Eating gets worse at night

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dphorine
dphorine Posts: 3 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi,
I've been trying for two weeks to stay below my calorie goal (1,200) and the first week was good, second not so good. I tend to do really well during the day but after dinner it's just like I lose my self control and I eat whatever I can get my hands on. Most of the time I'm not hungry I'm just craving sugar and once I have sugar I can't stop eating. I know it sounds dramatic and the simple solution is "don't eat" but it's been a bit more difficult for me to do that. If anyone has any suggestions that would be greatly appreciated. Like I said, half the time I'm not even hungry just bored or craving sugar and I end up going 1,000 or over on my calories....

Replies

  • BWA468
    BWA468 Posts: 101 Member
    It will take about a month or so to get into a good rhythm and you will start finding foods that will fill you up more. Try to prelog your days AND account for treats. I account for chocolate every day and have something like a row or 2 of Kit Kat which is about 80 calories a row but you can find lower calorie chocolate. Drink more water. Play around with foods and see what fills you up more. For some its protein, some its carbs, some its fibre. At the end of the day if you want to drop the weight you have to find that self control. Good luck :)
  • MidModJenn
    MidModJenn Posts: 216 Member
    Agree with the posters above. Also, think about what you're doing when you're eating -- if you're idle (such as watching TV) then replacing that with an activity might help you break the cycle.
  • RedSierra
    RedSierra Posts: 253 Member
    edited July 2017
    dphorine wrote: »
    Hi,
    I've been trying for two weeks to stay below my calorie goal (1,200) and the first week was good, second not so good. I tend to do really well during the day but after dinner it's just like I lose my self control and I eat whatever I can get my hands on. Most of the time I'm not hungry I'm just craving sugar and once I have sugar I can't stop eating. I know it sounds dramatic and the simple solution is "don't eat" but it's been a bit more difficult for me to do that. If anyone has any suggestions that would be greatly appreciated. Like I said, half the time I'm not even hungry just bored or craving sugar and I end up going 1,000 or over on my calories....

    I have a medical problem and try to limit sugar (both added and in fruits and vegetables). That said, sometimes for a snack I have a bowl of oatmeal with almonds and an apple for sweetener. It's filling and the fruit satisfies my need for something sweet. You might find a snack like that you can plan for evening.

    Also, drink water. It helps to curb my appetite.

    You might try sugarless gum. Orbit brand tastes like regular gum to me. It does have calories, less than 5 calories per piece.

    Final idea -- if you can't control yourself with a food, then don't keep it in the house.
  • dphorine
    dphorine Posts: 3 Member
    Thank you all for your help. I'm 23, I weigh 138 right now and my goal weight is 125. I'm fairly active as I am training for a marathon in October. It is the worst when I am idle I have noticed and protein is filling I think it is just the mental aspect. I will try with more water as well but I do think I need to practice better habits.
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,174 Member
    edited July 2017
    dphorine wrote: »
    Thank you all for your help. I'm 23, I weigh 138 right now and my goal weight is 125. I'm fairly active as I am training for a marathon in October. It is the worst when I am idle I have noticed and protein is filling I think it is just the mental aspect. I will try with more water as well but I do think I need to practice better habits.

    You didn't mention your height but based on an average height of 5'4" that puts your NEAT (Daily burn at sedentary activity level) at around 1700 calorie per day. You are already at the top end of a healthy weight range for anyone over 5'3", so you would be better dropping your weight loss rate to 0.5lb per week, which would give you around 1350 calories per day (that little extra for a late evening snack!) or looking at a recomp (see this thread).

