Night Time Munchies

[janal]

You've been losing weight and eating healthfully, but those cravings might still hit occasionally, causing white knuckled eating.

Assuming meals are eaten as often as needed and true hunger isn't to blame, cravings can be crippling to the person who has followed the rules and who still is finding she could dive into a bowl of pizza flavored gravy.

It's not easy to fight those munchy monsters when they hit, but there are a few ways you can combat giving in to mistakes that might set back your healthy efforts:

1. Wait 20 minutes. Walking away from the kitchen, the house, or the smells causing the immediate grief is the best thing one can do. Pick up a book, watch a favorite show online, or write a letter to mom. Cravings tend to vanish as quickly as they appeared in the first place.

2. Eat some fat. Very little satisfies like the satiety that a tiny bit of fat provides. For the low-fat, low-carbers, try a little bit of protein to achieve a more full feeling that stays for hours.

3. Take a drink. Bodies sometimes confuse hunger and thirst. A cold, refreshing glass of water does wonders for quenching the soul (if not the stomach).

4. L-Glutamine. This amino acid supplement is said to help stave off sugar cravings.

5. Carnitine. Similar in composition to Vitamin B more than an amino acid, this supplement is also said to help stave off cravings.

Sometimes taking a sniff of forbidden foods can be helpful. Aromatherapy for some, a trip through the bakery can be enough to satisfy cravings. If, however, cephalic response kicks in (complete with growling stomach, watering mouth and insulin production), this is not a practical way to stay out of the bag of Snockers candy.

Great article Newme, hope you don't mind me borrowing it for this new thread.

If anyone wants to add their ideas on this topic or have a moan this could be a great place to work out ways to help ourselves and avoid the night time munchie monster.

http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq117/janal_photo/DontCry.jpg

[donkeybrook]

hi all, well, we have a few nocturnal munchers don't we. the other day my husband bought a gym membership for all the family. so here's a thought i had. tonight i went to the gym and pottered about. when i got home i didn't feel like anything to eat, because i thought it would undo all my good work. has anyone else found this works on a long term basis? i.e. not just once:D i remember getting down to 58 after my 15 year old turned 1 which was :eek: 14 years ago. that would be too skinny now at 48 and i'm 171 cm., but i remember working out and walking/running daily and never having the nightime munchies, so maybe that is the key. how about it shez and em? is that true for u guys? or do u still get hit by the munchies. i am also thinking of not allowing myself anything after 7 p.m. (that is, of course, assuming i have had a decent dinner) i find if i don't start eating in the first place i'm ok, but if i start i seem to give myself permission to eat anything not nailed down.:mad:

[Cazza]

I'm having red wine and pretzels if that helps!!! :D

[Shez]

Sorry Thel, I still get the night time munchies :o Never during the day as I don't want to undo all the hard work. When I get the munchies of a night time I have something LC to try and satisfy but if that doesn't work I come in and sit on the computer. I never bring food into the computer room so I can't eat if I'm here :D

[Sherrie]

I very rarely munch after dinner.

[donkeybrook]

more and more i am starting to think it is just a bad habit i've allowed to happen. it is not sugar cravings or anything like that. sometimes i even talk to myself in my head and say "what do u REALLY want? what would taste good?" so i'm not even hungry, which is what annoys me the most about it. Thanks for your input guys. shez, i don't know that i could do that. i'd have the LC's then go looking for everything else:o

[janal]

It's definitely not a problem if I have something to do, which is pretty rare.
I'm pretty sure for me that I need a drink but I always think of food before fluid. I'm not content with a glass of water, so if I do a coffee or a cold spider that usually fixes me up.
It's the "I want this and I want that" craving mentality that I have to keep talking myself out of before I settle on a drink.
In the early days when the munchies were much worse I use to just go to bed with the thoughts of "just sleep through it" which I had to do quite a few times, thankfully I was able to get off to sleep. :rolleyes:

[newme09]

Great article Newme, hope you don't mind me borrowing it for this new thread.

