UGH! 3 nights of badness...

The last three nights I have gone down stairs and eaten potato chips after hubby went to bed. They were baked but I don't think that matters when the serving size is 11 chips and I ate about half of a bag! UGH. I don't think I'm getting close to my period yet I just had it before I went to Mexico. UGh. I can't think of a logical reason to why I'm doing this. I'm great during the day. Loging all my calories in my notebook and being careful. Then night time comes and I lay down and am wide awake.

Any one else have trouble like this. Its like I turn into a robot! I know I shouldn't eat it and I kick myself for it and then I eat 1 or 2 more before putting the bag away.
And I wasn't even hungry!

This is my first posting, but I receive a lot of inspiration from just reading the posting board.

I am a midnight snacker myself and go through periods of time where every night I wake up at about the same time and want something sweet, salty or just anything. I have found out that I do this when something is missing from my diet. For me, it is calcium (mainly milk).

Are you getting the vitamins you need to sustain you through your day?

My advice is hold on the best you can. Distract yourself whatever. Every time I have an urge that I dont act on it gets easier the next time. After I successfully resist I know that I am capable of resisting and it gets easier. There are some foods, mostly carbos that I can not eat in moderation.I totally used to do to the robot thing, I wouldn't even enjoy or taste what I was eating. I cant have them around I cant take one bite. I know that feeling of messing up and feeling horrible about it. I just have to move on, tommarrow is another day. Everyday is an oppurtunity to make better choices. I believe that everyone is capable of change. Good Luck!

I have never had the problem of getting up in the middle fo the night to eat so not exactly sure what to tell you. My only advice is GET THE STUFF out of the house!!!! Or if you have kids and a hubby that eats it give yourself a seperate cabinet with just your food, not with the junk food and maybe you would be less likely to eat it. Its all about having the will power to say no. Try not to eat it tonight, if you findyourself awake, open a book and start reading, it puts me to sleep! once you beat the habit of going to get something it will be easier to fight everytime. Its about a lifestyle change and those chips at night arent going to help you no matter how much you workout you are not going to feel good until you break that habit! I know you can do it- all you have to do is do it.
add me to your friend list- email me if you want. everyone on here is awesome and great support. Someone is always ready to be a friend.

Sometimes when I try to fall asleep, I can't, because I'm hungry. Cooked oatmeal with warm milk works very well, and I sleep the whole night. Now, even a half serving is enough.

I have read that popcorn at night helps you sleep. Dont know why, I will look for the article. I know it was in fitness magazine so they may have it on the website.

Chips are my biggest weakness. I use to fix a nice garden salad and use Doritoes (sp?) to scoop it up...LOL.

I also use to munch at night. Looking back, I think I wasn't getting enough to eat during the day, thus, when night came I just couldn't resist anymore.

Now, I don't buy any chips...not even the 'fat-free' chips. And if I feel like 'munching' at night I snack on baby carrots.

Good Luck!

I have the same problem, well not after going to bed, but right before bed when im usually watching tv. I LOVE to munch. I've found that if I buy the snacks that are portioned out for me, I know I'm only eating 100 calories. I love popcorn and chocolate! So I buy the mini 1 serving popcorn bags that are only 100 calories and they have it in the sweet/salty kettle korn too!! I also buy Nabisco's 100 calorie snacks, or sugar free jello pudding cups. I eat very healthy all day...fruit, salads, veggies and then allow myself to munch on these treats knowing exactly how many calories are in them! I do agree that munching on grapes or carrots is bettter, but sometimes i just want sweets! This seems to work for me, hope it helps!!

I think the big problem with this kind of overindulgence is, that if it goes on for several days it's very hard to get back on track. At least that's what happens to me.

You can have snacks ready for yourself. I like to have a little cup of diet chocolate pudding with some cool whip free on it. I prefer the cooked pudding rather than the instant and make it with skim milk & put it in 4 little tupperware containers. It's cheaper than buying those pudding cups. I also make real cocoa with Splenda. It tastes like it's richer than it is. After all, there's only so many carrot sticks a gal can crunch! For salty snacks, I divide them up into servings in those snack size zipper bags and keep them handy, but not too handy.

The next day you just have to firm up your resolve and move on. I'll tell you what helps me the most - having some protein for a snack after supper instead of something sweet. Last night I had a slice of turkey breast and tonight there's a thin slice of roast beef waiting for me. A hard boiled egg works too.

