Night Eating & Hot Protein

Like a lot of us, I am a terrible night eater!  10 PM just seems to be another meal time for me.  To make it even worse, I have terrible insomnia.  I take Ambien to get to sleep, but wake up again between 2 & 3.  Lately, I've been eating as I try to read myself back to sleep. I know I've got to stop this now!  I thought I would try having a protein drink at 10.  I'd like to try it hot, hoping that will help me get to sleep.  A while back there was a string of how to make hot protein, but I can't find it.  Could you please share, again, your favorite hot protein recipes with me? Does anyone have any other ideas of how to stop this night eating? Michele

HI Michele, I don't know if I could call mine "night time eating." I was into 24/7 eating. I had terrible insomnia too. It's much better now. I was diagnosed with Restless Legs Syndrome and now take a medication for it. I simply could not stay in bed. What would I do? I'd get up and head to the fridge for comfort. Carbs of course. Back to bed, back to sleep for maybe an hour if lucky and then back up over and over.  Prescription sleep aides do not work for me. The thing that works best is Tylenol PM. It has benedryl as well as Tylenol. I take two about an hour before bedtime. Don't know if it's all in my head or not but it helps a lot. I also keep sugar free butterscotch candies on hand. Sometimes I just "need" something in my mouth. That occupies me, kind of like a pacifier I guess.  If I do absolutely think I have to have something I have a protein shake. I've been drinking Champion Pure Whey Chocolate since right after surgery and still like it. It dissolves quickly and completely by just shaking it with water. I pour it over crushed ice. Don't know if you can heat it or not. . . . Best wishes, Karen C

I take a tylonal pm and go to bed. Im not a night person so Im usually in bed by 10. My tough time is between 5 - 7 pm. My DH doesnt get home until 6 then wants to relax a little and we dont eat dinner until  7 - 7:30. I usually drink a bottle of water and a couple cups of tea. You could try that sleepy time tea, that works for me. Debra

Hi Michelle, Everything I have been told is you cannot really heat protein powders really hot, it changes the consistancy of the protein making it thick and gritty ( know this from personal experience), that said, I too experience nite-time "cravings" mine seem to be sweet rated...My trick to beat the craving and fill the void : Sugar-Free Protein Hot Cocoa 1 packet diet swiss miss 1/2 scoop choc protein powder 1/4 cup refrigerater cold hood carb countdown choc milk 1 tsp sugar free davinci kalhua syrup 1 packet splenda 8-10 oz boiling water a squirt of fatfree reddiwhip sprinkle of cinnamon Mix swiss miss, protein, milk, syrup and splenda with a small wisk in a cup until it all dissolves togething into a thickish liquid...add boiling water...Squirt with reddiwhip...Sprinkle with cinnamon...ENJOY I think this way works with the protein because the icecold milk counteracts the boiling ho****er somewhat and takes away the problem of the protein powder changing texture...Anyway it tastes really yummy and works great on my cravings

I have noticed some bad night eating habits lurking too... THIS SEASON however Pomigranites are in season... To curb my munchies I break one open and it takes me all freeking night to suck the juice off the seeds, all for 140 calories.  Its not stopping the habbit as I should, but it is making sure what I am eating is not too many calories... and is actually down right healthy.  GOOD LUCK...

Michele,

Have you found that the ambien is an appetite stimulant. I would take an ambien around 10p and wake up stark raving hungry at around 3a. I haven't taken it in about a month, and I'm sleeping through the night, and have cut the night eating tremendously.

 

Michele, Let me first start by saying Ambien may have been my downfall to begin with. In 2001 I had a stroke. I was unable to sleep for fear I may not wake up. Dr put me on Ambien and I found myself waking after 3 hrs and eating in the middle of the night, My weight at this time and all my life was never higher 120. On the Ambien I gained 30 pounds the next visit to the dr within 3 months and same thing happened the following visit equaling 63 lbs within a yr. I was out of my mind with concern and since I was in a wheelchair unable to exercise and I was so upset. After WLS (2005) I knew I needed my sleep and started back on Ambien and saw this same pattern(eating in middle of night) and not being aware of it...shopping online etc and not remembering any of it and sure it was not me doing it but I needed help sleeping and exhausting myself with workouts and taking care fo my disabled husband wasn't making me sleep, it was making me nervous and worried and sleep was still only 3 to 4 hrs tops with Ambien so I asked my dr to switch my sleep meds and we were reluctant since I don't do well with meds (allergic reactions). He switched me to Prosom and I have been fine. It has been 2 yrs  so its time to make a change again. I have tried to sleep without meds and still can't (insomnia all my life). I think its mostly due to my disabled husband  and recently in June having a heart attack needing surgery 4 times in 2 months but I still need my sleep so I do what I need to.  I don't keep anything in the house that will make me gain weight but I do one thing that  may help you plus I get in alot of protein if I didn't make 68 grams for the day. I have a "no carb" Slimfast (20 grms of concentrated whey) with a scoop of Unjury Unflavored whey protein (20 grms isolated whey) and take my calcium and vit D at this time...it really helps for some reason, last night I slept from 12 to 9AM only waking to go bathroom once. Good luck and let me know if you try this...

I like Walker Diet Cappinco.  I hea****er one minute in my microwave.   It is just warm.  It does not disolve completely, but with a little stirring, it is okay.    I only use one scoop (directions say 2 scoop.) in a small cup.  It is Good. I take benedryl to help me sleep some nights.  I would not take the Tylenol PM unless you need it for pain.   

I agree  with the others drop the Ambien!!!!!! I took it for a few weeks and my husband started calling me Ambien girl ! I was eating and doing other things and then forgetting about it!! Call your doctor and find another sleep agent if you need one!! I don't use a prescribed drug anymore.....occassionally a Tylenol PM or benadyrl. Good Luck!!

Here is my experiance taking ambien. I woke up in the the middle of the night with my mouth full of ceral, and one arm wraped around the ceral box, and the other hand in the ceral box full of ceral. I was in the bed. I don't remember getting the ceral out of the cuboard or anything. Before that happened, I woke up in the night staggering around in my hallway. I stoped taking it before anything else happened.

Buckeye Gal