If anyone wants to add their ideas on this topic or have a moan this could be a great place to work out ways to help ourselves and avoid the night time munchie monster.

Of course I don't mind Janal :) I've just discovered this thread and I'm thrilled you started it as this is my biggest problem and it looks like there are a few of us who have the same problem. Hopefully by discussing it here we can help each other with ideas and information.

It's definitely not a problem if I have something to do, which is pretty rare.
I have found this very true Janal, taking the focus off 'what can I eat' and focusing on something else...as it's not hunger.
more and more i am starting to think it is just a bad habit i've allowed to happen. it is not sugar cravings or anything like that. sometimes i even talk to myself in my head and say "what do u REALLY want? what would taste good?" so i'm not even hungry, which is what annoys me the most about it. Thanks for your input guys. shez, i don't know that i could do that. i'd have the LC's then go looking for everything else

I could have written the above donkeybrook, that's me :rolleyes:
It's not every single night, some nights are worse than others and I wonder if it may have been something I've eaten during the day that triggers it off :confused:

A bad habit it possibly is too :rolleyes: all those nights in front of the tv with snacks...and always after a good dinner too....just because :confused:
Maybe it's a similarity of how we go to the movies, everyone has bags of munchies, ice creams and drinks....just because.

[Lynda2475]

I tend to have dinner quite late, because of my working hours or the gym. But lately my late night snack has been 20g of Melrose Almond spread (like peanut butter but from almonds) - its protein and fat so satisfying. Just lick slowly from the spoon.

[Shez]

Just thought of something else I have. Sometimes a Caramel Latte type thing. I make a decaf coffee, sweeten with Da Vinci Caramel syrup and top with whipped cream. I have one of those cream whipper thingies they use in the cafes and it's quite yummy.

[donkeybrook]

hi sheri, with the da vinci syrup - where do u get it from? i live in country west oz so i'd probably have to get it in perth or order it online. also what sweetener do they use and can u taste it? i really don't like the aftertatse of splenda and aspartame type sweeteners so that's why i was asking that. thanks:) thel

[Shez]

I buy it online form Low Carb Zone, they use Sucralose as a sweetener (955)
It does kind of have a funny artificial taste but I only use it occasionally.

[janal]

Just thought of something else I have. Sometimes a Caramel Latte type thing. I make a decaf coffee, sweeten with Da Vinci Caramel syrup and top with whipped cream. I have one of those cream whipper thingies they use in the cafes and it's quite yummy.

Now that sounds yum and satisfying :D

[donkeybrook]

hi all, have u tried sugar free zone? they r an oz online store and the owner is really helpful and have had no problems receiving orders etc. he looks like he could use our website tho:D;)

[janal]

We have to careful of what we eat though, we need to avoid stuff that will cause a fluid gain,

Donkeybrook - If I ate sugarless or artificially sweetened lollies I wouldn't be able to stop at one, then I'd end up with the trots all night :eek: :D

Hope we all find that little something that satisfies us. :D

[Sherrie]

hi all, have u tried sugar free zone? they r an oz online store and the owner is really helpful and have had no problems receiving orders etc. he looks like he could use our website tho:D;)

Be careful he knows about our website ;)

He used to link to us but has stopped for whatever reason. You guys should pester him about how great a resource we would be for his low carb, wheat free, sugar free, diabetic etc customers :p

[Shez]

Donkeybrook - If I ate sugarless or artificially sweetened lollies I wouldn't be able to stop at one, then I'd end up with the trots all night :eek: :D


Yeah me too - I never have just one and then spend the WHOLE night regretting every one of the little buggers that I ate :o

[Sherrie]

I don't really get into lollies, my only crutch at night is that I have to have a hot decaff after dinner. Mind you we don't have early dinners when I cook!

[lily]

I have the decaf coffee too, or herbal tea with splenda. I can't eat just one sugar free lolly, however many are in the house is how many are consumed until I make myself ill.

Sometimes you just have to keep telling yourself you can have something in half an hour and keep putting it off until you fall into bed exhausted and disappointed but not guilty!