Eating at night is the hardest part of my day.....

tree618
tree618 Posts: 21
in Health and Weight Loss
Does anyone have any good suggestions for how to overcome this issue. I really stuggle at night - I have been on track all day long, even logged in this morning my meal plan so I could stay on track. I ate perfectly today...until today turned into tonight....:sad: Any help or suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks! :wink:
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Replies

  • shad1018
    shad1018 Posts: 191 Member
    I have the same problem. I am on day four of my new commitment not to eat anything after supper. I tell myself, I am not hungry and I do not need food. Tonight, I made me a sugar free hot cocoa, 60 calories.... But it's not food. I am trying to retrain my brain not to eat if I am not hungry. Would love to hear other people's suggestions.

    Susan
  • donnat871
    donnat871 Posts: 3 Member
    I find brushing my teeth and drinking a big glass of water usually curbs the urge to indulge after supper.
  • Gramps251
    Gramps251 Posts: 738 Member
    Try doing a DVD workout for 20 minutes. It can be low impact. My wife and I both want to eat in the evening but find working out takes a bit if the edge off.

    Good luck
  • soehlerking
    soehlerking Posts: 589 Member
    Honestly? I schedule out some food--I know I'm going to want a treat as soon as I finish dinner, so I just make it part of my calories. Also we go to bed at 9:00 b/c we get up so early for the gym...I know it's super-lame, but it definitely cuts back on the nighttime eating!
  • rockingranny45
    rockingranny45 Posts: 30 Member
    I drink water and try to go to sleep. No one should be up at 1:00 am especially eating. That is what i used to do eat whole meals in the middle of the night:)
  • Rita_1967
    Rita_1967 Posts: 18
    I have the same problem. I eat well all day, 3 meals and 2 snacks, but in the evening I start rummaging through the fridge and cupboards looking for something. I am not sure why I do this, maybe boredom, but I have to distract myself and find something to do. I now have a very clean house, well watered plants and organized closets. If I have to eat, I try to eat fruit or something healthy. If all else fails, I get a glass of water and go to bed early.
  • suelar
    suelar Posts: 2
    I always want to eat as soon as the kids go to sleep. Now I schedule one of my snacks for bedtime. I usually have a protein drink, something to fill me up but low in calories/carbs. A cup of hot herbal tea helps curb the munchies too and even a stick of gum.

    I get in bed early and work on my computer and just forget about the food.
  • Mpol2
    Mpol2 Posts: 442 Member
    That is my biggest struggle too. I tell myself - and i know it's true - that what i am feeling is NOT hunger. But I physically feel this empty need. I try to save some calories for a modest snack in the evening (today I was thrilled to eat my little apple at 8:30, though I recognize how pathetic that is). But lots of nights I just tough it out and go to bed early if i have to. Sometimes I I think about eating something ALL evening. Sigh. It gets easier a little over time. But I have to say, every time I manage to resist it, I feel mighty proud. Strengthening my resistance muscle, as one of those diet book authors says. But it is really really really hard.
  • pinkflybaby
    pinkflybaby Posts: 14 Member
    I know what you mean. And my other problem is that we eat way too late. 7 p.m. tonight. It seems like the afternoon just flies and it's 5 or 6 before I get it started. At least I'll be lest apt to eat any more tonight. Just started this today.
  • ILiftHeavyAcrylics
    ILiftHeavyAcrylics Posts: 27,732 Member
    I leave about 300 calories after dinner for snacking. I know that I will just sit here and think about the food I could be eating if I tell myself not to eat after 8 pm or whatever the rule is supposed to be. So I eat less calories at lunch and save them for after dinner.

    I also keep hot tea on hand. If I'm really craving something and I'm out of calories tea will make me feel like I'm having something.
  • MostlyWater
    MostlyWater Posts: 4,294 Member
    i keep myself busy.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    Save calories for nighttime, by eating slightly less during the day.

    I just skip breakfast so I have more calories to spend later. Then at night, I eat them.
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Save calories for nighttime, by eating slightly less during the day.

    I just skip breakfast so I have more calories to spend later. Then at night, I eat them.

    ^this.
  • Frozen300
    Frozen300 Posts: 223 Member
    Chocolate protein bar, cut in half, can usually get me over the hump. My real problem is that when I'm bored, I want to eat. If I can keep my mind active, usually I don't even think about late night munchies.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    Save calories for nighttime, by eating slightly less during the day.

    I just skip breakfast so I have more calories to spend later. Then at night, I eat them.

    ^this.
    ^seconded.
    I almost always have at least 1000 of my calories after 6 pm. Works fine.
  • Cranktastic
    Cranktastic Posts: 1,517 Member
    Save calories for nighttime, by eating slightly less during the day.

    I just skip breakfast so I have more calories to spend later. Then at night, I eat them.

    ^this.

    double this! i have coffee in the morning and eat a snack around lunch and save the rest of my calories until later. I love it. AHMnomNOMnom!
  • LuluProteinFueled
    LuluProteinFueled Posts: 261 Member
    Save calories for nighttime, by eating slightly less during the day.

    I just skip breakfast so I have more calories to spend later. Then at night, I eat them.

    Ditto. My absolute favourite time for eating is at night... ALL THE FOODS!
  • beyg
    beyg Posts: 212 Member
    Drink water, and eat healthy nuts.
  • dwh77tx
    dwh77tx Posts: 513 Member
    Save calories for nighttime, by eating slightly less during the day.