    Also if you're training for a marathon, make sure you're eating some of your exercise calories back, you need to fuel your workouts or you'll burn out. 50% is a good starting point then you can review your weight loss data after around 4 weeks.
  • tinkerbellang83
    tinkerbellang83 Posts: 9,174 Member
    You might also want to check out this thread in order to understand the way MFP works and how it calculates your calorie allowance. https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10569458/why-eating-too-little-calories-is-a-bad-idea/p1
  • rjan91
    rjan91 Posts: 194 Member
    I try not to eat after 7pm. I will drink decaf tea at night of flavoured water to help. Of course this makes me get up in the night. Try to keep busy and stay away from the food. I will often watch tv in my bedroom if I'm hungry to stay away from the kitchen!
  • ceiswyn
    ceiswyn Posts: 2,256 Member
    If you're fine during the day, you could always reduce the amounts you have for breakfast and lunch in order to give you additional calories for evening snacks.
  • jayemes
    jayemes Posts: 865 Member
    Ditto tinderbellang83 - make sure you're not setting your weight loss goal to be too aggressive and make sure you're eating your exercise calories
    Evening snacking is hard. I was an evening binger - once I started I would eat all the things.
    Here's what's helped me -
    1.drinking lots of water.
    2.Staying busy in the evening - either going for a walk, doing my workout, or if I just wanted to watch tv I would sit on the coffee table and do dips during commercial breaks. Something to keep active and out of the kitchen
    3. I always try to leave a bit of room in my daily goal that if I'm really craving at night I'll have a half a protein bar - better calories than junk, adds protein which fills me up and gives me a little chocolate/sweet kick.
  • ceiswyn
    ceiswyn Posts: 2,256 Member
    edited July 2017
    Ah yes, I use the 'half a protein bar' trick too. I cut the bar up into little chunks, put half of them on a saucer and take them through to another room, and put the other half in a tub for another day. I think cutting it into little chunks makes it feel like a more substantial snack, too.
  • sunfastrose
    sunfastrose Posts: 543 Member
    1,200 calories and training for a marathon is a recipe for disaster. Are you eating your exercise calories? Have you set your goal to .5 pound per week - which is what it should be with the amount you have to lose?
  • born_of_fire74
    born_of_fire74 Posts: 776 Member
    Rjan91, I love your profile pic! And if that's your dog, I'm pretty sure I'm in love with it!
  • dphorine
    dphorine Posts: 3 Member
    tinkerbellang83 wrote: »
    dphorine wrote: »
    Thank you all for your help. I'm 23, I weigh 138 right now and my goal weight is 125. I'm fairly active as I am training for a marathon in October. It is the worst when I am idle I have noticed and protein is filling I think it is just the mental aspect. I will try with more water as well but I do think I need to practice better habits.

    You didn't mention your height but based on an average height of 5'4" that puts your NEAT (Daily burn at sedentary activity level) at around 1700 calorie per day. You are already at the top end of a healthy weight range for anyone over 5'3", so you would be better dropping your weight loss rate to 0.5lb per week, which would give you around 1350 calories per day (that little extra for a late evening snack!) or looking at a recomp (see this thread).

    Also if you're training for a marathon, make sure you're eating some of your exercise calories back, you need to fuel your workouts or you'll burn out. 50% is a good starting point then you can review your weight loss data after around 4 weeks.

    Yes thank you! I actually am 5'4! so that is very helpful. I will definitely do that. It's my first marathon so I'm trying to train and eat as well as I can. I am a retired D1 athlete so I cannot eat what I used to so I an trying very hard to lose the bit extra that I've gained and really focus on keeping good habits from now on. Really thank you for your help this is my first post on here and I am very grateful for everyone's advice!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    dphorine wrote: »
    Thank you all for your help. I'm 23, I weigh 138 right now and my goal weight is 125. I'm fairly active as I am training for a marathon in October. It is the worst when I am idle I have noticed and protein is filling I think it is just the mental aspect. I will try with more water as well but I do think I need to practice better habits.

    1200 calories per day is an aggressive target and assumes a sedentary lifestyle...it's too aggressive for a mere 10-15 Lb weight loss target, particularly if you're active. You should be eating more which is probably why you're having issues.

    If you're training for a marathon, you need to eat some friggin' food...nobody trains for a marathon on 1200 calories. My wife is currently training for a 1/2 and trying to drop some weight...she eats around 1800-2000 and she's 42 and 5'2" and drops about 1 Lb per week on average.
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