Late-Night Eating

cinnamonbunz87
cinnamonbunz87 Posts: 47
edited October 4 in Health and Weight Loss
Hey everyone...I am facing a pretty big weight-loss issue and I was hoping that some of you had some tips/advice to offer me. I am very diligent with my eating during the day; I eat 1200 calories a day, I eat my meals spaced out throughout the day and I get plenty of protein and fiber in my diet. I finish my daily log on myfitnesspal by 6:00, and I plan to stop eating by then. However, as soon as my husband gets home from work around 7:00 and flips on the TV, I always end up eating late night snacks. I am not sure why this is happening...it's not because of hunger, and it's not emotional eating or eating because I am bored. Does anybody know what causes late-night eating, and how to defeat it?

Replies

  • jgic2009
    jgic2009 Posts: 531 Member
    Sounds like nothing more than a bad habit. Change up your routine.

    Or, spread out your calories differently so you can snack at night.
  • awdhemi
    awdhemi Posts: 99 Member
    Work out so that you have extra calories?
  • Jacquelyn913
    Jacquelyn913 Posts: 300 Member
    Just make sure its a healthy snack and you're not going over your calories.
  • gonnareachmygoal
    gonnareachmygoal Posts: 14 Member
    In my own experience, I used to night eat exactly like you. It wasn't hunger, it was a bad and unhealthy habit. For the first few nights, I avoided the kitchen. I watched TV in the basement or read upstairs in my room. That way I avoided the mindless snacking. After a few evenings, I totally broke the habit. I don't even think of it now and the only time I night eat is for social gatherings. Try it out!
  • kutterba
    kutterba Posts: 107 Member
    Eat your salad at your "dinner" and the main part of dinner with your husband!
    My husband eats at odd times, too, so i really try to save myself something to eat with him.
    It's NATURAL to want to eat with your husband!
    good luck & happy marriage.
  • caveats
    caveats Posts: 493 Member
    Eat more.

    1200 calories might have worked when you were at a higher weight, but now that you're getting down to the last 20 pounds, your body is more sensitive to deficits. Eat at maintenance for a couple of weeks to reset, then try increasing your deficit again slowly.
  • Prettyinpaisley
    Prettyinpaisley Posts: 40 Member
    I made it a habit to budget in calories for night snacking. I'm a total night owl, and I tried for months to not snack late in the evenings, and was disappointed in myself when I caved every time. I found myself saying "ok, tonight, I'm NOT going to eat past 9pm"... and every night around 9:30 or 10pm I'd head straight for the kitchen.

    Then I realized I should stop fighting it, and think creatively. I started planning some healthy night snacks ahead of time, and budgeted in the calories. That way I don't just grab the first snack I see in the kitchen, I grab what I know I've already allotted myself (usually a sliced up apple, or some carrots & hummus, or some lightly salted popcorn - occasionally some sliced cheese).

    I actually enjoy night snacking. A LOT, actually. It's nice to sit and watch a movie, or surf the web with something that I don't feel guilty about eating.

    Also, I find drinking a glass of water or no-calorie tea sometimes help curb snack-attacks.

    Hope that helps.
  • servilia
    servilia Posts: 3,452 Member
    I'd find it pretty strange not to eat with my husband so I always save some of my dinner to have with him. Save some cals from breakast and/or lunch and use them at dinner time.
    It's a myth that eating late will do any harm. If you stay within a deficit it doesn't matter WHEN you eat.

    ps I eat the vast majority of my cals between 8pm and 1am and I've done quite well.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    It's a myth that eating late will do any harm. If you stay within a deficit it doesn't matter WHEN you eat.

    ^ This, and I would up your cals, OP.
  • BrewerGeorge
    BrewerGeorge Posts: 397 Member
    Shift your schedule a bit so you're eating later, and try planning a late snack, too.
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