Question:
Help me to break the night-time eating habit!
I am over 3 years post op. Very happy. I lost from 269 to 125 and am now at 135 (a much better weight for me than 125!). I am trying to break my horrible habit of night eating. I've always liked to eat at night and I started doing it more when I was pregnant post-op to get in enough calories. I can eat great all day, but at night...forget it! I know it's really an emotional kind of habit. I've been trying to do some dry Special K so that at least it's not too bad. Anyone have this problem and have some suggestions for healthy night snacks or breaking the habit? Thanks!! — emilyfink (posted on September 5, 2005)
September 5, 2005
I am two years post op, and the first thing that I see as a problem, is not
the late night snacking but what you are snacking on. Special K, is a
ceral full of carbs.
I eat without protein shakes and bars now, but I look forward to eating a
chocolate protein bar for a late night snack. It only has 100 calores and
20 grams of protein and I get the EAS Advantage chocolate/carmel, peanut
butter crunch or chocolate crunch, I love eating the protein bar with
alittle popcorn for fiber.
It sounds like you need to re-consider your snacking choices, I have been
able to maintain my weight and snack in the evening. Remember, carbs are
going to make you hungry in an hour, then you will want to snack again, if
it is the hand to mouth motion that you are missing drink water.
— cindy
September 5, 2005
Hi Emily. I can sympathize. I was NEVER a night time eater until just the
last few months...once dinner was over, I never ate another bite until the
next day. But now that I'm two years post op, I find that I'm having to
work really hard to not eat at night. Don't know what that's about because
I do not ever eat a lot of carbs. Dinner is always protein, then veggies
then sometimes a bit of fruit. I absolutely avoid "white" stuff
so mine isn't triggered by carbs and it's not because I'm bored. I've got
way too much to do to be bored, and I'm the most stable I've ever been
emotionally so it's not emotional. I think it's just one of the differences
that happen to us after we have this radical surgery and regardless of how
good water is for us, sometimes drinking just won't get it.......I need to
eat! So, I work really hard at making sure I eat a very dense protein when
I get the urge to eat in the evening and I absolutely don't keep stuff in
the house that would be too great a temptation. If I want something that's
a treat for me, I'll have one half a peanut butter sandwich on low carb
bread with some sugar free strawberry jam. Not too much damage calorie
wise and it does fill me up and I go happily off to bed. I do agree with
the earlier poster though. If I ate cereal, I'd be back in the kitchen
within an hour hunting something to eat and popcorn pretty much does the
same thing to me so I don't have it often either. My suggestion would be
to switch to some cheese and nuts and maybe get some of the low carb
cereals to give some crunch and try that for awhile. Measure out what
you're going to eat and sit down to eat it. That always seems to slow me
down. Good luck in finding a solution that works for you!
— scbabe
September 5, 2005
2+ years post-op here and still need shakes to fit in the protein. I too
have the evening monster. I think we all need to find what fills the void
without the excess calories. Some of just eat at night, others don't. I
found that out many years ago. I don't think the night eating has anything
to do with WLS at all. Anyone out there with some good food ideas to help?
— Missy H.
September 5, 2005
I guess its not if you eat at night or not. Its what you eat. I guess I get
this from the old atkins diet, but I eat pork skins. Very light and you can
eat enough to make you feel as if you ate a lot. I also eat prunes for
vitamins and fiber. Lay off the special "Carbs" K and eat
something else. All the cerals are loaded with carbs. Well good luck!
— Kevin R.
September 5, 2005
I use protein shakes to beat off the night munchies. They're not TOO bad
for me, but if attacked, I will drink a protein every half hour if I must.
I can't absorb all that protein, can barely even hold it, but if it keeps
my hands outta the "cookie jar" (whatever it is that night) then
it's worth it. It may or may not end the war for awhile. But I've come too
far to let the night munchies put me back in my size 28's. I do my
stndard 6 protein drinks per day (180g) and then if I must do more, I will
do them. I don't care. *I* will win that battle, not the munchie monster.
