How do you talk yourself OUT of late night snacking?

Calliope610

A good late night brisk 2 mile walk works for me. It not only lets me get in extra calories (about 250), it gives me time to collect my thoughts/mediate/plan for tomorrow. I'm nicely tired when I get home, it decreases any appetite I might have, and after a nice bath, I'm out for the night.

Tammycakes101

Definitely a hard habit to break. I too have recently threw all snacks in garbage, not buying anything bad...If it's not here I will not eat it:)

miadhail

I usually eat throughout the day, and make sure that I have a decent dinner that fills me enough that I don't feel hungry after. However, when I do have late night cravings, or cravings after any meal anytime in the day, I replace it with a better alternative like a fruit (I love asian pears!). Or, just drink a glass of water. Very often our body mistakes thirst for hunger.

highervibes

I usually have calories left for a snack, sometimes I go for a walk JUST to have some peanuts or whatever. I have to eat a snack after dinner, like HAVE TO... so I account for it in my day. If I know I will need 200 calories to get me through Walking Dead, then I will make sure to budget that in my day. I have about 1800-2000 calories I can play with so this makes it easier for me... not sure what you're eating but that's my system.

wiffieclark1

I cut it out completely, when I have the craving I drink hot tea (any flavor) if that doesn't work I chew gum. So far it's worked for the last 3 weeks. I'm waiting to see the results on MFP.

Bunnybeesweet

floss and brush my teeth after dinner.

hayleysuel

Get minty fresh! Whenever my snacking starts snowballing, I run to the bathroom, floss, brush & mouthwash!

My white cheddar rice cakes leave a taste in my mouth making me want more! So I think the mint makes that go away. Also, you've just brushed your teeth for the night! You don't want to have do that again later! :laugh:

ItsCasey

If you are engaging in out-of-control eating late at night, then I'm sorry, but you are not "eating right" during the day. If you were, you wouldn't be feeling those urges to keep eating, even after your calorie allotment has been used up. So the first thing I would recommend would be taking a closer look at your diet and figuring out what isn't working for you (you're not getting protein or fat or whatever).

Then look at more specific behavioral issues:

Get rid of all the "snacks" or foods you could potentially binge on, and stop buying them.

Create a menu for the week, and only buy the things you need for those meals.

Log all your food in advance so that you have a game plan every day and you can see how each food you eat fits into your overall goals. That way, you aren't just blindly making one wrong choice after another.

Go to bed earlier. Simple, but effective.

And you're right that you've got some work to do mentally. You are going to have to convince yourself that food is supposed to keep you alive, not provide entertainment value. Find other things to cure your boredom.

madworld1

I have the same problem. Sometimes it's genuine hunger, but most times it's more of a ritual. I feel like I can't sleep if my stomach isn't full. I would say that it is "soothing."

Last night I did much better though. I got hungry (really hungry) around 1 last night. So, I ate a little pack of almonds. They were satisfying and I was able to go right to sleep. I hope that I have found something that will continue to work.

I feel your frustration.

justal313

I don't, by the end of dinner if not the end of lunch I've planned out my food for the day including my late night snack. If I want to snack on something more caloric, I work it into my exercise for the day... I have a full gauntlet of snacks, mostly healthy, that are of varying calorie amounts and varying carb/fat/protein amounts. I am capable of not eating everything just what gets me to and keeps me under my goals.

Gunr2147

I drink a glass of water then hit the rack.

InspiredSAM

I would agree with lots of these suggestions:
1. Try drinking water....I find that a cup of hot tea really helps too. Sometimes the warmth curbs my appetite.
2. Brush your teeth...I often don't want to brush again, so it's a good mind trick. Or I'm lazy like that
3. Make sure you are eating enough calories throughout the day with plenty of protein.

hmontigney

Eating late at night, even when you have calories left, is always a bad idea. I usually don't eat past 7PM unless it's a special occasion of some sort. You just need to have the willpower to say no. Remember why you're trying to lose weight and ask yourself what you would rather. Would you rather snack on that bag of chips or would you rather reach your goal weight? That's what I try to do. Food is a tempation to all of us but it's just a matter of saying no. I stopped buying any foods that are going to tempt me so kudos on getting rid of them. If they're not there, you can't eat them. It's a hard habit to give up but it can definitely be done. Good luck!

highervibes

Eating late at night, even when you have calories left, is always a bad idea. I usually don't eat past 7PM unless it's a special occasion of some sort. You just need to have the willpower to say no. Remember why you're trying to lose weight and ask yourself what you would rather. Would you rather snack on that bag of chips or would you rather reach your goal weight? That's what I try to do. Food is a tempation to all of us but it's just a matter of saying no. I stopped buying any foods that are going to tempt me so kudos on getting rid of them. If they're not there, you can't eat them. It's a hard habit to give up but it can definitely be done. Good luck!

