Nightime snacking..getting the best of me

How do you avoid the nightime snacking thing.  It gets me everynight and I get so mad when I give in to it.  Nothing seems to be satisfying so I eat a bunch of different things, feel guilty then go to bed.  I have tried a shake after dinner, eating dinner later etc.  But it is still there.   Any suggestions?   Thanks everyone!

Keep with the shake after dinner and maybe lay out some things that you don't feel guilty about snacking on: jerky, cheese, yogurt, etc.  This shouldn't be a guilt trip, just know yourself...speaking from one grazer to another.

--gina

I have that problem too....

So I've been making a hot cup of tea...with my tummy full of liquid, it's hard to fit anything else in.

Mine is about over when nighttime comes.  I start while cooking supper.  I try to have a late afternoon snack and most times that helps but not always.  I nibble while cooking, a bite of the ground beef as it cooks to go in something else, something like that.  Last night we had sausage and beans.  I had turkey sausage to go in for me, but ate at least an ounce of the beef while it was cooking, then ate mine also.  Mine is usually related to meat, I think, or cheese.  Which is weird because that is primarily what I eat anyway so you wouldn't think I would crave it.  I do better when I can cook and eat when I am ready instead of waiting for the family.
After supper, I try to have something planned to eat or another protein drink in the plan.  I also do better when I have chocolate calcuim chews available to grab instead of something else.  I'm out and will pick some up tomorrow at my Dr appt.  No where close to buy them.
Interested in seeing the other responses.  I know early out, and while on the pre-op Optifast, I just said no and didn't snack.  Wish I had never allowed it back into my life.

My sweet tooth has been hitting me bad at night, I have been eating the edy's SF fruit pops to help with this and just recently found edamame, for me it keeps my hands busy pulling the bean out of the shell and saw someone else bakes them so they are crunchy. Good Luck the snack monster ha**** us all at one point or another.

This is a tough cycle to break. My late-night eating sometimes goes into waking up and wanting to go eat.
I have a craving for salty things at night, so I set out just one serving of mutligrain crackers [or something like that] and try to only have that one serving. Many times it works....about once or twice a week it doesn't.

Ask  yourself, what is my need at night? If no food is really satisfying you, then I'd look into why I need to eat at night. Is it just habit or is there a need or emotion there I'm not willing to look at?

I tend to eat at night from habit, but sometimes I just want to eat more even though I know I don't need it! Frustrating ..

Hang in there!

I struggle with this too.  Sadly, I have not lost my sweet tooth (although it may be marginally better) and always want something sweet after dinner.  Sometimes the sugar-free jello mousse does the trick, sometimes the chocolate calcium chew does, sometimes sugar-free instant cocoa does it.   But if there's none of that around and I'm seriously jonesing, then I start getting into cereal with milk, popcorn, etc.... yikes!  I HAVE found that a half-cup of cottage cheese usually suffices.

As you can see from everyone's response, it is one of the hardest behaviors to manage,  please be gentle with yourself.  I have accepted that managing the impulse is a lifelong mission.  Some nights, I pull it off, some nights, not so much.  Here are few suggestions that have helped me:

(1)  Eat enough at dinner and choose something you really enjoy
(2)  Get rid of trigger foods (for me, that was shredded parmesan cheese for melting)
(3)  Plan to have a yummy snack at night (for me, a fudgsicle or SF pudding usually does the trick.  I will eat two if necessary)
(4)  If applicable, make your morning protein shake the night before and drink a half a cup
(5)  Say to yourself that you will check in after 10 minutes and get something else if you still want it
(6)  Distract yourself:  post here, call a friend, read a book or magazine, dance to a favorite song, get ready for the next day.

No magic bullet but lots of tools.  Just know we are there with you every night, rooting for you!
Amy
 

I plan a snack or even two after dinner and just include it in my calories for the day.  I"m usually not very  hungry in the morning but I try to eat a light breakfast but that gives me more calories I can eat at night.

Then I try to drink a whole lot in the evening and then keep myself busy with something.  Crocheting works great because you  need both hands to do it so you cannot eat at the same time.

I too have that problem and have found if I make decaf coffee and use my protien powder in it it fills me up and I don't want anything else. Since its decaf coffee it doesn't keep me from sleeping. Sometimes I just go to bed early so I want "graze".

Good Luck! Brenda