How do you beat late night snacking (binging?)

Nichelle_b · January 2012

I struggle, a lot, with late night snacking. By late night I mean 8pm - 11pm (after the baby has gone to bed). I'm not exactly sure what the root of it is... boredom, habit, emotional eating; and I know a huge part of the battle will be figuring out the "Why" of it all.

Any tips you guys have for different ways to curb the snacking would be great. I've tried not buying things but I still manage to find something/anything to snack on.

adjones_21 · January 2012

I have the same problem most nights. Let me know if you figure something out.

themommie · January 2012

I know that I like to snack after the kids go to bed so I plan for it. I leave at least 200 cals to save for this. I usually have popcorn, mini rice cakes, a skinny cow ice cream sandwich and then if I still feel like I need something i chew gum, or suck on a sucker or hard candy, fireballs seem to help and take a long time to suck on. I hope this helps

adjones5 · January 2012

I have this problem. I don't have kids but whenever I stop studying and sit down to watch tv for half an hour to unwind before bed its like magic I automatically become starving! So annoying. I've found that drinking tea really helps.

txbutterfly69 · January 2012

Same problem here. Trying hot tea tonight.

KristalDawnO · January 2012

Go to bed? I really have no clue. It's something I struggle with as well. Today I binged out on cookies of all things. Not good! So - I had to jog 4 miles to make up for it.

holli_walker · January 2012

I drink a lot of water or low cal options like popcorn, carrots, sometimes dark chocolate.

dasblondie · January 2012

Try popcorn,edamames,baked chips or lowfat/double churned icecream (in portion), yogurt (frozen too)...just some ideas...try to just incorporate it in you daily goal and if u dont use them, no big deal.....

itsasecret22 · January 2012

Like another user said- I plan for it. I keep 200-300 cals for when the baby goes to sleep. Tonight I had a slim fast shake and a piece of sees candy.

flisafakto · January 2012

I absolutely struggle with this as well... Bump for later!

dasblondie · January 2012

oh yeah...and if you really dont want to eat any more calories...brush your teeth with really minty tooth paste and drink water...it really seems to health...i think it psychological

just my guess

ilookthetype · January 2012

Get rid of the junk you "binge" on. I put binge in quotes because to me a binge is multiple thousands of calories eaten in a sitting, I had a binge eating disorder.

I keep sliced bell peppers, carrots, celery, and fruits at the front of the fridge that way if I cave I'm eating something good. I'd also build in more "snacks" and/or save calories for when you eat at night. Maybe get more protein in during the day, it always helps me feel full longer.

My last advice is a glass of two of wine, puts me to sleep quite nicely most nights.

sweetly_spicy · January 2012

A special aromatic tea ( remember not to add sugar/milk), or a warm, comforting green tea is best.

Often I'll save just enough for a single square of dark chocolate to go with (i.e. < 50 calories). Once I'm done my square, I'll brush my teeth. That often helps to curb random snacking.

If none of that works, I let myself have some steamed non-fat milk with a single pump of sugar-free flavour syrup added. That works out to < 100 calories too.

mcrmsi77 · January 2012

I have the same problem!!! I usually put what ever snack or indulgence I really want in my diary ahead of time that way I know how much to eat for the day and stay within my guidelines as much as possible! But I always have pretzels in the pantry... they are only 110 calories and you can have 23 of them!!! Sometimes I have even doubled that! Not good to do all the time but def. great snack!!! I would just set aside 100 or 200 calories on days you know for sure you will want a midnight snack!

hope this helps

Jendegeorge · January 2012

I struggle, a lot, with late night snacking. By late night I mean 8pm - 11pm (after the baby has gone to bed). I'm not exactly sure what the root of it is... boredom, habit, emotional eating; and I know a huge part of the battle will be figuring out the "Why" of it all.

Any tips you guys have for different ways to curb the snacking would be great. I've tried not buying things but I still manage to find something/anything to snack on.

