I want to stop

[conqueso]

Ok... I have a pretty annoying problem. I am absolutely wonderful during the day and eat Atkins friendly everything! No frankenfoods, no diet drinks, drink water, stick to fat/protein. I even treat myself to apples or strawberries every now and then. However, as soon as 5pm comes around I just want to binge! I'm a night eater. I could go all day without eating and not be bothered, but at night, that is all I want to do is eat! Last night I ended up making a low carb blueberry cake cause I wanted to take some to work for our potluck. Well, I ended up eating half the cake, a chicken breast with cheese, low carb wrap, two tablespoons of peanut butter, and two slices of low carb bread with butter! (Oh, and two diet cokes!) And this is all after I ate a good dinner of chicken breast and salad. What the-?!?!?! What is wrong with me? I binge most nights of the week. I have no idea why. I'm not hungry. I don't crave sweets. It's like I get bored and continue stuffing my face. I went for a walk with my dogs, surfed the net, and started doing my laundry just to stop from eating, but I ate anyway. I asked my husband if we could please go to the gym tonight after dinner. I hope this prevents me from doing it again. Any suggestions or words of wisdom? Does anyone or has anyone ever gone through something like this?

[Lyssie]

Re: I want to stop

I would eat a higher fat dinner, drink some water, going to the gym or doing something physical is great - it gets you away from the food, and then usually you're less hungry after working out for a bit. Also, if you're going to eat something, try something higher fat, lower carb. It looks like a lot of the things you're eating at night have high carb... well, higher carb.

Hope this helps.

[guekjian]

Re: I want to stop

YOu know, Conqueso, I could have written that thread...What I do is eat...legal foods...normally (usually) I eat pork rinds...I got the microwave ones so they are nice and fresh...and they are salty enough that I drink at least 2 glasses of water with them and end up too full to want to eat anything else. I know the salt isnt great, but it is better than binging on doughnuts!

[julirama723]

Re: I want to stop

When are you eating your carbs during the day? I find that if I have my higher carb foods at night with dinner, I not tempted to eat as much as if I'd had them for breakfast or lunch or earlier in the day.

Are you eating fat with those berries or those apples? An apple is pretty high-carb (13g for a small, 17g for a medium) and you NEED to eat something high-fat with it (like peanut butter or cheese or nuts), otherwise it will cause a major blood-sugar spike. In fact, maybe it's not a bad idea to stop eating some of those higher carb foods for a while until you feel more in control.

Did these habits develop after the addition of a certain food or food group?

I agree with Lyssie--head to the gym, get that endorphin high, burn some calories, and get your mind off food!

[conqueso]

Re: I want to stop

Actually, I eat the majority of my carbs during the day. I eat veggies in my scrambled eggs at breakfast and a nice big salad at lunch. I usually have a small amount of veggies at dinner. Right now I'm trying to stay away from cream cheese and peanut butter... learned a while back that I like to eat these in excess way too much. I will cut out the apples and see how that goes. Apples don't seen to give me cravings though. I'm worried that this is going to become a habit! I do my cardio in the mornings, usually run 5 miles at 430am! If not this then I do elliptical for 65 minutes. Maybe do my cardio in the am and do my weightlifting in the pm? I think I just need an activity to keep my hands busy and off of food! The other bad things is is that I LOVE to cook and bake. I like keeping busy this way. It sucks that my DH is doing low fat and low calorie. He did Atkins for two weeks, lost 8 pounds, but he does not like the food choices, and so he quit. But, he relies on me to make his food! Ugh! I feel like I'm running a restaurant! Anyhoo, I will hit the gym and see if that helps.

[julirama723]

Re: I want to stop

Eating more of your carbs earlier in the day might be a problem. I do better if I space them out evenly, or even save more of my carbs for dinnertime.

Holy cow, if you're running 5 miles in the morning, your metabolism is going crazy. What I've noticed from doing longer runs is that my hunger FEELS different. Instead of a grumbling-tummy type feeling, it's like my WHOLE BODY is craving energy and fuel, and it's almost like I could eat anything I get my hands on. Make sure you're eating lots of small things here and there, all legal, to keep your hunger at bay. Don't be afraid of those calories. Do you do cardio and weightlifting EVERY SINGLE DAY?

Give your hubby a cookbook and tell him to start reading. Just kidding. But there's no reason that you should have to make all of his food for him. You don't expect him to make all of your food, do you? Is there a way you can compromise with food? Make a basic meal (like grilled chicken) that's acceptable for both of you, and the side dishes are different?

I loved to cook and bake, too, I used to do it almost daily, just for fun. But I realized the reason I liked to do it so much is because I would eat half of what I was making! Since I've given it up as a constant hobby (and only done it for special occasions or once in a blue moon) I do not have those same longings or cravings for food.

[PaulaMM]

Re: I want to stop

Julie and Lyssie have given you some pretty good advice! I agree with everything they've said.

I also think you've developed a habit. If you are binging most nights of the week, your body and mind are expecting you to continue. Getting away from your usual binge enviroment and making food unavailable at your usual binge times will help you to break this habit.

Best of luck to you. Habits are so hard to break but you'll feel so much better having done it.

[conqueso]

Re: I want to stop

Juli-I do cardio 5 or 6 times a week, but I don't do weightlifting with it everyday! Ugh! I think I'd completely pass out! And I know what that feeling of hunger is like! I almost think that my body wants all the food before I go to bed just because it knows I'm gonna be running in the morning! It's trying to stock up on fuel! But I will try everyone's advice and I'm definitely going to give it my all to break this bad habit! Thanks for everyone's help!!!

[julirama723]

Re: I want to stop

Conqueso, eating more food at night is not all bad, unless it really is a binge. Do you just eat more at night because you're hungry, or does it feel out of control/are you worried it's bad because people give you that hooey about "not eating after 7pm"???

I actually eat the majority of my calories in the evening. But, I eat a small breakfast, a small lunch, a small snack, and my workout is usually in the evening before dinner. I would only be worried about this if I ate huge breakfasts and lunches. I'm giving my body what it wants, and it compensates by not needing a huge breakfast, etc.

I'm relieved to see you're not strength training everyday! I was worried there for a minute.

Keep us posted on what happens!

[kellyf48]

Re: I want to stop

Make sure you are eating enough during the day. I also do this, Some nights I just go to bed so I wont eat. I love watching a movie and snacking!! I try to have a snack before I leave work so i am not starving when i get home.

[kristenv]

Re: I want to stop

I am curious if prior to low carb you had the same pattern with night time eating.
It seems for me to be a time of needing "comfort or respite" from the day.
I also get up at 4:00, walk the dogs, then work out. Cardio and weights on alternating days.
Given it is such a long day, I too have found nights to be the most difficult time of day to stay on plan. I have found that if I taste any sweets (low carb), I am off and running with the nibbles. Nothing seems to satisfy.
So, I have 2 suggestions that have been helpful:
Decide if you are you physically tired, and eating as way to keep going. If so, rest!!
My day is hectic and long and once I actually stop moving I crash.
Meditatation. Sometimes I feel a restlessness (or am not even aware that I have an emotional thing happening with all the mental chatter in my head from the day) and if I can stop and be quiet, even a few minutes, sometimes I feel more in touch with my inner world and do not feel the desire for food.
I hope that you are able to find a solution as I know how frustrating it is to feel that all of your hard work during the day was for naught. At least it sounds as if you are sticking to legal foods.
Take Care!
Kristen