Why is it a bad idea if you have calories?

hmontigney

It's considered a myth and there's been a lot of discussion over it but here's a link that sort of explains:

http://life.dailyburn.com/diet-and-nutrition/the-real-reasons-you-shouldnt-eat-after-7pm-if-you-want-to-lose-weight/

highervibes

It's considered a myth and there's been a lot of discussion over it but here's a link that sort of explains:

http://life.dailyburn.com/diet-and-nutrition/the-real-reasons-you-shouldnt-eat-after-7pm-if-you-want-to-lose-weight/

Clearly it's a myth because I've lost all of my weight snacking at night, within my calorie goals of course.

hmontigney

It's considered a myth and there's been a lot of discussion over it but here's a link that sort of explains:

http://life.dailyburn.com/diet-and-nutrition/the-real-reasons-you-shouldnt-eat-after-7pm-if-you-want-to-lose-weight/

Clearly it's a myth because I've lost all of my weight snacking at night, within my calorie goals of course.

Maybe I worded that the wrong way. I didn't mean to make it sound matter of fact. That's just what works for me. After not eating past 7PM for so long, I've grown used to it and snacking at night doesn't ever cross my mind anymore. Everyone is different. Congratulations on your weight loss though!

Snatched614

Go back to sleep or find a chore to do.

keepongoingnmw

Late night snacking was a hard habit to break, I personally found I had to cut them out completely rather then switching to healthy alternatives. It wasn't easy but the other day, I got into bed I realized I hadn't even thought about food since dinner and it was lovely.

Well done throwing out the snacks, if they aren't there you can't eat them, or call you from the cupboard :laugh:

I just don't eat after dinner. It was HARD at first but now I rarely think about it. Healthy alternatives did not work for me either.
If I am starving I will drink milk.....sounds weird, but it takes the edge of hunger and I am not actually chewing, but I have gotten used to being a little hungry at bedtime.

LorinaLynn

A combination of eating a semi-late dinner, and a planned snack at bedtime.

Rawr1978

I realized that a large part of my weight gain was late-night eating...I quit cold turkey. Now, even if i'm ravenous and my tummy is barking at me, I don't even want to. I'm so used to not eating late, it doesn't bother me.

Sawjer

On my days off I find it nearly impossible, but managing a late night bar its easy as I have my break at 2am and get home for 4/4.30am and take my multivitamin and go to sleep.

Days off for me its all about will power, oh and the other easy option. Getting rid off all the **** in your cupboards and fridge, then when you need to snack, there aint nothing bad to eat!

MelissaGraham7

I have done 3 things and all work for me. Because my hubby works third, I am alone in the evenings and like many others, that becomes trouble for me. SO, I have been known to put a kitchen chair or the trash can blocking my entrance into the kitchen as a nice reminder.

Also, it I feel it is going to get out of control, I just take a book and go up to my bedroom and read. This keeps my mind occupied and I'm away from food. I have found watching TV tends to trigger my appetite (probably all the food seen), so reading helps.

Also, if I have a good workout in the evenings, it suppresses my appetite and keeps me mindful that I don't want to blow it, so that works too.

mistesh

Eating late at night, even when you have calories left, is always a bad idea. I usually don't eat past 7PM unless it's a special occasion of some sort. You just need to have the willpower to say no. Remember why you're trying to lose weight and ask yourself what you would rather. Would you rather snack on that bag of chips or would you rather reach your goal weight? That's what I try to do. Food is a tempation to all of us but it's just a matter of saying no. I stopped buying any foods that are going to tempt me so kudos on getting rid of them. If they're not there, you can't eat them. It's a hard habit to give up but it can definitely be done. Good luck!

Why is it a bad idea if you have calories?

I don't know if it's sound advice to do something just because you can. It doesn't help of course that willpower tends to drop at the end of the day.

There is precisely no need to snack. If you do it, it's for other reasons. If you snack at night and you say it's because you want to, then why do you want to? There is no science to back up that you lose weight because you eat at night.

When all is said and done, there is far more to health than weight and calories. When I woke up the other morning, my weight was lower than it has ever been in my adult life. I thought it was amusing. It would have been tragic, if not for being healthy too.

Snacking throughout the day keeps your pancreas busy. A pancreas that doesn't rest regularly may decades from now be so overworked that it gives up, leaving you with an insulin problem. And the thing about late night eating conflicting with the growth hormone during the first hours of sleep is a concern too.

In short, I can't find a single redeeming quality about late night snacking.

dewsmom78

I drink tea or water. Or go to bed early.

Absonthebrain

I usually have tea with stevia and maybe a sugarfree popsicle. It really works and the tea puts me right to sleep..zzz.

jball1954

It's tough to not snack for me. Going to bed is the best solution sometimes. If I can convince myself to slice up two apples, that sometimes takes care of it in a low calorie way. Or, I will make a single serving microwave popcorn or two. Both are pretty low calorie and I can get away with it. But if I go off the deep end and have a soda or two and half a bag of pretzels or I really get crazy and want a peanut butter sandwich, then I just count it and try harder the next day!

SoViLicious

I ritualistically tie myself up with a wire hanger. Then I tape my mouth shut.

abilicious_1

Going to bed early before the craving starts usually help me quell those urges.

chunkydunk714

I drink a glass of water then hit the rack.

hit the rack...:laugh:

i know what you meant