Binge Eating at Night
gooz71
Posts: 97 Member
Does anyone else have an issue with binge eating at night? I feel like a drug addict and eat (and eat) when my husband and kids go to bed. I know it's how I have gained all my weight, I just can't stop. 
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Replies
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If it is a psychological compulsion then you may do best seeking help from a counselor.
If it is a habit then you can work to change it by making sure you don't enter that part of the day starving hungry...eat a good dinner...and/or build in a snack in the evening that satisfies you, but doesn't ruin your day.
I did struggle with true binge eating w/depression in my early 20s. The kind where you eat salty junk until you are sick of it, then switch to sweet, then salty...jaw gets tired of chewing binge eating. That was a counseling/anti-depressants kind of thing.
At this point, I just like to snack at night. I get hungry between dinner and bedtime so I build a snack in. Popcorn is my personal favorite.0 -
The only way I can stop eating at night is to not have anything tempting in the house. If all you have open is green beans it is not hard to resist lol.0
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I struggle with it as well. Even after successfully losing 200+ pounds (naturally). I do recommend working through the psychological issues with a professional if you cannot figure out strategies to conquer it. There are a number of great books out there too. I like "The Thin Commandments" by Stephen Gullo.0
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I save calories to eat then and plan exactly what I am going to have. Gained most of what I am losing now eating at night. While I have greatly reduced the amount or calories consumed then, I don't think it realistic for me to try not to eat at night. I like it too much. As long as I have the calories it really isn't an issue. It's when I don't have them that's the issue!0
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I drink instead - water or herbal tea but every time I want to grab a handful of almonds or something after dinner, I drink more. Sometimes I'll add my amino acid to the water because I love the taste and it keeps me from eating. A friend of mine brushes her teeth after dinner. It works for her and she doesn't eat/drink after brushing.1
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i plan my meals so i have a few hundred calories left at night just incase, probably not enough for a binge haha but its all about self control, plus if the food you crave isn't in the kitchen you cant have it :P0
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I do that too till I found that, at least for myself, a small "sweet" treat (even sugar free jello with a little whipped cream) is a good enough topper to get me to stop eating. I'll also have something to drink like a latte or a nice cup of cocoa... something to signal "end" to my tummy. I read this somewhere years ago and it seems to work otherwise i'll eat my day at night0
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What are you having for dinner? You may not be eating enough protein. Also, keep a bag of baby carrots in the fridge just for that occasion. It's convenient and often all you need his a handful to take the edge off.0
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I used to struggle with this. On the advice of a friend I would make myself drink 16 ounces of water, eat 5 baby carrots and some celery when I was in binge mode. I would set the timer on the stove for 30 minutes. When the time went off I allowed myself to either continue the binge or stop. 95% of the time, the fiber and water killed the urge. After 3 weeks a habit formed and I wasn't eating at all after 7:00pm which is kind of my weakness point. I also incorporated some light exercise around that time. I hope this subsides for you!0
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That was my biggest problem and I still have to really watch myself. I can't keep ice cream in the house as I find myself late night hitting it. I finally just decided to control my diet at the store and not have bad things. Also posting *everything* on MFP has helped me because I just hate to read the bad crap the next day!0
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I struggle with this. Get to bed early if you can. When I stay up late I start snacking for energy to stay up later.0
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Sorry about how you struggle with this; it does make life unmanageable. Admitting your problem is positive, and since you ask, find a local 12-step in your area, or overeaters anonymous. Binge eating is linked to other life struggles and can be overcome with great success. You are not alone. I go to a 12 step to help me create better boundaries with others - called Celebrate Recovery. Go online if you wish to check this out. Like all things, it's up to you today. I hope the best for you!!0
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I used to struggle with this a lot, but I have found a few things that helped me. One big thing was cutting out sugar and other foods that would cause my cravings during the day, which helps me at night. For me, it seems the less sugar I eat, the less I want. Also, I started using an appetite suppressant without any caffeine in it after dinner. This is what has helped give me the extra edge to stay strong against the cravings. I use Liporidex PM, but I have seen a lot of other ones out there. Most will help you sleep too, which is great for not sitting up in bed thinking about food all night!0
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Until you can conquer the "demons" that are triggering it, I'd recommend what someone else suggested of removing anything tempting from the house. If you're left with limited low calorie options it will mitigate the issue. After a few weeks, your brain may be retrained to the point you can handle it.0
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It sounds like a coping strategy to handle your stress. Albeit not a very good one.
Is your calorie goal too aggressive? Are you truly hungry?
The suggestions to interrupt the ritual are good. So is keeping tempting foods out of the house until you've gained some control over your compulsions. A qualified counselor can also do wonders to help you unlock what's motivating this behavior.0 -
@gooz71 - how much weight do you want to lose and what is your weekly weight loss goal set to?
