Health & Support

Hi everyone,

I am new here on Calorie Count as a member but I've been counting calories for a very long time and using this as a resource. I am very concerned these days because of my sleep wake cycle which I know is/ can be influenced by my metabolic rate. (correct me if wrong) I am outreaching to your little community here with a concerning issue for me:

I've been waking up during the middle of the night and eating!! I know that doesn't sound too bad but it's hindering me from achieving my goal which I am only 5lb away from reaching! I know this is the last hurdle and I can't seem to jump over!!!! It makes me feel very tired during the day from the disrupted sleep; guilty; and discouraged! I eat things like ice cream, Nutella, toast, cereal, and cookies. I've tried EVERYTHING to curb the cravings or stop this from happening! I end up topping up with 500 - 700 calories which is ridiculous to be consuming in one late night sitting! I end up waking up all bloated and gassy the next morning. It doesn't matter if I have a light snack during the night RIGHT before sleeping I still end up caving.
I workout orthodoxly and I'm a competitive runner so I am dieting for performance and self esteem since I am uncomfortable at this weight. I feel very frustrated and angry with myself because it throws off my ENTIRE day!!! I end up being very nervous not knowing WHAT to eat because I fear I'll wake up and binge; and then I do regardless!!!! I tend to eat small meals continuously throughout a day and I work at Starbucks. Thus, the only culprit s are pieces of pastries here and there during my shift which I only allow for about 150calorie tops (if even that)! I feel like it's not fair that I wake up in the middle of the night and ruin my entire day of healthy eating which is usually around 1500 - 1600 calories (I burn off at least 500 from exercise) I feel cheated and I'm so frustrated!!! It's impossible to exercise more than I do now which is a normal amount. In fact, today I was late for work because I woke up - yet again- stuffing my face with s*#DG!!!

I've tried increasing my cals and that just makes me gain weight. If I lower the cals to 1000 a day then I start losing again and I reach my goal within two weeks but then I'm starving myself!!? I don't want to do that and it's such a horrible feeling. I feel defeated! I feel like I'm cheating myself! Please any advice I would be very thankful at your graciousness!

SO...WHAT DO I DO? What should I eat during the day! Is there hope...is it inconclusive from what I've told you guys? DOES THIS HAPPEN TO YOU???????!! It happens to be on a regular basis ...like everyday/ 5 times a week. I fear I may start gaining WEIGHT SOON!!!!!!!

employ a little self control and stop getting up to munch at 3am. go back to sleep.

i would talk to a doctor about that because obviously you cannot control this yourself. as for the above post, no i don't think it's about self control when you're still half asleep. 

Honestly, I think it's just a really bad habit.  Your body is now used to eating at that time, so it'll automatically wake you up hungry at that same time; even if you're not really hungry.  We're creatures of habit and like schedules. 

I used to be a night snacker.  I'd eat dinner around 5 or 6 and then be stuffing my face by 10 or 11 at night.  What you need to do is believe that you are the only one in control of this (becasue you are) and unless you're sleepwalking, you don't need to see a doctor.  You can do it, just change your habit.  A few nights of not snacking might break the cycle altogether!  It did for me - change things up a bit and fight the urge - you can do it!  It's soo worth it!

eat cottage cheesebefore bed every night- the protein in it breaks down slowly and fuels your body through the night. it also will help repair and build muscles while your body recovers through sleep. if you still wake up at night stop eating it before bed and save iot for your middle of the night snack. it will take self control to cut from hundreds of cals to just some cottage cheese but it will be easier than going cold turkey. honestly- it is good that you are waking up in the middle of the night if it is actually becasue of hunger- that means your metabolism is in full speed- just dont ruin it by over eating and then laying down. jsut try to control it better- think about how awful you'll feel in the morning if you eat too much.

if you dont like cottage cheese or dont have any- at the very least stay away from carbs before or during bedtime- they will turn right into fat after you lay back down. try some nuts-almonds or walnuts, or protein- carbo overloading is what makes you gassy and bloated in the morning

I used to do that and it is a habit. I found some help for my sleep disorder, and I don't wake up hungry any more.

See the obsession with 5 pounds is really the problem you have. And like pgeorgian or someone said in another post, the food/exercise obsession is a cover up for what's really going on.

I note you are eating 1500 calories, then burning off "at least 500" so that is starvation. You need to have consumed at least 1300 plus whatever you burn. So you are in starvation mode, of course you wake up hungry: you are starving.

meaganmeagan has a good idea with the focus on protein, turkey is supposed to be a good protein source to help you sleep, too.

To be honest, I don't have the starvation problem, although perfectionism and "being right" are major blockages for me. I am eating everything wide awake and trying to plan it in advance, and I just can't seem to keep my calories within a normal range. I know it's not a physical "hunger" thing. I have obsessions about my size and it is all tied to icky things inside my head.  Let Go and Let God. Easy Does It. One Day at a Time. I cannot change until I'm ready, and getting up my courage to change is something that will happen.

Hey!

    Thanks for the good advice.  I really appreciate it everyone!  It really will be a hard habit to break and I really do care/obsess over these 5lb.  I sometimes give up but then get back on track because I feel like if I do give up I'll just gain even more weight/not lose and the only option is to keep moving forward.   I guess as much as we all want there really isn't ever a "quick fix" in dieting and it's all a mental game.  I will be purchasing some cottage cheese tomorrow afternoon as soon as possible

=)