I've had the same problem my entire life. I think mine was a learned behavior but also boredom, habit, emotional, all you mentioned. I figured out the secret though! Lean in close...it's a secret...*whispering* I go to bed! haha. Seriously, the main trick for me is LOTSA water and even sipping herbal tea (celestial seasonings 'tension tamer' or a peppermint tea) and just getting my butt to bed instead of being alone with the pantry calling my name. Television is also VERY bad for that time of night, it just reminds you constantly in shows and commercials of all the eating you need to do...subliminal of course. But seriously....more sleep. I changed my habits and started going to bed early (NOT my favorite as my abusive childhood makes that VERY hard to do) but I immediately lost weight at a faster pace. You know, the articles always say that sleep is important to weight loss, but to me it always seemed lazy for me to go to bed early when it was a perfect time while everyone was sleeping for me to do laundry, dishes, cleaning, etc. But it's just not as healthy. *sigh* My best to you, sweetie! **hugs**

rjdz · January 2012

I hear you! I have struggled with this too. After the babes are in bed it's me time and I want a snack while I relax. Looking after small children can be very exhausting no matter how much you love them. I found that I wanted a reward at the end of the day. Also being able to eat without a little person wanting you to share it is a big motivator for me. There is something so indulgent about an uninterrupted snack when you have little ones.
But I have found a few things that work for me.
Firstly keeping my hands busy with something else like embroidery stitching, crocheting, drawing, writing, pinterest, or blogging.
Secondly keeping my fluid intake up. In the evening I will have a big water bottle full of h2o and/or a herbal tea I really love. It is worth the splurge to buy an expensive tea if I love it because it feels more like a treat when I drink it.
Thirdly if I absolutely must chew something I will grab gum. And if that doesn't work I always keep snap peas and baby carrots in the fridge for crunchy snacking. Also air popped popcorn is low cal and crunchy. I find it is too dry on its own though so (to satisfy my sweettooth) I sometimes sprinkle it with cinnamon (which is apparently great for metabolism) and drizzle with just a touch of natural honey.
And if all else fails, once in a while, I will have potato chips with dill pickle dip, or dark chocolate, or m&m's (but only 1 portion size) because the occasional garbage food indulgence is not the end of the world

AlabasterVerve · January 2012

I just started this week but I plan for the calories too. I know I'm going to be hungry about two hours after dinner and I hate going to sleep on an empty stomach so I leave 200-500 calories available so I can eat. The only thing I've done is have pre portioned, calorie controlled food ready so I don't keep mindlessly eating.

I think it helps to know that even though I just had an after dinner snack that I still have calories for another snack or even two later. There isn't any point where I have to say to myself "You're out of calories--you can't have anything else to eat". That kind of thought process would almost guarantee I'd end up binging whether I was hungry or not.

Anyway, that's worked for me so far and I'm really surprised. This time last week I was probably eating 3000-6000 calories a day with absolutely no limits--a large portion of that at night--and now I've been eating 1200-1500 calories without a problem. I honestly thought I'd be miserable and hungry for weeks while my body adjusted to normal portion sizes but that hasn't been the case at all.

Megan2Project · January 2012

I do several things...

I always save calories for late night and have desert.
Sometimes I will have a big bowl of sugar free jello with cool whip (60 cal max)
Drink water
Chew gum
do something active

If it gets really bad I allow myself to go over but not above maintenance and then try to equal it out to make my weekly goal under still!

swimmchick87 · January 2012

I've been eating a 100 calorie bag of popcorn every night recently. I plan it in my calories. It's filling and it's actually a lot of food for 100 calories.

kfle018 · January 2012

OMG this is the story of my life. at exactly 8pm im irritable and hungry. even if i eat at 7.59pm. hahaha so what I have is 4-5 dried apricots (if im craving sweets- these are my life savers!!) or else if i am truely hungry i have 1/2 a cup of cereal with no milk ...its ALMOST like eating potato chips (hahaha i wish!!)...but it does the trick!

loulou2085 · January 2012

I have been known to binge massively in the past, especially when my boyfriend leaves the house. But i have found myself not doing it so far this year. It doesn't mean i havent gone to that food cupboard to see what i can eat, but i get there and think of why i am doing this and instead i fill up a bottle of water and drink that and it surpresses my appetite, if that fails i just go to bed. I have known some people to write up their goal and stick somewhere which can be seen easily in their kitchen, this way you're reminded of your goal everytime you go into your kitchen and gives you the motivation to eat only when really necessary.

ruby_red_rose · January 2012

I use a combination of the following techniques:
1. Sip water
2. Sip a warm liquid like tea
3. Pop a chewing gum in my mouth
4. Brush my teeth
5. Distract myself by doing something that prevents me from eating - such as hop on the treadmill or call my mom
6. Eat baby carrots

Hope this gives you some ideas.

emmab0902 · January 2012

This may sound radical (especially coming from a psychologist lol) but you don't need to know why you do things to stop doing them. You can start doing things differently without having a lightbulb moment.

