Late Night Eating

I know there are healthy ways to eat late at night, but should I try to avoid it at all costs anyhow? It seems for me, once I start, even if it IS a healthy late night snack, I'm constantly wanting just a BIT more. This craving usually gets controlled in the mornings and afternoons, but when the sun sets, I never want to stop.

Any advice?

Fri. Jun 22, 12:32am

A good breakfast - like 300 calories - within an hour of waking up is the best solution to late eating/bingeing. Every time I try to get away with a breakfast half that size, the day ends badly.

Friday, June 22, 2007, 1:05 AM

You're singing my song! The question is not should you eat, but WHY do you eat? I accumulate about 95% of my unnecessary calories at night. I'm not hungry, I just want to EAT. And like you, I'll start off with a little something and next thing you know I've eaten 400 calories. If you're not hungry then your best bet is to avoid it. Figure out the WHY and do something else.

Friday, June 22, 2007, 5:18 AM

I finish my last meal between 7-8 PM. It contains enough protein that I won't be hungry by the time I get to bed. I've also conditioned myself to go to bed at
10 PM - 11 PM so I become very sleepy around those times. I head right for bed and stay there until morning.

Basically, go to sleep!

Friday, June 22, 2007, 8:18 AM

Have a cup of tea, or a piece of fruit and stop it at that. It is difficult to do, but you will feel so much better about yourself the next day. If it is watching TV at night that spurs you to eat, turn the TV off and go for a walk, call a friend, or read a book. We are so conditioned to our habits that they are hard to break, but it can be done!

Friday, June 22, 2007, 12:31 PM

I eat later at night because of my schedule, my nutritionist reccomends eating a protein late at night rather than a carb. I eat yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs (egg whites). It usually works for me. If I want some kind of carb I go for a peanut beutter and jelly-or some popcorn -plain, homeade on the stove. I try to keep it light, but it is a myth that eating late at night causes weight gain, I've lost 25 pounds with eating at night the whole time. Drinking liquids at night really helps me keep from snacking--and not watching tv.

Friday, June 22, 2007, 4:47 PM

Amen to the sum:

Drink something that feels good:
soothing, flavored tea; warm milk with a shot of hazelnut, etc
a piece of fruit or up to 3 hearty crackers

Eat a big, high fiber/protein breakfast. I felt better at night knowing that I ate hearty in the morning bc I had "fasted" overnight. I was hungry and my body was clean.

Have someone talk you to sleep.

Make sure you have eaten enough nutritious (more filling) food during the day.

Saturday, June 23, 2007, 11:45 AM

You are not alone in the battle. I've done it and felt great. I'm trying again.

Saturday, June 23, 2007, 11:45 AM

Snacking in front if the TV is a killer for me. I've just had to stop doing it. as much.

Also, WHAT you're eating is a biggy as well. If you're eating salty foods, or refined carbs (sugars, or really starchy foods) you'll tend to want more of them. The sugary foods raise your blood sugar quickly, and it will also come down quickly as your body produces more insulin to deal with it. Then you'll feel hungry again.

Monday, June 25, 2007, 10:19 AM

I understand!

I, on several occasions, stay up until 2 or 3 studying and it's so hard to avoid the snacking.

Some things that work for me are:
1. Trying my best to stay out of the kitchen! I know this sounds totally stupid, but for me, sometimes just being in the kitchen gets my all grabby and stuff.
2. If I do have a snack, it's a piece of fruit or something calorie-controlled, like a bag of 100 cal. snacks, BUT I also try to drink an entire water with it as well.
3. Also, after I eat, and this is what I TRY to do all day long, I like to wait atleast 15 minutes before going back for more (if that's my initial reaction). I've heard it a million times, but it is true, it does work.

Monday, June 25, 2007, 1:10 PM

It's true that snacking at night is not what leads to weight gain. The reason that it tends to is, people have already done their eating for the day, and the late-night snacking is just excess calories. If you know you like to eat later at night, try splitting your dinner into 2, and saving the second half for late at night. If it's something "real," and filling and satisfying, you probably wont' want to keep going back for more. With snacking, it's usually little things that aren't particularly filling, which is why you want just a bit more.

Monday, June 25, 2007, 2:35 PM

I set up my diet in such a way so that I can have my night time snacks. I give myself 1000 calories a day and if I have any left over at night I use them for my snack. Sometimes fruit and most of the time a salty snack. I know that for myself if I did not have this I would never stick to a diet.
I understand that it can be difficult to say no once you have started eating but I tell myself if I want more there is tomorrow.
So far it has worked I have lost 60 pounds.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007, 11:26 PM

link to new PEERtrainer article on emotional eating, night eating and snacking.

Link

Friday, June 19, 2009, 12:07 PM

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