Question:
How to control night time binging?
I had my lap band in Jan '09 and had lost 40lbs. Last month I regained 3lbs and I am struggling. My biggest problem is that I'm a closet eater and I can control my eating during the day but at night I am out of control! I am not hungry but I constantly snack all night and it has caused me to regain some weight and I don't know how to stop the urges. It's like something takes over my mind and I cannot stop! Sometimes I think I'm going crazy. Please Help me! — oneboo30 (posted on August 6, 2009)
August 6, 2009
You need help.. The next time you want to binge.. come on line to this site
and look at all the success everyone is haveing... don't give in to your
cravings..HELP is here
— Pat M.
August 6, 2009
In a smaller degree I had this problem. I now keep cherry tomatoes in the
refrigerator AND I went out and found popcycle maker containers. I make my
chocolate fudge protein drink but I add a dropper full of stevia leaf
liquid to the 8 oz container and make pops out of it. Not only to I fill up
but my mind goes directly into decident mode because they taste so rich.
Hope this helps......
— karensaporito
August 6, 2009
You really should talk to someone about this... maybe your surgeon's office
could recommend a therapist for you to discuss your issues with food. I
have a lot of food issues and my surgery has been postponed at least 6
months so I can work with my nutritionist and therapist on the reasons that
make me want to turn to food even when I'm not hungry. The surgery is a
"tool", it will not magically stop the urges you have to want to
snack when you're alone at night. I also go to OA and would recommend you
try one of their meetings. Hope things get better... remember, you are
worth losing the weight, you are worth getting healthier!! Do not sabotage
your own success!!
— Clumsybarbie
August 7, 2009
Hi I emapthize with your struggle. I am pre-op and pray that I don't binge
eat at nght ater this surgery . I continue to go to therapy weekly and am
going to return to OA once I am thinner. When I had gone to OA as morbidly
obese, Program people told me that by the size of me, I was not working the
program so I left. I went to a $12k month long health institute and I
thought my battle with weight was over when I left. I did not get enough
follow up support so I regained the weight back. You can go (I may) to
another health institute affter surgery. Keep putting your questions out
here. Best wishes Loweeze
— auntweezie
August 7, 2009
You are experiencing head hunger in a bad way. Gaining control of this
devil takes a lot of soul searching. When you are feeling the urge to eat,
step back and look at the big picture, why are you wanting to eat, what
emotions are you feeling, write down how you are feeling and if you eat
something write down what it was and why you ate it and how did you feel
before and after you ate it. Once you reflect back on your journal a few
days later, you will start seeing a pattern of when and why you eat, and
then you can gain control and release the hunger monster. If this doesn't
help then perhaps seeing a PhD is something to consider. Before I had my
rny, I really had to sever my ties with food. I had what is known as
mental chat with myself and went over all the questions in my head why do I
eat, I eat to live, I don't live to eat. Hope this helps you through a
very tough phase, but remember it is only a phase. It will pass and you
will reach your goal(s) in life. Please feel free to email me if you need
any other support. I am more than happy to help you.
— Kristy
August 7, 2009
Thanks to everyone for your support and answers. I was crying so hard after
I left that post because I was feeling like a total failure. But seeing
your answers has helped a lot. I am taking it one day at a time and getting
active on this site is helping me so much to re-focus. So thanks again!
— oneboo30
August 7, 2009
I have the urge to eat at night often as well....feel as tho' if I don't, I
won't be able to get back to sleep...my usual is bread and peanut
butter...it doesn't happen every night, but when it does, it is powerful!!
— missingmanny
August 7, 2009
Therapy might help deal with the head hunger issues. Also Karen's Idea is
good. My friend makes her protein powder into ice cream. There are healthy
things you can eat instead that won't cause you to gain weight. Finding
others who are going through the same thing or that have been there is a
huge help. Find something to do other than snacking, read a book, do some
crafts, keep your hands and mind busy so you aren't bored and thinking
about food.
— mandajolyn
August 25, 2009
I am 5 1/2 years po and I have this problem as do many...I have learned to
manage my night binging by choosing good snacks and incorporating them into
my daily caloric intake...This way even if I do snack, I will not be eating
excess...I eat small, measured servings of yogurt, fruit, meat jerky, dried
wasabi peas, sugar snap peas, carrots, a serving of dry high fiber cereal,
cottage cheese, 1-2 oz hard cheese, sf pudding or jello....etc, etc...The
trick is to eat a protein or complex carb to get a satisfied feeling and
low fat/low calories when you just can't seem to stop the munching (such as
jello or raw veggies). It would be easy to grab the wrong snacks...so start
good habits so you are not tempted by old habits...and just cut back
somewhere during your day to allow for a little healthy snack attack after
dinner....I don't eat anything the last two hours before bed...Drink a cup
of herbal tea or water instead for flavor without calories...And if all
else fails...get up and brush your teeth with some minty toothpaste because
nothing but water tastes good after brushing! Hope that helps...
— .Anita R.
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