nighttime munchies

What do you do to turn your brain away
from those nighttime munchies?

-- Anita --

In article . net,
Irrational Number wrote:

What do you do to turn your brain away
from those nighttime munchies?

-- Anita --

I just took up crocheting again--I find that's a great way to keep one's
mind and fingers busy.

But, as a rule, I don't get night time munchies because I'm too busy
moving--picking up around the house, folding clothes, sorting and paying
bills, or hanging in the garage with DH.

I think sitting in front of the boob tube (or computer monitor) is
probably the worst thing a person can do when they're actively trying to
lose weight...

Amy

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On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 06:17:39 GMT, Irrational Number wrote:

What do you do to turn your brain away
from those nighttime munchies?

-- Anita --


Are you talking about waking up in the night to eat, or just eating
before bedtime?

I'm afraid I've never had the former problem, but the current way I am
eating and the way I hope to be eating for life, I eat every 2-3 hours
anyway... so it's not an issue, generally. If I'm due to eat and I'm
not in bed, I eat something. Keeps the metabolism firing.

Sometimes it is a very light something, like maybe a reduced fat
cheese stick or some cottage cheese, a few nuts and maybe a handful of
celery or baby carrots, but something gets eaten.

My advice is figure out roughly what calories you need to maintain,
drop it by around 500, divide that into 6 and from there, figure out 6
good meals, ones that have lean protein, healthy fats and veggies.
Have 2-3 fruit servings a day as well. Space your meals 2-3 hours
apart and then you'll have some meals for late evening.

Keeping sugars low, making sure you get good quality fats in moderate
amounts and eating plenty of lean protein really helps check appetite!

--
Cynthia
262/237/152

On Jul 16, 11:17 pm, Irrational Number wrote:
What do you do to turn your brain away
from those nighttime munchies?

Easy access to food within the comfort of your own home makes it easy
to snack at night. You could recognize that as a normal feeding
pattern, and adjust accordingly. Firstly, make sure that you're
stocked up on healthful items, so you aren't snacking on junk.
Secondly, take in fewer calories during breakfast, lunch and dinner to
compensate.

There is nothing necessarily wrong with nighttime munchies, as long as
you aren't taking in more daily calories than you burn. In some ways
it's better to sleep on a full stomach and then face the day empty. It
makes sense to have a full stomach and be digesting during a period of
downtime rather than during a period of activity.

Secondly, it may be advantageous to spread your eating around all 24
hours of the day rather than concentrate it all within a 10 hour
window. You can maintain a more even energy level that way. The
arguments are similar to those for eating a larger number of smaller
meals. People who say that night time eating is bad simply don't know
what they are talking about, and are merely repeating folklore.

I do quite a bit of eating in the late evenings, yet I am very slim:
26" waist to 6'1" height, visible abs. I need to refuel after a hard
day of working, running and lifting weights, and I don't want a full
stomach when I'm doing those things. Trying to get all those calories
from just three meals within a 12 hour interval of the day would
likely be counterproductive.

"A Ross" wrote in message
...
In article . net,
Irrational Number wrote:

What do you do to turn your brain away
from those nighttime munchies?


Anita, I have been unable to beat the night-time eating bug (waking up and
eating). I make sure to not eat too much during the day so that when I wake
up and eat -- with no restraint -- I will still be OK.

em wrote:

"A Ross" wrote in message
...

In article . net,
Irrational Number wrote:

What do you do to turn your brain away
from those nighttime munchies?

Anita, I have been unable to beat the night-time eating bug (waking up
and eating). I make sure to not eat too much during the day so that when
I wake up and eat -- with no restraint -- I will still be OK.

After the laundry is done, the kids are
asleep, the toys are put away, the dishes
are washed, the house is quiet, and I
finally have some "me" time, that's when
the munchies hit! I think I'll do the
spread thing, save one item to eat then
instead of eating it during the day.

Thanks, all!

-- Anita --

"Irrational Number" wrote in message
ink.net...
What do you do to turn your brain away
from those nighttime munchies?

-- Anita --

I avoid the nightime munchies a couple of ways.

1. go to bed.
2. drink water



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On Jul 17, 1:17 am, Irrational Number wrote:
What do you do to turn your brain away
from those nighttime munchies?

-- Anita --

Sometimes I think it's helpful to try to do an activity in the evening
that requires you to use your hands - like knitting, doing a puzzle,
maybe doing some busy work around the house. Try to make it a habit
or a little ritual for yourself! Also, try to spend evening hours
farther away from the kitchen, if you can, as this helps to reduce the
desire to "swing in" for a snack. Taking a bath is great evening
habit!

A great alternative to higher calorie snacks would be a warm
beverage. Warm beverages tend to fill us up without filling us out.
A cup of hot herbal tea, sugar free hot chocolate, or decaf coffee are
good option, and then perhaps treating yourself to a biscotti or a 100
calorie snack pack with that warm beverage. I really emphasize that
it's important to consider the caffeine content of what you are eating
too-- doing want to be up all night! For the same reason, it's good
to also limit the total amount of fluid before bed, as it certainly
isn't fun to wait up 6 times to use the restroom!

I would also say, it's helpful to double check and make sure you are
eating enough during the day! If we short-change ourselves on
calories during the daytime, it often backfires when we get home from
work, or in the evening hours before bed. Remember, do not go less
than 1200 calories a day for women, or 1500 calories a day for men!

Irrational Number wrote:

What do you do to turn your brain away
from those nighttime munchies?

Physical - I low carb. It reduces insulin output so blood sugar
swings only happen when I cheat.

Psychological - I decide that I have no interest in food once I
get into bed for the night.

Working the two issues together make both less difficult. Work
on only one and if the basic cause is the other no amount of
effort will work.

On Jul 17, 1:17 am, Irrational Number wrote:
What do you do to turn your brain away
from those nighttime munchies?

-- Anita --

I have the night time munchies as well. I drink lots of water and
decaf hot tea. It helps me stay full and keeps me away from the
kitchen. Good luck!