Question:
Is it ok to get up in the middle of the night and eat a small bowl of cereal?

I'm almost 2 years post-op, and I get hungry and get up around 5 or 6:00am and eat a small bowl of cereal. Then I go back to bed. Will this hurt me in gaining any weight back. I've stopped losing weight, but I've not gained any either. I've stopped losing because I haven't been excercising. Just haven't had the time, with work & going to school full time.    — Snowflake_Princess (posted on November 17, 2004)


November 16, 2004
It probably won't hurt if it is within your individual calorie limit. But maybe have a more protein snack instead or try a protein snack before bed and maybe you won't even wake up hungry? Good luck.
   — catleth

November 16, 2004
Yikes...........5 or 6 is the middle of the night? I'd be LOVING that schedule since I'm not a morning person at all. I'm soooooooooooo envious since I have to get up at 4:45 a.m. Anyway, I agree with the first poster.........maybe you should eat something very dense just before you go to bed then you might not even wake up hungry. If you do, maybe you could try some cheese or a protein drink or a protein bar instead of the cereal. At any rate, I'd make sure it was a low carb, high fiber, high protein cereal with maybe some carb countdown milk, but if you're staying within your calories in/calories out limits, you should be okay. For me, cereal at any time of the day just makes me hungry so I stay away from it but that might not be the case for you.
   — scbabe

November 16, 2004
Doesn't that make you hungry? If I start the day with carbs, I'm starving all day! (6:00 AM is the start of the day for me :)
   — mom2jtx3

November 17, 2004
Yikes , cereal a6 would have me craving carbs all day :( When I get like tha I cut out carbs for a couple of days and UP te protein the hunger then subsides :) hugs Ruthie
   — ruthie

November 17, 2004
I think I would first try to figure out if I was really hungry, if this was just a new habit, or if perhaps I was really just thirsty. Start by having something to drink instead of eating, then go back to bed. If you go back to sleep, then it's thirst. If you really are hungry, then eat a dense protein so that you don't start an insulin reaction with carbohydrates. (Have some deli meat, or a couple of ounces of cheese, or a hard-boiled egg, for example.)
   — Vespa R.

November 17, 2004
if I eat cereal in the AM I am hungery all day long. And it tends to make my stomach ache. So I usually stick with an egg for breakfast. which is usually around 6 am. Keeping hard boiled eggs in the fridge might work for you! good luck
   — **willow**

November 17, 2004
5 or 6am is the middle of the night??? LOL What time do you go to bed? Seriously though keep in mind that you need to make sure that what you are ingesting during your nocturnal feedings is not over the calorie amount that you are to get for the day. Watch your carb intake, you probably would be better off with some protein like some string cheese and crackers or yogurt. Protein will stay with you longer because it is denser and stays in the pouch longer. But getting back to 5 or 6 am to me that is the best time of the day to watch the beautiful sunrise!
   — ChristineB

November 17, 2004
I eat cereal for a bed time snack its only five mini wheats with splenda and a little milk, I tried cheese and yogart and they ddint seem to last, the cereal gives me staiety and I dont wake up hungry either. Actualy when I up my calories I loose weight, I had stopped eating it for a bout a month and my weight was at a stand still, and I have started the cereal last week and I am down 2# 8 pounds from goal. If it make you feel better, do it but with in moderation. Keep an eye on your weight and if you see it going up stop the cereal. This is just my personal experiance.
   — wizz40

November 18, 2004
Go to bed later.
   — mrsmyranow




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