Any tips to avoid late night snacking?

Hong Kong
June 9, 2008 8:15am CST
I think most people understand how bad it is to eat before bed, but not all people can avoid it. For me, I use to drink a cup of Coca-Cola, and have a piece of bread for my late night snacking. Not really hungry, but just want to find something to eat. I know it is unhealthy so I want to stop this bad habit now... Do you have experience in beating late night snacking? Any suggestions on how to avoid it?
4 responses
@twilight021 (2059)
• United States
9 Jun 08
I know I would never be able to sleep if I had coke before bed. That is a lot of sugar and caffine in that. I set a time for myself that there is no snacking after. For me it's 9pm. No snacking after 9pm. It is often the case that dehyration pains are confused with hunger pains. So if I start feeling snacky, I will either have a glass of water (in the summer, nice cold water to cool me off before bed), or a warm cup of herbal tea to relax me, this is nice in cooler weather. Certian types of tea can also help with sleeping issues if you have any (I do, and the herbal tea helps). I find it has really curbed my urge to snack and had helped with weight loss.
1 person likes this
• Hong Kong
14 Jun 08
Thanks for your response twilight. I will have a try on your suggestion - drink water when feel snacky. I agree that sometimes it is thirsty that cause a hunger feeling. Let me tell you, I just felt thirsty, then I go to have a coke. When I was drinking, I felt a bit hungry. :)
@elisa812 (3026)
• United States
9 Jun 08
I have a hard time not eating a snack at night. Once it starts to get close to bedtime, usually it has been several hours since dinner, so I start to get really hungry. I try to avoid eating something, but it's not easy. I usually just try to either find something really small to eat, like on of those little 100 calorie snack packs, or sometimes I'll just drink a glass of water or milk. That sometimes helps me. During the winter, I'll sometimes make a glass of low fat hot chocolate. That way I get to taste some chocolate and I figure it's maybe a little better than having a cookie or something.
1 person likes this
• Hong Kong
14 Jun 08
Thanks for your response elisa. I think if you can make yourself find small thing to eat and eat less often, late night snacking won't be harmful to you...
• China
10 Jun 08
yes, i am the one like eating late night , so i get fat and fat !
• Hong Kong
14 Jun 08
Oh... You better try to eat less to keep fit.
• United States
9 Jun 08
this discussion is great because it reminds me of my uncle a bit. hes overweight, and his doctor keeps yelling at him because even though hes supposed to be on a diet he never loses weight. and then his wife found out why. While shes been sleeping hes been making visits to the fridge and eating when he shouldn't be eating. so what she did was put a padlock on the door so he cant get into it. now what i would do in your case is just simply not have those things around...especially not the soda. its one thing to drink soda during the day because you can potentially burn those calories off, but at night you really don't have that option so your body stores it and it becomes fat. you ideally shouldn't eat anything after dinner and dessert. and if your trying to lose weight then you should eat a larger breakfast in the morning, a medium sized meal in the afternoon and a small dinner. most do it the opposite of that and they are the ones that usually have all the weight problems. also if you have a healthy diet you shouldn't really be getting hungry that late at night anyway.
1 person likes this
• Hong Kong
14 Jun 08
Thanks for your response Palmerhusky. Wow, putting a padlock on the door? Your uncle's case seems serious. Is he better now? Yes, I agree if I can have a healthy diet then I should not feel hungry at late night (or less easier to feel hungry). Your suggestion should help most people who are suffering from late night snacking.