Hello!
I have recently came to the conclusion that I have a problem, even though I don't believe it is too serious of a problem, I know that if I continue with this habit it will undoubtedly have a negative effect on my health.
I like to live a healthy lifestyle. Surprisingly, I actually enjoy eating healthy foods and staying active. Every morning my day starts off well. I'll eat a well-proportioned breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a few light snacks throughout the day, not once wanting or having any desire to eat anything I would consider unhealthy.
But, by the time evening approaches, something in my head triggers me to want more. I'm not hungry, I know this for a fact, but for some reason anything in sight becomes desirable.
Now, it's not that I'm craving food, because neither my stomach, nor my mouth are hungry, it's simply my head wanting to go on a ravenous binge. I've tried to distract my desire to eat by reading, stretching, or even brushing my teeth. But, for the past few weeks nothing has helped distract me from the kitchen, so every night I've done the ravenous binge.
It starts off with one piece of chocolate, which I find nothing wrong with, but it quickly escalates to a trans fat packed box of cookies that I would usually never dream of putting into my body any other hour of the day. I basically end up eating until I'm completely over satisfied, go to bed feeling horrible, both mentally and physically, and then wake up feeling completely guilty from the night before.
Luckily, I always seem to realize that every day is a brand new day, and I'll eat perfectly normal until sadly the cycle starts all over again that night. It's hard to even describe the thought process that goes through my head throughout the binge, and it's almost as if I'm not thinking at all.
I've realized that what I call my problem isn't very uncommon. I've read many articles and blogs online with young women like myself encountering the same situation, but I feel like everything I read says the same thing. Most people are on diets where they're depriving themselves throughout the day which causes their binge, but I don't deprive myself whatsoever.
If anyone has anything to share, I'm open to hear it all. I'm only nineteen years old, and I realize that I have my whole life to live, and I WANT it to be a healthy one. Continuing a habit like this is not going to allow me to live the life I want to live. I feel like sharing this has already moved me one step closer to breaking my habit.
Your opinions or advice would be so greatly appreciated!
hi, i'm also 19 and i had a similar problem this past winter. i'd eat very healthy during the day and then at night could down a box of crackers or chocolate or what i had at hand. however my problem was more likely cause i was constantly getting sick and couldn't get to the gym at all...plus family problems etc. sometimes i still get those urges but since my issues have somewhat resolved i'm doing alright...i've always been more of a night time binger but now instead i just eat a bit more than i should and all healthy food...so in a regular day i'd have a small dinner after the gym then a small bowl of air popped popcorn an hour after and then after that i'd have a cup of frozen blueberries...so i'm pretty much weaning myself off slowly. if you have no issues to be resolved like me then i'd suggest to first clear your house of stuff you would't eat and then once those urges start you can grab something healthy...like your breakfast cereal...go for filling foods so you still get that over full feeling without all those calories. Remember to have patience...baby steps to keep those habits off!
good luck!
ReplyWhy do you have junk in your house at all? Out of sight, out of mind.
ReplyNight time binging is my biggest problem too. It is when I am sitting around not doing anything and to amuse myself or have a treat while watching all my favorite shows I have a snack which leads to more snacks.
ReplyI'm a tad :) older than you, but had similar problem, only I didn't want to binge while still awake, my mind took me to the fridge while asleep instead.
There's a couple of things you could consider at this point:
Reply1) there has been many articles in past few years indicating that there is a up limit on our will and determination to do what we believe is right. If you cross over, strange things begin to happen. The solution: loosen up, don't be so tight on your diet and discipline
2) you are seriously deprived of food and your body is getting back to you. The solution: eat more. This was my case. I went to bed slightly TOO underfed. Underfed is nothing wrong with (not only for losing weight, but also for your general health), but I seemed to be TOO underfed and I was compensating in my sleep. My solution was to add more fiber and a bit of fat to my last protein meal. This solved my problem and I've been free from sleep-binges for a couple of years now.
I just did a post on this & rather than rewriting the whole thing, I will provide a link. Now, I am NOT trying to promote my blog. For those that see me here all the time, I do not do that & I don't have advertising on my blog so I am not making money off it. Feel free to check out this post:
http://truth2beingfit.com/2009/07/22/nighttime-snacking-help.aspx
I have done other posts so you can use the search key for other posts on the same subject.
ReplyI am guilty of nighttime snacking too! It seems the hardest time of day to resist temptations lying around the house.
I read an article this week by Jody Fit at 51 who had some great tips to help stop snacking at night. I loved this post of hers that gave 5 real tips that you can start doing tonight!
http://truth2beingfit.com/2009/07/22/nighttime-snacking-help.aspx
I haven't had snacks at night since Monday night - almost a week!
ReplyThx Kellie! Also, as Barry said, if there is something you absolutely can't resist, don't bring it in the house! I still follow that even after all these years!
ReplyI meant to say Ben.. now seeing that he was speaking out of the wrong side of his mouth in his most recent post about me, not sure I want to give him credit but I will be bigger than he is!
Replywhat zorbs is said correct. like smoking. if we want to stop smoking. first thing that we need to do is drop it in the rubbish. same to this.
ReplyI'm home from school for the summer, which is why I am surrounded by junk food. My family doesn't choose to eat as healthy as they should. But anyways, thank you all! It's nice reassurance to have real people directly relating to me, instead of having to read article after article. I think I'll take the advice of a smaller dinner with more snacks afterwards. Thanks again.
ReplyI used to have this problem. Nothing seemed to work until I realized it was my body's way of dealing with stress. Once I figured out what was causing this stress and took steps to deal with it, the night time binges went away.
ReplyJust allow yourself a little indulgence. If you know that is the time of day you enjoy a little treat, then just eat a little less during the day. That way you don't feel so guilty and you can actually enjoy it.
ReplyJust eat at night. Plan to eat at night. If you want a meal, eat a small meal. If you want dessert, find a small dessert. Don't torture yourself and binge. You will save calories and lose weight in the long run:)
ReplyIf you can't get the snacks out of the house, then it's going to be harder. I can relate one thing I did once in a similar situation.
I had a problem with eating too many Doritos. So I bought a bag, and put it on a shelf where I could see it all the time. (Not a food shelf, a book shelf. I don't think it would have worked if they were near other food.) I resolved not to eat any.
Days passed and the bag was still there. I wasn't going to eat them. I wasn't going to go get some other ones either. Why would I? I already have a bag of my favorite kind right here.
After a long time, they went bad and I eventually threw them away. They'd served their purpose.
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Also, I'm going to definitely suggest staying away from chocolate in particular. There's something specifically compulsive about chocolate that results in an urge to eat. I'm not sure what it is, but it goes beyond normal food and taste and hunger.
Chocolate is good and there's nothing wrong with eating a little bit of it in general. But you have a specific problem right now, so chocolate is best excluded. When you go back to living somewhere with no snacks, eat a bit of chocolate.
Reply1) Have you tried chewing gum? Drinking water or hot decaf tea?
2) Maybe you're not eating enough during the day and eat too much at night out of hunger?
3) Eliminate your "trigger foods" from your immediate environment.
Good luck!
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