Advice for night-time eating - help!!

Ok, so I have been doing really really well during the day. I can go all day eating like 400-500 calories and not be hungry. But then I come home from work about 9:00 at night and even if I'm not hungry, food is all I can think about. Seriously. And I suddenly have like zero self-control. I've lost 10 pounds on CC, and I still have 40 to go. I really don't want to fall off the wagon now.

I need help. ANY advice at all would help. I just don't know what to do to stop myself. Please help me. Thanks so much~

~*~Gela~*~

You're not eating enough during the day and your body is telling you so at night.  Everyone does it differently but I tend to divide up my calories so that I'm actually eating more during the day and don't feel as hungry at night and I was a notorious evening grazer.  The other big change is eating breakfast.  Also make sure that you're getting lots of healthy carbs, protein and fats.

Aside from that, I try and keep myself busy.  If I really want something I first drink some water and wait 5 or 10 minutes then I go for something healthy and filling like a fruit or veggies with hummus.  I also try and keep myself busy during that time period so that I'm not thinking about food.  If I really feel like binging then I just remind myself how crappy I feel when I go to bed with an overfull stomach.  Its not easy that's for sure but I remind myself how good I feel in the morning after a restful sleep (something I didn't get when night binging).

Good luck.

I definitely second the previous posters thoughts.  It would probably help if you portioned out your calories better - and it is possible that you are trying to eat too few calories in a day as well.  Be sure you are getting a good portion of protein throughout the day.

When you feel like stuffing your face (boy, have I ever been THERE!), try having a high-protein food like a chicken breast or cottage cheese, along with some fruits or vegetables.  Protein with healthy carbs tends to stop my binges.  And if all else fails, go for a walk.  Do SOMETHING to break the cycle.

Have a Yoplait fat-free yogurt.

Obviously, you can't go all day eating 400-500 calories and not be hungry because you're binging at night. o_o

You need to eat a normal amount of calories through out the day so you don't come home, running on empty, forcing your body to franticly fill it's self, less it shut down. I suggest you take a good look at the tools on CC and find out how much you should be eating, because you're going to start gaining weight if you keep this up. You're body's not stupid. It's going to prepare for your self made diet famine and then you'll really get frusturated. x_x

Best of luck to you.

Yea, why exactly were you trying to eat only 400-500 calories a day anyhow?

What are your height and weight stats also? At the very least you can eat 1200 calories a day, which would make three 400 calorie meals spread throughout the day, definitely much more satisfying than only attempting to eat 400 all day! Plus, it is a much healthier and more effective long term weight loss method.

Hey there - I hear you about small portions and frequent eating during a day (400-500 calories) and then uncontrolled eating habit at night even if not feeling hungry. I just posted a new tread about potential eating disorder as i cant think of anything else that can be wrong with me. I have nights and even if i keep my evenings busy all i can think of is food. I am 5'5, 126 lbs (always been no more than 122 till about 2 years ago when i started my night habit) I am a female who exercises 5-6 days a week doing at least 60 min resistance work out. Ex-pro athlete.

I tried many ways to control the eve mental hunger, but failed in most. Even when ate more calories a day and heavy breakfast in the morning, nothing helped. ;( any other suggestions guys?

Original Post by cowcow44:

Yea, why exactly were you trying to eat only 400-500 calories a day anyhow?

What are your height and weight stats also? At the very least you can eat 1200 calories a day, which would make three 400 calorie meals spread throughout the day, definitely much more satisfying than only attempting to eat 400 all day! Plus, it is a much healthier and more effective long term weight loss method.

 Just to be clear - I started eating 400-500 calories during the day BECAUSE of my night binges, so that I had a lot of calories left over for when I did, because I know I will. I wasn't saying that I only ever want to eat 500 calories all day. I'm not anorexic, and I already know how much my body needs. My goal is actually at 1400 thank you very much. I'm not stupid.

