How to stop eating late at night?

Question

Hey Everyone!
I find myself eating healthy/portion control throughout the day but when it comes around 8pm I get in my head "Well you've eaten so good today you deserve some reward!" and even when I'm not hungry I'll think this and overeat/binge. I've been doing this for some odd reason everynight for the past 3 months (and gained 12 lbs!)
Last night for example I was still "ok" from dinner but since I got it in my head that I behaved during the day I desereved a reward and I ate a whole loaf of bread and 1/2 a tub of margerine before I knew it! Its like once I start going, I cant stop!
I've tried eating bad for a day and seeing if that changed my eating at night... nope... arg! I just dont know what to do.. throughout the day I think "Tonight I wont do it, I wont do it, your getting fat" but I'll do it! ARG!
I must eat 60% of my daily food intake at night between 9pm and 12am.
Any ideas what I should do?! I'm just so desprite!!

Answer 1

You don't "deserve" a reward. No matter how "good" you were you do not. A reward is not a binge fest eating crap like butter and bread. That is disgusting, and it's going to kill you. A reward is NEVER food. A reward is a trip out to a museum, a new hairdo, a new pair of jeans, NEVER NEVER NEVER food. Food is sustinance, NOT reward. You eat to live, you never live to eat. Next time you go to that fridge to eat a pound of butter turn yourself right around, put your coat on and walk it off.

Answer 2

It is hard to stop doing it overnight. The first thing you need to do is change what you decide to spoil yourself. Instead reaching for the bread how about choosing something you like that is lower in calories (for instance yogurts or grapes or non-sweetened hot chocolat). Or how about getting chewing gum - that will give you the feeling of eating without actually eating.

The second thing to do is to start going to bed earlier. If you are not awake, the temptation to eat won't be there.

The third thing to change your reward pattern. How about finding something to motivate you not to eat. For instance if you manage not to binge at the evening, have a nice bath before going to bed.

Thr fourth thing is do something in the evening. When I have nothing to do or if I'm just sat in front of the TV I tend to eat moe. How about going for a walk after dinner. The weather is nicer now, it will keep you busy and wil release endorphins.

Answer 3

i binge eat sometimes at night and the only thing that works for me is either going to bed or finding something to do. sometimes I just get in the bed and turn on some music to help me sleep. You have to get your mind off the food. Are you full after dinner? sometimes I'll binge eat because I get home after 9pm and haven't eaten dinner, so i'll try and eat a small snack. someone told me oatmeal is good. I haven't tried it as a nighttime snack yet but I will soon to see if it gets my late night cravings down.

Answer 4

We know more about weight loss and diet than ever before. Especially, in the past decade, more and more people are conscious of their health and living longer. The first step is diet.
Diet or health eating, as it should be called, is the key to weight loss. Most people think of Atkins or No Carbs when they hear DIET. One thing for sure we have some funny ways of loosing weight.
Here is what we do know. Dieting is not healthy for you and your body. The reason is you are starving you body of nutrients and proteins that your body needs. Second to that these diets don’t ensure weight loss. Inevitably, most people put the weight back on because they loose 10 pounds and think hey look at me I feel great.
(Three square meals a day) You should change you mentality or that of your parents. Part of the key to loosing weight and keeping it off is METABOLISM. When people eat large meals, like Christmas dinner or all you can eat buffet their Metabolism sky rockets. That means you body uses up all the energy to digest that food. This is why most people want to take a nap after a large meal.
The trick is start by eating the same amount of food but instead of three large meals, try 7-9 times throughout the day. This prevents your Metabolism from rising and falling. If you Metabolism stays at a constant rate it will much easier for you to loose weight and see results faster.
Now that you have changed you eating habits, you need to change what you eat. Potato chips, Coke or Pepsi and chocolate bars have a very high in sugar. You body can turn this into energy really fast but then you metabolism is on the roller coaster again.
At this point is when you need to start looking at fruits, vegetables, meats, whole grains and food like that. You don’t have to eat the same stuff day in and day out. Just remember that if the label reads like you’re in science class you should probably not eat it.
If you can do these two very simple steps your weight loss will be swift and effective.
If you want to jump start your weight loss there is a aggressive two weeks diet that you can start yourself on. Type in Cabbage Soup Diet on any search engine and read the instructions carefully. This diet is great if you have Prom, High School reunion, Wedding and you want to loose 10-15 pounds. Word of caution if you use this type of diet remember this is not a solution, this is a jump start on healthy living. You should also take a strong multi-vitamin.

Answer 5

Wow....This is exactly what happens to me. I just don't seem to satisfy my hunger during the night even after having a full dinner.

I think this is compulsive eating disorder where you just cannot control your eating. I have started a combinationn of hypnosis and a natural remedy to control the situation as I am gaining weight fast.

Visit the following link to find a review of the weight management programs that I am successfully using.

Good Luck!!

Answer 6

I've only ever seen Meg D give the correct answer when it comes to eating at night. It's ok to eat at night, just keep it light. Don't keep it light because you don't want to gain weight, keep it light so you don't go to sleep with a grumbly stomach, nor a lead weight in there!
Give this a read, everyone!

Answer 7

Well, you need to start practising some self control, for starters. Try flosisng and brushing your teeth around 7PM. Drink lots of water. Can you get out walking? Go to a gym?

Answer 8

When you get the munchies eat something healthy instead. You can have flavour and health. Drink water...you might be up during the night though going pee...and that sucks. I like rice cakes and crispy mini's. They have so many good flavours. Popcorn is good too if you dont' load it up with the good stuff like butter and salt. Use in moderation. Good luck!!

Answer 9

I do exactly the same thing good all day then the kids go to bed and i start snacking on all really bad foods. I am going to try and have carrot sticks and fruits already chopped so if i snack it wont be as bad on the waistline

Answer 10

Try to go to bed early (if you're asleep you won't eat) or try drinking water after your last meal so you feel more full....if you cannot stop maybe you should seek professional help