I was a chronic evening/night eater, and have begun to beat it by trading my rubbish food for a Weight Watchers jelly and keeping busy talking to friends online etc.

Do I miss the junk food? Hell yes .... at the time. But I love feeling better the next morning knowing I don't wake up feeling like beating myself up.

Also I figured out all my eating was done in conjuction with reading or being on the internet so I had to break that association by only eating when I was not doing anything else and eating more mindfully.

Cr01502 · January 2012

I try to get to bed early. Have some tea and brush my teeth. Also there is a supplement called 5htp that releases tryptophan to your brain. It fills you up and makes you sleepy. It can be picked up at most vitamin stores. It's very helpful if cravings get to be too harsh. I also suggest maybe eating a lighter dinner than normal and saving some extra calories for a little low fat cottage cheese at the end of the night. That fights hunger cravings as well and gives your body the protein it needs to repair itself. Hope this helps.

JaneDoughSanAntonio · January 2012

I posted this in another thread, but I recently took up knitting again. Sounds lame, but it's been helping me while I'm getting back on track because it uses both hands, so I can't eat while I'm doing it (unless I'm doing a Garfield-lasagna type move, LOL ... not gonna happen!), there's counting involved, which is repetitive, but relaxing, and it's portable. I've been bring the scarf I'm working on for my Mom to the office with me, and then when I bring my dinner, I still have something to do when I take a break (instead of going to get something else or shopping). So maybe a hobby would help!

lurkette · January 2012

I work at night so this problem goes double for me. I sit here and all I want to do is eat, so I drink water and unsweetened tea. My snacks are usually light, stuff I bring from home like celery sticks and carrots, kashi granola bars, fruit and nuts. Once in a while when my break is too far away and I start losing it, I binge because I hate feeling hungry and I need to get better with that. Nobody's perfect. But yeah, saving some cals sounds like good advice. Also, try going to bed a bit earlier. Believe me, I would if I could.

bonnt · January 2012

I drink water, chew on gum and/or brush my teeth.

HollieDoodles · January 2012

This is wonderful to read. I have gotten some fantastic ideas out of this thread and another just like it, this evening.

Thank you to everyone who gave tips!

empressM · January 2012

Lots of great advice here. I think you just have to find what works for you.

For me, like some of the other posters, I just plan for it. I stay up late and I know that I am going to snack. After a long day, once I've put the baby down and it is finally "me" time, snacking and wine are just what I need. I make sure to get a good workout to allow for my late night indulgences. That way, I can really appreciate the workout and the treat.

My only advice would be to try to make smart snacking choices. If you know you are going to have late snacks, allow for the calories and have yummy but healthy (or at least low calorie) choices on hand.

melkithall · January 2012

This has been the crux of my weight problem. I have three young children, one a little baby. Once I get the other two to bed and sit down to feed the baby, it's like SNACK TIME!!! I haven't conquered the problem, but here's what's helped. During the months of Sept and Oct I was helping a friend who has a home business. So, as soon as kiddos were in bed, I'd be crocheting like mad to make these fun hats for her etsy shop. There were a lot of Halloween orders and such. Well, I lost the most weight those months. My hands were busy, my mind was busy. I had the TV on, but wasn't looking at it the whole time, so missed most of the food commercials!! Then, she didn't need my help and all of a sudden I was left to my own devices. Of course, that's when all the cravings came back and then the holidays too. Definitely plan for a snack, but also KEEP Busy!

kmjenkins · January 2012

Paint your fingernails---hard to snack with wet nails...winning!!! :bigsmile:

How do you beat late night snacking (binging?)

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