Nighttime eating.. omg

redrosez4
redrosez4 Posts: 23 Member
edited November 27 in Health and Weight Loss
OK, so, I've been doing really well. However, I have binge eating disorder, so it's a constant struggle. I still need to lose more weight (about 50 pounds), but I am at a stand still because of nighttime eating. During the day, I am OK and eat well. However, when I get home, my sensibility is gone and I lose control. I have tried everything I can think of to stop this and need help. I really wish there was a medication I could take that would take the edge off to help me. I have tried drinking protein before I get home, having a healthy snack, even eating dinner at work. I get home... and it's all lost. I seriously cannot control it.... I have tried working out, but as soon as I am done, it starts back up again. It is ruining my weight loss goals.... I just don't know what to do about it.
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Replies

  • Lucille4444
    Lucille4444 Posts: 284 Member
    I always have sugar free jello on hand, if I have to snack. If you use the ice cube method it takes very little time to jell.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,634 Member
    Maybe it's just me, and maybe you've already got this covered, but what helped me with reducing evening cravings was getting a *very* solid breakfast, including protein, healthy fat, and fiber. When I was at my lowest calorie consumption to lose 2lbs/week, this was easily 1/3 of my daily pre-exercise calories.

    I usually have plain oatmeal with berries, walnuts, and Greek yogurt, sweetened with a tablespoon of all-fruit spread (because it's regular oatmeal, not the pre-sweetened packets)). There are lots of other options, but as an ovo-lacto vegetarian, this was one of my best ones.
  • dayzeyblue
    dayzeyblue Posts: 15 Member
    I could have wrote that post...here's what worked for me. Since i have better control during daytime i push back breakfast till 10-11am...then push lunch till 3-4 then have dinner late. It makes me full enough before bed i opt to go to sleep comfortably rather than risk snacking and feeling yucky. Good luck!
  • Remoth
    Remoth Posts: 117 Member
    Healthier snacking and keeping yourself busy are really the only things you can do. If you are finding that you get bored easily at home, that can be the cause
  • sault_girl
    sault_girl Posts: 219 Member
    I have lunch at 12:30 and then maybe a snack between 4-5pm, then dinner isn't usually until 8 or 9pm. If I have dinner at 5 or 6pm, I snack (binge) all night.
  • SingRunTing
    SingRunTing Posts: 2,604 Member
    edited December 2015
    I save calories for an evening snack. I usually save 200-300 calories and plan to have something really awesome at 8:30/9pm. I go to bed by 10pm, so it's late enough to feel "final". It's usually gelato, ice cream, or candy, but lately it's been baked goods since "Tis the Season" and all.

    After dinner, I put all my "omg I just want to eat" energy into planning what I'm going to eat for my snack. Sometimes I'll settle on something, just to replan it again in a half an hour. But I can't eat it until it's time.

    It actually really helps me to have times that I eat and times that I don't eat. If it's not time to eat (for me it's breakfast, lunch, dinner, evening snack), then I simply have to wait. The only exception is if I can feel my blood sugar dropping (like after a long run in the late afternoon or something). Then I'll have a snack, but it comes out of my evening snack budget, so it's really only when it's an emergency.
  • prettysoul1908
    prettysoul1908 Posts: 200 Member
    I save the majority of my calories for the evening. I don't eat dinner til after 9. Then snack until it's time for bed.

    Mentally I had to adjust because we've always been told eating late is what makes you fat. But it's actually going over your calories that make you fat.

    I used to think that I HAD to eat breakfast because that kickstarted my metabolism. I thought I needed a big lunch to fuel me when I was busiest (such a laugh...I'm sadly sedentary). So even though I wasn't hungry I was eating out of obligation and still hungry at night which led to me eating too many calories even though I thought I was doing it the "right" way

    Through MFP I learned that it doesn't matter when you eat, as long as you eat in a deficit. This has made life a lot easier for me while losing weight.
  • glassyo
    glassyo Posts: 7,760 Member
    I don't know how good it is for you psychologically but I try to eat light during the day and then eat most of my calories at night . I actually don't even start eating until about 11:00 pm but part of that is because I also walk a lot to earn extra calories for food.

    I think of it as binging within my calories every night. :)
  • vivmom2014
    vivmom2014 Posts: 1,649 Member
    Is your BED a diagnosed condition? What does your medical team suggest you do to adjust your behavior?
  • mkakids
    mkakids Posts: 1,913 Member
    Save calories for night time. I calorie goal on days I don't exercise is 1500. I regularly save 800-1000 calories for dinner and night snacks.
  • jennamae102
    jennamae102 Posts: 179 Member
    If I'm craving something at night (especially in these colder months) I try to drink hot tea. Right now I'm drinking Trader Joes Pomegranate White tea...it is sweet and tends to take away my want to eat something! Good luck, you'll find what works for you!
  • BuddhaB0y
    BuddhaB0y Posts: 199 Member
    Having your doctor almost cry as he tells you he is really worried about you and doesn't think you will be around in 5-10 years seemed to do the trick for me. I hope you don't get to that point
  • Obnoxa
    Obnoxa Posts: 187 Member
    prettysoul1908 wrote: »
    Mentally I had to adjust because we've always been told eating late is what makes you fat. But it's actually going over your calories that makes you fat.

