Eating at night aaarrrgggg!!

I can fight my impulses to eat sweet things during the day but being a life time insomniac I’m up a lot at night. Problem is I don’t seem to have ANY control over my impulses at night and even though i don’t like what the scales tell me I can’t stop grazing sweet things at night. Has anyone any advice P L E A S E 🥴🥺

[genkimonster]

I say eat something filling before bed that had helped me like an hour or two before bed eat something relatively healthy and stay off screens

[Elle2896]

I think mindfulness is a good place to start - keeping in mind, there’s no judgement in mindful eating. I really like some of Colleen Christensen’s videos and tips.

Here’s her introduction to mindful eating: youtu.be/i6_NaNW7XZA(Not working as expected?)

If you don’t especially like her personality, I recommend looking for other registered dietitian channels/blogs/books.

[QuirkyCookie]

This is an issue for me, too, beginning in the late afternoons. While my cravings and boredom still get the best of me sometimes, here are a few things that help. I finally decided for myself that the goal isn't to completely stop losing control eating sweets at night. Thats too much pressure. I'm happy now if it happens only a few times a week.

*Herbal teas

*Nice-cream

*Air-popped popcorn in a brown paper lunch sack (it's not the tastiest, but it allows me to munch away which is all I'm really needing sometimes)

*Don't buy the sweets (this doesn't always work, but it's success even if it only works half time time)

*Dark chocolate, at least 68% dark

*Movement while watching TV/Netflix/Hulu/pick your poison. This doesn't have to be exercise. Sometimes I fold laundry, mostly I stretch on the floor which BONUS also helps me sleep.

*Listen to a podcast. This alleviates boredom and loneliness. There are podcasts about binge eating and addiction to sugar

*Music. Dance off the craving. I feel like a dork at first and then, like magic, I don't want to eat.

*Don't beat yourself up when you give in.

[happyhermit]

For me, it helps to have a really clear boundary set beforehand -- not "only healthy snacks" but "nothing but water or herb tea before 9 am or after 5pm" (those hours work for me because I'm retired, but if you can say 2 hours, or even 1 hour, before your target bedtime, that's probably as good).

I say "nothing but water or herb tea" because I want nothing that affects my blood sugar levels. Going low-carb for dinner might be really helpful, too, for the same reason. More green veggies and lean protein, less pasta and potatoes. Fluctuating blood sugar wreaks havoc on the will power!

The thing about having a really clear boundary, too, is that if there's any wiggle room, I'll fall right off the edge. This way, there's absolutely nothing to think about, so it doesn't matter whether I have any will power late at night or not. The answer isn't "this but not that" or "a little bit," it's just "if it's after 5, NO."

It sounds brutal, and actually it started out as a Lenten discipline. But it has turned out to be a huge relief, and I've just stuck with it.

Good luck.

[Hopeful888]

I have the same issue with sugar. I love it too much. Recently found out eating a spoon full of coconut oil or adding the healthy fats to the diet curbs the sugar cravings. If I remember to do it on the daily....😃