Nighttime hunger, anyone?

focuseddiva
focuseddiva Posts: 174 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
For whatever reason, I can exert my willpower during the day very easily. I saunter by the donuts at work. If hunger pains strike, I can take the edge off with an apple, salad, water, etc. But nighttime is a whole different world, and I truly can't figure out why. I often fall asleep fairly quickly but am roused out of slumber a few hours later by hunger! I will literally be laying there with my stomach growling. In the past, I'd head to the kitchen and binge. So bad. Most of the time, it really is true hunger that wakes me up. And my willpower is much weaker at midnight than during the day. Last night, I woke up starving around midnight. I ate a big bowl of sugar-free jello and that actually helped until I fell back asleep.

Anyone else struggle with hunger at night, and what do you do? Just ignore it? Chug water? Thanks.

Replies

  • angulasalajillo
    angulasalajillo Posts: 84
    I also have sugar-free jelly :smile: it helps!
    Also, a small salad with some tuna or turkey if I am really hungry, and cup of camomile tea.
  • SoDamnHungry
    SoDamnHungry Posts: 6,998 Member
    Save some calories and either eat them right before bed, or when you wake up with your stomach growling.

    Make sure you're eating enough throughout the day, too. A lot of people tend to binge when their calorie intake is too low.
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    I'd imagine it's because your calorie goal is low and seem to be following Jenny Craig. Add snacks, protein, save a few calories for a balanced snack of carbs and protein before bed and you should feel sustained throughout the night.

    This could also just be a habit. You may think it's hunger waking you, but it may just be what your body is used to doing. Keep some water by the bedside. If you wake up, take a drink and go back to bed, may help.
  • kill3rtofu
    kill3rtofu Posts: 169 Member
    Save some calories and either eat them right before bed, or when you wake up with your stomach growling.

    Make sure you're eating enough throughout the day, too. A lot of people tend to binge when their calorie intake is too low.

    this!
  • focuseddiva
    focuseddiva Posts: 174 Member
    Hmmm... I do have my dinner around 7 pm. It is usually a sizeable salad (calorie-free dressing) with my Jenny Craig meal. The volume of the salad alone should be tiding me over, to be honest. Are you saying to add something extra to have at like 9 pm? LIke a string cheese or something?

    Also, my calorie goal isn't really low. MFP set it at 1200. Jenny Craig set it at 1200. But in reality, I am averaging about 1500 a day (not NET, calories eaten). I get in a few little extras like a yogurt or I account for a few bites of cereal from my kids, etc. Also, in the past 14 days, I saw that on FOUR of those days, I ate around 2300 calories -- which, based on eating 1300 or so on the other days, averages to 1500 daily calories over the course of two weeks. So I don't think my calorie goal is too low.

    But me so hungry. Seriously. I feel like I need to ignore it -- if I start eating over 1500 calories a day, it will stall my already-exceedingly-slow weight loss.

    I also exercise 5-6 times a week. Usually 45-min to an hour of cardio of some sort (elliptical, very brisk walking, some jogging) and strength twice a week. Otherwise, desk job, long commute in car, sit on my butt.

    So I don't think my cals are too low. Are they? Now I'm wondering.
  • sarahg148
    sarahg148 Posts: 701 Member
    I was thinking the EXACT same thing yesterday!!! I had a dentist appointment at 10am and had some coffee before. I was sitting in the chair and started to feel the tummy grumbling. I figured I'd eat a little after I got home. However, my mouth was numb for about 4 hours! So I wanted to wait until I could actually chew. During that time I was thinking the same thing...that how come during the day I could endure the grumblings and emptiness of my stomach but if this was at night, I would have eaten the world! IDK why that is. Maybe it's a hormonal thing with serotonin and melatonin or whatever. All I know is, I tend to schedule a snack a couple hours or less before I go to bed. IF I do go to bed hungry though, it doesn't wake me up and I wake up not hungry. It could be emotional, not sure. But make sure you are getting enough during the day so it doesn't build up. I know they say to eat more at breakfast and taper off as the day goes, but I do better with the opposite...eating less at breakfast and building up as the day goes on. I find I don't pig out as much when I do this.
  • dacurtis29
    dacurtis29 Posts: 4
    I have a similar problem. It isn't that it wakes me up, but around 11 pm I get so hungry that I start shaking. I have to eat. At the time this first started, many weeks ago, I had fallen off my diet and was actually eating way too much - like 1800-2500 calories a day! It was awful. I finally have control over my eating again - sort of - now I have to fight to eat as much as 1200 calories a day. i started glucose shots and thyroid medication about a month ago. Not sure if that is what is making everything the opposite or not. But still around 11 pm I am so hungry that I feel like my stomach is trying to crawl out and get its own food! Lately, I have managed to stick to a glass of water and a slice of cheese or a yogurt (plain, 0% fat only).

