Evening Snack Monster-what do you do?
marissazapalac
Posts: 2 Member
Nighttime is the most challenging time of day for my diet. I am able to follow my diet no problem during the day, maybe because I have two toddlers that keep me BUSY. But after my two kiddos fall asleep, all I want to do is decompress-or snack. Sometimes I am able to restrain myself, but I basically fail every night. What can I do to distract myself from wanting to eat everything in sight? And I hate hot tea so please don't suggest ha ha
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Replies
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Hehe... do you like coffee? Make a bowl of coffee, a thick layer of milkfoam (200 cl whipped wery dense) and a sprinckle of sweet cocoapowder. Drink coffee, spoon the foam... It´s not icecream or whipped cream, but still very comforting and filling. This is my go-to-snack when I am tempted to snack to much. aprox. 100 cals pr bowl. Sometimes you just have to feed the craving some whipped air...;-D0
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I snack at night. I typically save 250 calories for it and savour my Cadbury Milk chocolate bar as I watch TV and drink a diet coke.
Sometimes I have more left so I have chicago style popcorn or my new thing sweet chili and sour cream kettle cooked chips.0 -
Are you drinking enough water thru the day and getting enough protein and fats?
Sometimes when I think I'm hungry, I'm just thirsty. A very large glass of water, hot or cold, (can add a squirt of lemon or lime juice) wait a while, then reassess.
I keep low calorie snacks on hand. I like plain almonds (or other raw nuts) about 100 calories worth. They contain fats, and are satisfying.
Is there something else you can do to keep busy? Read a book? Take a bubble bath? Get a bit of exercise? Be kind to yourself.
It takes a while to retrain yourself out of old habits.
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i save my calories for night.0
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Well, there are the 'healthy' standards- vegetables. Blah, boring. I prefer yogurt (Dannon Lite & Fit Greek yogurt, only 80 calories- and also really good frozen) or popcorn (Jolly Time Kettle Korn 100 cal snack bag). Last night I made a box chocolate cake mix (using diet cola instead of oil and eggs) and 'frosted' it with PBFit. A good size piece is only 185 calories and it is really good (chocolate and peanut butter, what's not to love??). PBFit is my new go-to for late night snacking- 2 TBS is only 55 calories (compare it to 190 calories for the same in peanut butter). Bonus, my husband loved the cake, too, so he'll eat most of it.
I've read that sometimes our hunger is really thirst, so try a tall glass of something you love. There are no bad snacks, just bad portion sizes I think. Find what you love and either eat less of it or find a lower calorie alternative. Good luck!0 -
I'll take a sleeping pill and go to bed.0
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I know that 'making things' when your just craving the naughty thing that you KNOW is in the fridge/cupboard is near on impossible. What do I do? Go and do something else until it's time to go to bed. Go for a jog, or to the gym, or do an exercise DVD or SOMETHING to keep your mind off food! It's the only way for me. Either that, or go to bed early!0
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sorry, I saw my name.
chocolate almond milk, cottage cheese, yogurt, ice cream, deli slices, children's tears. These are my go-to snacks. I save enough calories so it is not really an issue.0 -
Something we are trying to avoid too....
So for me I automatically put in about 400 calories...
for me this covers
the hot drink I have
some yogurt (piece of fruit) all about 100 calories
and a LITTLE something else
These are put in first thing in the morning, so reduce the amount you eat during the day to compensate.
When I can manage to go to bed without having all of those (sometimes just the hot drink gives me the calmmmmm that I need) and so I feel even better.
Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed and on a good day I go to sleep a little hungry.
SOME ideas that SOMETIMES work for me, other times NOT a chance lol! As I am not a good sleeper and up many times in the night that does not help either
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onedayTHISYEAR wrote: »Something we are trying to avoid too....
So for me I automatically put in about 400 calories...
for me this covers
the hot drink I have
some yogurt (piece of fruit) all about 100 calories
and a LITTLE something else
These are put in first thing in the morning, so reduce the amount you eat during the day to compensate.
When I can manage to go to bed without having all of those (sometimes just the hot drink gives me the calmmmmm that I need) and so I feel even better.
Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed and on a good day I go to sleep a little hungry.