I hope if I win enough battles, I will win the war. Of course, I know my
disease of morbid obesity is permanent, but as long as *I* have anything to
say about it, it will remain in remission.
— vitalady
September 5, 2005
Hello sister snacker!
I'm right there with ya. I've always been a night eater.....so now I
keep a jar of dry roasted peanuts next to my chair. It only takes a few to
fill you up, it's protein, and also kills the carb craving. At least for
me. Pick a nut, any nut! I'm 11 months out and went from 245 to 157....am
still going down, a pound or two a week. Hope to stop around 140. (or
139, just to sound good!) I think losing more slowly has helped me adjust
to the new me.
I wish the very best for you!
Hugs,
~christi in Virginia Beach
— christi_in_VA
September 5, 2005
HI ALL!!
I am soooo glad I read this post! This is so scary to me... the night
munchies! I am so glad I am not alone!
I do not eat much during the day at all!
I eat peanut butter for breakfast..... just that no bread... and lunch...
usually a soup or protein shake.. and night i eat whatever i want...
staying away from the white stuff b/c it really does nothing for me but
make me feel ill!
Yet after that ... as i sit and relax to watch TV.. i want to
"munch"!
SO..... I found something that is quite good, and healthy... I hope you all
enjoy this... it is a LIFE SAVER for me.... AlthoughI still feel like I
should not be eating at night... but I think I need to get more protein and
caloriess in (BTW.. I am 14 months post-op down 106)
My snack is called "EDAMAME".. or Soy beans.
I buy them frozen usually you can find them in the organic section. I
drizzle a little garlic oil on them and add some sea salt or kosher salt...
you can use olive oil or sesame oil or peanut all as well.. I just LOVE the
garlic oil! :)
i put them frozen in the Micro for about 6 minutes, and there ya have it...
FULL of protein !! soooo good for you!! and you have to kinda suck out the
beans from the pod... you do not eat the pod, so it takes longer to eat,
you go slow, and enjoy every bite! They also make them de-shelled, but I
enjoy the task to getting them out of the shell... like i said it takes
longer and that is better for me!
I hope this helps.. and if anyone wants to email me about this more..
please feel free!
I still get the creeps from the night munchies.... but if I am gonna do
it... This is by far the best thing to do it with!
God Bless you all!! I hope to hear back for you and let me know how you
like the edamame!
— angelina1970
September 5, 2005
Hi, I hope this helps. It worked for me. I was a size 22 now I am size 4.
After I finish my supper around 5:30, I wait about an hour, then I eat a
Strawberry yogurt, an hour later I have a protein shake then the BIG
SECRET.............(DRUM ROLL PLEASE) half hour before bed I peel and
slice an apple, slice SHARP Cheddar cheese (about 7 narrow slices)and a
hand full of pretzel sticks( don't eat them, just suck on the salt). That
satisfies me to NO END. I go to bed, go to sleep and sleep all night with
NO MORE of the HUNGRYS and I normally have stayed at the same weight or
maybe have dropped another half pound the next morning.( I float between
129 and 126, have been for the past 7 months) I have been doing this now
for the past 9 or 10 months and it works for me. Hope this helps you.
— cindirella
September 5, 2005
It sound like you are for sure not alone in this matter. & yup just
change your choice in the eating at night. I am a
year & half out & yes I have the same problem. It seems to get
better if I put in shakes for snacks instead of carbs.
Like the ones before me stay away from the carb snacks they are a killer.
You might wwant to add some proteind earlier in the day as welunchies don't
get so bad at night. You don't seem to be eating enough earlier to get you
past the times you start to slow down. Hang in There & hoope all of
are suggestions help you out of the maze.
Marilyn, the Bearlady
— Marilyn C.
September 6, 2005
Besides changing what you eat, try turning the light on. I know this
sounds crazy, but when the light is off, the sensation of eating is more,
well the best word I can come up with is sensual (as in sense pleasing).
The food tastes better, smells better, because one can't see. Turning the
light on makes things more ordinary.
