Late Night Hunger

[CoffeePlz]

How do you cope? I get sooo very hungry at around 9pm-1am (I have a hard time falling asleep). I usually give in and eat whatever I can find since I can't sleep when I'm hungry, but then I feel like sh** for not having more self control. Anyone deal with this? I need to break the cycle!

[AXT]

I think you already know the answer to that and it is to eat more throughout the day. The starve (all day) and binge (at night) cycle is an inevitable response to expect from a mistreated and unwell body that has to deal with the realms of your ED. *hugs*

[bulimiargh]

I think you already know the answer to that and it is to eat more throughout the day. The starve (all day) and binge (at night) cycle is an inevitable response to expect from a mistreated and unwell body that has to deal with the realms of your ED. *hugs*

It's not necessarily just about eating more though—it's also a question of addiction and compulsion and habit in some cases, like a learned behaviour. I don't restrict and I still overeat at night from pure habit, and I have since childhood.

It's a vicious cycle and hard to break. I feel for you, OP, I've been there 😞

[AXT]

It's not necessarily just about eating more though—it's also a question of addiction and compulsion and habit in some cases, like a learned behaviour. I don't restrict and I still overeat at night from pure habit, and I have since childhood.

It's a vicious cycle and hard to break. I feel for you, OP, I've been there 😞

Haha but at least THAT part can be worked on. plus I believe that's not the situation mentioned - but still applies If it is

[CoffeePlz]

I know I don't eat enough during the day, but even when I do I'm still hungry at night. And it's actual hunger. Sometimes I crave food from habit, but I can handle that. It's the nagging hunger that keeps me awake until I give in and eat

[teiidae]

I think you already know the answer to that and it is to eat more throughout the day. The starve (all day) and binge (at night) cycle is an inevitable response to expect from a mistreated and unwell body that has to deal with the realms of your ED. *hugs*

This is so logical and obvious in retrospect, and yet when I read it I was like "EUREKA" lol ohhh ED logic. I've spent so many nights legitimately asking myself why I'm so hungry ... when I was so good about not eating all day?!? Gee, I wonder.

I still struggle with late night food cravings atrociously even on days when I eat normally. TBH when it strikes my only two options are dissatisfaction and misery or food and different misery. Sometimes I can ease through compulsions by drinking tea/juice or vegetable broth though.

[bulimiargh]

Haha but at least THAT part can be worked on. plus I believe that's not the situation mentioned - but still applies If it is

It is, and I've tried every solution offered. Nothing works 😔

[SquareDuck]

It is, and I've tried every solution offered. Nothing works ��

This^
Habits are way worse to deal with than if this would physical hunger. (OP, care to clarify?)
I guess if it's physical, just eating dinner later or a light snack with protein would do the trick. And getting enough sleep everyday because lack of sleep messes up your appetite regulation.

If it's a mental thing, then everyone has to work around it differently... Maybe trying a new sleep pattern could overthrow the pattern? We're at our weakest in the evening, exhausted by the day...

- SquareDuck

Edit: the mere fact that it was posted in the ANA section might indicate that it's physical due to undereating?

[CoffeePlz]

Sometimes it's just craving food, but I can work through that. It's the actual hunger that will keep me up. Like so hungry I'm nauseated. And I hate having to get up and eat cuz my hubby is never hungry at night. Even when I eat normal I'm still hungry starting at 9:30 or so. Is go to bed earlier but I have insomnia. What are some ok foods?

[kodachrome]

Try foods that have volume but are low calorie? I find popcorn's helpful for that sort of thing.