In the early morning when I get up and off to work, I am really not hungry, but by about 10 am I am starved.?

Question

I usually eat a bowl of oatmeal with some skim milk and splenda or a dab of brown sugar. Sometimes a bannana.
I usually eat salad with about 1/2 cup of tuna and some no fat dressing or some cottage cheese around 1 pm when I get a break. I keep low calorie snacks around and fruit to nibble on until I get home. Sometimes I cave and eat at around 6 pm at the hospital where I work. The evening hours are my hardest. I get off work at about 8pm or so and have to think of something to eat every nite late.
Oprah says not to eat after 6 pm. My day is not over at 6 pm and I would totally be starving if I didnt have supper after I get home. Do you have any suggestions for late nite meals which are low fat and satisfying. Also, why does Oprah think its important not to eat after 6 pm?

Answer 1

Its your body clock. NOT hers.
You shouldn't eat 4-6 hours prior to your bedtime, is what is suggested. Each body is different. I work out at 10pm, so I can eat something.

Based on what you wrote you need a bit more protein in your diet and fiber. That fiber will really help you feel full and not so hungry.


Years of nutrition classes have taught me, EACH body is different. I must have 4-6 small meals a day and all that "time limit stuff" is just crap to me, the reality is portions & exercise.

I am not diabetic and I work very hard to stay that way.
I eat 8 times a day. I eat raw nuts the minute I wake up, sometimes in my bed- I roll over and eat some and at bedtime. Its about 2 tablespoons worth raw nuts or peanut butter. That protein helps my sugar levels. If I et too much carbs, my body sweats at night. So watch yourself. Your body will tell you.

MY favorite night snack and I devour it Fresh popcorn. I use a brown bag with scotch tape, corn kernals and microwave it. No salt, sugar, nothing, actually very yummy. If I must, I spray it with some "butter" stuff. But after a while, its just great.
I also make a pink lemonade crystal lite, icy. I put it in the blender with ice and have a great drink with it. So its all Fat free, yummy and fun. My kids love it too!

I hosted a sleep over for girl scout troup and had to send out for more cystal lite, since the girls loved it. I also add sparkling sugerfree flavored carbonated waters to it at times, to make it fizzy!.

Good luck. You are doing a great job. Keep your food log.
Lots of great replies- that's a great question.

Answer 2

Eat a snack in the afternoon to keep you from caving in at work. Try something with lots of protein, like maybe a PB banana roll or high protein bar. Something light to eat when you finally come home should be a dark leaf salad, soup, or yogurt. Oprah doesn't believe in eating after 6 pm because you will soon be sleeping, which means that your dinner will most likely be stored as fat in your body, not burned off.

Answer 3

Oprah is right by not suggesting eating after 6pm.... IF you go to bed around 9 or 10. But it sounds like you have a longer day and probably get to bed later. Most nutritionist or trainers suggest no eating 3 hours before you go to bed. So if you go to bed at midnight, stop eating at 9PM. Oatmeal typically satisfies and sticks with you for a while, but I'm not certain how early you eat breakfast. Usually about 3 hours after I eat breakfast (at 8am), I have a small snack. That ties me over until around 12:30 or 1 when I eat lunch. Then I'll have another small snack around 4 then dinner at 6:30. No snacks afterwards. Keep water with you and take a BIG drink when you feel any cravings. If the craving is subsided by the water, then you're probably not hungry, you probably just needed water. The body is a funny thing, it mistakes thirst for hunger. Try to drink at least 72 ounces (9 8-oz. glasses) of water a day. Best of luck to you!

Answer 4

Ignore Oprah. How many people can honestly finish a work day, take care of any thing they have to do after work, and put together a healthy dinner before 6 pm? I like doing simple stir fries with veggies, rice, and lean meat. If you're generally too tired to come up with a good meal after work then make large batches of healthy foods on your days off and eat leftovers during the week. My favorite is making a large batch of bean salad.

Answer 5

After 6 most people's metabolism slows down, so it becomes more difficult to burn calories, especially if you eat at night. But if you're working at night then you should be fine. Eat closer to the time of your night time activity, but not too close to bed time.

I luv peanut butter on apples and celery. The butter sticks to my ribs and satisfies, plus it's healthy. By all natural pb, the other stuff is adulterated with sugar and corn syrup. Pour off the oil and have it on the drier side. The vegetables add bulk too. Fills and satisfies.

Answer 6

You body needs time to burn/use the fuel you feed it. Eating late means you're usually inactive and end up storing the fuel as fat. i think 6pm is a little early -8pm seems more reasonable.
Eat a breakfast including protein- eggs, meat, cottage cheese- to keep your hunger down. Oatmeal with a banana and sugar isn't going to keep your blood sugar stable.
Eat nuts, boiled eggs, or fruit with peanut butter as snacks.

Answer 7

Oprah doesn't work your hours.

You may not be hungry in the morning because you eat late at night. Try eating dinner earlier, even if it means bringing your dinner with you.