appreciate the hunger- theres nothing wrong with being hungry but tons wrong with eating crap or eating when not necessary.

kenhelms17720

like others have said, just leave yourself some extra calories to make up for it.

Some nuts, etc are a good snack for the middle of the night. They have good nutritional content and are pretty filling.
Chocolate, etc can cause an insulin spike which for the most part people tend to try to avoid during rest.

Night time is when your body does the most repair, if you are running low on "supplies" then the body is going to get quite hungry.

If you have a high level of exercise during the day, a protein shake of Casein whey and Glutamine can aid with the recovery at night time.

Remember, if you are going without a snack at night and then a light breakfast in the morning.... there is a substantial period of time when the body does not have decent fuel for energy and repair. Somethings aren't always psychosomatic... the body is pretty good at telling a person when it needs more of something.

willow_rb

Bump