Night-time Eating is REALLY Preventing Progress

I'm currently at 190-something, and I've been trying for years to lose weight to get down into the 130s. However, try as I might, I eat really badly at night. It's usually not so much that I eat junk food, but more that I eat beyond what I need. 

I've tried eating bigger breakfasts and a decent lunch, and I've even taken up going on long walks just to get myself out of the kitchen... to no avail. It seems as though something in my head is signaling that it's night-time, and therefore I need to eat anything and everything. 

Help?! I really need to lose some weight, I think I'm dancing around the line between overweight and obese, and I don't even want to start down that path. It's absolutely a priority to get into a healthy weight range (I'm 5'7" BTW), and anything beyond that would be icing on the cake. However, I feel as though I'm never going to get there if I cannot control my eating after dinner. 

[Another complicating factor is that my boyfriend works until 9 pm most nights, and wants to have dinner when he's done. I'm usually not too hungry at that point, but I have something to eat more or less to keep him company. Tips on how to get around this??]

Thank you for any help!

Hmmn..

Instead of eating more in the early times, maybe you should adjust yourself to your needs. Eat lightly during the day-- maybe light breakfasts and lunches with small healthy snacks. As for the night time binges, exercising does help kill hunger pangs. Though your boyfriend eats dinner then, try a salad instead-- lettuce has tiny calories and mixing it with fruits and veggies would help, right?

Kill off junk food.. Water is better than soda any day. Want flavor? Try tea.

I know harder said than done, considering I need to kill off some weight, too..

.. but giving advice to others doesn't hurt! ^^-

I find eating a huge breakfast and smaller meals as the day progresses does not work for me. My hunger stays about the same for every meal. So I can't suffice on 200 calories for dinner while I had 500 for breakfast. Night time eating has always been a huge problem for me. There is no magical cure to stop you from eating at night. It is self discipline and self control. I say, get yourself into a night time routine. Eat by a certain time and don't allow yourself to eat after a certain time. Set rules and never break them. And just because your boyfriend doesn't get off till 9 doesn't mean you have to eat dinner at that time. Settle for some flavored water or sparkling water. Something that will fill your tummy up and give you the full feeling. Make conversation so it doesnn't even become an issue you aren't eating with him. Also, maybe try making low cal foods to chomp on if you must eat at night. Sugar free jello, random chopped veggies with hummus or light salad dressing. Eat a plate of carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers etc and you won't feel hungry after a while.

Firstly, while you're trying to lose weight you should ask your man to be more considerate of your goals.  If he truly is the 'supper problem' that should fix that - (read - as long as you don't secretly like the fact that you 'have to have supper at 9').

I'm not a fan of aspertane or splenda but someone here suggested 0 calories foods - not a bad idea at the start but what you need to do is change your habits - get motivated to not eat **** at night.

Bottom line advice I would give you in the short term - Go to bed at 10pm.  Put your TV in storage for 4 months.  Ask your boyfriend to eat at work.  Exercise from 7pm to 830pm.  Choose healthy non-processed foods and avoid red meat.

How about having an apple or a salad while the BF is eating his dinner? 

I'm the exact same way.  I eat healthy all day but at night I have such a difficult time sticking to the plan.  Lately, I've found it helpful to heat up frozen broccoli at around 7pm and I just leave it in the microwave.  Therefore, when I have a craving rather then grab for chips or left overs I will have a few bites of lightly salted no butter added broccoli.  It may sound boring but it's certainly healthier then eating fatty foods late at night.  I also find myself waking up in the middle of the night hungry so having broccoli as an option has helped. 

this is what is so great about calorie counting.

save calories for the night! Eat lightly during the day, and save around 300 calories for when your boyfriend gets home, so you can eat with him.

just work around with your calories ..as long as you are eating less than you burn it doesnt really matter what time you eat them at.

Original Post by greeklion:

this is what is so great about calorie counting.

save calories for the night! Eat lightly during the day, and save around 300 calories for when your boyfriend gets home, so you can eat with him.

just work around with your calories ..as long as you are eating less than you burn it doesnt really matter what time you eat them at.

 this!

I eat light during the day, usually about half of my calories for the day. 

You may want to try spreading out your dinner.  For example, have some at 6, some at 7, some at 8, you get the picture.

I definitely agree with the others about saving up calories so you can eat with the bf.  That seems to be important, and it is nice to share a meal.  Although the general consensus is that it's better not to eat too much later in the evening, I think you can readjust your eating around your unique schedule.

What I've found is that if I know I'm going to be having a bigger meal later in the day I'm definitely better off planning for it.   If eating at night is your thing, do that, and eat sparingly during the day :)

Why should she have to tailor her weightloss program to her boyfriend?  It's hard enough to lose weight without ACTIVE participation from your mate.  Why should he not help her?

Eating together is a social thing.  He could help her, but it is nice to share a meal together, isn't it?  Talk over the day, blah blah blah.  She doesn't have to...  of course, but if the OP is ending up eating with him anyway, see?

Edit: to add, BTW, legaleli, I think all of your suggestions are great options as well.  

I have the same problem.  My husband gets home at 9:30 and I feel it is important for us to share a meal together.  I have no idea why this is important to me, I guess because I grew up in a family who always ate dinner together (no matter what the time my dad got home from work). 

Lately, I've started eating my salad and/or meal when I get home, and eating my vegetables with him when he arrives.  This of course does not stop the late night binging.  Despite having no hunger, I still stop by the fridge on my way to bed to grab a slice of cheese or a single serving of chips. 

You guys are right of course - the "sharing a meal" thing is important.  And aking the BF to eat at work might be a little excessive - but maybe there is a compromise.  For instance - my parter, who is at her goal weight now, is practicing a vegan lifestyle for the time being as part of a detox.  I absolutley support this - it is a great idea.  She is also, because of the detox,  restricting her food in other ways (organic, fresh, low this that and the other thing) - BUT - I can't cook this food - I can chop vegetables - and clean up - which is my job now - but the point is - when I eat - I eat what she has planned - my other calories come when she's not around - because it's hard for her and she has a goal.  I know what she wants to do and I try to remove temptation.  I think every partner has the obligation to support the plans and hopes and initiatives of the other - within reasonable limits.  I think the OP's BF has to be proactive and support his partner's goals - how to do this in this case... small meal maybe... a calorie count limit... something... he can eat twice - once on his own and once with her... something....

I have perhaps a similar issue so I'll post this in case it helps:   I have come to realize that I am eating at night mostly to relax.  In fact, I have jokingly called it my end of day "carb coma".   The repetitive forkfulls to the mouth, the soothing and familiar  tastes, the physically tired feeling that comes with being overly full.   For me it's almost a ritual.   Ending the day with anything less leaves me feeling a little empty, quite frankly.   I am working really hard to recognize and deprogram myself of that impulse...  a sugar free juice bar or fudgical for "dessert" a few hours after a reasonable dinner really seems to help.    p.s.  I'm neither depressed nor unhappy.   Just a bit stressed out by evening from kids-hubby-dog-house-job.