Random Poll: Where/when is your "danger zone?"

 Afternoons at work for me. That is when all the danger foods are present.  Work has been very busy and stressful this week, meaning no breaks for lunch or even to pee.  Today, I had ordered some chocolate covered strawberries for V-Day and ended up eating 4 of them since I did not have time to actually go get lunch.  

Weekends and evenings for me....unfortunately, I still fight the temptation to snack! In fact, I just ate two squares of chocolate! Damn you Valentines day!!!

My name is Jim and I suffer from Night Eating Syndrome.

Wikipedia says that people who suffer from night eating syndrome generally:

• Skip breakfast, and go several hours after waking before their first meal.
• Consume at least 25% of their calories after dinner. (Many sources would list this as after 9 or 10 pm; dessert is generally not included, if one is eaten.)
  • Late-night binges almost always consist of consuming carbohydrates. However, this eating is typically spread over several hours, which is not consistent with a typical eating binge as evidenced by other eating disorders. Episodes of late-night binge-eating can be repeated throughout the night, with many separate visits to the fridge or cupboard.
• Suffer from depression or anxiety, often in connection with their eating habits.
  • These night eating episodes typically bring guilt rather than hedonistic enjoyment.
• Have trouble sleeping in general; see insomnia.
  • Are more likely than the general public to sleepwalk.

Except for the sleepwalking, I tick off all those boxes pre-op, and I still fight those demons at nine months.  A lifetime journey fraught with temptation.

WOw... that has my name all over it. I haven 't walked in my sleep in years, but I do talk in my sleep :)

This is interesting, Jim. I too can mark off each line item except sleep walking.

I know, right Dana. When I ran across this while researching why I feel totally out of control at night, I found it pretty interesting. Supposedly there have been pretty good results using tryptophan supplements, so once that monster comes back, I'll be looking into it. For the time being, I'm still in control, but every day that passes by I can feel the monster growing.

Man, is this me! Thanks for your post!

The way I deal with it is to keep a box of Triscuits on the other side of the house, and I can only take 3 at a time. Then I nibble them very slowly. And I drink lots of Sobe Water. And I post here on OH using my iPad to keep me busy.

Works for me for the last 11 months since I got to goal weight.

My god, Jim....did they have MY picture next to that Wiki entry? (Oh, you wouldn't know....I removed my avatar since it EASILY identifies me and I didn't want it plastered all over facebook). I have been a sleepwalker since childhood; am a terrible sleeper (I fall asleep, I just can't STAY asleep), do not like to eat breakfast (I usually have something about 2.5 hours after awakening) , often consume the bulk of my calories after dinner.

FREAKY!! 

I am able to control my tendency to overindulge in after dinner noshing by planning a snack for that time AND having a nice decaf coffee or herbal tea to warm me.

Saturdays are often hard too since we eat out almost every Saturday evening. I cope by PLANNING my indulgences for that time and being pretty scheduled/routine with my eating on the other days.

Uncanny isn't it Marilyn? Since surgery, it's been a constant battle to force myself to eat in the morning, but so far I've been eating within an hour of waking.  Occasionally I'll go until 1pm or so without eating, but that is very rare.  Like you, I always plan a snack or two for after dinner because I tend to stay up fairly late since I don't sleep well.

Work, I seem to think that I need to 'reward' myself with treats. At home, I go all day and sometimes forget to eat...