late night snacking

[258trainer]

No matter what "rules" I set for myself, I can't seem to keep from snacking after dinner.  My resolve is great in the a.m., but I feel like I need an hour or so after everyone else has gone to bed to "decompress"....any tips?

[SunsetRunner]

Odyssey, the tea fix is fantastic! I like to put some stevia in it to make it more of a flavorful snack. Otherwise, I am glad to know other people also like to eat at night. I think it is easy to do mindless things at night since that is when we get tired and our brains turn down. Maybe we can try turning off all extra sensory entertainment (unless that is sedating to you), and tune into what we actually need at night. Maybe we really just need a sip of water, some fresh air, and a warm bed to read or talk to someone in. Set yourself up in bed and let yourself calm down there. Then, you will be ready to fall asleep when you get tired enough and maybe you will even get too comfortable to get up to visit the patry 😉

[lisaaggie]

For me, I need to go to bed when I am tired .  If I stay up, I will eat.  The magic hour for me is10:30.  After that time, I will eat and eat.  

I love sweets.  Little Debbies.  are my downfall.  Kroger had them for 99 cents a box.  I bought five b oxes,  My daughter and I ate them all in 3-4 days!  So no more Little Debbies.   Pop Tarts are also evil. 

Another thing is my kids are hellions .  I stress out and pig out.  Three donuts,  and cheese burger and fries from sonic.  Plus granola bar and skiknny cow chocolate b ar.  I was over my calories by noon.  I guess that is my cheat day for the month. 

[Anna]

I completely agree Lisaaggie, staying up (10.30pm does seem to be the bewitching hour) means I will find things to 'nibble' on. All unneeded and all high cal/low nutrition type stuff. 

Like you, a tough day rounded out by children misbehaving will push me to poor late-night choices -- but I have become very good about two things i) recognising that when I think 'hmmm, what would I like to eat?' is probably a good time to turn in and ii) if I mess up one evening then I don't let it snowball into a huge jag of bad eating. I'm quite forgiving of myself and just put the chips down and think I'll be more proud of myself tomorrow if I stop right now, and mentally pat myself on the back for that show of (albeit late!) restraint.

[LaurenExplorin]

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@Zirallan wrote:

I regularly eat at midnight. Last night it was a burrito and a peice of fudge. The night before it was a bowl of pasta.

I don't actually try to stop it. I know that depriving myself will just make me pig out after a day or two. Instead, I budget for it. I KNOW that 4 or 5 days out of the week, I'm going to want to eat before I go to bed so I just make room for it in my meal planning. If you're one that doesn't sleep well if you eat close to bedtime, that may not work for you but I find it far easier to just work it into the meal plan than to struggle with not eating at night.

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This is what I do, as well. You know you're going to snack at the end of the night, and it's so enjoyable, so leave room for it. 

It's easy to say "don't eat after dinner" when you go to bed at 9-10pm, but it's a whole different thing to say that to someone who's a night owl and doesn't sleep until 2am. No chance of no late-night snacking with a bedtime like that! 🙂 

[BethS123]

I try to keep in mind that the cal in that... How much do I want to move for that... Like if I have whatever then how many miles would I have to walk for it? How much longer on the bike at the gym? Is it worth it? Sometimes I say yes and I move for that one extra thing. I also try to keep in mind if I'm staying up later ect that I should move my meals. As a rule I don't eat 2 hours before bed. But that's what works for me. I would say find I way that works for you.

[akashavi]

I'm thinking of starting a challenge thread related to late night snacking because this is such an issue for me. I can handle the entire day fairly well but about 8:00pm the gremlin sets in. I do mean gremlin too (dating myself, I know). I believe if I had a challenge with others I/we could help one another. Would anyone on this thread be interested? I might just go ahead and pull the trigger on it anyway to see who jumps on board. I really want to achieve my goal and this snacking thing of mine has to stop somehow.

I looked for a challenge thread similar to this but didn't find one. If one exists, please let me know. Otherwise look for one from me soon... I mean it... really, I do... 🙂

[bklynite]

I am doing a challenge with my daughter that has a rule of not eating after 9pm! I am a late night snacker and it was hard for the first week. The only penalty is that you loss points for the day. However, I am on my second week and I lost 13 pounds from staying on the challenge. I also find that if I eat enough early on in the day, I am not craving that late in the day. I may have some tea or hot chocolate if it gets real bad to avoid eating. I would like to be on the challenge if you create one.

[Beantowngurl]

Hi, that is the same problem I have...snacks at night is like my comfort before bed....very hard to have willpower...

[Beantowngurl]

I would welcome this challenge...please keep me in mind!

[Inga]

Save some of your calories for after dinner. I certainly snack in the evening, I don't see ending that. The thing is, don't eat junk, why would you even buy something you would call junk? I had a huge plate of Costco sized strawberries, and finished off a whole popcorn popper (1/3rd cup) by myself  tonight. I was working and munching! Popcorn has a decent amount of fiber, as well as magnesium and B6, two nutrients that aren't that easy to find. Just pick foods that add to your plan and your goals. 

[robguitar]

I'll feel full after dinner but I have to pass through the kitchen later in the evening. When I do, I cave in and eat junk food. I can't understand why I sabotage my fitness efforts. Maybe I should surround my kitchen with barbed wire and a moat.

[SunsetRunner]

Quest protein bars are best for late night snacks.  Very low in sugar, high in protein and fiber.   It won't cause you to tip the scales and be dissapointed during your next weigh in.    

[Dominique]

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@SunsetRunner wrote:

Quest protein bars are best for late night snacks.  Very low in sugar, high in protein and fiber.   It won't cause you to tip the scales and be dissapointed during your next weigh in.    

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Or make your own: even higher in protein and fiber, taste better and more than three times cheaper