late night snacking
emfross
Posts: 6
Hello! My name is Elyse and I'm new to myfitnesspal. I've been trying to eat healthier and track my food the past two days. I've noticed that I don't have much trouble making healthy choices and staying within my calorie range during the day. However, after 9 p.m. I'm so hungry my head and stomach hurts. So, I make bad food choices. If you have any suggestions to avoid this, please let me know. Thank you!
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Replies
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Save some calories for eating at night. That's usually when I am the hungriest as well. Just skip lunch or breakfast or whatever, and enjoy something before bed.0
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never skip breakfast, just save some calories for that time of evening. You could always go to bed earlier.
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never skip breakfast
Why not?0 -
When my calorie allowance was 1200 I would be STARVING at night time, and grumpy and mean if I didn't get what I wanted (ice cream, donuts, potato chips, etc). There wasn't enough wiggle room in my calories to 'save them' for the evening either, because for me, 3 meals of 400 calories each BARELY sated my hunger anyway, and then when I worked out and ate my calories back, I felt hungry AND exhausted.
So I upped them to 1500, and now I feel better after every meal, not like I'm limiting myself, and now I don't worry that a 600 calorie dinner will put me over. And I have enough left in the evening to have a low-cal snack, like a vanilla pudding or 1oz of wheat thins or a diet hot chocolate.
Plus I now pay more attention to % of carbs/proteins/fats that I'm eating, I try to reduce the carbs (not eliminate them) and up the protein, and it's definitely helping me feel fuller for longer!
Good luck with everything!0 -
If you need to snack, you should snack on almonds (there are some great flavored almonds out there) or light microwave or air popped popcorn. Popcorn is a great "whole grain" food and almonds are low in net carbs. If that doesnt work - get on a treadmill and watch the news to gain some "junk food" calories. How about just "cheating" one day a week?0
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If I had eaten all of my calories and didn't want to go over I used to quite simply go to bed early! It nipped the the habit in the bud although I have noticed 4 months on it's trying to creep back again. I guess it will be a few early nights again for me to keep it in check. Best of luck with it.x0
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never skip breakfast
Why not?
Because eating first thing in the morning jump starts your metabolism!0 -
i struggled with this at 1st now i change what i have for my dinner i have 5 egg whites boiled and mashed for the same cals as 1 egg, then a 100 calorie wholemeal roll or crackers then a slima soup for 50 cals that then saves me 250 cals extra for night, xx0
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If you hit your calorie limit, just don't eat more. It is unpleasant to be hungry, but it is alright. Once you are comfortable with this your body will adjust to being healthier and to not over eating.
My favorite snacks are pretzels. I get the large rods or honey twists. You get a few good bites out of each one and they last. Also frozen fruit, anything that does not have high calories and will take you a while to eat.
And never skip a meal, or you will be so hungry the next time you sit to eat, you will just have more and be miserable. It will also mess with your metabolism, you are dieting, but not trying to skip whole meals all together , That's CRAZY TALK. The key is balance and it IS possible to fit a late snack into your calories. Finding this balance and what works for you just takes practice.0 -
Ditto. ^never skip breakfast
Why not?
Because eating first thing in the morning jump starts your metabolism!
OP: make sure your supper is hearty. and drink alot of water!!! and yes, orville redenbacher makes a 100 calorie gourmet popcorn. I dont usually drink anything but coffee iin morning and water, occ glass of milk...but I will have a diet coke with my popcorn!0 -
never skip breakfast
Why not?
Because eating first thing in the morning jump starts your metabolism!
Meal timing and frequency have nothing to do with overall fat loss. It's remaning in a caloric deficit throughout the day that matters. That being said, you can eat whenever you want! :P You could eat 1 meal a day and still lose weight. (or gain weight also)0 -
If you think about it... Food is fuel... What do we fuel up for?... Activity. When is our activity? During the day. Therefore the best eating plan is actually the opposite of what most of us do.... 40% morning, 30% Lunch, 20% dinner, and 10% snacks.. (Numbers are arbitrary... Just an idea of how the pyramid should work)..What most of us do is 10% morning (if that), 30-40% lunch, 50-60% after 6...
Back to the original statement, eat plenty early and taper as the activity level subsides. Eat an apple, some fruit or something later in the day for an evening snack.. Maybe even a snack bar... That should help with the hunger at day's end. Another thing that may be going on is if your former diet was high in sugar and/or additives and you have cut back those things, you may be having some sort of withdrawals... That will just take some time to come off of but when you get through it, you will be better for the process.
Best wishes on your journey.0 -
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"Meal timing and frequency have nothing to do with overall fat loss. It's remaning in a caloric deficit throughout the day that matters. That being said, you can eat whenever you want! :P You could eat 1 meal a day and still lose weight." (or gain weight also)
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My fiance does the same thing, but only because he does not care about being hungry during the day. While you are right, This is HORRIBLE advice for someone just starting out and is already having a hard time.0 -
Meal timing and frequency have nothing to do with overall fat loss. It's remaning in a caloric deficit throughout the day that matters. That being said, you can eat whenever you want! :P You could eat 1 meal a day and still lose weight. (or gain weight also)
I do agree with this statement despite my prior post. The reason I recommended what I did about meal timing is to deal with energy issues through the day.0 -
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Helps you be more alert and energetic. Have a well balanced breakfast and make it the biggest meal of your day. Go to bed earlier and drink water when wanting to snack. Reset your mind.0
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Good ideas folks. I need help with this too. I'll be right on target for the day and pushed WAY over by my late snack. AT first I was able to go to bed hungry but these days it seems way harder to avoid.0
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Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper.
