Need ideas to occupy myself when late night cravings come in
Scochrane86
Posts: 374 Member
My biggest downfall is night time binge eating.
I can do awesome all day, but once the kids go to sleep and I have some me time - I head for the kitchen and within minutes I have eaten everything I can get my hands on and have over eaten to the point of sickness and guilt. its like I go into a trance and have no control over myself.
I need some ideas of what to do when these feelings start. I cannot leave the house because my kids are sleeping. so what can I do to take my mind off the delicious processed carbs that are calling my name?
I can do awesome all day, but once the kids go to sleep and I have some me time - I head for the kitchen and within minutes I have eaten everything I can get my hands on and have over eaten to the point of sickness and guilt. its like I go into a trance and have no control over myself.
I need some ideas of what to do when these feelings start. I cannot leave the house because my kids are sleeping. so what can I do to take my mind off the delicious processed carbs that are calling my name?
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Replies
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Make fruit popsicles or home made fruit roll ups. Healthy way to feel like your cheating.
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I will often grab a cup of something hot - hot tea, hot lemon water, decaf coffee. It takes a bit of time to sip on and still helps to "fill" the void.6
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Hot tea2
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Maybe you are not eating enough during the day. If you are just mindlessly eating maybe find something else to do at night. If you just want to chew something try gum or a sugar free mint. Try planing a late night snack into your daily food.
I make sure I leave calories in my day for a snack. I also log those calories before the night so I know exactly what I am going to eat or how many calories I have. This helps me feel like I am "cheating" when I really am not. Once my snacks are done, then I am done.3 -
Go buy a sewing machine, about the same price as some fitness trackers, and start altering your clothes so they will fit the new slimmer you. It is really hard to snack when your hands are busy, and your mind is focused on something other than food.
Seriously, find something to do. Refinish some furniture, paint a room, make photo albums for your children to have once they are grown, read, research something you are interested in, do a YouTube workout.
Stay out of the kitchen, except for tasks.
Cheers, h.5 -
Small baked potato or two with Mrs Dash and black pepper or hotter. Dip it in a VERY small amount of ketchup, if you like ketchup...Cut them in half so you have 2-4 pieces...Low calories, VERY satiating, won't spike your insulin...follow with some caffeine free herbal tea...good for when you're craving second/something to munch on!!!6
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Ideas: go for a walk, try an exercise video (youtube), do something that keeps your hands busy like crafts or play an instrument, phone a friend/family member, clean something.
You may also want to start journaling after these binges about how you feel and why you are doing this. It might help you become more mindful to prevent slip ups and/or discover the root cause.2 -
I try to have a large cup of water or tea to see if that helps. If I really need a snack I try to have some fruit, some popcorn or some cheese.
I also think it's important to DO something. If I do something, I don't want to "waste" those calories burned by eating them.
If you can't leave the house, perhaps go on youtube and either do an exercise program or a yoga video. There are great yoga ones that are only 30 minutes long and they will be quiet enough not to wake the kids and will keep your mind focused and clear so that you won't want something afterwards.
Good luck!0 -
I have this trouble too. Except mine happens when I just get home from work and I am the only one home. I raid the cabinets. The other day, I literally ate 4 pieces of white bread, plain. I don't know why.... at night after dinner, I discovered the hot drink too. It is very filling and takes a long time to drink. I am usually pretty full afterwards. Even hot chocolate would work. More calories than tea but gives you that chocolate and hot drink at the same time!3
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Other than distraction with hobbies etc., why not go to bed earlier and get up earlier? I find I want to eat after 9PM, even if I've had a good dinner around 4. So I go to bed at 9 and get up at 5AM. I don't usually feel a need to eat in the morning. It's been one of the better things I've done for myself. I get so much more accomplished and I don't sit and do mindless stuff in the evenings any more. I have dinner, a shower, and maybe a couple chores. 30 minutes to an hour of TV and it's bedtime.4
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Here's what you do, plan out your meals and calories for the day and save some of your favorite meals for night time and replace the binge foods with these. When I first started dieting I had this problem of filling that late night void. It gets easier as time goes on, discipline takes time to build but it can be done.4
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Go to sleep. Who doesn't need more sleep?5
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You might not be eating a substantial well rounded dinner to keep you full. I usually sip on a nice hot cup of tea and read a magazine or watch a show. Maybe you might want to exercise at that time since the kids are down even if it's just an extra session of stretching and floor exercises to get you into the relaxed mode. I've also heard brushing your teeth helps. I used to have a fiber bar. It only has 90 calories but I've learned it is truly mind over matter and am trying to limit my carbs. Now that some time has gone by, I am no longer having the evening cravings.1
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I do not believe I am hungry when I do this.
I feel like I am unsatisfied with what I did eat during the day and so I overfill myself with my favorites (cereal, bagels, chips, etc)
I feel like even though I have a great dinner, something I really enjoy - a few hours later I am unsatisfied again and everything goes to hell.
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Have you ever tried knitting or crochet? I find that keeping my hands busy really helps with my hand-to-mouth fixation (I used to be a smoker too)
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Scochrane86 wrote: »I do not believe I am hungry when I do this.
I feel like I am unsatisfied with what I did eat during the day and so I overfill myself with my favorites (cereal, bagels, chips, etc)
I feel like even though I have a great dinner, something I really enjoy - a few hours later I am unsatisfied again and everything goes to hell.
