Binge Eating at Night

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.

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.

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.

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 night

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.