SOME ideas that SOMETIMES work for me, other times NOT a chance lol! As I am not a good sleeper and up many times in the night that does not help either
Why?0 -
My go to evening snacks are greek yogurt with some bran cereal (thing grape nuts , or Meijer bran bits), reduced fat cheese sticks and a few wheat thin crackers, or popcorn with a touch of butter and Slap yo Moma hot seasoning. The best trick I found to stop eating at night was to make sure I brush my teeth around 8:00pm. Guarantees I won't eat after
. 0 -
onedayTHISYEAR wrote: »Something we are trying to avoid too....
So for me I automatically put in about 400 calories...
for me this covers
the hot drink I have
some yogurt (piece of fruit) all about 100 calories
and a LITTLE something else
These are put in first thing in the morning, so reduce the amount you eat during the day to compensate.
When I can manage to go to bed without having all of those (sometimes just the hot drink gives me the calmmmmm that I need) and so I feel even better.
Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed and on a good day I go to sleep a little hungry.
SOME ideas that SOMETIMES work for me, other times NOT a chance lol! As I am not a good sleeper and up many times in the night that does not help either
Why?
I totally understand this. When you feel calm knowing you didn't exceed your calorie allotment for the day, it is easier for you to sleep. It give a clear conscience.
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I break my day down into 3 small meals and 3 snacks and that third snack is a night snack. If I want more night snack, that's what I use some of my exercise calories for. Typically have anywhere from 250-400 extra calories.0
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breathless575 wrote: »onedayTHISYEAR wrote: »Something we are trying to avoid too....
So for me I automatically put in about 400 calories...
for me this covers
the hot drink I have
some yogurt (piece of fruit) all about 100 calories
and a LITTLE something else
These are put in first thing in the morning, so reduce the amount you eat during the day to compensate.
When I can manage to go to bed without having all of those (sometimes just the hot drink gives me the calmmmmm that I need) and so I feel even better.
Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed and on a good day I go to sleep a little hungry.
SOME ideas that SOMETIMES work for me, other times NOT a chance lol! As I am not a good sleeper and up many times in the night that does not help either
Why?
I totally understand this. When you feel calm knowing you didn't exceed your calorie allotment for the day, it is easier for you to sleep. It give a clear conscience.
I was referring to the "Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed".0 -
breathless575 wrote: »onedayTHISYEAR wrote: »Something we are trying to avoid too....
So for me I automatically put in about 400 calories...
for me this covers
the hot drink I have
some yogurt (piece of fruit) all about 100 calories
and a LITTLE something else
These are put in first thing in the morning, so reduce the amount you eat during the day to compensate.
When I can manage to go to bed without having all of those (sometimes just the hot drink gives me the calmmmmm that I need) and so I feel even better.
Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed and on a good day I go to sleep a little hungry.
SOME ideas that SOMETIMES work for me, other times NOT a chance lol! As I am not a good sleeper and up many times in the night that does not help either
Why?
I totally understand this. When you feel calm knowing you didn't exceed your calorie allotment for the day, it is easier for you to sleep. It give a clear conscience.
I was referring to the "Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed".
Why no eating 3 hours before bed? It has to do with the window of time that your body is actively digesting. If you go longer without eating at night and have a gap of 8-12 hours of not eating, it gives your body time to heal itself. Your body can't heal itself if it is busy digesting food.0 -
I think the key is the word "decompress". Growing up, my dad would come home and have one drink to decompress. When I was a stay at home mom, it was a glass of red wine. When I went back to work, it became snacking. Now I've found other things that work: putting on my woobies (comfy, pajama-like clothes), a good book, or online browsing, or a candlelight yoga class that is really close to my house (so it doesn't feel like a chore). Each feels like I'm spoiling myself because I have no other Me time. I think the trick is to figure out what your mind is telling you that you need. If you're doing everything else the folks above suggest (like enough protein, fats and overall calories), then it is probably an emotional need that's driving the snacking.0
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I have a bowl of low cal yogurt 1-2 hours before I go to bed.
Sometimes it is just the yogurt ... sometimes I add various things to it depending on the number of calories I have available.
It's 11 pm and I just finished my yogurt ... and I'm now thinking of grapes.
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breathless575 wrote: »breathless575 wrote: »onedayTHISYEAR wrote: »Something we are trying to avoid too....
So for me I automatically put in about 400 calories...
for me this covers
the hot drink I have
some yogurt (piece of fruit) all about 100 calories
and a LITTLE something else
These are put in first thing in the morning, so reduce the amount you eat during the day to compensate.
When I can manage to go to bed without having all of those (sometimes just the hot drink gives me the calmmmmm that I need) and so I feel even better.
Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed and on a good day I go to sleep a little hungry.
