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Posts: 1,970
11/30/09 7:49 A

I agree I am a night eater too..especially when..haiz I have that thing going on..the hormones really controls me more than I could control myself..!!

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Posts: 409
11/29/09 6:48 P

I'm a night time eater.

I try to avoid it at all costs, but sometimes it gets the better of me. I alwyays wait at least 10 minutes before doing anything.

I find it's easiest to have *rules* about nighttime eating. I can eat vegetables to my hearts content, but no junk food. I try to eat the things that I've missed out on during the day - have I eaten enough fiber? enough protein? and try to fill in the gaps.And my First Response is to see if I can solve it with a liquid: I might be just thirsty and need a warm pick me up. I'll go for a cup of hot water with ginger, or a cup of warmed low sodium chicken broth.

If I just NEEEEEED to snack, I'll make a batch of fresh popcorn (home made, air popped).

Or, I'll go for a yogurt, and stir in a little honey.

If I'm STARVING, I'll make oatmeal, and spoon in whatever I'm craving most to make it either sweet or savory.

The goal is to limit calories, fulfill cravings, and not go crazy.

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Posts: 114
11/29/09 6:03 P

Hi

Since I retired, I love staying up LATE and then sleeping in LATE.

But I think going to bed before ten might help prevent some of my night time grazing.

And I like the sweet tasting kettle popcorn. I will give that a try.

I appreciate all of the input on this topic.

Linda

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Posts: 438
11/29/09 9:39 A

I can tell if I am really hungry by asking myself if I will eat an egg and 1/2 cup of hash browns. If I am really hungry, I run to the kitchen. I am all done with the snacking after that. Even if I am out of calories, 140 cal vs eating all night. Not a bad deal. I've struggled with the night time eating thing for years. Suddenly, this works for me. It's a relief. Keep trying to find your way. There are lots of terrific solutions here. Sandy

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Posts: 809
11/28/09 3:22 P

I've found that by eating meals at the right times throughout the day and eating protein with every meal helps. Distracting myself at night also works.
weightloss.suite101.com/article.cfm/night_
eating_syndrome

Posts: 35
11/28/09 10:47 A

Last night I was really hungry and wanted to grab something from Taco Bell (I rarely do fast food!) but I recalled reading recently that you can fill yourself up by eating high fiber cereal at night when you get hungry and know that you shouldn't be eating bad or snacky foods. So I resisted and instead, had Kashi high fiber cereal with milk. It worked! I hope that helps. Also, I absolutely agree that eating breakfast and having a heavier lunch is key! That's also worked for me. Best of luck!

Posts: 28
11/28/09 5:27 A

I have dreamed about it too if I am really hungry!

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Posts: 174
11/25/09 10:53 A

THECOOLESTSARAH:

I felt exactly the same way last night! I almost never crave sweet things, usually just salty, but I wanted a Dove chocolate and caramel thingy SO BADLY, even though it was the caloric equivalent of TWO CUPS of popcorn.

I was so worried I'd eat 5 of them if I ate 1. I ate just the one (hooray!) and scarfed down a bunch of popcorn right after to get the taste out of my mouth! :)

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Posts: 839
11/24/09 11:45 P

I'm freaking out. I'm so hungry and I need to eat something but I'm so worried about going over the edge and eating everything in sight that I feel frozen and I can't eat anything... :(

I'm going to find something. This was not so much a 911, but more of a non-emergency call.

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11/23/09 10:28 P

I stuggle with this but have found that if I eat lighter at dinner and heavier lunch, it's much easier. I try and have fish or chicken with veggies or salad for dinner, something like that. If I'm gonna have bread, rice or pasta I have to have it earlier in the day. This really helps. Something about the heavy carbs late in the day that makes me want to pig out at night!!



Edited by: ANDREA342 at: 11/23/2009 (22:28)

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Posts: 76
11/23/09 9:38 P

Try having a lollipop- it takes awhile to eat and will satisfy a craving for sweets!

Posts: 174
11/23/09 5:21 P

I crave salty things at night, and I find that microwave popcorn (the non-buttered kind) allows me to feel like I'm casually snacking while watching TV, but not take in tons of calories.

I really need that picking-at-something feel to wind-down in the evenings, and this is how I've found a way to accommodate that. I always save enough calories for it, but it's not so many that I starve the rest of the day.

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Posts: 195
11/23/09 3:58 P

If this is an option, try going to be earlier. I find if I stay up too late, especially wasting time watching TV, that's when I get the munchies. Sometimes eating is just a substitute for not getting enough sleep. Going to bed earlier can help kill the craving, and it also helps speed your metabolism which can help you lose weight.