How many calories do you eat through dinner and what percentage of them are from protein?0 -
I was struck by your comment that you wait until your husband and kids are asleep which to me sounds different than say openly snacking at night out of habit or boredom. I think you need to ask yourself if there is an emotional factor to it? Are you lonely, depressed, stressed, or something else? Then if you figure out what might be the root of it try to come up with alternative ways to deal with it that do not involve food.
Maybe tonight and for the next several days take some time before you snack and write down what it is you are feeling at that time of day. what went on earlier in the day, what things are your grateful for, and so on. if you don't want to put it on paper for fear someone will read it there are free online journals like penzu.0 -
What are your stats and what is your calorie goal? Binge eating is sometimes the result of trying to stick to a too-steep deficit. It's better to have a small, manageable deficit that you can stick to and lose slowly but steadily with.0
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I understand completely being a Nurse working 3 shift, it's crazy hard to stay on track especially when the only foods close by are mainly snack machines! I know that's how I gained most of my weight too. It is hard not to snack or eat at night. But since I've joined the gym, and go there as soon as I get off work, and on my day's off I find that I eat more of the day and drink lots of water and that usually helps me to stay full during the nights, on and off work. But IDK how to help you to stop??? But you could try adding more food during the day if it's not over your calorie goal??? And if your exercising then your burning those calories your putting into your body off, therefore will make you feel less full too. . . .??? Wish I had more helpful advice.1
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I get a lot of odd cravings about two hours after dinner. I associate them with a sugar addiction. In some cases, if I don't have anything sweet to eat, I end up eating a lot of other things that don't satisfy me. I found that drinking some tea (unsweetened) satisfies me enough to not keep opening the cupboards.0
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Never ceases to amaze me how great the MFP community is! I believe I am getting enough calories here on MFP which is 1,500 a day. I also go to weight watchers and I almost think that is what has me stressed out because I need to cut way back on foods with a lot of sugar or carbs in them. Makes me feel like a "bad person" if I eat anything that isn't broccoli or brussel sprouts or grilled chicken. I do eat a lot of protein though.
However, I've been a night binge eater for MANY years. It's not because I am "hungry" as much as I think it's a comfort for me. The ironic thing is I binge because I'm depressed that I'm overweight and the binging makes me gain weight...and around and around I go. It seems that some of you have gotten over it though, so that gives me hope I can conquer it.1 -
Never ceases to amaze me how great the MFP community is! I believe I am getting enough calories here on MFP which is 1,500 a day. I also go to weight watchers and I almost think that is what has me stressed out because I need to cut way back on foods with a lot of sugar or carbs in them. Makes me feel like a "bad person" if I eat anything that isn't broccoli or brussel sprouts or grilled chicken.
However, I've been a night binge eater for MANY years. The ironic thing is I binge because I'm depressed that I'm overweight and the binging makes me gain weight...and around and around I go. It seems that some of you have gotten over it though, so that gives me hope I can conquer it.
Barring medical conditions, you don't need to cut back on any foods - sugar & carbs included. What you may need to cut back on is portion size. But keep eating foods that you love. Losing weight does not have to be a miserable, punitive experience. In fact, when it is, it often backfires.
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Simple. Go to bed when your husband does1
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I have no time to binge eat at night. I'm too busy eating my dinner.0
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This is a struggle for me. Sometimes I plan a snack for late or eat half my dinner at dinner and half later. Planning ahead and being aware that I'm going to want food help. Making sure I have food on hand I'm fine to eat or I don't have food I don't think I should be eating helps to keep me on track.0
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Hey Gooz - not sure if I am like you, but I also used to love eating before bed. It was like having a second supper. I really didn't feel good without going to bed without being full. It was comforting for sure.
But I made a commitment to stop eating 3-4 hours before bed time. I needed to lose weight and control my blood sugar. That means no eating after 8pm for me, and I stick to it.
But it wasn't easy. When I first started, the hunger pangs were horrible. I remember going to bed empty and feeling really irritable, restless, frustrated. I would toss and turn, thinking about food. Thankfully, my wife would hear me tossing and turning, and ask what's wrong? And she listened as I told her I was hungry, and how I wanted a cheeseburger (my nemesis), and all the toppings. Just talking would help somewhat and somehow, I would fall asleep. And wake up the next day. Some nights are better, some nights were worse than others. I think making that commitment to not eat after 8pm helped. It was like a line I wouldn't cross. But it was definitely a hard habit to change.
