weight gain issues.. how to curb nighttime cravings?
Posted by CherBear on Jul 23, 2007 · Member since Jun 2006 · 317 posts
I've recently gained around 10 pounds... I'm not overweight but I'd like to lose the extra pounds. My main problem is that I have nighttime food cravings and end up pigging out before going to bed. Yeah, I know, big no-no! Any suggestions on how to take off the extra weight and avoid those pesky cravings? :D
Is it cravings or boredom?
Is it cravings or boredom?
Actually now that I think about it, it's probably more boredom than hunger or cravings...
Eat what you crave at dinner. After dinner go take a walk, sit out in the yard, take a drive somewhere with your hubby and park somewhere and chat or watch the stars. Get plenty of fresh air.
Watch a movie at home (away from the kitchen though). If the need does come to munch munch on fruit (something that's very water packed like watermelon, cantaloupe etc), crackers (sometimes a person does need to munch but try to avoid it as a habit though) anything low calorie or even make some veggie fruiti smoothies.
thanks alot for the tips! I usually crave tortilla chips, crackers ~ things that are crunchy and salty.
Make sure you get your water...not juice, not soda, not coffee, water! Often we interpret thirst as hunger. As my dr says, "If you can't bathe in it, don't count it as water."
If you know it's boredom, try plantago powder. You mix it with water and it helps fill you up. (Kinda gross but chug it down with another glass of water to rinse your mouth.) It helps me when I've got the mindless munchies.
If you don't know what you're hungry for, you're not really hungry, you've just got "the eats."
Make sure you get your water...not juice, not soda, not coffee, water! Often we interpret thirst as hunger. As my dr says, "If you can't bathe in it, don't count it as water."
If you know it's boredom, try plantago powder. You mix it with water and it helps fill you up. (Kinda gross but chug it down with another glass of water to rinse your mouth.) It helps me when I've got the mindless munchies.
If you don't know what you're hungry for, you're not really hungry, you've just got "the eats."
I'm actually lucky in that I don't care for juices, soda, etc. But I know I definitely don't drink enough water throughout the day. That's a great idea! Also, what exactly is plantago powder and where would I find it? Thanks yabbit :)
brush your teeth and find something to do to keep your mind off it. read a book before bed or maybe write in a journal - maybe even write about resisting the temptation to go eat. i'd suggest maybe not coming onto vegweb when your're feeling the cravings cus i know the pictures and all the food talk make me hungry.
brush your teeth and find something to do to keep your mind off it. read a book before bed or maybe write in a journal - maybe even write about resisting the temptation to go eat. i'd suggest maybe not coming onto vegweb when your're feeling the cravings cus i know the pictures and all the food talk make me hungry.
ohhh most definitely! I think I just need to find a hobby to do in the evenings to keep my mind off snacking. Journal writing is an excellent idea!
"Also, what exactly is plantago powder and where would I find it?"
Plantago ovata is the seed of an Indian plant, which when mixed with water swells up and absorbs water in the gut, helping you feel satisfied. It will also bulk up stools, but it won't give you the runs.
(TMI?) The stuff we get here is orange flavoured, which doesn't help much, but I have no idea how (un)palatable it would be without it.
I have seen some veggies on other websites recommend plantago as an egg replacer...my gut level reaction (pun intended) was GROSS!!
Biggest reason for pigging out late at night? Not eating enough during the day! Follow the Rule of 10. Take your ideal weight, multiply by 10 and that is how many calories you NEED and I mean NEED. You can go over, but never go under it. Your body NEEDS good food!
For years I would not eat all day long, eat everything in sight before bed, feel bloated when I tried to sleep and was somewhat overweight. Right now, I graze all day on good, whole sensible food. I am eating a lot more than I have ever eaten, as far as quantities meaning not calories, just platefuls of food. I am rounding out my lunch wraps with fruit anymore and it makes a big difference. Because I eat when I am hungry THROUGH THE DAY, I can get to night time and not feel deprived or hungry and I have stopped raiding the frig. There are evenings when I am rather too tired to eat, but as I have not starved all day, it doesn't matter if I don't.
Women are bad about cutting calories and worrying about every bite. I am one of them, but I am working on not seeing food as the enemy, but that certain types of food are a lot more friendly than others. Women are meant to have curves. Real WOMEN do have curves, it is GIRLS who are thin without an ounce of fat on them. If you are grown up you probably have a curvilicious figure (unless you run excessively or have an eating disorder). So, what I am saying is perhaps you look just great and maybe you needed that 10 lbs.
