Help for an overnight eater please? Topic

Catnip000 06/22/20
Argh! Every night when I wake up I sneak some sweets. Instead of the glass of water, reading, etc, any ideas of how some of you have beaten this? Mine is a mental autopilot thing, I know I can’t be hungry. Anyone who’s had this “issue” please help!

Dietician 06/22/20
Hi Catnip000,

Thanks for posting this question. I am sure there are many others facing the same challenge, and I am looking forward to their responses.

A few ideas to start:
Make sure you eat enough during the day and avoid skipping meals. Many people who eat during the night wake up not feeling hungry and don't eat breakfast. This can increase the drive to eat overnight, and can create a cycle of nighttime eating and undereating during the day. Consider a light, balanced snack at bedtime (such as yogurt with some fruit, whole-grain crackers with some peanut butter, etc).

Of course, setting the stage for a good night's sleep is a good place to start. Establish a good nighttime sleep routine (avoid light/screens, sleep in a cool, dark room, etc).

In the meantime, here are a few articles that might be of help:

https://www.mynetdiary.com/do-you-eat-too-much-at-night.html
https://www.mynetdiary.com/diabetes-diary-not-enough-sleep-could-be-impairing-both-your-weight-and-diabetes-control.html
https://www.mynetdiary.com/the-importance-of-sleep-with-tips-for-getting-zzz-s.html
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/eating-disorders/binge-eating-disorder/what-is-night-eating-syndrome#2-7

If you don't see any improvement, you may want to check in with your doctor about your sleep issues. Sleep is so important to all aspects of health!

Please keep us posted!

Best,

Sue

MyNetDiary Registered Dietitian

Catnip000 06/23/20
Thank you very much. You nailed one of my issues perfectly. I do eat very lightly during the day, then binge overnight. I wasn’t eating breakfast either. I will use your ideas immediately, thank you.

Diveman 06/24/20
I would suggest you try to make your home a “safe haven.” If you don’t have it in the house you are less likely to eat it.

Leto_Atreides 06/26/20
I eat a cup of 2% Cottage Cheese during the PM it’s a slow release protein really good for killing hunger for a while.

Megan 06/27/20
I have a few tips not necessarily for overnight but snacking in general. When you get cravings try brushing your teeth or sucking on a mint. Trust me nothing taste good with a minty mouth. Also hot things decrease your appetite, I drink a cup of hot green tea with artificial sugar and/or lemon, it’s like 3 calories. You could also try taking a hot shower before bed.

Help for an overnight eater please?