SOME ideas that SOMETIMES work for me, other times NOT a chance lol! As I am not a good sleeper and up many times in the night that does not help either
Why?
I totally understand this. When you feel calm knowing you didn't exceed your calorie allotment for the day, it is easier for you to sleep. It give a clear conscience.
I was referring to the "Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed".
Why no eating 3 hours before bed? It has to do with the window of time that your body is actively digesting. If you go longer without eating at night and have a gap of 8-12 hours of not eating, it gives your body time to heal itself. Your body can't heal itself if it is busy digesting food.
Can you evidence any of that? Of course you can't. It's just regurgitated non-evidence based myth.
Your body is 'actively digesting' 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, until you die.
What is your body healing, and why does it need a specific time to do this?
Why can this "healing" not take place at the same time as "actively digesting". Are our bodies unable to only carry out one function at a time?
In summing up, you are wrong.0 -
breathless575 wrote: »breathless575 wrote: »onedayTHISYEAR wrote: »Something we are trying to avoid too....
So for me I automatically put in about 400 calories...
for me this covers
the hot drink I have
some yogurt (piece of fruit) all about 100 calories
and a LITTLE something else
These are put in first thing in the morning, so reduce the amount you eat during the day to compensate.
When I can manage to go to bed without having all of those (sometimes just the hot drink gives me the calmmmmm that I need) and so I feel even better.
Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed and on a good day I go to sleep a little hungry.
SOME ideas that SOMETIMES work for me, other times NOT a chance lol! As I am not a good sleeper and up many times in the night that does not help either
Why?
I totally understand this. When you feel calm knowing you didn't exceed your calorie allotment for the day, it is easier for you to sleep. It give a clear conscience.
I was referring to the "Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed".
Why no eating 3 hours before bed? It has to do with the window of time that your body is actively digesting. If you go longer without eating at night and have a gap of 8-12 hours of not eating, it gives your body time to heal itself. Your body can't heal itself if it is busy digesting food.
http://www.webmd.com/diet/diet-truth-myth-eating-night-causes-weight-gain
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I have a bowl of low cal yogurt 1-2 hours before I go to bed.
Sometimes it is just the yogurt ... sometimes I add various things to it depending on the number of calories I have available.
It's 11 pm and I just finished my yogurt ... and I'm now thinking of grapes.
10 grapes consumed.
And BTW - I mentioned that it is 11 pm. I'll be in bed before midnight. I like eating quite close to bed time so that my stomach feels a little bit full when I go to bed ... I sleep better that way - gnawing hunger wakes me up ... and so that I'm not ravenous in the morning.
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breathless575 wrote: »breathless575 wrote: »onedayTHISYEAR wrote: »Something we are trying to avoid too....
So for me I automatically put in about 400 calories...
for me this covers
the hot drink I have
some yogurt (piece of fruit) all about 100 calories
and a LITTLE something else
These are put in first thing in the morning, so reduce the amount you eat during the day to compensate.
When I can manage to go to bed without having all of those (sometimes just the hot drink gives me the calmmmmm that I need) and so I feel even better.
Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed and on a good day I go to sleep a little hungry.
SOME ideas that SOMETIMES work for me, other times NOT a chance lol! As I am not a good sleeper and up many times in the night that does not help either
Why?
I totally understand this. When you feel calm knowing you didn't exceed your calorie allotment for the day, it is easier for you to sleep. It give a clear conscience.
I was referring to the "Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed".
Why no eating 3 hours before bed? It has to do with the window of time that your body is actively digesting. If you go longer without eating at night and have a gap of 8-12 hours of not eating, it gives your body time to heal itself. Your body can't heal itself if it is busy digesting food.
I ate that 10 minutes before bed last night, and then slept for only 6 hours, am I not healed today?
Snark
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tekkiechikk wrote: »Well, there are the 'healthy' standards- vegetables. Blah, boring. I prefer yogurt (Dannon Lite & Fit Greek yogurt, only 80 calories- and also really good frozen) or popcorn (Jolly Time Kettle Korn 100 cal snack bag). Last night I made a box chocolate cake mix (using diet cola instead of oil and eggs) and 'frosted' it with PBFit. A good size piece is only 185 calories and it is really good (chocolate and peanut butter, what's not to love??). PBFit is my new go-to for late night snacking- 2 TBS is only 55 calories (compare it to 190 calories for the same in peanut butter). Bonus, my husband loved the cake, too, so he'll eat most of it.
