Help me...after everyone is asleep...I wake up and..

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kaylanlynnNW
kaylanlynnNW Posts: 122 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Raid the kitchen!!!! I am soooooo tired of doing this but it has been a bad habit since I was a little girl! I can do good all day long, log everything, complete my diary and come in under goal.....but around 2-3 am I'm up for cereal r something which will throw me over my calories. Any suggestions how I can break this habit.....or should I try to shave calories off on my daily target and save them for midnight....either way eating that late probably is not good for me!

Thanks in advance!
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  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
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    Raid the kitchen!!!! I am soooooo tired of doing this but it has been a bad habit since I was a little girl! I can do good all day long, log everything, complete my diary and come in under goal.....but around 2-3 am I'm up for cereal r something which will throw me over my calories. Any suggestions how I can break this habit.....or should I try to shave calories off on my daily target and save them for midnight....either way eating that late probably is not good for me!

    Thanks in advance!

    If you're literally waking out of a dead sleep to go eat things I would consider getting looked at by a professional. Not sure if a sleep specialist would be in order or a general physician but I'd get it checked out.

    As far as the physiology of lipogenesis/lipolysis, you can eat late at night without worry as long as your total intake over time is appropriate. Given an energy deficit, you'll still lose weight even if you eat those calories in the middle of the night.

    But I'd still get checked out. I think the behavior is abnormal.
  • minizebu
    minizebu Posts: 2,716 Member
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    Try to make sure that you eat protein at the same time that you eat carbohydrate.

    Eating a carbohydrate only snack will raise your blood sugar rapidly. Then insulin is released resulting in your blood sugar dropping. When your blood sugar is low your body sends you signals to eat again.

    If you pair protein with the carbohydrate, then the insulin response will be moderated by the protein. You will feel fuller longer, and will be less likely to crave a snack so soon after eating.
  • quillsHP
    quillsHP Posts: 91 Member
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    Maybe you could raid the healthy section of the fridge? Have low-calorie filling snacks like carrots, apples? Or maybe you could raid water?
  • countmein88
    countmein88 Posts: 15
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    hmmm, is it because you're hungry or just a habit? If you are coming under goal, maybe you haven't consumed enough during the day...so have something such as a warm cup of milk before going to bed. That usually does it for me. Or just save some of your calories for the event that you do wake up.

    Or since, technically because it is the next day just tack it in your journal as an early breakfast lol, and adjust accordingly for the day
  • vodkoffee
    vodkoffee Posts: 160 Member
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    I have a stomach disorder that sometimes makes it difficult for me to eat enough during the day. On those days I do sometimes wake up starving very late, as my wacky stomach finally finished emptying and my body is demanding more calories. I try to go for something small, filling, and calorically dense like a piece of cheese.

    That said, is this because you're not eating enough during the day, or because you've developed this habit over time?
  • Louisianababy93
    Louisianababy93 Posts: 1,709 Member
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    take the lightbulb out the icebox so you cant see whats in there thus making you mad and making you leave the kitchen.?
  • charelg
    charelg Posts: 599 Member
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    This is so me. But I just stay up late so around 11 I'm hungry. I try and save calories for this. If you can't break the habit, I would save some calories for late snack. Maybe just try and eat better choices, and nothing super heavy late at night. But I totally understand because this is my bad habit as well.
  • bwilton77
    bwilton77 Posts: 93 Member
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    I had this same problem when I started my journey to loose weight. I found that if I ate a snack high in fiber or protein right before I went to bed I was good til morning. I Use the Fiber plus bars which only have 130 calories with a 1/2 cup of raspberries or black berries which are also high in fiber and 40 calories or if you want to go the protein route get a 100 calorie pack of nuts and a light string cheese for a total of only 180 calories. These will keep you satisfied for the night and are better than that cereal at 2 am. By the way it was my nutritionist that recommended eating before bed to stop from eating in the middle of the night he said it was much better than getting up and eating at 2 or 3 and then going back to bed. So I hope this helps you.
  • anewnam715
    anewnam715 Posts: 17
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    Sounds like it's just out of habit. Self control is one of the biggest things I struggle with. Either try and quit cold turkey, or like someone else suggested have a healthy early morning snack.
  • miltonp50
    miltonp50 Posts: 26 Member
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    interesting topic to monitor....
  • SomeoneSomeplace
    SomeoneSomeplace Posts: 1,094 Member
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    Personally I do a lot of late night eating so I skip breakfast. I eat a lot at like 2 AM-3 AM so I don't really feel the need to eat in the morning. I just wait until 12-1 or have a small snack around 10ish if I'm hungry (hard boiled egg whites being my most common) or 100 calorie snack pack almonds, that leaves me with more calories at the end of the day after bed time...

