So hard not to snack at night!

Agree with limiting snacking in general, but will say if you hit the gym then you probably should have something - high protein content would be good. It's generally advised to eat something with protein and carbs within 20 or so minutes to help muscle recovery. On days you don't go the gym make sure you've got proteins, (healthy) fat and fibre in your dinner, as these should make you feel full. Try to avoid large quantities of processed/white carbs (check gi) which pass through very quickly and potentially actually lower blood sugar making you more likely to want to snack later. Of course, these are generalisations and won't work for everyone but may be somewhere to start?

Do you tend to snack at night out of habit, boredom, hunger or something else?

To help those times when you absolutely have to snack is often worth having some pre-prepared to help you make good choices. Examples may be pre-cut veg sticks with a healthy dip, (something bean based such as hummus to add protein? I make my own with about half the oil to reduce fat content/calories), pre-weighed portion of nuts, pre-portioned homemade trail mix etc - you get the idea.

You should be eating if you feel hungry. You're supposed to feel satisfied, not stuffed but definitely not starving, especially after an intense workout. Also, it doesn't matter what time of the day you eat as long as you are accurately logging everything in your diary. Not eating when you feel hungry is just going to lead you to binge eating. I workout sometime around 7pm-10pm because its cooler at night and I usually eat dinner afterward depending on what time I finish my workout. I'm down 37 pounds in 7 1/2 months.

dkabambe wrote: »

It's generally advised to eat something with protein and carbs within 20 or so minutes to help muscle recovery.

When applied to general population, this is overhyped. If one is getting in the required macro/micro nutrients they need daily, there's no need for a post workout meal 20 minutes later.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

Have you thought about intermittent fasting? Its not a eating style I personally have adopted (I'm a eat every few hours type.) But from the sounds of your natural eating pattern it could possible work well for you. Search it in the forums and do some research, maybe it will help solve your problem...

I have the same problem - I find if I just put something in my mouth I can get by - like a cup of tea or water or a leftover veggie from dinner. It's hard though but I'm getting better at it with practice. I agree with the others - you should eat or drink something.

Why do you have that as a goal? The time you eat really has nothing to do with losing weight. It's all about the calories, so feel free to save some calories for snack time or late eating.

I didn't read the comments. But why is snacking after 8 bad? If you incorporate this into your daily count then have it. KNOW your body. Like some people aren't hungry in mornings til 10ish Why should they eat earlier? If being hungry at night is a thing work in a snack or small meal for then. If you doing exercise late you'll need food anyway your body doesn't know it's 8pm and that myth of 'don't eat before bed' is just that. A myth. It's about your daily or weekly count. Do this and you'll look forward to that 8pm snack! If that's choc or an apple if it fits eat it