How do I stop the temptation to eat at night?

[Yondaime604]

During my weight loss, I have still had a huge temptation to eat at night. During the day I can contain it, but for some reason I always seem like I have to eat something before I head to sleep.

It can become frustrating eating 200/300 calories before I sleep, because I believe it's the worst time to eat before you sleep.

Any advice?

[phoenixr2]

Fill your time with productive activities to keep your mind active. Clean, read a book, listen to music, go over your finances, research something, etc. Also drinking water or tea can help keep you happy. A lot of times its just boredom and not actual hunger.

[Markwhit]

Why not save some calories to consume in the evening if you know this is when you are likely to be hungry. If you are in a defecit overall consuming before bed will have no negative impact on weight loss as you will still be in a defecit.

If I'm wrong someone please correct me. Good luck!

[NeroMaj]

I personally like to save about 1/3 to 1/2 of my calories for dinner and before bed because I am a huge night time eater.

[3DarkAngel6]

Simple lol, you say you can hold it during the day but not night, just switch em lol.. at night read a book and go to bed, drink plenty of water (kinda makes you feel full)

[Zzechmann33]

During my weight loss, I have still had a huge temptation to eat at night. During the day I can contain it, but for some reason I always seem like I have to eat something before I head to sleep.

It can become frustrating eating 200/300 calories before I sleep, because I believe it's the worst time to eat before you sleep.

Any advice?

The whole eating before bedtime is bad thought is bro science. Save some of your calories until later in the evening. This wont cause you to gain fat as long as you remain in a deficit.

[Yondaime604]

It's very tricky, because If I save during the night, there is a chance I might eat more then what I eat now before I sleep.

Tricky

[Zzechmann33]

It's very tricky, because If I save during the night, there is a chance I might eat more then what I eat now before I sleep.

Tricky

you what?

[OhioBoy1]

It's very tricky, because If I save during the night, there is a chance I might eat more then what I eat now before I sleep.

Tricky

I have the same problem it works for me maybe wont work for you save cals for night and drink some coffee when you wake up on an empty stomach it helps supress the appetite during the day and i am able to have a meal in the am hours



good luck

[hammerfelt]

Save some room for casein; whether it be powder or cottage cheese just before bedtime.

[matman1813]

It's very tricky, because If I save during the night, there is a chance I might eat more then what I eat now before I sleep.

Tricky

This all boils down to self control. Which means the only person who can stop you doing what you are doing is you.

[Serpentarius]

Easy, take that food in your hand, and when you are about to eat it, dont.

[jtbroussard]

At night I will have a chocolate casein protein shake with 2 tbls of peanut butter and be under my calories. Just account for it and no worries

[AncientYouth]

In the end it's all about deprivation to achieve a goal

At some point you just have to face being a bit hungry

[Brad805]

There is nothing wrong with eating in the evening if you are still within the daily goal. It is a myth that eating after 9pm, or whatever time, is bad. Constant fat loss is about maintaining a deficit on a weekly basis.

By the way, what you are experiencing is quite common. This is the time of day that we all tend to be exhausted and bombarded by things like the TV, social activities or other things. You have to learn to stick to the plan.

[creepingjones]

I drink a protein shake and have 1 serving of almonds almost every night during a cut. It totals 400 calories, 50 grams of protein and 23 grams of fat. I leave room for this, its almost like a dessert

[fat2fit4real]

Easy, take that food in your hand, and when you are about to eat it, dont.

Beat me to it. If you don't have the willpower to simply not eat it (all you have to do is do nothing. It's really easy) then there is an issue.

That said, the issue could also be solved by eating 2-300 less during the day and eating it at night.

[MrM27]

It's very tricky, because If I save during the night, there is a chance I might eat more then what I eat now before I sleep.

Tricky

No, it's not tricky.

You are basically saying you lack self control. It's your job to find it.

[xanderness828]

Make sure you're eating enough during the day. Eat foods that have a reasonable amount of calories but will keep you full like protein and fiber (fruits/vegetables). Eat a lot of protein during your last meal of the day and see if that helps. Also do things and occupy yourself to keep your mind off of eating. If you have the urge to eat just because you're bored (this happens to me a lot especially at night) maybe watch a movie instead, read a book, go out with friends, etc. Watching movies usually distracts me from the urge of wanting to eat cause I'm too hooked on the movie to think about food.

It also depends on how bad you want to achieve your goal man. Discipline. Just keep the goal in mind and remember what you're doing this for.

[Masochron]

Easy, take that food in your hand, and when you are about to eat it, dont.

Or consume less calories during the day so you CAN have something before bed. I know from experience that one can get cravings so bad that they HAVE to consume SOMETHING prior to falling asleep.

Sometimes it isn't as simple as putting it down and going to bed. When it happens to me, I just have something small (sub 300 calories) and I'm able to sleep.

But, on the flipside...Every time I have tried to simply not eat anything, I get restless and become completely unable to sleep.

Have something small, and if you need to cut some calories earlier in your day, do it. You'll feel much more comfortable and find sleeping much easier.

Sure, I COULD just knuckle down and put it down...If I want to spend the whole night tossing and turning.

Listen to your body. If you need a little something, have a little something.

Key word, "little". Low cal

[abergirl]

This is something I have a lot of trouble with too...

1) Make sure you're constantly drinking fluids; lots of water, hot tea.
2) Eat your dinner later in the night
3) As other forum members mentioned; redistribute your snacks and save some calories for before you go to bed.
4) Snack on low calorie foods like fresh veggies.
5) Go to bed earlier.

[Masochron]

Ah yes, good ol' water I forget to mention that!

Make sure to drink a lot of water, because not only is being well hydrated good for you, it helps stave off hunger as well.

Veggies make a GREAT bedtime snack. Steamed Broccoli is my nighttime snack of choice hah.