Late night snacking

Hi everyone! I have a problem. I generally eat pretty well during the day. I usually go to bed around 10:00 pm. Everynight, around midnight or so I wake up and eat something. I usually eat four slices of whole wheat toast with reduced fat peanut butter. The crazy thing is that I'm not even hungry at this time....so why do I do it? I usually average around 1300-1400 calories per day, but then the late night snack messes my whole day up. Does anytime else face this challenge? And if so, how did you overcome it? Thanks!

*anyone

Hi Lori,
if it is any consolation to you, i tend to laste snack as well. probably the best is not to open the fridge instead have a glass of water and go back to bed.

 

 

 

I do this sometimes. It is very difficult to break the habit when I start this. I usually go for salty and sweet and something quick. What helps is if when I am starting to do this that I take all the quick foods that I would want and either not buy them or make them not accessible for awhile. I try and substitute with water and just make myself go back to bed.

 

I am more prone to do this when I am hormonal and feel like eating everything. Perhaps you could switch up your dinner to include some of what you go for at midnight or eat later? I am not sure if it is the body craving nutrients or what. Hope this helped.

Thanks for the input. I am not a big water drinker at all but I am going to give it a try. I hate how guilty I feel after i eat late at night....so not worth it!

eat more protein for dinner and eat one or two hours before bed. it will keep you full through the night. ahh low fat peanut butter? not good. switch to natural peanut butter because the fat is the best part about peanuts. i made my own peanut butter for the first time the other day and was really surprised how easy it  was and how delicious it was. give it a try

 

Yes, more protein will help hunger cravings...

 

 

But the snack habbit itself....

you can:

-chew gum and drink water, in stead

-drink tea

-eat a sliced apple for crunch

-plan a snack into your day

-hide or lock up unhealthy snacks (I put them in a basket on a top shelf)

-portion out your snacks in advance like in to zip lock bags so you do not go over a serving size...

 

You are describing me before I joined CC.  I needed to totally change all my nutrition and lower my calories.  After I had been here for awhile I was still waking up and getting out the jar of peanut butter and some crackers.  I found that if saved some of my caloric intake goal for a snack before bed I did not wake up.  Sometimes I have hot chocolate with skim milk and cocoa powder and some fruit.  Do you like popcorn?  It has to be air-popped.  4 cups has 124 calories and then I add 1 tsp. extra virgin olive oil (40 calories) so that a little salt will stick to it.  This adds up to 4.1 g. protein, 4.6 g. fiber and the good kind of fat.  Hope this helps.

I do the same thing!!! lol   I stick to my calories pretty good, about 1350 per day, plus I do the gym about 5 times per week, then I wake up at about 1230 or 1 a.m and scarf a couple of cookies or some chips, terrible.  I tried the water thing....nope, just makes me get up in 3 hours to pee.

 

Thanks everyone. Glad to know I'm not the only one:)

Make sure you aren't eating below your BMR as that can really mess you up. http://www.bmi-calculator.net/bmr-calculator/

If you wantto eat late just make sure it's high protein, that will keep your metabolism up while you sleep

try taking 2 fish oil capsuls and a glass of water before bed. Fish oil controls hunger, cravings, and a hormone that starts with L that makes you fat when your inactive. (It's the one lipitor is suppost to control I think) It works really well for me when I get the late nite munchies.

Bad habits, instead of eating bread make yourself a nice cup of tea. Then wait for at least 5 minutes before you decide to eat anything else. or try to cut back half a slice of bread a week. Even if it is whole wheat is extra calories and you should have an empty stomach while sleeping