After awhile, it's become easier. I don't think about it as much. Like most of my bad eating habits, I've found it is just a habit. Something I've grown to do, and comforts me. But changing, didn't kill me. I do still think about cheeseburgers. I do still feel the emptiness of my stomach before bed. But now, I've learned to live with it. And almost... just almost maybe... like it. The feeling is like a badge, one final statement before I go to bed, that I've done the right thing. It's almost becoming my new habit, and the thing that comforts me before I go to bed.
Chaagy
Cheeseburger Addict0 -
Hey Gooz - not sure if I am like you, but I also used to love eating before bed. It was like having a second supper. I really didn't feel good without going to bed without being full. It was comforting for sure.
But I made a commitment to stop eating 3-4 hours before bed time. I needed to lose weight and control my blood sugar. That means no eating after 8pm for me, and I stick to it.
But it wasn't easy. When I first started, the hunger pangs were horrible. I remember going to bed empty and feeling really irritable, restless, frustrated. I would toss and turn, thinking about food. Thankfully, my wife would hear me tossing and turning, and ask what's wrong? And she listened as I told her I was hungry, and how I wanted a cheeseburger (my nemesis), and all the toppings. Just talking would help somewhat and somehow, I would fall asleep. And wake up the next day. Some nights are better, some nights were worse than others. I think making that commitment to not eat after 8pm helped. It was like a line I wouldn't cross. But it was definitely a hard habit to change.
After awhile, it's become easier. I don't think about it as much. Like most of my bad eating habits, I've found it is just a habit. Something I've grown to do, and comforts me. But changing, didn't kill me. I do still think about cheeseburgers. I do still feel the emptiness of my stomach before bed. But now, I've learned to live with it. And almost... just almost maybe... like it. The feeling is like a badge, one final statement before I go to bed, that I've done the right thing. It's almost becoming my new habit, and the thing that comforts me before I go to bed.
Chaagy
Cheeseburger Addict
THIS is awesome....thank you for sharing that. Exactly how I feel.
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Kittyy1994 wrote: »Simple. Go to bed when your husband does
Great idea! OP I know nothing about your relationship but this has promoted intimacy in mine.
Also, are you starving when you wake up in the morning? If not, don't force yourself to eat breakfast first thing. I wake up at 7 and usually don't eat until 10:30-11am. If you'd rather eat more of your daily calories in the evening, there is nothing wrong with that.0 -
Kittyy1994 wrote: »Simple. Go to bed when your husband does
Well, that actually may not be simple at all. My husband and I keep very different sleeping schedules, dating back into childhood for both of us, obviously LONG before we met. He's naturally a morning person, and tends to fall asleep around 8:30-9pm, give or take, and he's up at 4:45am to hit the gym every day. I'm naturally a night owl, and left to my own devices (aka, without sleep aids) I might not get sleepy until 2 or 3am or later - even with appropriately timed melatonin and benadryl, blue light filters, no caffeine, no screens after a certain time, whole "bedtime routine," essential oils....you name it, I've tried it - even with all that, it's generally at least midnight before I get sleepy enough to go to bed and not go crazy. I'm quite certain that that it could be done, but to suggest it's "simple" to do is completely incorrect.
OP, I'm the same way. I wouldn't classify it as *binge* eating, per se, because I know that has a particular clinical definition, but night time overeating has always been my downfall. Everyone in the house is asleep, you don't want to be TOO active because you need to be quiet and because you don't want to keep yourself up even longer. For me, I'm probably working or playing on the internet or catching up on TV (or usually all 3) for a bit and then reading and trying to unwind for a bit...and boredom and loneliness and physical exhaustion (different from sleepiness) set in. I can have a perfect day all day and even leave 100-200 calories for a nighttime snack, and it's not like I'm ordering pizza at 10pm or something, but it's stuff like 2 or 3 pretzels, and then a slice of cheese, and then 2 or 3 more pretzels, and then a handful of grapes, and then a half serving of popcorn, and then a cookie or two, and then 10 Cheez-Its...suddenly I'm 300+ calories over for the day, and when you have a 500 calorie deficit, that basically eliminates any progress for the day. Sometimes it even gets worse from there, or if I didn't leave any/enough calories at the end of the day, then things get way out of control.
I'm still working on ways to combat it, but it helps to log as I go so that I can really see the impact of each and every thing I put into my mouth in real-time. Also, a cup of decaf coffee works well - you get the action of consuming something and a little flavor without a ton of calories, as long as you don't go crazy on creamers (tea is another great option, I just don't care for it personally). Keep your hands busy if you can - can you knit or crochet? I'm thinking of taking up needlepoint just for this reason. Also, turning off all the lights (I read on a backlit regular Kindle) helps me for some reason - I guess I don't like to eat in the dark
. And I do try to get to bed as early as I can, which is still late by many people's standards, but the longer I stay up, the more time I have to mindlessly snack. You just have to find what your triggers are and find a way to combat them.
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