    I'm going to try the earlier suggestion of some salad with tuna or chicken and see if that helps. I would much rather find a way to kick the need for such a late night meal. Any advice/suggestions are greatly appreciated.
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    Hmmm... I do have my dinner around 7 pm. It is usually a sizeable salad (calorie-free dressing) with my Jenny Craig meal. The volume of the salad alone should be tiding me over, to be honest. Are you saying to add something extra to have at like 9 pm? LIke a string cheese or something?

    Also, my calorie goal isn't really low. MFP set it at 1200. Jenny Craig set it at 1200. But in reality, I am averaging about 1500 a day (not NET, calories eaten). I get in a few little extras like a yogurt or I account for a few bites of cereal from my kids, etc. Also, in the past 14 days, I saw that on FOUR of those days, I ate around 2300 calories -- which, based on eating 1300 or so on the other days, averages to 1500 daily calories over the course of two weeks. So I don't think my calorie goal is too low.

    But me so hungry. Seriously. I feel like I need to ignore it -- if I start eating over 1500 calories a day, it will stall my already-exceedingly-slow weight loss.

    I also exercise 5-6 times a week. Usually 45-min to an hour of cardio of some sort (elliptical, very brisk walking, some jogging) and strength twice a week. Otherwise, desk job, long commute in car, sit on my butt.

    So I don't think my cals are too low. Are they? Now I'm wondering.

    What are your stats? Height/Weight/Age?

    You should be netting at least 1200, you need to give your body the fuel to get through those workouts. 1500 calories a day will not stall your weight loss, it could possibly kick it up!

    Starving isn't necessary while losing weight!
  • focuseddiva
    focuseddiva Posts: 174 Member
    YES! I hear you ladies. Ugh. I hate the hunger at night. I wish I was a better sleeper so I could just fall asleep and stay asleep. To the poster wondering if it was emotional and why ignoring hunger during the day is easier ... for some reason, I thiink it may have to do with the darkness of night. I always feel like what I'm eating at night doesn't count because the cruel harsh daylight isn't shining a lot on the box of cereal I am scarfing. In the past, I have taken bags of chips or crackers up to my room and eaten them in the dark. And then, when I wake in the morning and see the empty wrappers, I feel like a crack addict staring at a dirty syringe!!

    I have also read that willpower is like a muscle, and it gets weaker throughout the day as you use it. So if you are using your willpower to work through hunger or stay on a calorie budget or "be good" throughout the day, that willpower gets weaker and weaker. When hunger strikes at night, the willpower is depleted, which makes it easier to give in to whatever is in front of you.

    This is bad to admit, but I've even taken a Nyquil or Tylenol PM on occasion to force myself to sleep so I don't get up and eat! What the crap. This is a real problem.
  • focuseddiva
    focuseddiva Posts: 174 Member
    My stats to the poster who asked:

    5'8"
    180 lbs (yikes)
    41
    Female

    Been on Jenny Craig a while. I like the food. I like the convenience. I like the portion control. I first was on it several years back at 180 lbs. I lost 40 lbs and maintained for 4 years! But I honestly had to eat like a bird to stay there and do massive amounts of cardio. Then I let cheat days slip in which turned into cheat weeks, and of course here I am with the weight all gained back. This time around, I am trying to be smart about it and not have an all or nothing mentality. I am also aiming for about 155 lbs, not 140. I was a size 4-6 at 140. At 155, I should be a comfortable size 8 which is just fine at my ripe age.
  • Mischievous_Rascal
    Mischievous_Rascal Posts: 1,791 Member
    I do IF and only eat from noon to 10 pm. I like going to bed with a full tummy!
  • sweetpea03b
    sweetpea03b Posts: 1,123 Member
    I have gone to bed with my tummy growling a few times because I've already hit my calories for the day... I just try to drink a couple glasses of water.... if I have a little bit left over I'll make some natural popcorn (no butter, just a little salt) or I'll have a frozen yogurt bar. Yoplait has these frozen yogurt bars that are only 55cals each and that'll usually hit the spot.
  • Alanhalil
    Alanhalil Posts: 62 Member
    I often save 170 calories for a 9oz fruit salad I'll have late evening.
  • Showcase_Brodown
    Showcase_Brodown Posts: 919 Member
    I think the easiest solution is eating your dinner later and maybe allowing for more calories in your dinner.

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