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Posts: 14
11/23/09 1:35 P

I appreciate all of your inputs! I also struggle with nightime eating and have not found a solution yet. I even dream about it when I am not in a deep sleep. I have found that the more active I am throughout the day, the less I dream or crave food late at night. Good Luck

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11/23/09 7:26 A

Haylie, thank you for bringing up such an important topic. I've been struggling with nighttime eating, too. Just last night, I grazed my kitchen a bit. I didn't go over my calories for the day, but it still disturbs me to know that I'm capable of ruining an otherwise good (food) day in the twinkling of an eye. I'm going to use these suggestions, and I'm going to remind myself that it took time to build these bad habits, and it's going to take time to change them.

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Posts: 28
11/23/09 1:01 A

Thanks for all the great tips guys! I think I am going to try eating a heartier breakfast/lunch, because I find myself saving my calories for dinner, and it is just not going so well!

current weight: 312.8

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Posts: 835
11/21/09 8:28 P

I HAVE TRADITIONALLY HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS AS WELL. BUT I HAVE FOUND IN THE LAST 3 YEARS THAT EATING A HEARTY BREAKFAST KEEPS ME FROM EATING LATER IN THE DAY AND FROM HAVING HUNGER LATER IN THE DAY.

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11/21/09 8:05 P

I understand what you are going through. What stopped the late night eating, and pretty much the snacking in general was changing when I ate my heaviest meal. I eat my biggest meal at lunch. Then I have a lighter dinner. If I still want something later I opt for a half banana with sugar free non fat choc. pudding or celery with fat free cream cheese. Always does the trick. Also nonfat milk with sugar free choc. syrup fills me up and keeps the chocolate monster at bay. You just have to find what works for you. I find that if I am hungry at night, it is usually becuase I am too low on calories. So keep it all in check and try switching things around to find your way on your journey.

Good luck

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11/21/09 6:19 P

Haylie123,
I found that spreading meals out throughout hte day helps with late snacking and binges. For me, protein earlier in the day keeps me full longer. I make sure I add protein to lunch and get an afternoon snack before dinner rolls around. That has helped me a great deal. Don't let yourself get hungry during the day if possible. Make time for lunches.
Late nights I still like sweets, but am working toward sugar free jello versus the little candy bars and twizzlers that are still part of my snack attacks.

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11/21/09 6:08 P

Thanks so much for the encouraging words! I will definitely try the smoothie tip, it sounds delicious! I did great last night, I only had some yogurt and pretzels and a banana! Some days it is easy and some days it is hard! Thanks for also pointing out that this is a change that takes a long time, I sometimes forget that!

current weight: 312.8

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Posts: 25,134
11/20/09 9:17 A

Haylie,

Changing life-long habits takes dedication, determination, and most of all time. So many of us have made unhealthy habits such a big part of our life that it is going to take more than a few weeks to truly integrate the new habits into our lives so that we no longer have to think we just do.

If you look at this journey as a quick means to get to a certain number on the scale only to go back to the way you used to live, you will not keep it off for long.

Just by making small permanent changes into your life can lead to big results down the road. There is no place for perfection in this journey we call healthy living. One oopsie moment doesn't mean we have blown it for the day...we always have the opportunity to make healthy choices any time.

Also make sure you are eating enough during the day. Restricting calories during the day in hopes of having enough for dinner can lead to that downward spiral of binging. The number one reason most people end up in a binge is they allow themselves to get too hungry. Eating a hearty breakfast can be the key to keeping nighttime eating under control.

I hope this helps!
Nancy

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11/20/09 4:32 A

Of course the obvious reply is to say that you should eat a good but not too heavy dinner, with fibers that fill you up so you don't feel hungry an hour later.

But sometimes you just REALLY want something to eat late in the evening, I sure do! When that happens, I sometimes eat unhealthy crap, but mostly I make a smoothie. Take any berries you like and a banana and put them in the mixer with some ice cubes. You can put in some low fat yogurt if you want also. Don't make a gallon of it, it DOES contain calories even if it is "healthy calories", but one glass of this keeps me happy until breakfast. Try different flavours, different fruits.

Posts: 28
11/20/09 1:49 A

I have been doing the spark diet for 4 days now, and I just finished binging. I ate a banana, 3 muffins, 2 servings of pretzel sticks, and whole wheat pasta with red sauce!! I will say, it feels good to own up to what I just consumed though! I am so used to just hiding it away and being in denial!

Anyway, this is my first time to stray from my diet, and now I feel pretty crappy about it. I was lying in bed and all I could think about was how I wanted to get up and attack the kitchen! Does anyone know any strategies or ideas that could help me combat nighttime eating?

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