Night Snacking

[Krista27 341]

So one of my biggest problems has always been snacking at night. Anyone else dealing with this? I eat great during the day. Even at night now when I do have a snack they are healthy but I just hate that I feel hungry and want a snack at night. Any suggestions?

[Creekimp13 5,840]

Stop eating at 8pm. Make it a firm rule. Only herbal tea after 8pm. Or water...or whatever you like to drink.

At 9pm, take a melatonin and try to get to bed earlier. Better sleep reduces calorie intake overall, reduces cortisol, makes us less likely to eat from fatigue.

Good sleep is hugely tied to better success with our diet. Eating late messes up circadian rhythms that help us eat and sleep in a good pattern.

Edited March 23, 2018 by Creekimp13

[sillykitty 10,774]

Can you redirect your snacking to healthier things? Baby carrots, cucumbers, steamed veggies, Jerky, nuts, sf Jello?

[Sosewsue61 3,185]

I'm inclined to go the route of ditching that night snack - I am attempting that right now myself. My husband likes to unwind with a movie and food, so this is very difficult for me to overcome. Granted I was eating an approved snack, but I think it would be better with no snack (unless I am severely short of Protein for the day). Soo I have ditched the movie/couch/snack altogether for now until I can get my mind to get used to it - then I think I will try to crochet or do something with my hands will watching the movie. Time will tell.

[FluffyChix 17,415]

Try a cup of hot tea or Decaf to replace the snack. I agree with no food past 8pm. I started my plan last night! Woot! Let's hurt together girl!

[Krista27 341]

I think I can get with the plan to not have anything past 8pm. So that's going to be my goal for this coming week. Nothing but liquids after 8pm. It'll be a struggle but I know I can do it!

[Krista27 341]

9 hours ago, Creekimp13 said:

Stop eating at 8pm. Make it a firm rule. Only herbal tea after 8pm. Or water...or whatever you like to drink.

At 9pm, take a melatonin and try to get to bed earlier. Better sleep reduces calorie intake overall, reduces cortisol, makes us less likely to eat from fatigue.

Good sleep is hugely tied to better success with our diet. Eating late messes up circadian rhythms that help us eat and sleep in a good pattern.

I struggle with sleep. Until recently I was on a medicine to be able to get a good nights sleep. I decided I didn't want to take it anymore and since then I have been struggling with sleep.

[Mattymatt 491]

I struggle with sleep. Until recently I was on a medicine to be able to get a good nights sleep. I decided I didn't want to take it anymore and since then I have been struggling with sleep.

It takes me a while to fall asleep despite my antidepressant making me sleepy.

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[TakingABreak 2,733]

I also have a problem at night. I get more hungry between 6-8pm. We don't usually eat dinner until 7pmish. So I can control it with dinner. But if we eat an early dinner, I find myself chopping at the bit. I have gained a lot of self control, minus my glass of FairLife Milk and Sugar Free Chocolate Syrup. Every night at 8pm I have exactly a cup. It settles my cravings.

[Seahawks Fan 771]

12 hours ago, Krista27 said:

So one of my biggest problems has always been snacking at night. Anyone else dealing with this? I eat great during the day. Even at night now when I do have a snack they are healthy but I just hate that I feel hungry and want a snack at night. Any suggestions?

That’s one of my vices. Hard habit to break. Especially when you stay up late.

[MrsGamgee 756]

I'm a nighttime snacker now too... and I hate it. When I was growing up, once dinner was finished and the dishes were done, the lights went out in the kitchen and it was CLOSED. It wasn't part of our family culture. But my husband's family have a tradition of something they call 'bed lunch'... a snack, a sandwich, a bowl of Cereal in the evening, usually later in the evening. I have tried to steer clear of it, but I have become a nighttime munchies fiend. popcorn is my weakness these days. I need that hard and fast rule... no eating after 8pm. New goal.

And for those who are having difficulties sleeping... I know it's cliché, but there are a lot of great herbal 'sleepy' teas out there. I really like Mother's Little Helper from David's Tea. I drink a cup of that and I'm down for the count a half hour later.

[BigViffer 3,544]

I'm gonna buck the trend here and say, meh. I eat as late as 10 o'clock frequently. I'm hungry, my calorie goal for the day wasn't met and I needed the Protein. I'll frequently make a protein cake with Peanut Butter and "iced" with plain yogurt. Bed time is about midnight.

I believe that it really comes down to the relationship you have/had with food. I was a bulk eater, never a snacker. I didn't eat from boredom frequently, so the late night snack isn't a slider habit for me.

[sillykitty 10,774]

17 minutes ago, BigViffer said:

I'm gonna buck the trend here and say, meh.

I'm also bucking the trend. One thing in the past that always led to failure when "dieting" was feeling hungry and deprived. I'm not a big late night snacker, but if I do want something to munch on, I will have it. But I just make sure it is something healthy, like veggies, or low cal, like sf Jello.

[Kat410 423]

I have always been a late night snacker, but I've also been a late night stay-upper.

I fought to stop eating after a certain hour. Now I don't bother, given I am in WL mode, I manage my calories and quality of food.

I think it's a myth that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day - if this is so, why am I never hungry in the morning? And why is that the case for many people?

I am currently managing myself to have at least a 12 hour fast each day. So if I eat at 11 PM, then I don't eat the following day until at least 11 AM. Truthfully, 14 hours is what "feels best" and is mostly what I do (eat last food at around 10 PM and first meal around noon).

If you are eating at 10 PM and it is the right food choice and you are managing your calorie reco's and your macros, then I wouldn't sweat it.

[frust8 963]

Maybe instead of being larks and other songbirds, we are owls? We all have to fly with the feathers we are given.[emoji211]

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