Late night hunger, HELP!

I am fairly new at this. Swore I would never count calories, but here I am and actually finding this site addicting. Anyway, I found out by reading other entries that I was not eating enough, so yesterday I increased my calories to 1300-1400. I am fine all day, but for some odd reason I get very hungry right before I go to bed (around midnight). Can't sleep on a hungry tummy. I have been saving some calories for late night, but this can't be good.!? Any ideas what I can do to stop this, or ideas for a decent late night snack? Thanks. Lisa

 

This happens to me A LOT, and frankly I am not great at managing it. But, last night when I was in bed and super-hungry, I decided to eat a sugar-free jello cup (in bed no less). That did the trick! I also go to bed with hot tea on my bedside table a lot.

EDIT:  The jello cups have 10 cals apiece. 

Thanks.  Going to the store today.  Will pick some up.  

drink a lot of water throughout the day, and for a bedtime snack eat something like carrots or celery.

bumped thread when I moved to more suitable forum

Well first off what happens is that when you get tired your body thinks it is hungry because it needs to recooperate for energy.... so it says either feed me or go to bed cause I am done!

For me it helps to plan my calories so i have a snack about an hour before bed and drink plenty of water until i do go to bed. This seems to help.

That is why if people dont get enough sleep they tend to be overweight because they mistake the body's natural signs it is tired and feeds instead so the body is able to stay awake on new calories.....

It doesn't really matter when you eat as long as your total for the day isn't over the top.  But if you eat heavy, greasy or rich food right before going to bed it can disturb your sleep and isn't a good idea.  A light snack such as a piece of fruit, a bowl of yoghurt or a slice of toast wouldn't keep you awake.  A hot, milky drink is a pleasant way to relax.

Getting plenty of good quality sleep is an underrated tool in battling excess weight.  Stress and fatigue mess about with insulin levels and this can lead to overeating or making poor food choices... usually quick fix sugary snacks to replace 'energy'.   If going to bed at midnight means you get 7 hours or so restful sleep then that's fine.  But if you're managing on less, maybe try to get to sleep earlier.

Im new at this also and what I have done for late night hunger is eat a couple of pieces of unsweetened spoon sized shredded wheat and a cup of tea.  All that I need is to feel that something is in my belly and it almost feels that shredded wheat expands when it gets in your tummy.  Then I don't have those hunger pains at night,

you may find it easier to eastablish a cut off time for the day at night say 7 pm.  then everything you eat after 7 pm will go into the next days log and you will have to balance it in the next morning and afternoon when it is easier for you to manage. your eating

just dont make sure you end up overdoing it and binging at night and having to starve the next morning and afternoon.  this is just to help you stay within your calorie limit for the entire day, within an emphasis on balance throughout the day.

i get hungry at night too as i dont seem to get my full amount of cals in by this time.so i have either crackers and extra light philadelphia or a banana and always a glass of warm milk i dont know how many cals this is as each cracker has a different calorie value but the warm milk makes you feel a bit fuller and is good for relaxing and unwinding before bed.

I'm pretty new at this too and I get hungry at night too. Sometimes logging in and looking at my calorie count for the day curbs my appetite and then I just go to sleep before I think about it for too long! It worked tonight. A warm cup of tea helps too.

for me hot soup is what works. just put vegs in water, simmer, eat. or miso soup.

Im so glad you posted this. I also have a major problem with late night hunger. Everyones replies helped so much. Thanks all

if you don't have a problem with sodium, pickles are good.  Not the sweet ones, the other kind.  Practically no calories, lots of flavour so I can't eat that many. 

I wouldn't eat, right before bed, regardless what it is.  In fact, I wouldn't eat, less than a few hours, before bed.  You are going to bed at midnight, what time are you getting up?  If you have fitness goals, adequate rest is crucial, so you might think about hitting the sack, a little earlier, before the hunger hits. 

i agree, its really hard not to eat before bed cause thats when i get the cravings.

Wow, do I get this! I am an emotional,late night eater. I do FANTASTIC all day, but then put the kids to bed and BOOM....the feed me monster takes over. YEP, I am bored, tired, etc. I need and want to stop this, but it is like a drug, calling me. I DO understand that having the will to want to stop is an issue. I get that. Have done that before, but for some reason, food has become more there for me than the people in my life. AND...for those of us Mommies, we give and give and give to our kids and then..... we need and want something to make us feel good.

Funny, I have a treadmill in my bedroom(only place to put it) and I look at it and want to get on it at night, but am so tired and drained that I don't touch it, and crawl in bed with a bag of ....whatever.

Want a good walking buddy so that when my oldest is in school I am more motivated to get my FAT off. I know me...the more I work-out...everyday...the better I eat, feel, and just...AM.

New to this site...thanks for being honest and letting me know that I am not the only one!

Well, if you were able to make it with less calories before, i think i would (if i was you) divide my calories so I can have a nice meal at night (not so late, though), healthy and not big, but nice.

And make sure you sit down and set the table and all, so you actually NOTICE that you're eating.

I like to have a cup of herbal tea with a spoonful of honey in it while doing homework/lounging around before bed. It makes me feel full enough to go to bed with the calories in the honey, but it really isn't going overboard. If that really doesn't help or I need to stay up a little later to get some stuff done, I will have a few spoonfuls of fat free yogurt. Works like a charm (for me).

I used to do the same thing. I found that if I would eat my three meals through out the day I would be starved by bed time. which is for me more like 2 or 3 am. So I made sure that I adjusted me meals to my life. I try not to eat anything past 9 pm that way I am hungry when I wake up in the morning. If I don't eat breakfast then my whole plan goes out of wack. Maybe try adjusting the times you eat to suite your life style better. Try to keep at least 3 or four hours between meal and bedtime. I think it is better to learn new tricks than maybe trying something for a week or two and then start eating a whole tub of ice cream.

I brush my teeth and floss early if I feel munchy in the evening.  I don't want to have to brush and floss again before bed so it is good motivation not to eat.  Plus then my mouth feels all minty fresh.