Binge eating at night

EmPuckett1
EmPuckett1 Posts: 6
in Health and Weight Loss
I failed miserably with my calories today. I have a problem with not feeling hungry most of the day and then binge eating for dinner. Any suggestions on how to change this? My eating habits have been like this for years and I know it's really going to hinge my weight loss goals if I don't get this in check. I have started eating breakfast and that has helped a little but I still gorge at dinner .

Replies

  • ktdiddy
    ktdiddy Posts: 43 Member
    I don't think it really matters when you eat, as long as you eat the right amount of calories. So if eating less throughout the day and then having a bigger dinner suits you, then just do it. I am a bit the same; when I was a child dinner used to be the biggest meal of the day. I try to keep my dinner around 500cals but I always save a little extra for something afterwards to stop me from going to the fridge/pantry after dinner.
  • Kellelami
    Kellelami Posts: 13 Member
    I have the same issue! I can eat perfectly during the day and be completely satisfied with what I`m eating, but come night time, all bets are off, and it all goes downhill very, very quickly! I truly admit that for me it`s a combination of boredom, being tired and bad habits! I`m going to be working on trying to tame the night time binge beast - I need to find better ways to occupy my time!
  • kaotik26
    kaotik26 Posts: 590 Member
    Yep, me too! I just try to eat only when Im hungry instead of when Im 'supposed' to eat.
  • EmPuckett1
    EmPuckett1 Posts: 6
    Thanks for the words of encouragement. :) I know my number's would have been better had I worked out today but unfortunately I decided to make today a rest day and I think my guilt of that came out in tonight's dinner. Back at it tomorrow!
  • EmPuckett1
    EmPuckett1 Posts: 6
    "night time binge beast" I can imagine an evil gremlin jumping inside of my stomach screaming "give me more!" "No you little turd, shut up!"
  • alexandriax03
    alexandriax03 Posts: 289 Member
    Overeaters anonymous. http://www.oa.org. Look up meetings close to you.

    Also, look into getting an eating disorder specialist. They will be able to better assist you and help you get better eating patterns.
  • Jenn_M_76
    Jenn_M_76 Posts: 18 Member
    The lack of feeling hungry is because your metabolism has slowed down. You need food regularly to keep you sustained through the day. Breakfast is your kick start to your metabolism and your regular eating keeps it going.

    At one point in my life, I literally only ate one meal a day, every day. I gained a lot of weight because of it. I forced myself to have breakfast and eat in regular intervals throughout the day, despite not feeling hungry and in no time, I HAD to have breakfast and my snacks and lunch. By the time supper came around, I didn't feel the need to chow down on anything and everything because my body wasn't completely deprived throughout the day.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    I failed miserably with my calories today. I have a problem with not feeling hungry most of the day and then binge eating for dinner. Any suggestions on how to change this? My eating habits have been like this for years and I know it's really going to hinge my weight loss goals if I don't get this in check. I have started eating breakfast and that has helped a little but I still gorge at dinner .

    Total caloric intake will be the biggest variable you should be monitoring.

    If you are eating too many total calories because of your night-time eating habits, this will be problematic. It will not be problematic however, if you eat very large dinners but do not go over your total calorie intake for the day.

    So for example, if you feel better eating large dinners and you prefer to skip breakfast, this is actually fine. But if skipping breakfast causes you to then eat more calories than you would have had you eaten breakfast (in other words, the lack of breakfast causing you to eat above and beyond your total daily calorie target), then breakfast is probably a good idea.

    I typed all that out to clarify the difference. It's actually not due to any effects breakfast may have on your total energy output. It's how breakfast, or lack of breakfast, effects your food choices later in the day.
  • amwood89
    amwood89 Posts: 165 Member
    This was a problem which I had!

    I wouldn't class it as 'binging' but I was always SO hungry when I got home from work that I'd eat the first thing which I could get my hands on, usually toast/crisps which would satisfy me until dinner was cooked. It always made me feel like crap because those extra few snacks made me go over my calorie goal significantly!

    Now I eat smaller meals throughout the day & eat more frequently. I also take my gym bag to work with me & go straight to the gym after work to make sure I get my work out in (it's surprising how much exercise suppresses your appetite - well it does for me anyway!). But the one thing which has stopped me from snacking on rubbish which I don't need is having my meals prepared in advance - so when I'm home the majority of the prep work is done & it doesn't take too long to cook, meaning by the time I've had a shower etc. my dinner is ready!

    Good luck
  • Crystal01012014
    Crystal01012014 Posts: 11
    My plan is rotate each day

    Day one: breakfast 300 calories, lunch 500 calories, dinner 700 calories.
    Day two: breakfast 500 calories, lunch 700 calories, dinner 300 calories.
    Day three: breakfast 700 calories, lunch 300 calories, dinner 500 calories.

    Then repeat.

    Then after a month or so check over my diary and work out when I do best.
    That way, I worked out, the week before my monthly reminder I'm a women, I need a large dinner, medium lunch and small breakfast. The week I'm on I need a medium sized dinner, large breakfast and small lunch. The other two weeks I need a small dinner, medium breakfast but a large lunch.

    I think this is because my physical activity varies depending on what time of the month it is.
  • edwardkim85
    edwardkim85 Posts: 438 Member
    I failed miserably with my calories today. I have a problem with not feeling hungry most of the day and then binge eating for dinner. Any suggestions on how to change this? My eating habits have been like this for years and I know it's really going to hinge my weight loss goals if I don't get this in check. I have started eating breakfast and that has helped a little but I still gorge at dinner .

    I like eating 'bigger' dinners to compared to breakfast/lunch. Some people can skip dinner and sleep but I can't.

    Just eat a light breakfast/lunch and eat a decent meal BEFORE dinner at around 4-5pm.

    Then eat dinner around 7-8pm and you won't eat as much.

    Also, chug a BIG glass of water right before you eat dinner. You will barely be able to finish 1/2 or 1/3 of what you normally eat.

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