HELP I AM A NIGHT SNACKER

Try eating more protein with your evening meal. It may help you feel full longer. You might also build in an evening snack into your calories for the day.

If you're actually hungry, analyze what it is that you're eating for dinner. Possibly you need more protein and fat in your evening meal to help you feel full throughout the evening. Maybe your calories are set too low.

When I can't tell if I'm hungry or bored, I ignore it and find something less boring to do. If my stomach starts to growl (like actually, out loud) then I know I was actually hungry and I'll find a healthy snack.

I suggest the same...check that you are getting enough protein and when I get hungry later at night...I reach for water. This usually stays off the hunger until morning.

Agree with the comments on more filling items throughout the day.

One thing that I noticed about myself that may pertain to you - for me it was more of a habit than an actual hunger thing. The longer I was on MFP and eating more filling foods and tracking I realized that I wasn't really hungry at night, I was just grabbing snacks because it was a habit. Lightbulb moment! Since I have realize that my night snacking has gone way down. If I am hungry I usually grab some popcorn and maybe a handful of dark chocolate chips and that satisfies me.

Since it doesn't matter what time of day you eat, why not just save calories for your night time snack? It's what I do. I know I'm going to want a snack somewhere around 8:00 pm so I leave 100 calories or so. If I eat them, I have room, if I don't, it's not a big deal.

arguablysamson wrote: »

tyismc wrote: »

I need help here. I recently left weight watchers, followed their point system to a Tee and only lost 4 pounds in the 3 months that I was with them. I eat very healthy during the day because I pack my lunch and eat a fairly healthy dinner but seem to get hungry about an hour to 2 hours later. I don't bring junk food in my home but will find my self getting a small bowl of dry cheerios or a slice of toast or whatever. I don't like doing this. I have tried to actually think if I am actually hungry or just bored. It feels like I am actually hungry. The night snacking will tend to put me over the points I was allowed daily on WW or a little over the calories Im allowed during the day on Fitness Pal. What can I do to help with this?

Make a rule that you can only eat ONCE a day, followed by no calories. That way, you will break those annoying craving-following tendencies. You will also simplify your life and budget. Go here and here.

Oh dear. Well, that's AN option, but not your ONLY option. I'd try some of the other things first.

I find that when I want to snack at night if I have a cup of flavored hot herbal tea that it does the trick. Its sweet and somehow it makes me not hungry anymore. If that doesn't work I eat a big dill pickle. No calories, just some sodium!

I personally do not eat until noon(just not a hungry person in the morning), and save the bulk of my calories for lunch/dinner/snack. I also eat dinner around 8:30. This has worked the best for me because I am not fighting myself, I am going with my bodies eating patterns. If this works for you try it. Don't let anyone tell you it's unhealthy to eat that way, there are many many many healthy ways to lose weight. Try different things find out what works for you

I would just plan an evening snack that fits your calorie goal.
Make sure you are getting enough, protein, fiber and fats.

Are you exercising? Are you eating some of your calories earned through exercise? It is okay to do that.
Is your calorie goal right? How much do you want to lose each week?

When it fits your calorie allowance i dont see the problem.

I am a evening snacker. Every evening between 9 and 10 i eat a huge bowl (80 gr unpopped) of air-popped popcorn.
And i lost 80 pounds in 6 months

So dont really see the problem here.

When you dont like the habit oke, stop doing it than and live and get used to the fact you dont eat after a certain time ( for what ever reason you have)
But eating at night a snack doesn't hurt your weight loss journey as long it fits in your calorie allowance.

tyismc wrote: »

PeachyPlum wrote: »

arguablysamson wrote: »

tyismc wrote: »

I need help here. I recently left weight watchers, followed their point system to a Tee and only lost 4 pounds in the 3 months that I was with them. I eat very healthy during the day because I pack my lunch and eat a fairly healthy dinner but seem to get hungry about an hour to 2 hours later. I don't bring junk food in my home but will find my self getting a small bowl of dry cheerios or a slice of toast or whatever. I don't like doing this. I have tried to actually think if I am actually hungry or just bored. It feels like I am actually hungry. The night snacking will tend to put me over the points I was allowed daily on WW or a little over the calories Im allowed during the day on Fitness Pal. What can I do to help with this?

Make a rule that you can only eat ONCE a day, followed by no calories. That way, you will break those annoying craving-following tendencies. You will also simplify your life and budget. Go here and here.

Oh dear. Well, that's AN option, but not your ONLY option. I'd try some of the other things first.

Eating once a day is not an option, thank you for the advise. But that is also very dangerous. IT can cause binge eating and also lowers blood sugar levels causing all sorts of problems.

The other thing I would worry about with eating once a day is vitamins and minerals that you need for your day, some of them block the absorption of others and some of them your body can only absorb a certain amount at a time and the rest will just pass through you, so eating all at once you might eventually notice your body is not getting the proper amount of nutrients due to compromised absorption. Plus me personally I feel really nauseous when I get really hungry so eating once a day would definitely not work for me, plus I really couldn't eat my daily calories within an hour without feeling super stuffed and miserable or eating something high in calories which usually isn't fruits/veg/lean meats etc. Not to mention socially most people enjoy getting together with friends and family and sharing a meal so one meal a day would potentially make that more difficult. But different things work for different people, I just wanted to point out a few possible problems with the once a day eating.

I find a cup of tea helps. I am usually in bed by 9 and have my tea at 8. If I start getting munchy hungry around I just keep reminding myself to hold on until 8. Works for me