Late night snacks

[tbanucci]

I have a habit of staying up late and working till sometimes 4 am. Yes, this means I usually wake up and have breakfast around 10 AM.

Anyway, I get real hungry while working late and get major cravings, especially for carbs (Although I don't indulge in them- except for a scoop of peanut butter or bite of fruit from here to there).

My question to all of you is: what do you end up snacking on late at night to keep within your low-carb diet? I'm getting sick of salami and cream cheese.

[RCFletcher]

Well, forget the bite of fruit. The sugar in it will only cause more carb cravings.
I am not on induction so I snack on nuts. I also make 'sandwiches' from slices of mild cheddar cheese with things on it like marmite, pate or caviar. You could try peanut butter too.

[nikkil]

cucumber slices sprinkled with a bit of salt or with vinegar dribbled on it

turkey breast and jalapeno havarti cheese

Diet Rite soda over ice with 1 tbsp of heavy cream added

mocha -- coffee (I can drink it anytime and it doesn't affect my sleep) with 1 tsp of unsweetened cocoa powder, da vinci syrup and heavy cream

gum and water

If I'm up late and I start feeling 'peckish' these are the things I have :)

[nowonder]

I'm guessing you already know this answer... but you need more sleep.

I get the same way when I'm sleep deprived. Your body needs energy, and since you won't let it recharge with a good nights sleep, it asks for carbs and calories.

I attribute a lot of my weight gain over the years to this.

--nw

[astrocreep]

Hi Tba, I too go to bed late and want food late at night. It isn't so much of a problem on weekends (since I wake up at about 1pm), but it is during the week cause I wake up at 815.

I usually have a dessert/snack every night at about 1030-11pm. I've been doing well with my "pumpkin pie cheesecake mousse" which is just 1-2 oz cream cheese, heavy cream, 1-2 tbsp pumpkin puree, and pumpkin pie spice all whipped together with splenda to taste. You could also just forgo the pumpkin and spices and just add vanilla for a plain cheesecake mousse.

I also eat about 1oz walnuts, they are 4g. I put them in a sautee pan with some butter or margarine splenda and cinnamin and just toast them up. They're excellent.

1 tbsp of good old peanut butter is perfect too! Sliced deli meat is perfect too. That's what I had last night after my pumpkin pie mousse, 3-4 slices of serrano ham.

[tbanucci]

Ooh- pumpkin pie cheesecake! Good ideas all- keep the suggestions coming!

[astrocreep]

I know! LoL. It's delicious! Plus if you're like me and having a hard time getting enough carbs that pumpkin pie cheesecake mousse is DEF the way to go since you can just add more and more pumpkin into it to compensate!

[toopoles]

I also work until about 4AM. I journal extensively. This is what I have found to be true for me (YMMV).

When I don't get as much sleep as I need then I have problems losing weight. So if I go to bed at 4AM then I try to not get up until 12 or 1. If I get up earlier, say at 10 AM it is like my body doesn't have enough time to process everything and I will weigh more than I wish I did.

I also lose better when I limit my late night snacks to a couple of deviled eggs at midnight. I really try not to eat anything later. Marty

[senimoni]

What about sugar free jello is that a no no?

[kiwigal]

sugar free jello i believe can cause stall with some folk..no probs for me..and yum with whipped cream! :yum:
Another good "snack" and very filling is pancakes..Take 3 oz softened cream cheese and beat well with 2 eggs..fry in butter. Serve with your fav' SF toppings! :wave:

[cs_carver]

As has been noted in other discussions, there are sound hormonal reasons for NOT eating for the last three hours before sleep. I need to make sure I eat enough dinner to make it through to breakfast. When I eat late, I get a bigger negative impact than the calories alone, even if I eat LC calories.

[J-net]

I do the sugar free jello with homemade whip cream :p Also beef jerky is a big fav of mine for snacking. Cucumbers, brocoli and ranch, a small pickle occasionally.

[ahrmyers]

I drink a huge glass of water with just a little s/f almond syrup in it. It cures my sweet tooth and my thirst. Plus I'm a late night muncher also and it gives my hands and mouth something to do.

[nikkil]

I'm guessing you already know this answer... but you need more sleep.

I get the same way when I'm sleep deprived. Your body needs energy, and since you won't let it recharge with a good nights sleep, it asks for carbs and calories.

I attribute a lot of my weight gain over the years to this.

--nw

DIT - TO!!!! I can soooo identify with this comment. I work shift work at 3 different hospitals plus I have 3 kids and do volunteer work at their school. Quite frequently I'm awake for 24+ hours at a time. Since I started this insane schedule I gained a total of 55lbs and the lack of sleep definitely played a part (well, so did overeating and eating tons and tons of carbs ;) ).

I've noticed, too, that if I have a few days in a row where I actually get proper sleep (7-8 hours per night) I drop a few pounds :thup: and I'm much less likely to snack.