Late night junk food eater...HELP!

I stay up late at night. This is when I used to do all my snacking and why the pounds added up so easily.

Its the only time the house is quiet, it was my "me" time. I would get my junk food out, sit on LIF and just eat.

I am trying to do it with healthy snacks but its not the same. All day I am FINE..but at night, I SUFFER!!

Like right now, I feel so hungry but I know it's just junk I want. I've tried going to sleep earlier but its just not the schedule I have.

Any tips??

Re: Late night junk food eater...HELP!

This may sound silly, but after the kids are asleep go brush your teeth and rinse with listerine. That helps me avoid cravings at night.

Re: Late night junk food eater...HELP!

Can you eat dinner later? We'll have dinner at around 8:30 every night. I never snack late at night because i'm still full from dinner.

ETA- i realized thats probably alot more difficult with kids (we dont have any so we just follow our own schedule). Maybe eat half your dinner at normal time, then save the other half for later?

Message edited 3/22/2011 8:20:12 AM.

Re: Late night junk food eater...HELP!

Can you find another place in your home to relax by yourself on LIF, maybe a corner of the bedroom? If you are farther away from the kitchen it may help keep you away.

I agree with eating heartier meals during the day and for dinner, when I've limited myself with food during the day in the past, I've always ate late night and wondered why--it was because I was starving myself.

Another idea is keeping healthier foods around for those late night eats--one of my recent favorites is frozen fruit. I put splenda on a bowl of frozen blueberries or frozen peaches and its a sweet snack and fairly healthy.

Re: Late night junk food eater...HELP!

My assumption here is that you're not eating because you're hungry...........so the first thing to do is figure out WHY you're eating!

Next, recognize it. When you notice yourself late at night going to snack, stop yourself and do something else. Maybe read a book, go on the computer, call a friend, take a bath, take a walk, etc. The key is to replace the habit with another habit that gives you the same satisfaction.

Give yourself a routine. A lot of people I know "close their kitchen" at a certain time if they tend to be grazers. So maybe close the kitchen at 10pm if you can.

Re: Late night junk food eater...HELP!

Lately, I set aside a few points after dinner...maybe 2 or 3. I have a cup of Chai tea (0 pts) and a snack. I am less likely to binge on junk food if I know I have a snack planned for later...when I have it with the tea, it's satisfying enough not to go back for more.

Re: Late night junk food eater...HELP!

Here's what I do:

I eat a huge, delicious grapefruit. If I still want something after that, I make herbal tea with agave nectar.

Does the trick for me!!!

Re: Late night junk food eater...HELP!

I agree with brushing your teeth and listerine! It hels a lot!