Late Night Hunger

leaner

leaner

New member
I am down from 216 lbs. to 195 lbs. but my weight loss has slowed down.
My main problem has been late night hunger.

I started a journal to record my daily weight and everything that I eat, including the number of calories. I am trying to keep my calories to 1,800 per day. I usually do great up until night time. I keep my calories down to 1,800 but then between 8pm and midnight I can't seem to control my hunger. I usually start eating cereal or yogurt or fruit or even a turkey sandwich. This usually puts me over my calorie goal not to mention that I am trying not to eat after 8pm! I know that it is a bad idea to eat before bed. I am usually disappointed in my willpower afterwards.

Any suggestions? I have tried drinking water and green tea, but late night eating is my weak spot! Thanks.
 
leaner - i will tell you what worked for me and when i say worked i mean it really worked. After your last meal of the day when you know you do not want to eat anymore go into the bathroom and brush your teeth, floss, and use a nice strong flavored mouth wash. For me it goes beyond the fact that i have just brushed my teeth. For me it sends an almost subconscious signal to my brain that shuts down hunger or something. Ever since I started doing this i have not had a single urge to eat late night. I only eat 1800 calories a day just like you and I stop eating around 6pm and then it is right in the bathroom to brush my teeth, floss, and mouthwash. I hope it works as good for you as it did for me!
 
Hey Leaner, my whole weight loss / fitness journey started with late night hunger :)

Here's what I mean;
With my food addiction problem, I used to commonly eat 3000 to 4000 calories after 8pm ! I got by without too much suffering when I was younger, but about 9 months ago, my body started revolting ! My stomach was hurting SOOO bad, I didn't care if I was run over by a bus !

So, the first thing I did, was cut my late night food binge, and replace it with a bowl of bran flakes, strawberries, 1% milk, and some splenda (that still all I eat at night, to this day... oh, and now, 1 more scoop of whey protien). Tastes REALLY good (as good, and sweet, as a bowl of strawberry ice cream ;))
Sure, I could have eaten more.... okay... a LOT more. But it curbed the appetite a little, and boy did it help my digestion issues !

After about 5 or 6 weeks, I was pretty much used to it.

That's when I started going through, and fine tuning the rest of my daily diet.

Just remember.... it's okay to be hungry. Just not hungry to the point that you feel weak, or sick.

Peace,
Fish
 
iluvmy3js said:
leaner - i will tell you what worked for me and when i say worked i mean it really worked. After your last meal of the day when you know you do not want to eat anymore go into the bathroom and brush your teeth, floss, and use a nice strong flavored mouth wash. For me it goes beyond the fact that i have just brushed my teeth. For me it sends an almost subconscious signal to my brain that shuts down hunger or something. Ever since I started doing this i have not had a single urge to eat late night. I only eat 1800 calories a day just like you and I stop eating around 6pm and then it is right in the bathroom to brush my teeth, floss, and mouthwash. I hope it works as good for you as it did for me!
Click to expand...

im gonna try this:cheers2:
 
Not eating after a certain time everyday is not as important as the total number of calories you eat per day. You need to set rules about how many calories you eat all day. If you must have something to eat at night, you just need to eat less during the earlier part of the day.

If the tooth brushing thing works, great!

But there is nothing that says that late night calories are worse than calories during the rest of the day. It is the total amount of calories eaten every day that matters.

Frank
 
Sounds to me like you might not be eating some of the right foods during the day, at the right time. A piece of cheesecake may be 1800 calories, but isn't going to keep you feeling full the whole day, for example. Do you eat many small meals, or fewer bigger meals during the day? I feel fuller and have less desire to eat after bigger meals, others can control their hunger by eating smaller meals throughout the day, like grazing. Make sure you're getting enough protein and complex carbs, as they keep you feeling fuller longer. Simple carbs like white breads and cereals and white pastas and white rice don't keep you feeling full as long. If its a habitual thing, try eating a little less during the day, so you can fit your calories in at night. As explained, it really doesn't matter when you eat, its the number of calories that matter.
 
Thanks for the tips!

Thanks for the tips everyone!

I am trying to keep to 1,800 calories or less per day. I usually eat eggs and turkey in a whole wheat tortilla w/ salsa for breakfast, then a protein shake at noon and salmon and salad for dinner. I usually snack between meals with nuts, berries, fiber cereal, vegetables, V8 and yogurt. I drink water throughout the day.

I've been pretty good at keeping my calories under control. I write everything down. I think that I was so used to having an overpacked stomach that it began to feel normal.

When I do get late night cravings, it is like I can't stop myself from munching on something. It happens maybe once or twice a week but I think I can keep it under control. I drink lots of ice water. I think it will be a good idea to reserve some calories for a late night bowl of fiber cereal w/ some protein powder if needed. I tried that one night and it worked well.

I also tried the teeth brushing, which also worked.

I noticed another problem I have is with beer. I can not just have one beer. If I have a beer at a bar, while fishing, while playing poker at my weekly game or at a BBQ, then my calories are shot to hell. I can not have just one beer, it always ends up being four. I think the solution to that is stop drinking beer. I have started buying red wine and am having a glass at night with a small piece of dark chocolate for an occasional treat. I think that may be a better alternative.

I'm 5'11" and started my diet at 216 and am down to 195. I took a couple pictures at 195 so I will post them if I get the nerve or will wait and post them with my after shots when I reach my next goal of 175.

I would prefer to lift weights rather than get on my treadmill, so I think that I am gaining some muscle mass, even though I still have a lot of body fat to burn. Any advice on a home body fat test that is not too expensive?

Thanks for all of the advice.
 
I would say when you have the urge to eat at night, eat only vegetables. Cut yourself a giant piece of raw cabbage and eat it. Alternatively you can make vegetable soup. I eat vegetable soup of out of tomatos, beets, cabbage, green beans, carrots, and a few potatoes. A big bowl is only 100 calories. And with salt and pepper it tastes fairly good. Also, don't snack on things like nuts. 10 hazelnuts for example have 100 calories, and it's such a tiny amount that it won't fill you up.
 
I have the same issue. I work from 2pm-9pm, and I have my dinner at work at around 6:30, so by the time I'm home I'm a bit nibbly. The later I stay awake, the hungrier I get. I recently picked up some SF jell-o and SF ice pops, but really, a huuuuge bowl of veggie soup or just raw veggies helps.
 
The brushing your teeth thing works well.
If that doesn't work, try and eat something healthy before you get too hungry. Maybe time it to be 1/2 hr. before "super hungry time". Try to cut your hunger of at the pass.
 
iluvmy3js said:
leaner - i will tell you what worked for me and when i say worked i mean it really worked. After your last meal of the day when you know you do not want to eat anymore go into the bathroom and brush your teeth, floss, and use a nice strong flavored mouth wash. For me it goes beyond the fact that i have just brushed my teeth. For me it sends an almost subconscious signal to my brain that shuts down hunger or something. Ever since I started doing this i have not had a single urge to eat late night. I only eat 1800 calories a day just like you and I stop eating around 6pm and then it is right in the bathroom to brush my teeth, floss, and mouthwash. I hope it works as good for you as it did for me!
Click to expand...

I am going to try this. Thank you.
 
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