Anybody overcome Night Eating Syndrome?
CTMike1980mfp
Posts: 17 Member
I have been struggling with waking up each night after falling asleep, in order to munch on food or snacks just so I can fall back asleep again. It is an on-going issue, and nothing seems to help or stop it. Anybody experience this Night Eating Syndrome out there, and if so, what has helped you overcome it? Thank you for your help!
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Keep a bottle or glass of water by your bed. I found that this helps out a lot.1
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Self control, in fact without it weight loss and healthy lifestyle will never happen. I had this same problem, it's an addiction. I just had to stop, tell myself to stop and I did. It was hard for the first three weeks, but after that it got easier and now I am seven weeks in and don't even think about it. I had to change my attitude about eating before I accomplished anything. I kept a journal of what I ate at night and how I felt, I realized I ate like crap in the day so I was really hungry at night. I also had to stop telling myself it was impossible. I have lost 16 pounds in seven weeks and I could not have done it without changing my attitude about eating first.8
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I suppose the most obvious answer: "To eat enough so that you will not be risen from your sleep by hunger", is out of question?
Mind you: "Eating enough" is not to be mixed up with "Eating too much". Find the balance that gives you both: a good night's sleep and weight reduction.
Heck, if done correctly this will even be faster than the latest "Hey, I can survive on only 600 cal a day"-scam.0 -
It doesn't happen to me often, thank goodness, but Sometimes. I keep a protein bar in my night stand for when this happens so I DONT have to go to the kitchen where bad things happen. Usually just a few bites and some water and I'm back to sleep with the wrapper, crumbs and chocolate all over me. But it beats the alternative.5
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I drink a large glass of water to feel full and sip on green tea or sip on diet beverage after 7pm. I dont eat after that time.1
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I find that working an 8-hour day, getting some decent exercise in after work, and then doing homework for my university class till late ensures that when I fall asleep, the only thing that will get me up in the middle of the night is my bladder.
Maybe it also helps that I have toast with honey just before bed so that I'm not hungry in the night.5 -
I second the protein bar. It's not great but 170 cals is better than 500!2
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Despite what some people have said, this issue has nothing to do with hunger. Night Eating Disorder is a bona fide eating disorder classified by the DSM-5. It is a mental health issue. It most commonly co-occurs with people suffering from anxiety disorders or depression, although it is not unique to these disorders.
I have struggled with this for years in the past. I did not necessarily consume large amounts of food, but would have to eat something in order to fall back asleep - a handful of Cheerios, a piece of coffee cake, etc. My NES subsided once my depression was managed through a combination of medication and therapy.
I would seek the advice of a medical professional. I am not saying medication is the answer by an means at all, but you should see what options you have. Others have suggested meditation - I would also add mindfulness training, CBT, support groups.
In the meantime, as others have suggested, try to snacks close by that aren't to devastating and can be easily tracked. Protein bars, Fiber One bars, etc.9 -
A friend of mine solved this by setting an alarm and waking up 15 minutes before her usual binge time. She basically woke up at 2am nightly, set her alarm for two months for 1:45. She got up, turn the light on, went potty, got water and back to sleep. Changed the waking to her terms. Now, gone.4
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Something high fiber, often even a fiber drink, and some ginger candies has really helped me with that.
I take them before bed. Also, just in case I have a rough night or wake up way yoo early, I have a premeasured snack available. That way, I know I won't be overindulging and ruining my days work. I've only needed it twice since I started fiber stuff before bed though.0 -
I don't have this specific problem, but I do have sleeping problems due to anxiety, which sometimes wake me up in the middle of the night and make it hard to get back to sleep.
I keep my phone by my bed and have a pair of soft headphones for wearing in bed. I put my headphones on and play an interesting podcast - *not* a relaxing one. It has to be interesting enough to distract me from the anxious thoughts and stop me thinking about going to sleep.
After a while listening to something like that, tiredness will take over and I will drop off. If not, at least I'm entertained! Usually it works well. If I'm very anxious, I might have to set up a playlist and just let it go all night.
I think it's partly distraction, partly that the sound of chatting voices is comforting to the anxious part of the brain (those people don't sound scared so there's nothing to be scared of).
As I say, I haven't suffered from night eating, but if, as @MilesAddie says, it's an anxiety thing, then finding a way to tackle the midnight anxiety may help.
ETA I'm also on beta blockers for anxiety, so meds can help, too.1 -
CTMike1980mfp wrote: »I have been struggling with waking up each night after falling asleep, in order to munch on food or snacks just so I can fall back asleep again. It is an on-going issue, and nothing seems to help or stop it. Anybody experience this Night Eating Syndrome out there, and if so, what has helped you overcome it? Thank you for your help!
This is a real disorder, not just a will power thing. As the one poster stated it is in the DSM-5.
I am in therapy for it along with anxiety/depression. It has to do with your circadian rhythm being off and using food to self soothe the depression/anxiety. Currently I am waiting to see a neurologist who specializes in sleep medicine to solve this. (for some reason the wait for someone who specializes in sleep medicine is crazy long)
If you read abut circadian rhythms you will understand it a bit more.
I have a bunch of sleep "protocols" that I use but they really don't help. I think light therapy is going to be the answer when I do get into see the neurologist.
Feel free to message me if I can help.
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This has been a very informative thread. The night eating has been sabotaging me as well.0
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IF helped me a ton. I used to be a serial night eater. It was especially bad since I am a gamer. With fasting I know I am not alloud to eat. I do keep some sugar free jello packs and come zero around to curb the craving if i need to.2
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Tea and sugar free, fifteen calorie popsicles and pickles have been a huge lifesaver for me. I used to be a hardcore night time binge eater. I also made a freezer vision board. I put up pictures of outfits, things I want to accomplish and places I want to travel to in the future etc. Just glancing at it can stave off a binge for me
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I have had this problem for many years. I wake up with an urgency to eat. It's not just being hungry. Folks who don't do this, probably don't understand the feeling. My choice of food seems to always contain carbs. One doctor I discussed this with suggested I need the serotonin from the carbs to get back to sleep. Anyway, after many years, I still wake up. No matter how hard I try, I cannot get back to sleep until I eat. In the past I have consumed large amounts of food with lots of calories. So, here's some of the things that have allowed me to get back to sleep without lots of calories:
- prepackaged snacks of 100 calories (my favorite)
- slices of cheese
- my latest snack is a glass of Almond Breeze unsweetened vanilla almond milk.
- Also recent snack is a handful of sugar snap peas
What also helps me is when possible, for me to take my snack back up to bed and eat it there. I might still be hungry, but at least I can sleep. Anyway, I understand.3 -
Try getting up and brushing your teeth again.2
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If you could have some carrot sticks or a small apple,you could turn this problem into a nutritional win0
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