Avoiding those late night snacks

  

 

I am sooo guilty of this!! We all are...I mean who doesn't want cookies and milk after dinner?? 

Well that late night snacking just added unnecessary calories to your diet and can lead to weight gain. Eating late at night means you're consuming calories at a time when your body is unlikely able to burn them off before bed.  Now I do remember watching an old episode on The Tyra show back in the day (I loved that show lol) and I believe it was a doctor who said if you are going to eat late, you HAVE to give yourself at least two hours for the food to digest before you head to bed.  That might be true, but I do have some ideas to avoid eating in the first place, and to re think about what and you are eating and why you are choosing to eat late at night.

Discovering Why~

Is it the taste of the foods that you are craving? Are you finding yourself still hungry at the end of the day? Are you bored and looking for an activity that you enjoy? Are you trying to repress loneliness?

Enjoying Your Snacks~

If your primary motivation for eating late is that you have snacks that you enjoy (my downfall), not being able to eat them at all can lead you to obsess over them. Then you could actually go into a purging effect and eat a whole BOX of cookies instead of a couple. To avoid this problem, allow yourself a reasonable amount of your favorite snack during the day or just after dinner, rather than late at night.

Eating Late Due to Hunger~

If you find yourself hungry late at night, there are two quick fixes that can overcome that hunger pain without indulging in an after-hours snack. Consider eating dinner later so that you aren't hungry later in the evening. This totally works! If I eat around 5, I guarantee I will be wondering around my pantry by 8-8:30 ...but if I eat around 6 or even 6:30 I'm less likely to go for a snack. If you don't believe that timing is the problem, take a look at what you are eating for dinner. Is it satisfying? Are you still hungry when you leave the table? Be sure that your dinner is well-balanced and that your plate includes both healthy fats and protein to leave you feeling satisfied when you finish that last bite.

The second option to avoid hunger is to go to bed earlier so that temptation won't strike you when it gets later. Experiment with both and find the right option that won't leave you raiding the refrigerator later.

Eating Out of Boredom~

I think many people who find themselves snaking late at night may just be bored and looking for something to do. It's easy to snack and watch TV but by the time you look down you might have had a whole bag of popcorn, or a half a bag of chips, or that box of cookies-this can pack on the pounds. Focus on finding other activities that allow you to engage in something fun during this low-energy time, or if you like TV and snacks try grabbing out a portion instead of the whole package.

Reaching Out to Others~

If loneliness is what is causing you to eat, it's possible that you are snacking to repress your feelings. Instead of reaching for a snack, try reaching out to a friend or family member when loneliness strikes. Even if it's late at night, it's never too late to send out emails and engage with your friends on social media.

I know all of this "sounds easy", but once you re evaluate what you are putting in your mouth and why-you can get a grasp on your snaking habits and improve on them. Also try to challenge yourself. Start with stopping ALL snacks after dinner for at least 3 days and see how you feel? You may find yourself not wanting those treats after all ;)

Bottom line-do what makes you happy without any regrets later on <3

~Mandy