I cannot sleep on an empty stomach, I need a carb.
flippy1234
Posts: 686 Member
Hi there,
I cannot go to sleep if I am hungry. I do really well all day but if I am hungry at bed time, I get up and have something to eat. I need a carb. Any suggestion for foods to eat that won't derail my eating? Yes, I am usually able to fit it into my calorie allotment for the day. I am just trying to eat lower carb but at that time of the night, my body craves carbs.
I cannot go to sleep if I am hungry. I do really well all day but if I am hungry at bed time, I get up and have something to eat. I need a carb. Any suggestion for foods to eat that won't derail my eating? Yes, I am usually able to fit it into my calorie allotment for the day. I am just trying to eat lower carb but at that time of the night, my body craves carbs.
1
Replies
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Why not save some calories and carbs for before bed? If you eat carbs at night will it trigger your hunger to keep eating? Maybe find a higher fibre carb to keep you full and one that won't do that. Maybe a bit of cereal like Fibre 1 or All bran with milk or yogurt? A slice of toast.4
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Maybe don't try to eat lower carbs, just lower calories?
For some people (including me), carbs are filling and satiating and cutting them out means excessive hunger even when eating the same amount of calories.
I eat 200-300 calories of whatever (usually ice cream or chocolate) right before bed every night. It fits within my calories and makes me happy.13 -
Find a meal that fills you - everyone is a bit different on this one though. For me this is oatmeal with a dash of cinnamon and honey. ~210 kcals and really filling.3
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the first thing that gets planned into my food journal most days is my evening bowl of cereal11
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I have to eat close to bedtime because I like to sleep full. What are things that keep you satisfied during the day? I usually have a pumpkin smoothie that contains a lot of fiber to help keep me full. I don't eat low carb so I'm not sure what might be best. Do you like string cheese?1
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I usually have an evening snack, and save calories for it (I pre-plan my day each day, and make sure I allow for this).
It can be anything from a sweet treat like some custard, sorbet or Greek yoghurt, a cup of tea and a biscuit, or some cereal or popcorn. Depends what I feel like, and how many calories I save!
Love my evening snack!2 -
I've had a serving of peanuts before bed and I find them really satisfying. They have the crunch that I really want, but they have a mixture of the macros and I feel better eating them than eg. nacho chips or toast that I'll crave. Alternatively, a giant bowl of frozen raspberries isn't too high in calories and is good for fibre and I find it delicious. What'll work for you could be different ofc. That's just what I've found to be good. A bowl of all bran is also good. Now, 1/4 cup of greek yogurt with some all bran and frozen raspberries is also really good.....(and it's been too long since I've done that and I might go eat some now haha). Good luck!
I'll also agree with quiksylver296, low carb doesn't work for everyone. I LOVE carbs. I've found I do better when I just make sure my carbs have fibre, like fruit and whole grains and legumes, etc.3 -
Well you could eat some carbs at night. I mean why not? Seems like you've both identified the problem and the solution within your first post. Meal timing is irrelevant.13
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I wake up hangry in the wee hours so I just sort of plan to have a snack at 3AM every day. Food timing is all about what works for you. For me, I need mostly fat and a little protein when I have the small-hours hanger, so I tend to eat cheese and a slice of deli meat, or a boiled egg, or some cottage cheese. But if you need carbs for good sleep, then just... eat some carbs? Going without what your body is telling you it needs is far more "derailing" than just accepting it, planning for it, eating it, and sleeping the sleep of the well-fed.
ETA: I have another macro-specific hanger in the late afternoon. I need some carbs around 3-4PM. It doesn't matter how well-balanced my other meals are. In the late afternoon I need some carbs. If I don't eat something carby I am a hungry angry lonely tired monster. So around then I... eat some carbs. I tend to save the carb portion from my "lunch" and just eat it a few hours later, problem solved. My particular body wants carbs around 3PM and fat/protein around 3AM, whatcha gonna do.1 -
Cheese and crackers. Lasts all night. Eat in moderation of course.3
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100 calorie popcorn1
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flippy1234 wrote: »Hi there,
I cannot go to sleep if I am hungry. I do really well all day but if I am hungry at bed time, I get up and have something to eat. I need a carb. Any suggestion for foods to eat that won't derail my eating? Yes, I am usually able to fit it into my calorie allotment for the day. I am just trying to eat lower carb but at that time of the night, my body craves carbs.
