unique problem

tinydancer2015
tinydancer2015 Posts: 8
edited November 9 in Getting Started
Firstly I do not take any prescription or over the counter sleep aids.
I get up in the middle of the night and eat with little to no memory of what's or how much I ate.

I'll have vague memories and evidence in the morning. There is also a teenager in the house so he may be responsible for some of the evidence.

I want to know how to stop this. If it is possible.

Replies

  • mericose
    mericose Posts: 70 Member
    Are you a shift worker by any chance?
  • tinydancer2015
    tinydancer2015 Posts: 8
    I have reduced calorie intake during the day to 400 to 600 trying to stop the over the night eating from effecting the diet. And I've tried maxing out my calories during the day trying to stay full at night.

    I've also tried sleep aids to keep me sleeping to stop it. Nothing has worked. I don't know how to stop myself from eating at night.

    Sorry for grammatical errors. New phone
  • tinydancer2015
    tinydancer2015 Posts: 8
    I work day shift normally. Leave the house around 5a.m. and get home around 4p.m.

    I work in nursing.
  • Abby2205
    Abby2205 Posts: 253 Member
    Lock up food at night with cupboard locks, tying the refrigerator door closed, etc. In your sleeping state, this may impede you enough that you give up, or the extra effort to get at the food may wake you up enough so that you regain control. In a similar vein, rearrange your bedroom so that it isn't as easy for you to get out of bed and go to the food without waking up.
  • Missy022014
    Missy022014 Posts: 86 Member
    Have you talked to your PCP? They may have some advice for you. or maybe hypnosis?
  • tinydancer2015
    tinydancer2015 Posts: 8
    I have an anxiety problem that prevents me from sleeping in a room. I sleep in the living area.

    I also have two 15 month olds, a 4 year old, and a 16 year old currently in my care. I've thought about locking everything up.... but I'm afraid the 16 and 4 year olds would have problems accessing drinks and things. They both get up multiple times a night with dry mouths. I keep juice boxes and water bottles in the fridge for them.

    The 15 month old also want extra cups of milk in the middle of the night. So if I get up to make them a sippy... I might destroy a refrigerator trying to get to the milk before one wakes the other up... or in an effort to quickly stop the crying.
  • tombetlej
    tombetlej Posts: 61 Member
    Sounds like your whole house is up all night
  • tinydancer2015
    tinydancer2015 Posts: 8
    I wish I could figure out how I have time to eat when I'm up 15 times a night with various children.

    I think the older of the 15 month olds and the 16 year old should be going home soon. So maybe I can get this under control once they leave.
  • CanderWilver
    CanderWilver Posts: 19 Member
    Could you get a mini fridge to keep milk and other drinks in and lock the main fridge?
  • fedup30
    fedup30 Posts: 141 Member
    edited January 2015
    Buy yourself some locks. Lock up the food, or buy one lock and lock yourself in your bedroom? Have the lock on the inside, so you can still get out when you are awake and mindful enough to put the key in the lock. Just a thought!

    Nevermind....I see you sleep in the living area!
  • hamminit
    hamminit Posts: 184 Member
    I would think you would have to go to a Doctor for sleep eating.
  • liekewheeless
    liekewheeless Posts: 416 Member
    edited January 2015
    Maybe instead of making it difficult to get to the food find a way to make sure you are fully awake when getting out of the bed. Maybe something cold where you put your feet? You know better what may wake you up.

    Afterthought: Maybe you can put up a camera of sorts to find out if you are actually the one doing the eating. Ones you know what's going on it may be easier to fix it.
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    It sounds like you are sleep deprived with all that is going on in the house. Are you awake and alert giving your 15 month old the milk in the middle of the night. Or are you sleep walking during this time too.

    I was a sleep walkers that engaged in sleep eating and not aware of any of it. Thank goodness you are not driving while sleeping.

    Is there another care giver in the house that can help with the kids and even watch you for a couple of nights? It sounds like a lot of changes are needed in the house,

    I had camera's put in the kitchen. It was not pretty to watch your self do this on play back of the videos. And thank goodness all kids were grown. I had to get help of a doctor and did a sleep study where I live.

    Mine was straight anxiety and I found out what was bothering me to make me sleep eat! Locks were necessary in the beginning.
  • Holla4mom
    Holla4mom Posts: 587 Member
    I'm reading up on this as I do something similar. I also sleep on the sofa in the living room so I am near the kitchen. I never thought that it might be related to my anxiety and not just DH snoring and the fact that our mattress isn't firm enough.

    I just read about Nighttime Eating Syndrome. They are always giving a name to something but it's worth looking into.

    I found this thread because I'm looking at locking up the fridge/pantry as a stop gap measure. I eat well during the day, but I take night time meds, get drowsy, and it's a free for all.

    I think you are sleep deprived and Everybody in the house needs to get something to drink/ eat before bed and then the kitchen is closed. That's chaotic if everyone is up all night. You're eating for comfort, anxiety relief.
  • bandito30646
    bandito30646 Posts: 4
    ok , allow some calories for a midnight mini meal. use protein beacuse requires 13% of the calories in protein to digest it. keep your body in an anabolic state. your caloric intake should not drop less then 1500 calories aday. less then that throws it into starvation mode and your body starts storing fat and reducing muscle mass. ( this is the catabolic state) some pm exercise may also help you sleep thru the night
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