— Jenny X.
September 6, 2005
Greetings, fellow late night snackers! My thing has always been the craving
for something crunchy at night. Here's an idea that was on one of the
boards that I just loved (many thanks to whoever posted it!). Take about
9-10 slices of peperoni and microwave for about 1 1/2 minutes until crispy
(I use a turkey blend for lower fat content). This turns them about the
consistency of chips, which were my "crunch of choice" in the old
days. Other options I like are nuts and fruit, wheat crackers with a little
cheese or peanut butter, and, occassionally, white cheddar popcorn. Since
protein digests slower than carbs, having a little bit with the carb should
help you feel fuller, longer than carb alone.
— tarainla
September 6, 2005
I am only eight months p.o., so I still can eat very little, but I
approached the problem from a different angle: take up knitting,
crocheting, or some other hobby that requires you to use your hands. You
will not have a hand free to eat with! Eat teh size snack you want to
have, then do something that requires your hands!
— Novashannon
September 6, 2005
I am hooked on the sugar free popcicles! I love a little sweet at night and
even if I eat 2 or 3, they are only 15 calories a piece.
I also like the WW ice cream bars - but try to limit them to one at a time.
— NewJoolz
September 6, 2005
Emily,
You started the conversation going,I too am glad to know I am not the only
one. I am coming up on 2yrs post-op 9/26 and I have lost 120lbs I was 320
and got down to 200 and now I am 210 I've gained 10lbs over the 2yrs and
it's stressing me out because I have not reached my ideal weight of 180lbs
and I'm so scared. Night eating has always been a problem for me mostly
snacking, I was never a big eater of food to begin with but a snack, right
up my alley and what I've substituting with at night is the Edy's Whole
Fruit bars which are 0 fat calories but 20grams sugar and I know that's not
bad but too many a night can't be good either. I was doing so well and
lately been under alot of stress at work and the old habits are creeping up
on me.
— MsPage40
September 6, 2005
Hi...don't beat yourself up about snacking at night. I have incorporated
my night snacking as meal number 6. I usually start with a piece of cheese
and a small piece of fruit, like a plum or a few strawberries. If that
doesn't satisfy me I make popcorn. Some people say that is taboo, but I
have been eating it since I was about 10 months out and have never had a
problem. I am over 2 years post op now. I eat the 94 percent fat free
popcorn, they come in mini bags now and I think the whole bag has less than
150 calories in it...but just always get some protein in with whatever
snack you are getting.
I have lost 102 lbs and haven't gained any back.
— partygirl1
September 7, 2005
You might try to do mushrooms take fresh or canned (if canned rinse
extremely well to reduce the salt) spread on a cookie sheet and sprinkle
with seasoning (garlic, onion power, cheese) and bake at 425 degrees for
about 20 minutes to 1/2 hour until goldem brown. They taste like peanuts
— Susan R.
September 8, 2005
Emily, I see that you have had a bunch of good ideas given to you; there
should be something that was helpful. I will just throw in something I do
to stop the munchies; I read a book while my DH is watching TV. It keeps my
hands and mind occupied.
— ChristineB
September 9, 2005
Emily/ I too have the same horrible habit. I'm 2 years post op 258 to 123.
I'm tried taking up crocheting to keep my hands busy, reading, saving my
chocolate protein shake till then, all to no avail. Please know you are
not alone. I too welcome any suggestions/
— wolfskimba
September 11, 2005
Thanks everyone for the great ideas! I should add a few more details. I
work out from 6pm-8pm every night so that is partly responsible for my
hunger. For everyone who is so down on Special K because of carbs....I do
not subscribe to a seriously low carb diet. That is dangerous for you.
Also, overloading too much on protein is dangerous as well (especially for
your kidneys). For a cereal, Special K has a good amount of protein (7
grams per serving) and not much sugar. I also drink some skim milk with it
since milk really really fills me up and has the extra added protein. I am
definately going to try some of everyone's ideas so thanks alot and glad to
hear I am not alone :)
— emilyfink
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