emotional eating

[amurray1962]

How can I overcome the evening and night cravings, or at least, not succumb to them? Later in the evening is especially bad, or sometimes even through the night. I eat a generally healthy diet, and enough, even too much, yet even if I am "full", I still get these urges shortly before bedtime. I can put away an extra 700 calories or more, easily. Why is this? Do I just lack willpower? Help...

[InkiePinkie]

I've moved your post to Health, fitness and well-being. Hopefully you will get some good replies here!

[bevbehar]

Late night eating before you go to bed is a common time to fall down on your diet plans. There are a number of factors that might be at play. One might be that you eat out of habit or boredom. If habit is the case, try to shift to munchies that will give you the experience you crave without the calories and fat: carrots and celery, popcorn without oil or toppings etc. Little by little train yourself to not munch as you sit. If boredom is a factor try changing your routine and doing something you look forward to: instead of munching in front of the TV, read a book, go on the computer, call a friend, read the paper, listen to music, watch a movie etc. Think about what would work for you. You may actually be hungry. If this is the case, you probably need to eat a little more at breakfast and maybe at dinner. Many people eat so lightly at breakfast that their bodies crave a lot of food at the end of the day. As you know, eating a lot before bed leaves your body slow-burning food as you sleep, rather than quick burning it while you're active. Also, if you plan a really nice (but reasonable) breakfast for yourself you may be able to coax your hunger to wait until that treat the next morning. You may also choose to keep back some of your dinner for eating later in the evening. Spreading out your food intake may take the edge off your hunger. Another point to ponder is whether you have a message inside that compels you to eat before bed. An example might be that one of your parents taught you never to go to bed hungry. If this is the case, think hard about what the actual risk of sleeping hungry might be. Another thought is: Was it the normal thing when you were growing up that everyone ate something before bed? Ask yourself what you would lose and what you would gain if you didn't eat something before bed and broke that family pattern.
Any other thoughts? I hope that helps!
Bev

[Sonia C]

All very good points bevbehar.

Perhaps it could also be your body telling you that there is a low amount of a vitamin or mineral or both. Try keeping a journal of what you crave late at night and try to identfy a trend. You could always bring the journal to your family doctor for further investigation.
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[Lauriepk]

Emotional eating is something I've struggled with all my life! I eat when I'm anxious, afraid, or about to embark on a big new writing assignment.

It really helps to identify your "triggers." That is, figure out what's driving you towards food: fear? boredom? anxiety? unfulfilled goals or desires?

Then, find another way to deal with your emotions. I talk to my hubby about my fears about certain writing assignments, and it helps me put it in perspective -- and I realize that my fears probably won't happen! When I'm anxious about an assignment, I find that it helps to dig into it rather than avoid it (and emotional eating is AVOIDING something!). So I start the article research or outlining.

I hope this helps a little -- and remember that you're not alone.

Laurie
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[mirandasierra]

I do not think we need to chose between losing weight or not eating. I do not agree that you will need to give up food that you love to eat. The key here is to eat in moderation, Christopher Guerriero once told me that I need to eat low fat longevity foods like salmon
almonds, red grapes, blueberries, garlic, spinach and whole grains.