How do I stop eating so much after the kids go to bed?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Brush your teeth immediately after dinner or, chew gum

This. Also, drink tea in place of any junk you would normally eat. In a week it'll become a habit and you'll have a craving for tea at night and not for junk that'll make you feel like crap.

[Anonymous]

Power down yourself right after the kids go to bed. I do not go directly to bed myself, but I take a bath, read, calm down and get ready for bed. As I am in "getting ready for bed/calm down" mode, I don't think, "I need to go get some food."

[Anonymous]

Another snacker here. Some of the things you can do. First, STOP the Diet Coke, or if you must, stop any for the last half of your day. If your day is 14 hours, then only drink diet coke in the first 7 hours. While it is calorie free, some studies have shown that the artificial sweeteners still cause insulin spikes which trigger your body to store energy. While you are winding down and using fewer calories, your body is converting glucose to glycogen and glycogen to fat and the insulin spike is encouraging this and speeding it up.

Also, after dinner, make a tall glass of water (I usually fill a 24 oz glass). And the first time you experience a desire to snack, drink as much of that as you can. Then wait 15 minutes. If you still have a desire to snack, take a small healthy snack. But I've found that the water will decrease the volume of snack that I eat. I'm more likely to have a smaller healthy portion of snack after 16-24 oz of water. Soup is a good snack in that it will fill you up on fewer calories (assuming you're not having some heavy cream based soup...try thinner broth based soups like Vegetable soup).

[Anonymous]

I have the same problem. My tips:

*Have a cup of mint tea with sugar in it, and a planned snack (e.g. two cookies). The tea satisfies my need for sweetness and it takes awhile to drink. If I plan the snack, I tend to follow the plan.
*Find a hobby that involves your hands. I do a lot of knitting, which is incompatible with eating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another snacker here. Some of the things you can do. First, STOP the Diet Coke, or if you must, stop any for the last half of your day. If your day is 14 hours, then only drink diet coke in the first 7 hours. While it is calorie free, some studies have shown that the artificial sweeteners still cause insulin spikes which trigger your body to store energy. While you are winding down and using fewer calories, your body is converting glucose to glycogen and glycogen to fat and the insulin spike is encouraging this and speeding it up.

Also, after dinner, make a tall glass of water (I usually fill a 24 oz glass). And the first time you experience a desire to snack, drink as much of that as you can. Then wait 15 minutes. If you still have a desire to snack, take a small healthy snack. But I've found that the water will decrease the volume of snack that I eat. I'm more likely to have a smaller healthy portion of snack after 16-24 oz of water. Soup is a good snack in that it will fill you up on fewer calories (assuming you're not having some heavy cream based soup...try thinner broth based soups like Vegetable soup).

I forgot to add that caffeine late at night (the coffee and the diet coke) are also not good. Although not conclusive, some studies indicate that caffeine (the equivalent of at least two cups of coffee in a day or 36 oz or more of diet coke) can potentially cause anxiety, hypertension, insomnia and nervousness, all of which may be conducive to stress-based emotional eating. If you are drinking coffee at night, try switching to a calming tea (not black tea). Lower caffeine and some versions have good anti-oxidants and others have calming and relaxing effects which will counter the effects of caffeine.

[Anonymous]

Decaf coffee with flavored creamer, tea, or sugar free hot chocolate work for me in the winter as a later night "snack". Plus since they are hot drinks it takes a while to get through them and by the time I am finished I usually feel satisfied enough to not snack anymore.

[Anonymous]

Try a food tracker app, like loseit. Sometimes just having to write down that I'm about to eat a bunch of ice cream post dinner is enough for me to put it back in the fridge and make some tea instead. Usually it's just a sign of boredom, so I can distract myself by knitting or doing something else instead.

[Anonymous]

Put dinner leftovers away when you plate food and put plates in the dishwasher right away after eating. Wipe down the counters and let dinner end. You don't need to eat two dinners, or finish the kids food after they eat. If you want a snack later have an apple and a carrot (lots of chewing and volume in your belly) and some herbal tea.

[Anonymous]

I have the same issue.

tea
brush teeth
knit (so hands busy while watching tv)

hear that self!!!!

[Anonymous]

Get into bed and read a good book/ magazine!

[Anonymous]

OP, you sound so much like me, esp. with the "volume issues." Honestly, nothing I eat is bad/processed and much of it is downright healthy -- if I could just stop at 10 almonds rather than 4 handfuls.

You know the only thing that worked for me, month in and month out? Going to bed at 9. Kid in bed at 8:40, me read for 15 minutes, me fall asleep.

This is only optimal I think if you're not partnered or married, as I am not.

[Anonymous]

I think you need to change your mindset that it's OK or normal to be eating at that time of night.

If you've eaten three square meals, you don't need to eat more dinner or a snack. You are not eating because you are hungry at that point. You are eating because you are bored, or tired, or sad.

So, find something to do other than sitting on the couch and eating, or go to bed. Do this for a few weeks, and I bet you will find it hard to believe that you ever had this habit.

[Anonymous]

I have the same problem and I really, really appreciate everyone who took the time to post tips here.

One thing that has helped me is simply eating less at dinner as I transition to no eating after dinner. Last night, I did snack, but it didn't do as much damage as it would have if I had eaten a full dinner first. I'm simply wound up at night and busy with the kids, so I can't stop everything and do yoga.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What are you eating for breakfast and lunch? If you aren't eating enough fat (healthy fats like olive oil, coconut oil, avocado, salmon, seeds, etc) then your body may be trying to get what it needs later be craving food. I would bulk up your breakfast and lunch, I bet you won't be nearly as hungry in the evenings. Also, make sure you are well hydrated.

This. I always know if I didn't eat enough during the day because I wake up around midnight starving and have to go eat a couple tablespoons of peanut butter.

[Anonymous]

Second the food tracking app. I use Calorie Count. Just putting food in there gives you something to do with your hands that is not eating. And makes you accountable.