How many pounds to do you have to lose and what weekly weight loss goal did you set? I crave carbs when I'm under eating.
That said, some carbs make me sleepy so I save them for before bed.2 -
Protein shake, bruh. :-P0
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I’m the same. I just look at my diary and remind myself I have to get through it or I’ll be going over my calories. I also have my biggest meal for dinner. If I have calories left I’ll have a hot chocolate or piece of toast right before I hop in bed.1
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kshama2001 wrote: »flippy1234 wrote: »Hi there,
I cannot go to sleep if I am hungry. I do really well all day but if I am hungry at bed time, I get up and have something to eat. I need a carb. Any suggestion for foods to eat that won't derail my eating? Yes, I am usually able to fit it into my calorie allotment for the day. I am just trying to eat lower carb but at that time of the night, my body craves carbs.
How many pounds to do you have to lose and what weekly weight loss goal did you set? I crave carbs when I'm under eating.
That said, some carbs make me sleepy so I save them for before bed.
I’m listening to why we sleep right now and one of the chapters about sleep and weight is interesting - in that lack of sleep (as they defined it averaging 4-5hrs sleep a night) - caused participants in one of the studies to crave carbs; that was diminished when they were averaging 8hrs sleep a night1 -
SO have whatever you want before bed! I have to eat before bed so I eat 70% of my calories an hour before bed.3
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Drink water .
It works.7 -
I log in my oatmeal with flaxseed and berries every night as a bedtime snack about 30 minutes before bed. It fits into my allotted calories and keeps me from going to bed hungry or waking me up from hunger. I went from 205 lbs to my goal weight of 175 lbs and am still maintaining that weight. No need to go to bed hungry. Eating at night doesn’t cause weight gain, eating more calories then you use causes weight gain. Why do we still have to say this? People get it through your heads that its CICO so that you don’t sabatoge your diet with nonsense.3
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Try a bed time belly buster a protein shake with ice and water. Your body will absorbe the protein while you sleep giving you better nights sleep. Drink about 30mins before bed5
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deannalfisher wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »flippy1234 wrote: »Hi there,
I cannot go to sleep if I am hungry. I do really well all day but if I am hungry at bed time, I get up and have something to eat. I need a carb. Any suggestion for foods to eat that won't derail my eating? Yes, I am usually able to fit it into my calorie allotment for the day. I am just trying to eat lower carb but at that time of the night, my body craves carbs.
How many pounds to do you have to lose and what weekly weight loss goal did you set? I crave carbs when I'm under eating.
That said, some carbs make me sleepy so I save them for before bed.
I’m listening to why we sleep right now and one of the chapters about sleep and weight is interesting - in that lack of sleep (as they defined it averaging 4-5hrs sleep a night) - caused participants in one of the studies to crave carbs; that was diminished when they were averaging 8hrs sleep a night
I'm rereading the Hungry Brain right now. It discusses a study where participants who had around 4 hours of sleep a night ate 300 kcal more than those who got 8 hours of sleep. People eat for energy and carbs have that.1 -
deannalfisher wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »flippy1234 wrote: »Hi there,
I cannot go to sleep if I am hungry. I do really well all day but if I am hungry at bed time, I get up and have something to eat. I need a carb. Any suggestion for foods to eat that won't derail my eating? Yes, I am usually able to fit it into my calorie allotment for the day. I am just trying to eat lower carb but at that time of the night, my body craves carbs.
How many pounds to do you have to lose and what weekly weight loss goal did you set? I crave carbs when I'm under eating.
That said, some carbs make me sleepy so I save them for before bed.
I’m listening to why we sleep right now and one of the chapters about sleep and weight is interesting - in that lack of sleep (as they defined it averaging 4-5hrs sleep a night) - caused participants in one of the studies to crave carbs; that was diminished when they were averaging 8hrs sleep a night
I'm rereading the Hungry Brain right now. It discusses a study where participants who had around 4 hours of sleep a night ate 300 kcal more than those who got 8 hours of sleep. People eat for energy and carbs have that.
Probably the same study - was it conducted by the university of Chicago?1 -
deannalfisher wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »flippy1234 wrote: »Hi there,
I cannot go to sleep if I am hungry. I do really well all day but if I am hungry at bed time, I get up and have something to eat. I need a carb. Any suggestion for foods to eat that won't derail my eating? Yes, I am usually able to fit it into my calorie allotment for the day. I am just trying to eat lower carb but at that time of the night, my body craves carbs.
