Question:
Does anyone else eat during the night and not remember? "sleep eat"
I had surgery on Dec 4th 2006. (lost 38 pounds so far) Does anyone else sleep eat? I never knew that I got up in the middle of the night to eat until just recently. Apparently I am waking in the middle of the night and eating or drinking things and not realizing that I'm doing it until the next day. I have gotten up and eaten bread type things. I have gotten into soda pop and other foods. The only reason I even know that I did it is because I find the wrappers of popcicles (sugar free) in the garbage, or I wake to find a dirty dish in my sink and then I remember having done it. I have no idea why I'm doing it now when I didn't notice doing that before. I have removed the easy access food from my kitchen but its scary knowing that I drank soda or ate something that I'm trying to avoid eating. I don't do it during the day though so I hope someone has some good ideas on how to break that before it is detrimental to my weight loss. I'm also wondering how many times I've done it and not realized it. Maybe that is why my weight loss is very slow. — trenansac (posted on March 23, 2007)
March 23, 2007
Sounds like you need some therapy from a counselor. If you don't know you
are doing it, you need some help in finding out why. This is a self
destructive behavior. I am not sure if I believe that you don't know that
you are doing it, or if it a strong case of denial. Either way, if you
truly are getting up and eating something that you are not supposed to
have, then I would get rid of the offending things. The popcicle thing is
not a big thing since they are sugar free and is just fluids in the middle
of the night. Get rid of the soda pop so that it is no longer accessible.
38lbs is not extremely slow, either. Everyone loses at their own
pace. Are you getting your fluids and protein in during the day? Are you
getting the right amount of calories in daily? Are you exercising? Good
luck.
— Kari_K
March 23, 2007
Hi Trena. This strange phenomena of "sleep eating" has been in
the news in the past year or so. Most commonly it is associated with the
sleeping medication "Ambien" and other meds of its type. Not only
do people sleep eat, they have "sleep driven", "sleep
worked" and other similar behaviors usually done in the daytime. If
you are not on sleep medications, perhaps you already had a history of
sleep walking. Or, perhaps this is a lingering side effect of the
anesthesia you were given during your surgery. I think you have done the
right thing by removing the foods and drinks from easy access. You should
tell your doctor about everything out of the ordinary. My very best wishes
to you. Joan
— midaem
March 23, 2007
Trena, thanks for writing. Before wls, I did used to get up at night and
eat. I won't say I sleep-ate, but I would eat at night when I woke up. I
think that it is possiblel that you just don't think about it when you are
doing it, or you don't want to think about it and remove the accountability
of the situation at that time a day (who wants to think at night when you
want sleep right?) Anyway, here is what I suggest. Maybe lock your
bedroom door at night, or do something that will cause an additional step
in getting you from the bed to the frig. Maybe that extra step will cause
you to bump awake enough to be accountable for the moment. Force yourself
to go to the bathroom before you go to the kitchen at night, turn on the
light (yuck), use the toilet and force yourself to wash your face. Make a
deal with yourself that you cannot go to the kitchen during the night
without washing your face. If you wash your face, then you have a good
chance of walking up enough to be accountable for your behavior. Sometimes
(at 3 years out) I still like a snack at night if I cannot sleep, but I am
accountable for what I eat every day, and if I choose to do it, I have to
accept the choice I make. If some of these things don't help you, then
maybe you do need to consider visiting with a counselor. If you face this
head on, you can resolve it. It may be head issues or fears you have that
you need to seek help, but if you can face them yourself by yourself, you
can work on it and perhaps win a victory without outside guidance. Hope
this helps, take care. Patricia P
— Patricia P
March 24, 2007
It sounds like you are sleepwalking. Contact your Dr. and tell him or her
what you have shared here. I don't know much about this disorder but I
think there are meds to help. Good Luck. Norma
— njkbutton
March 24, 2007
I did the very same thing - I use to sleep eat all the time. I've always
been a sleepwalker but it got really weird a few years ago when I would
wake up and find the very same things you did - candy wrappers, etc. It
would drive me crazy, couldn't remember doing it at all. Once I even
cooked chocolate chip cookies - I woke up to the fire alarm going off and
finding some very black cookies in my oven. It was embarrassing.
My big fear with surgery was that I would continue this habit, but it seems
to have broken me of that. I talked to my surgeon before surgery and he
said if I still had that problem I should see a sleep specialist or maybe a
therapist. Maybe you should look into that. Have you ever sleepwalked? If
so, then there is something in your subconscious that you need to take care
of. I've been sleepwalking since I was a child, I use to walk out of the
house all the time. My dad is the same way, I guess I got it from him!
There are other people who do this, so don't feel like you are weird or
it's 'just in your head.' It's just a rare thing that affects some people.
I wish I could give you more specifics on how I've been able to overcome it
but I'm not sure how it happened. I know that before I never slept very
well and that contributed. Now that I'm working out and very active it
seems to have changed my sleeping habits and I sleep very well. Even my
sleepwalking has stopped.
Feel free to email if you want - I all too well understand how this can
affect you and derail your weight loss. good luck!
Pam
— [Deactivated Member]
March 24, 2007
Are you taking sleeping pills to sleep. Lunesta does have a side effect
that is called sleep walking, and even more dangerous is the sleep driving.
If not, how about calling your doctor and telling him. I am sure he can
guide you in the right direction. Everyone is different, and what everyone
else has experienced may not be the same thing you are.
— Diane C.
March 24, 2007
P.S.
Yes I take two different sleeping pills for chronic insomnia. Maybe that
is what's going on. I already removed all the easy access foods and I
don't usually keep soda in my house. I let my daughter buy some when she
bought a pizza. I know I'm doing all the right things regarding keeping
healthy foods in my house instead of junk foods. I really don't need to
see a therapist at this point. I was here trying to get feedback. I'm
glad that I'm not the only one that does it. I will look on the net and
read more about this strangeness. Thanks for all your responses.
— trenansac
March 24, 2007
It sounds like you are describing sleep eating. It's similar to sleep
walking. I suggest talking to your doctor about it... s/he may refer you
to a sleep clinic for testing or treatment. Besides the risk of unwanted
weight gain, an episode of sleep eating can be dangerous---injuries from
cooking knives, burns or fires from unattended/left on ovens or stoves,
choking. Take care of yourself!
— mrsidknee
March 24, 2007
Dear Treena,
This is a documented sleep disorder with no real fix. I have suffered from
it since 9 years of age. I have been to all sorts of doctors to no avail.
I am almost 5 years post rny. It stopped for awhile and then returned with
a vengence. I even have been in research studies for it with no answers.
Good Luck. If you come across any answers, please e-mail me.
— [Deactivated Member]
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