LATE NIGHT EATING...

leeluchickenbruce
leeluchickenbruce Posts: 19 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
How many hours or minutes are there between your last meal and going to sleep? How much time do you leave for your stomach to settle? I like to snack just before bedtime... I need advice on how to stop doing that.

Also looking for more friends for support and supporting!

Replies

  • _trickpie
    _trickpie Posts: 87
    I've started substituting any snacking for a cup of herbal tea. Still puts something in my tummy and a nice warm tea can help me nod off to sleep (whether it's just a placebo or not, I'll take it).
  • tequila09
    tequila09 Posts: 764 Member
    before bed is when me and my bf have time together and he is always hungry!! i leave most of my calories for when i'm finished with my errands and work and am home. it leaves me with most of my calories at the end of the day and it works for me, good luck!
  • shaelataylor
    shaelataylor Posts: 224 Member
    i eat when im hungry regardless of the clock. i dont know if that works for everyone or not, but i seem to do fine with it.
  • xrayeminence
    xrayeminence Posts: 12 Member
    Awesome idea, I am having alot of trouble with late evening binge eating.
  • Ryathur
    Ryathur Posts: 16
    I usually eat before bed, because I hate the feeling of being hungry while I am trying to get to sleep. It works fine for me and I have no trouble losing weight.
  • dovesgate
    dovesgate Posts: 894 Member
    i eat when im hungry regardless of the clock. i dont know if that works for everyone or not, but i seem to do fine with it.

    I do this too.
  • zoegator
    zoegator Posts: 165 Member
    Late night eating will be my downfall!

    I usually stop eating quite a while before I go to bed, but I also keep drinking water so that my stomach doesn't ever get the "empty" feeling. However, if I am hungry before bed, I always make sure to eat something small (and log it!) so that it isn't much in my stomach when I'm laying down for sleep.

    Also, I find that not watching much TV for too long after I've eaten dinner/evening snack (whichever is last for you) helps too, since I'm not seeing commercials which prompt me to eat.

    Good luck to all those late night snackers!
  • theartichoke
    theartichoke Posts: 816 Member
    It doesn't matter when you eat. Seriously. If it's within your calorie goal it truly doesn't matter. You're body doesn't have a clock. It doesn't realize it's 8:00 and decide to quit running. If you like to eat at night then eat at night. Leave room in your macros for it and enjoy!
  • rcharlee
    rcharlee Posts: 182 Member
    I work until 11:30pm sometimes later, on Tuesday and Thursday nights, which leads me to eating right before bed. I look at it as, my body was burning increased calories from 10pm-12am tonight; moving a lot, and lifting and carrying 50 pound dogs in long sleeves gets the heart rate up. So, eating a little something after that probably doesn't make a difference.

    On off nights I try not to though, because I'll get caught up in it, and want to keep eating. Maybe try a big glass of water prior to lying down, just beware of the night pees!
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    i eat when im hungry regardless of the clock. i dont know if that works for everyone or not, but i seem to do fine with it.
    this. what i try to do is to try to keep something quick and easy ready to grab in the fridge in case i want something. i've recently started doing cooked ground turkey and some fruit like blackberries or blueberries. it ends up only being around 150 calories but can be really satisfying if i want a late night snack.

    i log it for the next day since it's usually past midnight anyway
  • Arani70
    Arani70 Posts: 84
    I always eat IN bed, if I'm reading I'll snack on some almonds or greed yogurt and dried cranberries.

    It does not matter when you eat just as long as you stay within your calorie limit.

    I've done this for over 3 months and have lost over 30 pounds.
  • CassieReannan
    CassieReannan Posts: 1,479 Member
    Depends, if I am up until midnight which is most nights... I have snack at 4, dinner at 7 - 7.30. Dessert (sometimes) at 8 and IF im still hungry I have a small snack no later than 10pm.
  • jaireed
    jaireed Posts: 333 Member
    I sleep better with a light snack before bed. If I want something sweet I go for 1 cup sugar free jello with 2 tbs fat free cool whip. Sweet, satisfying and only like 50 calories. Lately, I have been enjoying a 60 calorie chocolate pudding snack with a tbs of fat free cool whip. It makes me feel like a kid and gives me pudding face! If I'm really hungry I'll eat an apple because its more filling and then one of the above too. I find it easier to work with my cravings or hunger instead of fighting them. :wink:
  • vthetigercat
    vthetigercat Posts: 35 Member
    I always have a protein shake about a half hour before I go to sleep. I -hate- going to bed hungry, and I usually toss and turn if I'm not full. I lost all of the weight that I wanted this way, and now I'm maintaining very well.

    On my heavy workout days I'll eat extra the night before, and then get up an hour before my alarm goes off and then fall back asleep.
  • 4rgl
    4rgl Posts: 106
    I get off from work around 9 pm and my boyfriend gets home around 11.30pm, that's when we have dinner.. and not just a light dinner. I go to sleep around 1-2 am.
    I think that when trying to lose weight, it really doesn't matter what time you eat as long as you are under your calorie goals for the day. I've never noticed an increase in my weight (or his) due to our late dinners and I have been losing at a steady rate since I started tracking calories.
  • zhanaolivia
    zhanaolivia Posts: 65
    Like everyone said, it doesn't necessarily matter when you eat as long as you stay within your limit.

    However, your metabolism and digestion are much slower at night both because your whole body just slows down when you're resting (obviously). Also you're lying down, so it's harder for your body to move food around in you because gravity isn't helping anymore. And t's just uncomfortable going to bed with a full belly.

    My problem with night eating would be bingeing on sweets. Then one of my MFPs suggested I up my healthy fats during the day so that my body doesn't crave nutrients. I added cheeses, avocado, nuts, rice, meats, etc into lunch and afternoon tea and I just stopped bingeing.

    So, fundamental philosophy should be to only eat light foods before bed - doesn't matter what it is, just so long that it doesn't *fill* you up. Eat the filling food and lunch and as an afternoon tea.
  • Sharmender
    Sharmender Posts: 133 Member
    I really like to save some calories before bed, I just enjoy food the most then. Mostly I eat an apple and something bad (like a piece of chocolate or a cookie!)
    I used to eat LOTS of food before bed so I can't just change that habit, just the amount of food :) It works perfectly for me, I've lost a lot of weight.
  • leeluchickenbruce
    leeluchickenbruce Posts: 19 Member
    Wow everyone, I've never had such excellent and useful advice before, thank you so much for your time!

    I guess if a weight loss routine is going to work for the long term, it has to be something that lets you eat when you want to eat, so you don't feel deprived and then binge because you just can't resist those desires anymore.

    Thank you so much - I'm on my 10th binge free day, so I'm still learning!

    Lara

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