Get involved in something to keep your mind off of it! Hydrate & maybe leave yourself post it notes or pictures hanging where you would run to. In the cubbard, pantry etc. saying something like....Do I really need that, Nope - don't do it, Get busy. You are in control of you. You can do it. I used to post a motivational picture of this ripped chick as inspiration. Maybe just tell yourself that as much as you want these carb'ish items, I am going to grab something healthy instead or have the willpower to walk away. Try it. Good luck,0 -
Sex1
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Scochrane86 wrote: »
But you can get up much earlier.
If you aren't getting sufficient sleep, that affects your desire for carb-y things, too.
I mean, you have a bad habit. You have a lot of excuses as to why you can't break the bad habit. It could be as simple as getting more sleep. I eat poorly when I am sleep deprived, and it only takes a couple days for me to notice my food choices changing if I don't sleep enough.
This:Scochrane86 wrote: »I do not believe I am hungry when I do this.
I feel like I am unsatisfied with what I did eat during the day and so I overfill myself with my favorites (cereal, bagels, chips, etc)
I feel like even though I have a great dinner, something I really enjoy - a few hours later I am unsatisfied again and everything goes to hell.
Says to me that you are 1. under eating or 2. sleep.
It makes sense to be hungry a few hours after dinner. Push dinner later or go to bed earlier.
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cmriverside wrote: »Scochrane86 wrote: »
But you can get up much earlier.
If you aren't getting sufficient sleep, that affects your desire for carb-y things, too.
I mean, you have a bad habit. You have a lot of excuses as to why you can't break the bad habit. It could be as simple as getting more sleep. I eat poorly when I am sleep deprived, and it only takes a couple days for me to notice my food choices changing if I don't sleep enough.
This:Scochrane86 wrote: »I do not believe I am hungry when I do this.
I feel like I am unsatisfied with what I did eat during the day and so I overfill myself with my favorites (cereal, bagels, chips, etc)
I feel like even though I have a great dinner, something I really enjoy - a few hours later I am unsatisfied again and everything goes to hell.
Says to me that you are 1. under eating or 2. sleep.
It makes sense to be hungry a few hours after dinner. Push dinner later or go to bed earlier.
I average 8 hours a night so I do not think it is sleep related.
I think you are right in saying they are just bad habits - therefor trying to switch them with good habits/hobbies. I do not want to get in the routine of just going to bed because I feel like eating.0 -
Learn to knit, crochet or sew, where the projects are on your lap and your hands need to be clean. Just getting up to get a snack becomes less appealing because you have to set things aside before you get up and wash and dry your hands before you sit back down.0
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yoga...seriously an awesome way to wind down from the day and it's tough to eat while holding poses...even just doing child's pose or other resting poses and a great way to get a light stretch and focus your mind.0
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When hungry late night, I might eat:
Sugar Free fruit flavored popsicles (15 cals).
No sugar added fudgesicles (40 cals).
Beef broth cubes (5 cals).
One of these usually holds me off until bedtime.
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Scochrane86 wrote: »I do not believe I am hungry when I do this.
I feel like I am unsatisfied with what I did eat during the day and so I overfill myself with my favorites (cereal, bagels, chips, etc)
I feel like even though I have a great dinner, something I really enjoy - a few hours later I am unsatisfied again and everything goes to hell.
You and I are twins! Same here!1 -
Scochrane86 wrote: »My biggest downfall is night time binge eating.
I can do awesome all day, but once the kids go to sleep and I have some me time - I head for the kitchen and within minutes I have eaten everything I can get my hands on and have over eaten to the point of sickness and guilt. its like I go into a trance and have no control over myself.
I need some ideas of what to do when these feelings start. I cannot leave the house because my kids are sleeping. so what can I do to take my mind off the delicious processed carbs that are calling my name?
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Who are all these people sipping HOT beverages in the middle of JULY!0
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I say grab some low/no carb milk (dairy or on), and add Hershey's sugar free syrup. If you're craving salt, Quest protein chips have saved me.0
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DChelseaNYC wrote: »Who are all these people sipping HOT beverages in the middle of JULY!
It's not summer everywhere! Im sitting on my lounge chair with a blanket over me and the heater on and I'm still a bit chilly.
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You can drink a protein shake. Especially if you work out, drink casein protein (it's slow release and helps with muscle recovery while you sleep), with about 8oz of coconut water. It's a liquid and is meant for muscle recovery so it's not like you're eating a huge meal before you sleep. Hope that helps!0
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I feel your pain. I have twins and my (now ex) hubby and I worked off shifts so as not to need child care. No family around and no friends that I would want to dump two little kids on.
What I discovered is that it wasn't about the food - it was about finally having time just for me. No kids. No hubby.
I couldn't afford expensive shopping or treats, but I could afford junk food - so that became my reward to myself for surviving the day. Bad idea.
What helped me was planning nice things for myself. I splurged and got a few things: fancy tea, bubble baths and nice wine. On week nights, after the kids were in bed, I would make my fancy (decaf) tea that no one else could have but me. Sip it for an hour while reading or just sitting in the quiet. On weekends, I'd pour a half glass of nice wine and soak in the tub for an hour.
Both of these things made me feel like I had something special that was just for my time. And both fit into my daily calories pretty easily. Maybe they'll help you too!
Oh - and my kids are 16 now. It gets a lot easier. 1
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