Guilty of Late Night Eating.....Help!

mctipton · January 2010

Can anyone give me some advice on how to stop late night eating?!? Both my husband and I work full time so we end up getting home from work late. Dinner usually isn't on the table until 6:30 or 7 and then we will usually snack while watching tv later after dinner. I hate that we do that, and it's almost become habit to just grab food while watching tv at night. I'm trying to stop and also get my husband to stop, but it's super hard! Any advice is truly welcomed!!!

retrobaby · January 2010

Have some fresh fruit sliced or cut up ready to eat in a bowl. This may help with making a healthier food choice while you are weaning yourself from eating late at night. Also drinking plenty of water and chewing sugar free gum can help. I know it can be difficult, but you also may not be eating enough during the day and that maybe why you are hungry late at night. Make sure you are eating at least 3 meals a day with 2 snacks in between.

I hope this helps, and your girls are beautiful.

cc_campbell81 · January 2010

Try the 100 calorie bags of popcorn. It's just enough popcorn to munch on while watching tv.

jessmomof3 · January 2010

Here's a good article that I read from Bob Greene.

http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/stop-late-night-eating.html

I do the decaf herbal tea at night to keep me from snacking. I generally don't eat at least 2 hours before bed. Good luck!

dmlaggie · January 2010

hey, im in that same boat, but i just look at it like this, my daily schedual has me eating breakfast at about 9-10am (mostly near 10am) due to work, lunch is about 230-3pm and i get home bout 730-8 to eat dinner (some times a bit later). Not that i KNOW this is for sure thing to do but, i feel it is a good rule of thumb but my rule is i dont eat after 10pm. even if i go to bed 2-3 hrs later, i dont eat after ten, plus i drink water to help keep me full if i feel any urges, but im pretty good with it. also if you feel its becuase your schedual you are eating late, i just look at it like this, if i was to move my schedual back 2 hrs that would be breakfast 7-8am; lunch 1230-1; dinner 530-6 which would be i guess considered normal, but becuase im working normally 2-3 hrs after most, my eating schedual is tweeked 2-3 hrs, 10pm is just a comfortable cut off between eating, digesting and goin to sleep. i hope this is helpful, especially since its soo wordy - lol

ebkins7 · January 2010

I find that the reason I'm snacking isn't because I'm hungry... I find that my hands get bored (I know it sounds silly, but true) so I try to have a craft of some sort in my hands... knitting or crocheting... It keeps my hands busy so I won't be tempted to snack...

emilyfh · January 2010

maybe you should have the small snack/treat at dinner time, then enjoy your dinner in front of the tv. Or snack on airpopped popcorn. Or watch only TV on special movie night, the other nights play some games, learn a new game, or start putting a 500 piece puzzle together, to keep your hands off the food. Hope this helps some.

jimswmn · January 2010

I also find that it isn't hunger that makes me eat at night its boredom. Mindless eating :grumble: I have to keep my hands busy doing something, I suggest some sort of crafting. You can also try getting a single serving of whatever it is that you are eating and see how long you can make it last. It puts your mind back into what you are doing.

mctipton · January 2010

Thanks everyone for your awesome advice!

Jessmomof3: that article is great and gave me some great pointers as well. I'm def going to set a "cut-off time" for eating at least two hours before bed. I'm just hoping my husband follows my lead, b/c many times I'll try to stick to something and then I'll see what he's snacking on and I'll want some! I need to pray for more will-power!!

jamesloder · January 2010

Hi. I've always been very guilty of late night eating also. I'm not sure if this is the right thing to do but I've started exercising at 8:30 for 1-1.5 hrs. That pretty much brings me up to bedtime. Besides I'm working so hard at the gym I don't feel like blowing it when I come up from the treadmill. Fortunately I don't have trouble falling to sleep. Good luck!

tiffanygil · January 2010

I am horrible at this and have never been able to stop, my secret is I allow enough cals to be able to do it. I plan out my snacks I'm going to have and drink herbal tea after i have already eaten them. Not the best advice so if you figure out how to not snack at night I am all ears.

jessmomof3 · January 2010

Thanks everyone for your awesome advice!

Jessmomof3: that article is great and gave me some great pointers as well. I'm def going to set a "cut-off time" for eating at least two hours before bed. I'm just hoping my husband follows my lead, b/c many times I'll try to stick to something and then I'll see what he's snacking on and I'll want some! I need to pray for more will-power!!

Yep, my cut-off time is 8PM. You know, normally when you're snacking at night it's not like you're eating a bag of carrots. :laugh: Good luck working on your hubby!

queensara2478 · January 2010

I think this is one of the hardest things to break away from. I too am a mindless late night "snacker". I try to curb the desire by brushing my teeth with a really minty toothpaste. This usually stops me from wanting to put anything else in my mouth. I also do some light excersises during commercial breaks, such as situps, pushups, lunges, squats and sometimes jumping jacks. It helps keep me focused and keeps me motivated to keep off the weight I've lost and continue to lose more. I also have a husband that isn't very active and is a big time eater at night. I would love to know how to fix that

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Have a great evening!

Guilty of Late Night Eating.....Help!

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