The very best of nutrition comes at a price...calories. It is a matter of getting the most bang for calorie dollar and some exercise to counter the fact that your nutrients have to come with pesty old calories. Life is short. It does your heart as much good to sit down, hold a favorite child and read a book, as running a couple miles (this is literally true, because loving feelings have a very positive effect on the heart).
Yeah, I have all these issues and I working on them, perhaps even actively right now.
i agree w/ ladydragonfly...definately make sure you are eating enough throughout the day.
popcorn is a good snack if you are craving crunch...and rice cakes too! and veggies can be good.
i find tea really good in the evening too... it seems to cut the craving for me, and its something to do w/ your hands.
also, knitting!! :)
Ladydragonfly ~ thanks so much for all the helpful info! I realize that I may not be eating enough during the day and I usually skip breakfast. So basically I eat lunch and then dinner.... so no wonder I want to snack in the evening! :o I'm thinking of bringing some hummus and veggies to keep at work for snacks. And I need to start eating breakfast even if it's toast and a banana.
The 10 pounds I've gained doesn't put me overweight by any means, I'm just used to weighing a certain amount and when the number started increasing I kind of freaked out a little bit. My hubby thinks I look amazing but I'm quite uncomfortable with being more filled out. I can't say that I look bad but it just feels different, does that make sense?
Ohhh...I forgot. Try miso for a salty craving. I like brown rice the best, but it's a little strong.
I have no idea what to do with miso... I've had miso soup but that's it!
I realize that I may not be eating enough during the day and I usually skip breakfast. So basically I eat lunch and then dinner.... so no wonder I want to snack in the evening! :o I'm thinking of bringing some hummus and veggies to keep at work for snacks. And I need to start eating breakfast even if it's toast and a banana.
A good breakfast is important, it gets the motor running. A decent breakfast will stay with you and you will feel less need to snack. Try a tofu scramble or breakfast fries (the veg can be prepared the night before and just warmed), or a smoothie or your bananas and maybe PB on toast. I like toast with walnut meats and honey or brown sugar. The nuts give valuable oils and protien and they stick to your ribs. Think back (if you're old enough) to when mothers actually cooked breakfast for their families; the kids were more active in those days of course, but they also didn't spend all the time from after school to bedtime snacking. You had an afterschool snack, a sensible supper, and that was it. It was when breakfast became artificially coloured and sweetened cereals and artificial "chocolate milk" that I personally stopped eating breakfast...I simply couldn't face cold milk at 7 AM! Then the junky, simple-carb and fat-rich school lunch...by the time we got home from school we were starving for something, anything! This led to snacking before and after supper...
I realize that I may not be eating enough during the day and I usually skip breakfast. So basically I eat lunch and then dinner.... so no wonder I want to snack in the evening! :o I'm thinking of bringing some hummus and veggies to keep at work for snacks. And I need to start eating breakfast even if it's toast and a banana.
A good breakfast is important, it gets the motor running. A decent breakfast will stay with you and you will feel less need to snack. Try a tofu scramble or breakfast fries (the veg can be prepared the night before and just warmed), or a smoothie or your bananas and maybe PB on toast. I like toast with walnut meats and honey or brown sugar. The nuts give valuable oils and protien and they stick to your ribs. Think back (if you're old enough) to when mothers actually cooked breakfast for their families; the kids were more active in those days of course, but they also didn't spend all the time from after school to bedtime snacking. You had an afterschool snack, a sensible supper, and that was it. It was when breakfast became artificially coloured and sweetened cereals and artificial "chocolate milk" that I personally stopped eating breakfast...I simply couldn't face cold milk at 7 AM! Then the junky, simple-carb and fat-rich school lunch...by the time we got home from school we were starving for something, anything! This led to snacking before and after supper...
Yabbit ~ you're exactly right about breakfast! My mom used to cook for us every morning and then gradually it turned into Pop Tarts, cereal, etc., etc. I lost interest! I loooove tofu scramble and making it the night before is a great idea since I hate waking up any earlier than necessary.
Eating breakfast is very important but if you are still concerened i think reading a really good book can help keep your mind off life and food for a while (the only side effect is staying up late!)