Thank you all for your support and ideas!
I don't normally keep so many chip in the house but they were for my son's birthday party that is today. I thought I'd be smart and buy ahead of time....not so much as I had to go buy new chips! Oh well. Back on the wagon.
I was good last night. No munching. I was too tired to get out of bed, so that helped! LOL
I also think part of the problem is that I don't eat in the morning. Someone mentioned that. I'm not a breakfast person never was. So its hard to make myself eat somthing in the morning when I don't wake up hungry (even if I am good the night before).

Thanks again!! I have to go get ready for this party!

Hi! Let's face it... we are going to snack. It is how you do it that matters. Let's exam the positive - First, you have to go down stairs and climb back up that's good - your moving. Also, they were baked. That's better than the greasy, yucky chips! Your body was probably craving something; go back and check your food log for the day. If you know you are going to snack, save some calories specifically for that. The voice in your head telling you to go snack is very convincing; however, you literally need to talk to yourself outloud and force yourself to make 1 good concious decision to snack on something more healthy like fruit or veggies. Each time you do that, it will become easier. Remember 1 food choice at a time. Give yourself a cheat day. Tell yourself no chips today, so I can have them Saturday or Sunday (at my son's party)... whatever. If you have to have those BAKED chips on a non-cheat day, force yourself to count 1 serving out of the bag, put the bag away and walk back upstairs. If you want more, you have to walk back down and get another serving. Suggestion: Salty - gold fish crackers are baked 1 serving is 55 crackers (that's a lot of crunching) 150 calories (I ran out so I'm not sure of the fat count - not much); Sweet - Quaker fruit and oatmeal bars (low sugar ones - can't tell the difference from the others) toast one (YUM) 130 calories 2.5 gram fat; both go nicely with a cup of herbal tea 0 cals or Swiss Miss no sugar added cocoa (w/ water 60 calories). Are you doing something when you want to snack? Most times we associate doing something specific with snacking, like watching tv. Then, when we turn the tv on our mind tells us, "time for a snack". Must break that habit! If you are going to bed and your stomach is grumbling and hurting -it needs something. These are learned behaviors, and we have to un-learn them and learn good ones! Being accountable the next day may help too! If you have to tell someone that you ate 1/2 a bag of chips the night before, it may keep you from eating them. Put it in your mind as your deciding to snack that you'll have to come here and face the music if you over do it. I hope this helps!! Hope the party was great!! What did you eat!!??

good job mrs K! keep it up!

I don't think your eating enough during the day. Are you really hungary?? If not then i suggest leaving a couple 100 calories for the night time. I have the same problem. I find if i get into my bedroom and stay there, with my water bottle i resist it. Talk yourself through it and stay positive. Is there something else on your mind? Try to eat enough during the day, and you will find you will be ok. Good luck.

I think the biggest reward is getting through a night without eating anything after dinner. I am so proud of myself once I climb into bed because I know that's the end of the day and I made it all the way through. Keep pushing because once you make it through, it is 10 times better then that stupid chip.

I know exactly what you mean...I threw away all the chips (4 large bags) in the house and ...all the candy and cookies... it felt good. If it's not in the house...you cant eat it, right?

There is a lot of good advice and tips here. My son has his snack cabinet with chips and cookies. My wife and I have our own cabinet with low fat popcorn, crackers, rice & popcorn cakes and other low fat/cal snacks.

If you dont have to keep the chips and stuff that temps you in the house, then don't. I have to keep some because of my son. But it has its own place and I forget that it is there.

Wow! Thanks guys!
I know my snacking isn't a hunger thing. More habbit triggered. My worst habbit is that sometimes I eat nothing until around noon or 1pm and I know I shouldn't. I think it screws wtih my system, okay I know it does. SO since my serious snack goof I have tried to make sure that I get downstairs to wiegh myself right away in the morning and then go eat something weather I want it or not. It has helped.

As for my son's party; it was a Pizza party. So yes I did have a total of 4 pieces of pizza but I avoided the chips and had a half of a diet pop. Later when then kids had gone to bed and the friends were still here playing cards I had two bottles of water and 4 Clementine oranges to avoid the munchies. I think I did pretty good. Plus I practically force fed them the chips that were left that would tempt me. LOL

Thanks for all the tips and sharing!

You might have associated eating food and a full stomach with falling asleep. I know if I have trouble falling asleep I tend to grab a snack as well.

Instead of a snack, try drinking chamomile herb tea next time. It's naturally caffine free and helps you relax thus falling asleep faster.

I went through something like that (wake up at night hungry) - try drinking a small glass of skim milk and see if that will help. However, don't beat yourself up - we all go through high's and low's (have our off days). The important thing is to get back in form the next day and NOT give up.