    I just skip breakfast so I have more calories to spend later. Then at night, I eat them.

    Ditto also! If I don't eat after dinner I go to bed hungry, which means I don't sleep well and am anxious. then I wake up starving and eat too much at breakfast.

    Sorry, I meant to say I don't skip breakfast, but I try to make sure it's a small breakfast!
  • rm830
    rm830 Posts: 531 Member
    Save calories for nighttime, by eating slightly less during the day.

    I just skip breakfast so I have more calories to spend later. Then at night, I eat them.

    ^^Yep! Easiest way for me!!
  • brynnsmom
    brynnsmom Posts: 945 Member
    Save calories for nighttime, by eating slightly less during the day.

    I just skip breakfast so I have more calories to spend later. Then at night, I eat them.

    ^this.
    ^seconded.
    I almost always have at least 1000 of my calories after 6 pm. Works fine.

    Same here.
  • tree618
    tree618 Posts: 21
    THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!! I have beaten myself up over this issue for years BECAUSE YOU AREN'T SUPPOSE TO EAT AFTER SUPPER!!!!! :cry: But what you all have given me is power! It seems so easy but until now I haven't been able to give myself 'permission' to do this! HA who knew. I see many of you that commented have lost weight and you still eat after supper! Wow I wish you could see the joy in my eyes right now! Now I just have to plan accordingly, which I think I can do just fine! Plan for my snacks after dinner just like I plan for them earlier in the day! Seriously, this is huge! :flowerforyou: :tongue: :laugh: I am thrilled. I debated about posting this question but I am so glad I did!
  • ines25
    ines25 Posts: 107 Member
    I usually eat 5 to 6 meals a day keep one of ur snack for night time that's all and make sure that ur breakfast lunch and dinner are high in protein and take cinnamon pills with each meal to keep ur blood sugar steady the way ur cravings are more under control and u will be fine my nutritionist told me the we can eat at anytime are bodies don't know just keep it with in ur calories ok
  • DontStopB_Leakin
    DontStopB_Leakin Posts: 3,863 Member
    Save calories for nighttime, by eating slightly less during the day.

    I just skip breakfast so I have more calories to spend later. Then at night, I eat them.

    ^this.

    double this! i have coffee in the morning and eat a snack around lunch and save the rest of my calories until later. I love it. AHMnomNOMnom!
    Pretty much.


    Your body doesn't have a timer. It's not going to know when you're consuming calories. You can eat everything in one sitting, and as long as you're coming in under your calorie goal, you'll lose weight.



    Oh, and I've lost over 100 lbs eating mostly after 5 pm. Just sayin'.
  • theologynerd
    theologynerd Posts: 264 Member
    Save calories for nighttime, by eating slightly less during the day.

    I just skip breakfast so I have more calories to spend later. Then at night, I eat them.

    I do this, too. It took me a long time of forcing myself to eat breakfast when I'm not hungry, and then feeling starved at night and not having any calories left. Finally, one day, I put my foot down, and decided that my body should have a say in all of this. I've really learned to listen to my body more and more throughout my journey. Many days, the earliest I eat is 1pm, and often I'll wait until 3pm. It's simply how it works for me. I am so much happier now that I allow myself to eat when I'm hungry, and not forcing myself to eat my precious calories when I'm not hungry. You'll definitely have some people tell you it's "wrong" to do this, but ultimately, you gotta do what you gotta do. I've done my research about metabolism and fasting (if you go more than three hours without eating, people will call it a "fast"), and I'm confident in the studies that I've read that your metabolism doesn't start to drop until after 72 hours of fasting. I'm not interested in going days without eating. Anyways, listen to your body.
  • FitnessPalWorks
    FitnessPalWorks Posts: 1,128 Member
    Wow!!!

    *readjusts her food intake times to correlate with her "eating while watching evening TV" habit*

    :)
  • VelociMama
    VelociMama Posts: 3,119 Member
    Wow!!!

    *readjusts her food intake times to correlate with her "eating while watching evening TV" habit*

    :)

    That's the best schedule ever!

    Agree with others. Budget for a snack or some food at night. Also, make sure you are eating enough. You should not be feeling starved or deprived.
  • jetscreaminagain
    jetscreaminagain Posts: 1,130 Member
    THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!! I have beaten myself up over this issue for years BECAUSE YOU AREN'T SUPPOSE TO EAT AFTER SUPPER!!!!! :cry: But what you all have given me is power! It seems so easy but until now I haven't been able to give myself 'permission' to do this! HA who knew. I see many of you that commented have lost weight and you still eat after supper! Wow I wish you could see the joy in my eyes right now! Now I just have to plan accordingly, which I think I can do just fine! Plan for my snacks after dinner just like I plan for them earlier in the day! Seriously, this is huge! :flowerforyou: :tongue: :laugh: I am thrilled. I debated about posting this question but I am so glad I did!

    This is the best ever. Yay MFP!!!
  • simba01
    simba01 Posts: 19 Member
    I was having this problem too. Save some calories for night and have a healthy, filling snack light like almonds, cashews or peanut butter.
  • Christine1110
    Christine1110 Posts: 1,786 Member
    it's habit...boredom...or you just want to when watching tv. I save a apple for evening. I cut it up and I like it cold. I used to eat durning tv....I now just drink water and have the apple in the evenings. It's hard to break doing it.

    Good luck

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