Overnight the body uses up its store of glucose and energy levels needs to be replenished - hence the importance of breakfast - which literally means breaking the fast.0 -
If I eat a big breakfast, then I'm hungrier all day. I don't skip breakfast entirely but I make it only 1/8 of my calorie allotment. It works for me.0
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My fiance does the same thing, but only because he does not care about being hungry during the day. While you are right, This is HORRIBLE advice for someone just starting out and is already having a hard time.
She said she is having a hard time specifically in the evening. My suggestion was to save some calories for the evening. I personally am hungrier at night too. I would rather skip 1 meal and just drink some water with Mio, or a Crystal Light packet to tide me over than be too hungry in the evening and decide to eat anyway and put me over my goal for the day. It's also easier for me to not eat during work since I am busy and don't think about it rather than when I am sitting at home watching tv before bed.
To sum it up. Eat whenever you want as long as you stay in your target for the day.0 -
I think there are a few things to consider such as, are you sure you're eating enough throughout the day? Are you drinking enough water?.. you could be dehydrated. What you are eating is just as important too, modeeration is key so make sure all your food groups are finding a way into your daily intake.
I like to have a snack before bed so I've started having a pot of yoghurt again. Either greek or a fruit one, it keeps me going until breakfast as I find it hard to sleep if I'm hungry. You may just have to up your calorie intake xxx0 -
I think you can gather something positive from everyones entry but from my experience YOU have to find something that works for YOU! My bf suggested a low carb diet (43 carbs/day) and after about a month of doing that I didnt feel good, I felt weak, and honestly didnt notice a change in my weight/inches. So I decided to try a diet low in calories. I have lost 26 pounds so far and I feel energized & stronger everyday. I do suffer from wanting to eat at night though, and I usually get a big glass of crystal light with lots of ice, after the drink is gone I eat the ice which I think tricks my brain into thinking Im eating something. The 1st week or so was the toughest though, I went through hunger pangs, migraines, muscle soreness, & exhaustion but after you make it through that period it gets easier & easier. I went from being able to do 0 situps to doing 10-20 crunches, to 10 sit ups... and now I can do as many sit ups as I want to. I did 60 yesterday! Good luck with your fitness plan, and just remember were all here for each other if youre feeling bad one day 0
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If I am snacking late at night, I always ask myself - why? Am I truly hungry? Or am I bored while watching TV and just need something else to do? First, identify the reason why you're actually snacking late at night.
It may be that you're not eating enough during the day or hitting your caloric limit for the day with the wrong foods. Are you eating enough fiber, lean protein, veggies and fruit throughout the day? Foods like chickpeas, broccoli, tofu and almonds, for instance, are low in cals but full of nutrition. The fiber and protein keep you feeling fuller longer. I would try to add more of such foods in your meals during the day.
Or tell yourself that if you snack at night, it has to come from your exercise calories. This can serve as motivation to push harder too
Do NOT skip breakfast. Studies show that people who eat breakfast tend to lose more weight than those who don't. Oatmeal & banana or yogurt & low sugar cereal will fill you up in the morning and jump start your day.0 -
I am the same way. I manage a light snack, but NEVER skip breakfast. A small meal before bed keeps my blood sugar in line. A stick of celery, a couple of stone wheat thins, a small bit of protein. I have a friend who has a small bowl of Cheerios with skim milk in the evening. If I count my calories carefully during the day, I have no problem saving enough for my nightime snack. Plan ahead though so you know what you can have, and don't fall in the trap of eating the closest thing at hand.0
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This is helpful info - thanks! 0
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Meal timing has no effect on weight loss. Please stop with this. Weight loss comes down to caloric deficit.
http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debunked.html
Try to plan your day ahead and leave some calories for later in the evening.0 -
Thank you everybody! I've decided to change my calorie allowance from 1350 to 1600 and change my goal weight. I need to lose about 73 pounds to get to my goal weight, so I've decided to make smaller goals. I think going to bed earlier and waking up earlier will help, too. I loved the healthy snack ideas! Another obstacle I'm facing is exercise. I know I need to work out, but I'm going to work on changing my eating habits first. I definitely agree that I'm probably going through withdrawals. I think I'll succeed at losing weight this time because of this website. Having people to talk to about my problems will really help.0
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cucumbers!!!! you can eat a bunch and it has very very little calories
change the way you think- mind over matter!!!
stick to the 1200 limit, and stop eating at night. your body isnt active and isnt able to burn those calories so they will stick to you!! i did and seen results instantly...lost 10 pounds in less then a month
i have a 3 year old so i know allllll about late night snacking when he goes to bed lol
cucumbers helped big time
Ps: add me if you like, having friends that encourage and support you really help...i can use the support too! good luck0 -
never skip breakfast
Why not?
Because eating first thing in the morning jump starts your metabolism!
Not true. I used to think it was to. Up your protein. I lost 50lbs being hungry. I'm now on high protein and 1400-1500 calories and I NEVER feel hungry! X0 -
cucumbers!!!! you can eat a bunch and it has very very little calories
change the way you think- mind over matter!!!
stick to the 1200 limit, and stop eating at night. your body isnt active and isnt able to burn those calories so they will stick to you!! i did and seen results instantly...lost 10 pounds in less then a month
i have a 3 year old so i know allllll about late night snacking when he goes to bed lol
cucumbers helped big time
Ps: add me if you like, having friends that encourage and support you really help...i can use the support too! good luck
Congratulations on losing the weight, but don't you think you lost it more from calorie deficit than from the timing of the calories? Metabolism doesn't stop at any point during the day or night.0 -
my metabolism wasn't the greatest to begin with, i needed to get a grip on it and find some control over it.0
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