    This right here. If you know its the evening that gets you, then dispense your calories in a way tailored to when you really want food.

    I rarely eat breakfast, just not a breakfast person, once I broke out of the idea that breakfast was a must do and didn't bother using up calories on a meal I didn't really need or want it was easier to give myself more wiggle room for an evening snack if I wanted it

    Also, and maybe it's just me, but I really do find that my water consumption through the day will play into how hungry I am in the evening.

    Good luck :)
  • fatass2kickass
    fatass2kickass Posts: 2 Member
    I have the same problem but it's more of a habit than anything else. Two things I did to stop this behaviour is, first, I stopped watching so much tv at night. Second, I stopped buying extra food at the store. No available food = no binge eating. Just go shopping right after a meal so you're not shopping hungry. Good luck.
  • ZeXea
    ZeXea Posts: 168 Member
    Same problem with me. I tried a LOT and ultimately settled on not eating during the day. I eat no more than like 100 calories in the day, tops 200 on weekends, and then eat my last 1000-1300 at home from 6pm-11:45pm.
    I love it ☺️❤️ but I know it's not for everyone. It can be hard resisting food for most of the time you're awake.
  • Ryan70286
    Ryan70286 Posts: 122 Member
    Have you tried drinking some casein protein shake a couple hours before dinner. Casein is slow digesting and basically all protein.
  • Ryan70286
    Ryan70286 Posts: 122 Member
    Great job by the way. I've been using this app and tracking my food for almost 150 days and I just found out that their is a social community to this app.
  • cbelc2
    cbelc2 Posts: 762 Member
    My rule: I eat only at the table with no electronics. The tv area is a co-cal zone. Popcorn from a plate with no tv is not fun at all.
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    redrosez4 wrote: »
    OK, so, I've been doing really well. However, I have binge eating disorder, so it's a constant struggle. I still need to lose more weight (about 50 pounds), but I am at a stand still because of nighttime eating. During the day, I am OK and eat well. However, when I get home, my sensibility is gone and I lose control. I have tried everything I can think of to stop this and need help. I really wish there was a medication I could take that would take the edge off to help me. I have tried drinking protein before I get home, having a healthy snack, even eating dinner at work. I get home... and it's all lost. I seriously cannot control it.... I have tried working out, but as soon as I am done, it starts back up again. It is ruining my weight loss goals.... I just don't know what to do about it.

    Are you overeating at night as a response to a physical or emotional hunger?

    Would you please set your Diary Sharing settings to Public? http://www.myfitnesspal.com/account/diary_settings
  • pislari_poljnamd
    pislari_poljnamd Posts: 45 Member
    Try apples! Lots of apples
  • happyhaunt
    happyhaunt Posts: 180 Member
    I went through a period a few years ago of binge eating every day for weeks. I was so down about myself, it was so awful. I got myself out of it by opening up to my family about my problem, and they hid the foods in our house that would trigger a binge for me. They also would ask me if I'd binged on anything that day and I would feel so guilty if I did so I just stopped doing it. I've been binge free for a few years now. Good luck.
  • mkakids
    mkakids Posts: 1,913 Member
    jennamae102 wrote: »
    If I'm craving something at night (especially in these colder months) I try to drink hot tea. Right now I'm drinking Trader Joes Pomegranate White tea...it is sweet and tends to take away my want to eat something! Good luck, you'll find what works for you!

    I do this during the day. I basically live off tea and broth during the day and eat in the evening!
  • DanGemmell
    DanGemmell Posts: 6 Member
    There are medications to help with binging, ex. Prozac, Dexedrine. Because your doctor has diagnosed you with an eating disorder, there should be no problem getting a prescription.
  • DanGemmell
    DanGemmell Posts: 6 Member
    ZeXea wrote: »
    Same problem with me. I tried a LOT and ultimately settled on not eating during the day. I eat no more than like 100 calories in the day, tops 200 on weekends, and then eat my last 1000-1300 at home from 6pm-11:45pm.
    I love it ☺️❤️ but I know it's not for everyone. It can be hard resisting food for most of the time you're awake.

    Do NOT do this. The reason binging is more common in the evening is because of lack of eating in the day, and then your body sends binge drives because it's so hungry. Eat MORE during the day!
  • vivmom2014
    vivmom2014 Posts: 1,649 Member
    DanGemmell wrote: »
    There are medications to help with binging, ex. Prozac, Dexedrine. Because your doctor has diagnosed you with an eating disorder, there should be no problem getting a prescription.

    Well I asked if this was a formal diagnosis and OP never answered.