I've read that sometimes our hunger is really thirst, so try a tall glass of something you love. There are no bad snacks, just bad portion sizes I think. Find what you love and either eat less of it or find a lower calorie alternative. Good luck!
I LOVE Dannon Light & Fit Greek yogurts! Those are my fave and if I need a crunch, I measure out a small amount of granola. They're a good dessert alternative. I'm going to have to look up the PBFit. I love PB2, but haven't heard of the Fit. I also measure out veggie chips or something like that (I'm a chipaholic so those help).0 -
Wow really good ideas. Motivating me to change things up. I try not to keep snacks foods around because I have no restraint. But maybe something like popcorn would do the trick, since it is not one of my trigger foods (like cookies or chocolate). One of the posters wrote something about decompressing and that is exactly the issue. Just want to zone out from being in toddler-land for an hour, and my evening snack fest helps with that. But sounds like there are better ways to do it than eating a sleeve of ritz crackers lol. And know I need to drink more water. Thanks for the great suggestions, appreciate everyone's responses.0
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breathless575 wrote: »breathless575 wrote: »onedayTHISYEAR wrote: »Something we are trying to avoid too....
So for me I automatically put in about 400 calories...
for me this covers
the hot drink I have
some yogurt (piece of fruit) all about 100 calories
and a LITTLE something else
These are put in first thing in the morning, so reduce the amount you eat during the day to compensate.
When I can manage to go to bed without having all of those (sometimes just the hot drink gives me the calmmmmm that I need) and so I feel even better.
Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed and on a good day I go to sleep a little hungry.
SOME ideas that SOMETIMES work for me, other times NOT a chance lol! As I am not a good sleeper and up many times in the night that does not help either
Why?
I totally understand this. When you feel calm knowing you didn't exceed your calorie allotment for the day, it is easier for you to sleep. It give a clear conscience.
I was referring to the "Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed".
Why no eating 3 hours before bed? It has to do with the window of time that your body is actively digesting. If you go longer without eating at night and have a gap of 8-12 hours of not eating, it gives your body time to heal itself. Your body can't heal itself if it is busy digesting food.
What? As @cityruss stated, this is wrong.
OP, if you find yourself more hungry at night, save calories for that time. Hell, save a majority of your calories for night if that helps you. Meal timing has nothing to do with weight loss.0 -
breathless575 wrote: »breathless575 wrote: »onedayTHISYEAR wrote: »Something we are trying to avoid too....
So for me I automatically put in about 400 calories...
for me this covers
the hot drink I have
some yogurt (piece of fruit) all about 100 calories
and a LITTLE something else
These are put in first thing in the morning, so reduce the amount you eat during the day to compensate.
When I can manage to go to bed without having all of those (sometimes just the hot drink gives me the calmmmmm that I need) and so I feel even better.
Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed and on a good day I go to sleep a little hungry.
SOME ideas that SOMETIMES work for me, other times NOT a chance lol! As I am not a good sleeper and up many times in the night that does not help either
Why?
I totally understand this. When you feel calm knowing you didn't exceed your calorie allotment for the day, it is easier for you to sleep. It give a clear conscience.
I was referring to the "Do keep in mind that ideally you shouldn't be eating 3 hours before bed".
Why no eating 3 hours before bed? It has to do with the window of time that your body is actively digesting. If you go longer without eating at night and have a gap of 8-12 hours of not eating, it gives your body time to heal itself. Your body can't heal itself if it is busy digesting food.
I ate that 10 minutes before bed last night, and then slept for only 6 hours, am I not healed today?
Snark
Sorry to be the one to tell you mate, you're actually dead.0 -
marissazapalac wrote: »Wow really good ideas. Motivating me to change things up. I try not to keep snacks foods around because I have no restraint. But maybe something like popcorn would do the trick, since it is not one of my trigger foods (like cookies or chocolate). One of the posters wrote something about decompressing and that is exactly the issue. Just want to zone out from being in toddler-land for an hour, and my evening snack fest helps with that. But sounds like there are better ways to do it than eating a sleeve of ritz crackers lol. And know I need to drink more water. Thanks for the great suggestions, appreciate everyone's responses.
Sugar free jell-o...if you use 2 tbsp of fat free whipped topping thats a whole 40 calories for 8 oz.0 -
I save some calories, usually enough for two cookies. I eat them and then brush my teeth and get in bed. I know if I don't brush my teeth right away I'm likely to keep eating. Most of my exercise calories go to cookies and it's totally worth it.0
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