How Late do you EAT?

[ziporah]

Hi Everyone,

I've read so many times that one should stop eating at 7PM and realistically, that doesnt work for me. By 10PM i crave the chewing motion... :-)....and I always find myself eating a snack before going to bed.

How late do you really eat? And if you are one that has to eat late, what's the best type of snack to eat late to prevent weight stalling?

[danibrin]

I think everyone is different...however, when I get tired at night--that is when I want to eat. For me, I like a piece of cheese or a small bowl of cereal and milk (thankfully-I have always loved high fiber cereals), oatmeal, -sometimes it is a 1/2 piece wheat toast with a little peanut butter or some thin sliced deli turkey. And some water.... I will be interested to hear other responses. Great question...

[BUTTERFLYALWAYS]

By 8:00 pm I'm done. Because I plan my meals and log in a journal everything I eat..once I've eaten what was budgeted for the day that's it. I do have dessert which includes a sugar free pudding with whip cream from time to time. Otherwise I stick with my flavored waters and ice water.

[arsesta]

An important question you have to ask yourself is why do you have to eat something at 10pm? Are you truly hungry because you didn't eat enough dinner? Or are you bored/lonely/anxious/stressed? Or is it just a habit, but you now don't recall how you developed the habit? I'm a stress eater so when it's 9pm, and I'm stressing out over work and craving something (anything!) from the fridge, I tend to step away from my work and take a break. If I am just craving something sugary/snacky, I go for sugar-free jello (10 calories and can be relatively satisfying). I know I cannot go to bed when my stomach is growling so if it's one of those nights, then I'd go for some fat-free or low-fat cheese or a small bowl of cereal with skim milk. One of the ladies in my Weight Watchers group also like midnight snacking; now she just goes to bed by 9:30 to avoid the snacking at 11pm.

[ziporah]

An important question you have to ask yourself is why do you have to eat something at 10pm? Are you truly hungry because you didn't eat enough dinner? Or are you bored/lonely/anxious/stressed? Or is it just a habit, but you now don't recall how you developed the habit? I'm a stress eater so when it's 9pm, and I'm stressing out over work and craving something (anything!) from the fridge, I tend to step away from my work and take a break. If I am just craving something sugary/snacky, I go for sugar-free jello (10 calories and can be relatively satisfying). I know I cannot go to bed when my stomach is growling so if it's one of those nights, then I'd go for some fat-free or low-fat cheese or a small bowl of cereal with skim milk. One of the ladies in my Weight Watchers group also like midnight snacking; now she just goes to bed by 9:30 to avoid the snacking at 11pm.

That's a really good question. For me, it is something i have done over the years that it is now a habit - it's almost like I sleep better after I eat late. Wow - you really have me thinking now because realistically, I am not hungry - it's the habit. Thanks for the insight.

Really enjoying everyone else's insight - thanks for posting. Cheese sounds like a good idea because it has no carbs/sugars...and cereal and milk is great - do you worry that it will convert into fat since it wont be digested?

Again, thanks for insight and hoping to hear more from others.

Thanks,

[arsesta]

it was a habit for me too (10pm Law and Order re-run and some Ben & Jerrys to accompany me?). As for the cereal/skim milk, if you're worried about fat, then I'd just do a small glass of skim milk, which can be surprisingly filling! For me, the cereal is just to trick the brain and stomach into thinking now I have some food and I'm not starving so I can relax and fall asleep (I swear, I love my mom, but I think she starved me as a baby, because I've this irrational fear of falling asleep hunger). It may be different for everyone. Make sure if you eat cheese, find the low-fat or fat-free (there is fat-free string cheese; 1 cheese stick with some whole wheat crackers or cucumbers), not brie (although it's delicious!). The protein helps fill you up.

good luck with your wt loss journey!

[alykat06]

I try and be done eating by 7, on work days I don't tend to be hungry at night because I just ate dinner after 6 anyways, but on weekends when I have dinner earlier I might crave something..so I try and grab some fruit, veggies, cheese, protienbar/shake, some popcorn, or maybe a no sugar added fudgesicle.

[BubblyBrunette]

I usually have my dinner at around 6:30 then eat a bag of 94% fat free Kettle Korn as my treat at around 8 - 8:30. I then go to bed around 11:00.

I've never been a real late night eater but I look forward to my popcorn after being so good all day so I don't miss it.

[OOlala]

To be honest I eat any ole time.... I think last night I was still eating around 9:30... but I think what you eat is more important than the time.