  • prettysoul1908
    prettysoul1908 Posts: 200 Member
    DanGemmell wrote: »
    ZeXea wrote: »
    Same problem with me. I tried a LOT and ultimately settled on not eating during the day. I eat no more than like 100 calories in the day, tops 200 on weekends, and then eat my last 1000-1300 at home from 6pm-11:45pm.
    I love it ☺️❤️ but I know it's not for everyone. It can be hard resisting food for most of the time you're awake.

    Do NOT do this. The reason binging is more common in the evening is because of lack of eating in the day, and then your body sends binge drives because it's so hungry. Eat MORE during the day!

    this is sooo not true for me. Now I don't go as low as 100-200 during the day but I don't eat a lot during the day because I'm just not as hungry. I used to subscribe to the idea that I HAD to eat my biggest meals during the day to prevent evening hunger. It didn't work for me and I was just as hungry at night.

    When I forced myself to eat breakfast within an hour of waking up... I found myself even hungrier than normal in two hours. I think as long as the daily nutrients balance out...there's nothing wrong with eating less during the day and more at night (considering no acid reflux)
  • ZeXea
    ZeXea Posts: 168 Member
    DanGemmell wrote: »
    ZeXea wrote: »
    Same problem with me. I tried a LOT and ultimately settled on not eating during the day. I eat no more than like 100 calories in the day, tops 200 on weekends, and then eat my last 1000-1300 at home from 6pm-11:45pm.
    I love it ☺️❤️ but I know it's not for everyone. It can be hard resisting food for most of the time you're awake.

    Do NOT do this. The reason binging is more common in the evening is because of lack of eating in the day, and then your body sends binge drives because it's so hungry. Eat MORE during the day!

    Uh...no. You're wrong. I've tried small many meals and big meals throughout the day. I've tried filling foods and veggies and everything. I still overeat and can eat and have eaten just as much at night as I do now. In the end this has worked for me and I'm happy with it.
  • ZeXea
    ZeXea Posts: 168 Member
    prettysoul1908 wrote: »
    DanGemmell wrote: »
    ZeXea wrote: »
    Same problem with me. I tried a LOT and ultimately settled on not eating during the day. I eat no more than like 100 calories in the day, tops 200 on weekends, and then eat my last 1000-1300 at home from 6pm-11:45pm.
    I love it ☺️❤️ but I know it's not for everyone. It can be hard resisting food for most of the time you're awake.

    Do NOT do this. The reason binging is more common in the evening is because of lack of eating in the day, and then your body sends binge drives because it's so hungry. Eat MORE during the day!

    this is sooo not true for me. Now I don't go as low as 100-200 during the day but I don't eat a lot during the day because I'm just not as hungry. I used to subscribe to the idea that I HAD to eat my biggest meals during the day to prevent evening hunger. It didn't work for me and I was just as hungry at night.

    When I forced myself to eat breakfast within an hour of waking up... I found myself even hungrier than normal in two hours. I think as long as the daily nutrients balance out...there's nothing wrong with eating less during the day and more at night (considering no acid reflux)

    I'm the exact same! I didn't like eating breakfast at all! It makes me think of eating the entire day, I'm always hungry later, I'm miserable when I try to "balance" my eating with day and night. I eat just fine and properly with all my meals at night. Plus I'm more productive and happier during the day :)
    Glad to see I'm not alone :)!
  • BurnWithBarn2015
    BurnWithBarn2015 Posts: 1,026 Member
    A friend of mine had the same and she controls it this way...

    She saved her calories for the evening.
    In the day time she ate breakfast, lunch and dinner
    But low calories
    She prepped for the evening boxes/tubs with food in it...candy crisps popcorn whatever.
    And each tub was 100 calories
    4 green stickers on 4 tubs
    2 orange stickers on 2 tubs
    2 red stickers on 2 tubs.

    The greens meant you are still in deficit
    orange meant close to maintenance
    and red over.

    She trained herself she could eat them after dinner till bedtime.
    And her trick was that when she was taking an orange tub that she went to bed.
    And trying to stretch time and stick to the green ones.

    It worked, she solved her problem :) Big time she lost about 80 lbs! And is for 2 years at a healthy weight and maintaining successfully.


    Maybe an idea for you?

    95069916.png
  • prettysoul1908
    prettysoul1908 Posts: 200 Member
    ZeXea wrote: »
    I'm the exact same! I didn't like eating breakfast at all! It makes me think of eating the entire day, I'm always hungry later, I'm miserable when I try to "balance" my eating with day and night. I eat just fine and properly with all my meals at night. Plus I'm more productive and happier during the day :)
    Glad to see I'm not alone :)!

    You are def not alone. And I was ECSTATIC to know I wasn't being a complete failure by eating late.

    I used to think eating anything after 9 meant the food would instantly turn to fat. So I would jam all these calories early in the day and try not eat after 7.

    No lie... When I was on this... No food after 7 kick... Several times I found myself waking in the middle of the night and eating half sleep because I was starving. This felt disordered to me. It was like I couldn't help myself. So glad that didn't take hold. So glad there's likeminded folks out there who find success in the same way. Cheers!
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