As for teh rest of you, thank you so much for your advice. I will try getting fruit and veggies stocked in my fridge for when it happens (if it does) and I will try eating a bigger breakfast. I tend to eat very small ones because I'm not very hungry in the morning. That may be part of my problem. Also, I get home at sometimes 9:30 at night, so I never thought about going for a walk before, but why not? It would be nice and cool, peaceful......Sounds relaxing. I will try that tonight if it happens again.

Thanks so much you guys~ I really think that this is going to help get my butt on the wagon again. You guys are great!

~*~Gela~*~

A diet fizzy drink or a massive glass of water helps sometimes too. I sometimes feel like nibbling food but when i have a drink it seems to settle the tummy. Hope all goes well.

If you make a massive salad filled with vegetables and have some cooked vegetables on the side you should be filled up in no time.

You should also look into why you are binging. Sometimes there is something deeper going on. Also, since you are eating just 400-500 cals during the day you obviously know you are going to binge. Its kinda like you are setting yourself up for failure. Go home and talk to yourself. Sounds weird but sometimes when I hear myself think it works better. Tell yourself you aren't going to let food win again. You are going to eat a healthy meal and call it a night. I also like to make a rule that I can eat no food after 7:30.

The fact of the matter is that you cannot live like this forever. I too have had many nights where I come home and eat endlessly on top of a days worth of calories. You just need to get your eating in check and realize you are the boss.

Original Post by gelahope:

Original Post by cowcow44:

Yea, why exactly were you trying to eat only 400-500 calories a day anyhow?

What are your height and weight stats also? At the very least you can eat 1200 calories a day, which would make three 400 calorie meals spread throughout the day, definitely much more satisfying than only attempting to eat 400 all day! Plus, it is a much healthier and more effective long term weight loss method.

 Just to be clear - I started eating 400-500 calories during the day BECAUSE of my night binges, so that I had a lot of calories left over for when I did, because I know I will. I wasn't saying that I only ever want to eat 500 calories all day. I'm not anorexic, and I already know how much my body needs. My goal is actually at 1400 thank you very much. I'm not stupid.

As for teh rest of you, thank you so much for your advice. I will try getting fruit and veggies stocked in my fridge for when it happens (if it does) and I will try eating a bigger breakfast. I tend to eat very small ones because I'm not very hungry in the morning. That may be part of my problem. Also, I get home at sometimes 9:30 at night, so I never thought about going for a walk before, but why not? It would be nice and cool, peaceful......Sounds relaxing. I will try that tonight if it happens again.

Thanks so much you guys~ I really think that this is going to help get my butt on the wagon again. You guys are great!

~*~Gela~*~

 Whoa why did you take such offense to what I said? I never accused you of being anorexic I don't know where that came from...

The way you worded your post made it sound as if you were trying to only eat 400 calories a day but would binge and ruin it, sorry for misunderstanding what you meant! I also never said you were stupid, I thought you genuinely might have been thinking that eating very little was good for weight loss, and I was just trying to help you out...

Anyhow, i agree with fooledbyfaith, I think that by eating 400-400 cals throughout out the day because you know you will binge at night is setting yourself up to binge. Not sure if you want my advice, but I would just try and tell yourself that you're not going to binge one night because you can be in control of yourself, and if you want to eat, eat something filling and healthy like a large stiry fry of onions and cabbage, or soup, or if you want no calories tea with splenda.

Oh yeah, cow cow's right, soup IS a great "filler-upper!"

I am a big fan of eating after work too, especially after a long day and late nite working.  I think it is part of my unwinding process.  And then i crave sweets right after the meal.  Double-whammy!

So, I have been deserting the whole kitchen end of the house after dinner.  I barely watch any tv anymore at all.  After dinner and tucking the kids in, I go to my room, shower, pjs, then I read until I'm sleepy. Yes, I get into bed with a book at 7:30 some nights!  Make sure you have stuff you love to read, and it gets kind of addictive! This keeps me from wandering into the kitchen, letting my mind stray about what's in the cupboards, and also snacking in front of the tube!  

Darnit, double post!