How many pounds to do you have to lose and what weekly weight loss goal did you set? I crave carbs when I'm under eating.
That said, some carbs make me sleepy so I save them for before bed.
I’m listening to why we sleep right now and one of the chapters about sleep and weight is interesting - in that lack of sleep (as they defined it averaging 4-5hrs sleep a night) - caused participants in one of the studies to crave carbs; that was diminished when they were averaging 8hrs sleep a night
Oh yes, when I'm sleep deprived I crave carbs too. But earlier in the day, as opposed to before bed.1 -
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4425165/
Interesting read on how about 135 calories an hour before bed can have positive impact on health. Certain groups, such as obese women had improved morning hunger, but increased insulin resistance. BUT after 4 weeks of working out, it resolved within normal limits.
A little snipit that some might benefit from nighttime eating.1 -
flippy1234 wrote: »Hi there,
I cannot go to sleep if I am hungry. I do really well all day but if I am hungry at bed time, I get up and have something to eat. I need a carb. Any suggestion for foods to eat that won't derail my eating? Yes, I am usually able to fit it into my calorie allotment for the day. I am just trying to eat lower carb but at that time of the night, my body craves carbs.
It has been four years but I still can remember those nightly carb cravings. It sounds like things are going in your direction. Keep up the success.5 -
deannalfisher wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »flippy1234 wrote: »Hi there,
I cannot go to sleep if I am hungry. I do really well all day but if I am hungry at bed time, I get up and have something to eat. I need a carb. Any suggestion for foods to eat that won't derail my eating? Yes, I am usually able to fit it into my calorie allotment for the day. I am just trying to eat lower carb but at that time of the night, my body craves carbs.
How many pounds to do you have to lose and what weekly weight loss goal did you set? I crave carbs when I'm under eating.
That said, some carbs make me sleepy so I save them for before bed.
I’m listening to why we sleep right now and one of the chapters about sleep and weight is interesting - in that lack of sleep (as they defined it averaging 4-5hrs sleep a night) - caused participants in one of the studies to crave carbs; that was diminished when they were averaging 8hrs sleep a night
This is really interesting because my sleep is awful. I definitely do not get 8 hours. Maybe I need to work on my sleep and then I won't be so hungry.0 -
I like to have popcorn and sparkling water before bed.3
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I sleep better on a little oatmeal. At first, it was so boring, I didn't think I could do it, but when I realized how much better I slept, it is really easy. I only need about 20 grams to sleep. Equal to about 1/2 instant packet.3
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On a regular work day, I tend to save at least 900 of my calories for the evening. It's when I'm most hungry, and I like to have my calories when I can relax and enjoy them over having to shove something in at work. I either have a big dinner around 7, or a slightly smaller dinner with a dessert or snack around 9 PM. Like a pp said, meal timing is irrelevant. Do whatever works for you and what you'll stick to. It's not true that you gain more weight if you eat your calories before bedtime.2
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My go to night time carb is two glasses of red wine. Wine seems to curb my appetite and then I don't need other snacks. If I have plan room for snacks at night though, my go to include small saucer of cottage cheese, Kalamata Olives, Cheese, or Pistachios. Something small and fatty with some wine seems to do the trick for me.6
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flippy1234 wrote: »deannalfisher wrote: »kshama2001 wrote: »flippy1234 wrote: »Hi there,
I cannot go to sleep if I am hungry. I do really well all day but if I am hungry at bed time, I get up and have something to eat. I need a carb. Any suggestion for foods to eat that won't derail my eating? Yes, I am usually able to fit it into my calorie allotment for the day. I am just trying to eat lower carb but at that time of the night, my body craves carbs.
How many pounds to do you have to lose and what weekly weight loss goal did you set? I crave carbs when I'm under eating.
That said, some carbs make me sleepy so I save them for before bed.
I’m listening to why we sleep right now and one of the chapters about sleep and weight is interesting - in that lack of sleep (as they defined it averaging 4-5hrs sleep a night) - caused participants in one of the studies to crave carbs; that was diminished when they were averaging 8hrs sleep a night
This is really interesting because my sleep is awful. I definitely do not get 8 hours. Maybe I need to work on my sleep and then I won't be so hungry.
my sleep is horrible! its something i have struggled with for years! i'm really trying though1
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