Midnight snacking?

qwerty2

This thread is mainly for snacking, but in my case midnight snacking in particular : I'm a student and having such a busy schedule, the only time I seem to be able to make to work/study is at night anywhere between 10pm and 3 am! As a result, I have become a serial snacker!! I recently joined a gym in an attempt to get fit and tone up, but I definitely feel that my habits are having an effect on the benefits of my workouts. So can anyone please help me either reduce (could never give it up:p:) my snacking or suggest healthier options? Typical snacks vary depending on my mood and can range from carrot sticks and homemade hummus, apples, grapes, sultanas/dried fruit (is this a yay or nay because of the high sugar?) to lots of biscuits, chocolate, cakes and ice cream!! I try to balance it out e.g. have one healthy option for each unhealthy option! While studying is also when I get most of my 8 cups of water a day too, so unfortunately the whole drinking water to delay cravings thing doesn't work for me at this stage! Any help/suggestions are greatly appreciated!

El_Dangeroso

Being a complete night-owl myself I probably already know the answer to this but could you get up early instead of staying up so late?

A small (< 80 calories) carby snack such as 1/2 small potato before bedtime can help with sleep (boosts melatonin production), but more than that after midnight and your disturbing your digestion that's trying to shut down for the day.

Is it really hunger or is it habit? I have a nice cup of fruit tea to sip in the evenings that keep me away from the fridge. I find it very relaxing and much better for the waistline. If it's true hunger then your not eating enough at dinner. What time do you have your evening meal?

metamorphosis

Warm cup of milk keeps me satiated no problem when i feel like i have hunger at night. If you want to make it a bit special add in a spoon of cocoa powder or maybe sprinkle in some cinnamon powder.

also +1 on herbal teas. Ginger and lemon or cammomile. Mint and eycalyptus (sp?) is my new fave.

qwerty2

It's never due to hunger! Just cravings/habit! Hence why I'm looking for ideas to put an end/reduce the habit.

Sapsorrow

What works for me is eating a big dinner, with a good bit of protein and minimal carbs. That way I stay full for ages and not having any carbs keeps the sugar and toast cravings at bay. I hate eating late at night and always make a big effort avoid it and often go to bed with hunger pains, it's great because then you're revenous first thing in the morning and can manage a proper big cooked brekkie with loads of veggies in it! :pac: I would suggest if you have to eat something have a boiled egg, it's less than 100kcal, minimal sugar and very filling and satiating and will probably curb any further cravings over the course of the night. Not exercising later in the day or evening might help too.

Melia

Just curious, why do you not eat late at night? I always thought that it was a myth that the energy turned more readily to fat.

I frequently eat late - I almost never have dinner before eight or nine, and it's not unheard of for it to be closer to midnight.

Sapsorrow

Melia wrote: »

Just curious, why do you not eat late at night? I always thought that it was a myth that the energy turned more readily to fat.

I frequently eat late - I almost never have dinner before eight or nine, and it's not unheard of for it to be closer to midnight.

3 main reasons;

It intereferes with leptin
It's bad for your liver
You're not likely to burn it off the later you eat it