Late night snacking.

tittiemcnuggets
tittiemcnuggets Posts: 19
edited September 25 in Health and Weight Loss
I have a very inconsistent sleep schedule and I'm awake at odd hours of the night. It's 4am here now and I'm freaking starving! I have the worst problem of snacking really late at night, and then going to sleep.
I know this can't be progressive at all.
How late is too late to eat? Can you guys recommend anything to nibble on that will cure these late night cravings?

Replies

  • BunnybeeJG
    BunnybeeJG Posts: 344 Member
    i've been spacing out my meals differently cuz i'm the same way ... but the days i feel like snacking i find that the special k multigrain crackers and a little bit of sabra roasted red pepper hummus is helpful...and its not killer on the calories, or a little bit of honey oat or vanilla almond special k cereal w some coconut milk tastes more sinful than it actually is lol fudgecicles are good for chocolate ice cream cravings and if you get the right ones they are only 40 calories each.

    luna bars are good too.
    they have minis that are like bite size candies and have all sorts of vitamins us ladies need and dont have a ton of calories and fat.:drinker: chobani yogurt and fruit is the best too... things w protein help stave off that craving more.
  • Shunhades
    Shunhades Posts: 16
    >.> I kinda have the same problem to be honest. But what you can do is try to wear yourself out with some exercise, or if you really need to snack have some fruit or something light.

    I typically work at night so my schedule is rather complicated due to this. But it wouldn't hurt to give that a shot right?
  • JWALL101
    JWALL101 Posts: 60
    well I heard anything after 8pm, will mess up digestion. But I work second shift and that is what is taking me so long to drop the weight, the late night eating. I stay up until 4 or 5 in the morning, and sleep until 12 or 1 in the afternoon so if I stop eating at 8 I will only get 2 meals in a day. That drives my body crazy when I get in from work. I have been getting better.(slowly!)
  • BunnybeeJG
    BunnybeeJG Posts: 344 Member
    well I heard anything after 8pm, will mess up digestion. But I work second shift and that is what is taking me so long to drop the weight, the late night eating. I stay up until 4 or 5 in the morning, and sleep until 12 or 1 in the afternoon so if I stop eating at 8 I will only get 2 meals in a day. That drives my body crazy when I get in from work. I have been getting better.(slowly!)


    i never paid attention to that whole thing.
    you're body doesn't really know the time.. the concept of 'time' itself is ... manmade ... what MATTERS is not eating a few hours before bed but everyones body is on a different schedule. the KEY is finding healthier choices and learning to not eat just because you're bored or anxious or feel like you might be hungry if you aren't really hungry. It always seemed silly to me to say that your body can tell time. that it mattered. to be honest i think it goes... you have to eat within an hour or so of waking up... and you're not supposed to eat at least 2 to 4 hours before going to bed ... as long as youre not eating crap and a load of it and not exercising... it shouldn't be an issue. :glasses:
  • I have the same problem too, it's after 3am here and this is typical of me to be wide awake and craving food...to satisfy it, I will have an apple or fat free yogurt. I have a feeling if I was able to sleep through the night, I would have not gotten this overweight.
  • CassieLEO
    CassieLEO Posts: 757 Member
    My Nutritionist said ti is fine to eat up to two hours before going to bed....
  • You are not eatong enough protein! It helps keep that "full" feeling. Not getting enough sleep also makes you more hungry. Good luck!
  • WolffEarl
    WolffEarl Posts: 379 Member
    You are not eatong enough protein! It helps keep that "full" feeling. Not getting enough sleep also makes you more hungry. Good luck!

    I agree with this. I find that the amount of protein we need is almost always underestimated. For a moderately active life style (3 to 5 times a week, about 1/2 hour of exercise) it is recommended that we consume about 0.7 g of protein per pound of lean body mass (so not your entire weight). So assume you are moderately active, weigh 200 pounds but are at the 30% "BF. So that leaves you with 140 pounds of LBM and therefore around 98 g of protein per day. Just a thought. I also find that ready carbs like cereals, breads, jsut fuel the hunger machine. Veggies probably the better way to go. I do not envy your strange sleep patterns. That must be very tough. Hang in there.
  • Noctuary
    Noctuary Posts: 255
    I don't know what kind of diet plans non Diabetics are on. But as a Diabetic we have to eat 5 or so meals a day. Mostly 2 main meals and lots of snacks every few hours so our sugar levels don't rollercoaster. You might want to start having actual snacks in between meals. So after dinner you have a snack of something small...an apple or some graham crackers. At least that's what we do.
  • GTI_Girl
    GTI_Girl Posts: 207
    fantastic to know I am not the only one with an odd work/sleep pattern. Its even more strange when you are at the gym at mid night lol. So...this protein I have been hearing about (lol) What are some good ways to get it late at night? the obvious asnwer in my mind is "Shake! or bar!" but are those ok to eat before going to sleep? Im at that stage where I am trying to shake the last 10 lbs and I really do need to amp up my protein since im startin to do weight traning with my carido
  • AdAstra47
    AdAstra47 Posts: 823 Member
    Late at night, anything with any kind of carbs or sugars is bad. They'll wake you up & raise your energy levels too much, when all you really want is something to sustain your body while you sleep. Protein is definitely the way to go. Most so-called "protein bars" have more carbs than I'm allowed to eat in a day, so be careful with them! A drink made from a zero-carb protein powder is a good choice. Or just grab a hard-boiled egg or a chunk of cheese to munch on.

    My doctor told me that the best thing I can do is keep my body burning fuel at a constant, steady rate. He says I need to eat or drink some protein every three hours when I'm awake, and also immediately after a workout, right before bed, and also any time I wake up at night. The great thing about protein is that it doesn't get stored (like carbs, fat and sugar do). If your body can't use it, it just passes on out. So you really can't eat too much protein.
  • GTI_Girl
    GTI_Girl Posts: 207
    The great thing about protein is that it doesn't get stored (like carbs, fat and sugar do). If your body can't use it, it just passes on out. So you really can't eat too much protein.

    I like this. lol.
  • healthyandthin
    healthyandthin Posts: 104 Member
    I have the same problem. My nutritionist says it's okay to eat every 3-4 hours if you eat healthily. When I'm awake at 4 am, I would grab a snack and then go back to bed. If it's under 100 calories, I'm not too worried about it.
  • Thanks for all the insight, everyone. :]
  • BunnybeeJG
    BunnybeeJG Posts: 344 Member
    My Nutritionist said ti is fine to eat up to two hours before going to bed....


    I think this is actually true. because as i've stated in the past and firmly believe... the concept of 'time' AS* :tongue: we see it .. with clocks and such has nothing to do with our bodies i'm pretty sure as long's you eat within an hour of waking up and stop eating 2 or 3 hours before you go to sleep it should be fine.

    everyones on a different schedule anyway lol:heart: and yes protein is probably what you're needing. i keep those special k protien drinks and luna bars stocked not only cuz i like them and they are helping me but because when a hankering arises to snack... at least i'll know that if i choose one of those or the special k crackers with the hummus i like... for those crunchie attacks lol ... then it'll satisfy me and I wont feel like... crap... progress ruined. lol
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