tips on curbing night eating welcome

alpine1994

I don't want this to come across the wrong way, but you just have to stop. After dinner I allow myself a little treat or whatever (sometimes I will have a weight watchers popsicle or a tbsp of almond butter, etc.) but know that after that, I'm all done for the day. Think about the fact that you're being so strong and motivated by resisting your usual night eating and you will be so much better off in the long run. After a couple weeks, it won't be nearly as hard. Break old habits and make new ones!

GoTeamMeaghan

The time of day that you consume your calories doesn't make a difference in regards to weight loss-total calories consumed is what you need to pay attention to. Also, if you're hungry at night, make sure you are eating enough calories (make sure to calculate your BMR and TDEE to ensure that you are eating enough), and make sure you have plenty of fiber and protein in your diet to help keep you full. I workout in the evenings so a lot of time my last meal of the day (I eat 6 smaller meals) is around 10:00PM. It is usually a PlantFusion protein shake made with light soymilk and an apple and if I have any extra calories left, maybe a low fat string cheese-I have to get the reduced fat versions because full fat anything causes severe stomach cramping (thanks crohns).

efirkey

I try to remember the eating habits I had when I was a kid/teenager and wasn't over weight at all. One of them was I never ate after supper. It wasn't until I became an adult that I started drinking and snaking after dinner. So I am trying to eat more like when I was a teenager and thin.

SideSteel

Eat less during the day, or at dinner, so that you have available Calories for a post-dinner snack.

^ This is what I'd recommend.

Total intake for the day matters. Whether you eat those calories in the day or right before bed doesn't really make a significant difference in weight loss. It does matter for preference/satiety/behavior/performance etc, so you should certainly pay attention to those factors but it sounds to me like you (OP) like to eat at night.

Consequently I'd suggest you eat at night. You'll need to eat less during the day to accommodate the calories.

Duck_Puddle

I am quite sure that I would take off the weight if I could stop eating after dinner. I varies night to night but I often find myself "looking" for something at night. Has anyone found a technique that stops this and leaves you satisfied?

Just plan ahead to let it fit into your calories and go with it.

Yep. I quit fighting it and now just plan around it. I eat less during the day (when I'm not particularly hungry) so I can chow at night when I am hungry. It's infinitely easier for me to adjust to what seems to be my natural eating patterns than continually fighting it and being hungry and miserable. As long as I'm within my calorie goals for the day-I'm good (including the 200-400 calories I eat in bed before I go to sleep).

mwooderson

I struggled with this BIG TIME. Now I plan a decadent healthy snack ahead of time. That way my calories work out and I can look forward to a treat. I have a slice of low carb high protein whole grain bread with chocolate PB2 and some fresh fruit on top with a glass of wine. I fix the snack on a plate so it looks very nice and take it to bed with me. That way I am out of the kitchen and enjoying a wonderful planned snack. It's been working.

ryry_

As other's have said I used to fight and grit my teeth to not late at night now I save 300-400 and eat something almost always before I go to bed.

Lately i've been loving Skippy Natural PBw/ honey on toast or just out of the jar.

As many others have said as long as your total intake for the day is adjusted you'll be fine. I will note that I did notice a temporary increase in weight after i did this. I was patient and I'm guessing the fact I was eating later threw something off but it quickly went back to normal.

Hearts_2015

Eat less during the day, or at dinner, so that you have available Calories for a post-dinner snack.

^ This is what I'd recommend.

Total intake for the day matters. Whether you eat those calories in the day or right before bed doesn't really make a significant difference in weight loss. It does matter for preference/satiety/behavior/performance etc, so you should certainly pay attention to those factors but it sounds to me like you (OP) like to eat at night.

Consequently I'd suggest you eat at night. You'll need to eat less during the day to accommodate the calories.

This! Appreciate you chiming in..

It helps to have others reinforce this, in the past I've fallen prey to the "don't eat after __ (blank) time" or you'll gain, your body won't digest the food, etc. etc.

I don't believe that at this point but only after hearing educated discussion on it did it make sense to me that it's the total calories eaten in the entire day that matter not whether or not you eat them in the evening.

Here's Dr. Oz's take:

Not everyone agrees with him....

I used to love watching the "old" Dr. Oz every week or so on Oprah where He'd really share some great info. Sadly keeping a show on the air leads to putting out all sorts of info to keep the ratings up it does draw viewers but waters down good info that was shared in the past when ratings didn't matter to him. I personally like the guy but am wary of much of what he says now since some may not be actuate in the least... so now I find my info elsewhere. :ohwell: Now I just enjoy his humor/family side when he's on "The Chew" with his daughter.

cld111

My husband and I usually eat dinner late, 9 or 9:30 sometimes. I like eating late so that works or me. I just eat a little less in the day, and it also gives me time to create more calories through physical activity.

now_or_never13

Why not just save some calories so you can snack after dinner? I do. I will save myself usually my exercise calories for a snack between dinner and bed. No harm in that.

nookeetoone

Everyone who says that drinking green tea helps, is right

I find that if I crave something at night, and go for a nice cup of tea instead, it curbs the cravings. Plus it's delicious and brightens your mood! Specially if its green tea. I recommend the semi-expensive to expensive kind. If it's good quality its full of good things that will even aid your body ^_^

But I guess it could keep you awake if its not decaffeinated(but I never had this problem).

Kauaiartist

Here's Dr. Oz's take: "My general rule is to avoid eating 2-3 hours before bedtime. So if you’re going to bed at 10, that means your last meal should end at 7 or 8. You want your body to have time to start burning off those calories before you hit the hay, otherwise they’ll just be stored as fat. Plus, eating late at night forces your body and brain to be digesting instead of resting."

Not everyone agrees with him....but I find his advice is usually pretty accurate.

Here are few things that work for me.

1. I always save a couple hundred of my daily calories just in case - but if I want to eat - I make it a healthy snack - I find eating some protein helps curb my desire to keep munching.
2. Brush your teeth when you have decided you want to stop eating any more that evening - and then go an finish tracking your food on MFP - press submit for the day - Doing that helps me to reinforce that I'm done eating :-).
3. I agree about drinking a nice cup of hot tea - - have a selection of herbals if you are affected by caffeine.

dconnolly818

Night eating is my biggest problem too, the only thing I've found that has helped me even a little bit is planning my daily calories to include a little something about an hour and a half/ two hours before bed. My cravings are usually for sweet things, so I'll have something like a real fruit popsicle or a little 100 calorie pack of something. I tried to cut it out altogether but my boyfriend does like 80% of his eating in the 4 or 5 hours before he goes to bed so I would end up caving and eating WAY too much then beating myself up about it later. Now, I have a treat in my plans so I don't go over my calories, and I actually enjoy it more because I don't feel guilty.

SeahorseDolphin

Drink a glass of water. Sometimes your body sends hunger/craving signals when it's dehydrated. Then ask yourself if you're truly hungry. If the answer is yes, eat. If you had a good workout that day, your body may just be asking for more fuel. If not then don't. Learning to listen to your body is more valuable than tips to ignore it. Good luck!

mfpcopine

Put the food in an inaccessible place. Don't buy it in the first place if possible.