Bedtime Hunger

aeb5
aeb5 Posts: 7 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I started my weight loss journey on July 1st, and I am using the recommended caloric intake from MFP (I think it's about 1500 calories plus workouts). Generally I feel full throughout the day with 3 meals and a snack, however, I start to get really hungry right as I get into bed (around 1030). I can't eat this late, even a snack, because of heartburn issues. Is there something I can do to help balance this? Do I need to eat more calories? Eat when I am not hungry? I feel like my dinners are pretty rounded, and I do feel full after I eat. Thanks.

Replies

  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,415 Member
    I have to time my last meal to be within three hours of my bedtime or else the same thing happens to me.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    can you have a glass of milk or something similar before bed. or tea?
    i often have a float
  • Crafty_camper123
    Crafty_camper123 Posts: 1,440 Member
    Have you tried just going to bed hungry? Or does it keep you up? For me, I get a little hungry before bed when my calories are lower on most nights. But, once I go to sleep it goes away.
  • WholeFoods4Lyfe
    WholeFoods4Lyfe Posts: 1,518 Member
    Perhaps try to increase your calories a bit during the day? Maybe your deficit is too aggressive.
  • emmamcgarity
    emmamcgarity Posts: 1,594 Member
    Maybe a planned snack an hour before bed?
  • aeb5
    aeb5 Posts: 7 Member
    Crafty_camper123 wrote: »
    Have you tried just going to bed hungry? Or does it keep you up? For me, I get a little hungry before bed when my calories are lower on most nights. But, once I go to sleep it goes away.

    Yes, I have, but some nights it will keep me up.
  • aeb5
    aeb5 Posts: 7 Member
    edited July 2018
    WholeFoods4Lyfe wrote: »
    Perhaps try to increase your calories a bit during the day? Maybe your deficit is too aggressive.

    That's what I was wondering. I was just going through and doing some calculations, and it seems like I am on target but I also don't want to be feeling hungry all the time. I wonder if upping my calories at snack time (between lunch and dinner) would help.
  • Crafty_camper123
    Crafty_camper123 Posts: 1,440 Member
    If you find your deficit isn't too aggressive, consider looking at your protein and fiber intake too. If I am low on protein, I find I have a larger appetite even if I am getting enough calories. This might be something to analyze as well.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    Eat a bit more for your last meal or have a snack as late in the evening as possible. Have you tried experimenting with different foods and how they affect you? I like a cheese stick or a few spoons of yogurt for a late snack. Or hard boiled egg.

    Are you eating at the same times as you did before you started your weight loss journey?
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    edited July 2018
    eat dinner later maybe? save a snack for an hour before bedtime or something? I find that going to bed hungry isn't that bad because I don't feel hungry while I'm sleeping lol
  • aeb5
    aeb5 Posts: 7 Member
    lorrpb wrote: »
    Eat a bit more for your last meal or have a snack as late in the evening as possible. Have you tried experimenting with different foods and how they affect you? I like a cheese stick or a few spoons of yogurt for a late snack. Or hard boiled egg.

    Are you eating at the same times as you did before you started your weight loss journey?

    I am eating at the same times as before. I generally will have a snack around 3 or 4 and dinner around 7 or 8, bed around 1030. I find the hunger hits right at 10.
  • DancingMoosie
    DancingMoosie Posts: 8,619 Member
    My mom likes something like a cheese stick. Would that give you heart burn? I usually just pop a tums when this happens to me, but its usually in the middle of the night/early morning when it wakes me up.
  • psychod787
    psychod787 Posts: 4,099 Member
    cut out the snacking maybe and eat a higher protein/ fat meal?
  • kellytheisen75
    kellytheisen75 Posts: 1 Member
    I have had the same issue. I ended up drinking a glass of water half an hour before bed and that has helped me. My calorie intake is also higher (1800). The method I use is 60-80oz water through out the day with breakfast around 8 am snack at 10:30 lunch at 12:30 snack at 3:30 then dinner between 6:30-8 and bed at 10-10:30. If I feel like I need something between dinner and bed it is something small or just water. For me I am trying to change many years of bad habits so my mind will try to fake me out which is why I try to just stick with water.
  • NovusDies
    NovusDies Posts: 8,940 Member
    I have acid reflux and I have found I can usually have 4-6 saltines with a cup of water right up to bedtime without repercussions when I need it. My "dinner", however, is not much more calories than a snack for most people so that might give me additional leeway.
  • RadishEater
    RadishEater Posts: 470 Member
    what about gum causing heart burn? That is my go to evening "snack" it keeps me from munching on things in the kitchen while I clean up then read before bed
  • Dakase83
    Dakase83 Posts: 2,524 Member
    I find drinking a full 8oz of water before bed helps.
  • Mithridites
    Mithridites Posts: 600 Member
    cup of chamomile tea or almond milk, or chamomile tea with almond milk :smile:
    makes me sleepy too! B)
  • Crafty_camper123
    Crafty_camper123 Posts: 1,440 Member
    RadishEater wrote: »
    what about gum causing heart burn? That is my go to evening "snack" it keeps me from munching on things in the kitchen while I clean up then read before bed

    I've actually been known to use gum as an "in a pinch" heartburn remedy. I'm not sure why it works, but it works. I suspect it has something to do with the saliva from chewing keeping the acids in my stomach and not in my esophagus? It also helps me not bored eat by ruling out bored/habit hunger vs true hunger. (If the hungry goes away when I chew gum and drink a glass of water, it means I wasn't really hungry.) Might be a good thing for OP to try!
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,741 Member
    If I am really hungry at bedtime I can't sleep, so I'll eat a banana, milk or a slice of good cheese. That calms my stomach down.
  • aeb5
    aeb5 Posts: 7 Member
    Thanks for all the suggestions, everyone!
  • Sp1tfire
    Sp1tfire Posts: 1,120 Member
    edited July 2018
    Perhaps more protein at dinner, increasing the veggies or drinking a glass of water before bed? When I was recomping I had to be almost uncomfortably full at dinner to not eat extra calories before bed.

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