Question:
How do you slow down the snacking at night

   — tinabeana (posted on June 22, 2009)

June 22, 2009
Well, you could remind yourself that that is what caused you to need wls in the first place. Snacking is okay as long as you don't eat food that is bad for you. Otherwise we won't get in all of our calories. Others might tell you that snacking is a sin, but that is the only way I can maintain my goal weight of 138 lbs and I lost 90 lbs with the RNY 3.5 yrs ago. So, you can ask yourself this: My body doesn't know what time it is, but am I eating the right food? Dieticians will say and I have been told this a hundred times, it doesn't matter what time it is what you eat. People always say don't eat late at night. Why not if you are hungry. You are just setting yourself up for a restless nights sleep, hungry all night and when you do eat you could eat a horse. So, these are some ideas to consider. My answer seems harse but honest. Hope this helps.
   — Kristy

June 23, 2009
Have something that is hihg in protien like nuts or cheese. This should help curb any hunger and still satify the need to munch with out hurting you since you are getting the protien you need. Also plan to eat more at night by eating less during the day.
   — trible

June 23, 2009
I have found that eating sugar free popsicles if I am watching TV a night are the answer for me. The popsicles I eat are are Fla-Vor-Ice light which have about 1/2 calorie so i can eat them all i want. The only place i can find them in the summer is at Rite Aid, but have went online to jelsert.com
   — susajohn

June 23, 2009
I could not stop snacking after dinner....so I decided to work snacks into my diet/calories daily by PLANNING my snacks on a schedule, GUILT FREE! (It doesn't always work out that way) I am a night owl and with dinner at 5pm and me up til 1-2 am, I am hungry every 3-4 hours...I gotta have something! So I keep a few healthy snacks that I look forward to every night...It's usually hard cheese/cottage cheese and fruit/ yogurt and fruit/ nuts and fruit/ soybeans/ soy crisps with hummus/ apples or celery and peanutbutter, etc...I cannot have baked sweets/breads, candy, chips in my house or I will not stop thinking about them till I eat them! SO I DON'T buy them...Occasionally someone brings something home that I should not eat and I cannot resist...So I make my family avoid large packages of chips and cookies, pies and such. We actually go to the bakery now and buy one or two quality desserts (muffins or a few cookies) for them and I might have a nibble of theirs (they don't like to share so that's good for me! LOL), but I don't have excess snacks laying around driving me nutso! I know me...I WILL EAT THEM! (Regardless of dumping) I have found that making a pot of tea (can use decaf for night) and sipping on that is a nice way to kill a few hours of thinking about snacking! LOL Brushing my teeth with super minty toothpaste when I feel out of control helps for a while too...Then I sit and floss my teeth and don't want to eat after that! Something about dental hygiene just makes you want to keep your teeth and mouth clean and fresh as long as possible! SO that REALLY helps me for a few hours...And when I feel out of control, on occasion...I just try my best with setting timers for 3 hours and making sure I have healthy foods in the house to choose from or I will often get in trouble and start baking or putting together a naughty treat. I know me! I don't know what triggers these bad nights...sometimes stress and sometimes I don't eat a good dense protein dinner. Dense protein and complex carbs are essential for staying full! And I am a big time soup and stew person...Those slider foods don't stay with you very long even though they are leaner usually...SO eating a roasted piece of chicken breast will keep you much more satiated for hours as opposed to a bowl of stew! But I love my soup and try to plan a dense protein snack for later... And don't drink with meals or eat other sliders that help wash dense protein out too fast...even sipping a little with meals is not a good idea! (I fight drinking with my meals almost every night!Constant battle for me) You must set limits, plan snacks, weigh and measure servings so you don't over eat, distract yourself from boredom, try drinking when you feel hungry because often you are just thirsty, go to bed early sometimes being tired makes me want to eat as well! Let the hunger stay for a while without feeding it immediately...Sometime you are REALLY hungry and sometimes it's head hunger...and sometimes you just want to get that old full feeling...I try so hard to only eat til I am satisfied rather than feel tightness and full...I now associate fullness with over eating and try to avoid it...I hope these things help you as well because it's so easy to gain weight by making even small bad habits...
   — .Anita R.

June 23, 2009
I am a snacker!!! It's my downfall! I'm new to these message boards, and just starting my lap band journey. Right now I'm on a 1400 cal diet to lose my 10% and I am finding if I have a cup of tea or sugar free hot chocolate at 9:30 p.m. that helps.. filling up with fluid seems to work now for me... plus realizing that the night snacking made me gain over 100 pounds! That'll usually do it! Good luck!! Lin from Watertown NY
   — LinnieJean

June 23, 2009
WOW!! All answers were helpful, and Anita R., I'm going to incorporate lots of your stuff into my lifestyle! Thanks to all of you. I am 20 days post-gastric bypass surgery, and have ALREADY sneaked a few low-fat, low-cal. pretzels in the night. Sigh...I've asked my husband to get them out of the house. He apologizes and says he thought they'd be okay because they (really) are very similar to soda crackers, which are recommended for stomach upset. Enough reason for me! lol He says he'll take them to work (they come in a LARGE plastic barrel-like jar!), but hasn't yet. My doc says one more week before soft foods (no, I did not puree the pretzels...lol! I feel so mad at myself, but am letting it go) and after a few days, FOOD!! I want some food!
   — Cattykit

June 23, 2009
P.S. I'm the pretzel woman, and I forgot to say I'm brand new on the boards, so to speak. My name is Cat E.
   — Cattykit

June 24, 2009
I dont really have an answer for you as I know I will have my share of similar struggles. I agree with much of the advice the ladies have written here especially our great buddy AnitaR who is the BOMB I must say. She keeps it real and let me tell ya that we soo need that now, because I know what I will face is going to be a definite struggle. I have not had the surgery yet but am constantly reading these to prepare myself for the journey ahead. Stay focused on your goals and do not crucify yourself if you slip here and there. That's how I plan to get through it and stay through it. Best wishes to yoU!
   — Marangelli O.