    That's just personally how I chose to handle it because I wasn't able to break the habit of eating late at night and I've never really been hungry for breakfast so this has worked well for me. I know people advise against this but it has caused issues for me
  • RunMyOregonBunsOff
    RunMyOregonBunsOff Posts: 862 Member
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    If you aren't actually hungry, try just grabbing a handful of the cereal and go back to bed. It sounds to me more like the action of getting up and eating is a habbit that is now engrained in you. Maybe if you can just hace a tiny bit, you are still going through the motions but without all the calories.
  • HMToomey
    HMToomey Posts: 276
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    How many calories are you eating in a day?? Could it be that you are not eating enough?

    Save 300 calories and have a midnight PB&J. That's what I do any way... On days I'm way under because I was running around crazy all day with no time to eat I'll add a tall glass of chocolate milk into the mix. I think I've been hanging out with toddlers too long, I've started craving their food! :laugh:
  • arcticfox04
    arcticfox04 Posts: 1,011 Member
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    Try eating crushed ice.
  • jerber160
    jerber160 Posts: 2,606 Member
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    how about saving calories during the day,,planning ahead.... or adding 'midnight snack' to your daily log and counting it??
  • gramacanada
    gramacanada Posts: 557 Member
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    What countmeinsaid. You might be able to teach yourself out of this. If you log the "middle of the night" calories first thing in the morning. Then see what you have left for the rest of the day. I'm guessing subconsciously you are telling yourself they don't count
  • vvanm
    vvanm Posts: 157
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    Have a cup of warm milk, slice of turkey, or other melatonin rich food before bed. If you still wake up have a small snack on your nightstand with water and try break the pattern. Otherwise just factor in the calories and make it nutritious and a pre-planned portion.
  • chubbygirl253
    chubbygirl253 Posts: 1,309 Member
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    If it were me I would do enough cardio during the day that two things happen #1- you have worked hard enough that you can afford whatever bad eating you do #2- you are so exhausted you don't care about getting up to eat. There are days I work out so hard that somehow by the grace of God I'm able to drag myself through a shower and get dried off and put on jammies but even that requires me to muster up every last ounce of energy that I can. But somehow I haven't had to sleep naked in the tub yet. (Let's definitely keep that on the prayer list.) On those days I consider peeling off a lid from a container of yogurt equal to cooking Thanksgiving dinner. If you don't get that tired or you don't have enough time to devote to that kind of strenuous exercise could you take something to help you sleep through the night? A Benedryl knocks me out. Or Melatonin is a natural supplement that works well. If you tried that maybe you would sleep better so you aren't waking up to binge. I know adding extra exercise isn't always the answer for everyone but it's sorta my go-to solution for all my dieting troubles. We're all different so I hope you find what works for you. I wish you luck.
  • cgale8
    cgale8 Posts: 34 Member
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    I feel that it is a habit, you stated you have been doing this since you were little. Look at your food diary and make sure you are eating enough protein to stave off hunger. You could also try drinking a glass of water before eating anything when you do wake up. You have been doing this for so long that it is second nature and it may take a while to break this habit. Save some calories from the day to accomodate your late night snack and try to fill your home with good foods and low calorie selections.
  • kaylanlynnNW
    kaylanlynnNW Posts: 122 Member
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    Love the advice guys! Thanks I really was , since it is so late ignoring the calories but I know I am only fooling myself!!!

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