Let me preface this post by saying I am not a dietitian with eating cut off times. There’s no major metabolism shift after 8pm, but there is an argument for sleep and your circadian rhythm (read on). Now with the disclaimer aside, one Achilles heel of so many a people (myself included) is the post dinner/pre bed/late night snacking. We finish dinner, clean up and are starting to unwind when those Fritos in the cupboard come calling. Suddenly, the will power I exercised ALL DAMN DAY falls by the wayside and I’m suddenly a half bag of Fritos deep and scouring my freezer for ice cream. WHY? And is late night snacking really THAT bad?
I am not above the above
Why is it happening?
It’s really quite simple – you’ve been trying to be ‘good’ all day. Cutting calories, corners and engaging in full tilt self-denial. By the time you’ve finished dinner – your body (and mind) are like ‘Cool dude, thanks for feeding me. Can I get some more please?’ I’m talking full Oliver Twisty mode. Yes, Twisty.
When talking with clients about tackling that late night snacking, few believe the issues lies at the beginning on the day, rather thinking it’s a matter of will power. It’s not a will power issue (w// maybe not 7/10 times), it’s a biological issue. You’re body is craving the fuel you’ve denied it all day.
Is it late night snacking bad for you?
One thing is for certain – eating late at night can cause digestive issues (heartburn) and disrupted sleep. Does it automatically mean you’ll gain weight though? Meh – not necessarily. But let’s be real for a second, that compulsive drive to eat late at night is less likely being motivated by actual hunger and more so out of boredom, stress, habit. READ: Excess calorie intake (most likely).
How to avoid it
- EAT – every 3-4 hours if you can. I’m talking breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks.
- Ensure your meals and snacks have balance – carbs, protein and healthy fats
- Ignore cut off times – this nonsense of ‘I can’t eat after 8pm’ is total BS. If you’re up for another 3 hours after dinner, please eat a snack before bed.
- Stop eating diet foods – you heard me. Low carb wraps, keto granola and low sugar cookies. BYE. They are not helping. They just leave you feeling unsatisfied and ultimately looking for more nine times out of ten. Check out these killer high fiber snacks.
- Normalize stress/emotional eating – some nights, sh*t happens. You’re sad, mad, stressed, bored, anxious. It’s OKAY to engage in a little self soothing when your other coping tools can’t seem to scratch the itch.
Head to the Downloads for more ideas – breakfast ideas, grocery lists, you name it. Looking for a more tailored approach? Book an intro call now.
Disclaimer: Statements in this post are for educational use only and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent conditions. Readers are advised to consult with their healthcare providers prior to making any changes to their healthcare management.
Let me preface this post by saying I am not a dietitian with eating cut off times. There’s no major metabolism shift after 8pm, but there is an argument for sleep and your circadian rhythm (read on). Now with the disclaimer aside, one Achilles heel of so many a people (myself included) is the post dinner/pre bed/late night snacking. We finish dinner, clean up and are starting to unwind when those Fritos in the cupboard come calling. Suddenly, the will power I exercised ALL DAMN DAY falls by the wayside and I’m suddenly a half bag of Fritos deep and scouring my freezer for ice cream. WHY? And is late night snacking really THAT bad?
I am not above the above
Why is it happening?
It’s really quite simple – you’ve been trying to be ‘good’ all day. Cutting calories, corners and engaging in full tilt self-denial. By the time you’ve finished dinner – your body (and mind) are like ‘Cool dude, thanks for feeding me. Can I get some more please?’ I’m talking full Oliver Twisty mode. Yes, Twisty.
When talking with clients about tackling that late night snacking, few believe the issues lies at the beginning on the day, rather thinking it’s a matter of will power. It’s not a will power issue (w// maybe not 7/10 times), it’s a biological issue. You’re body is craving the fuel you’ve denied it all day.
Is it late night snacking bad for you?
One thing is for certain – eating late at night can cause digestive issues (heartburn) and disrupted sleep. Does it automatically mean you’ll gain weight though? Meh – not necessarily. But let’s be real for a second, that compulsive drive to eat late at night is less likely being motivated by actual hunger and more so out of boredom, stress, habit. READ: Excess calorie intake (most likely).
How to avoid it
- EAT – every 3-4 hours if you can. I’m talking breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks.
- Ensure your meals and snacks have balance – carbs, protein and healthy fats
- Ignore cut off times – this nonsense of ‘I can’t eat after 8pm’ is total BS. If you’re up for another 3 hours after dinner, please eat a snack before bed.
- Stop eating diet foods – you heard me. Low carb wraps, keto granola and low sugar cookies. BYE. They are not helping. They just leave you feeling unsatisfied and ultimately looking for more nine times out of ten. Check out these killer high fiber snacks.
- Normalize stress/emotional eating – some nights, sh*t happens. You’re sad, mad, stressed, bored, anxious. It’s OKAY to engage in a little self soothing when your other coping tools can’t seem to scratch the itch.
Head to the Downloads for more ideas – breakfast ideas, grocery lists, you name it. Looking for a more tailored approach? Book an intro call now.
Disclaimer: Statements in this post are for educational use only and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent conditions. Readers are advised to consult with their healthcare providers prior to making any changes to their healthcare management.
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