Hey there, John here and I’m back with some great info for all of my late night eaters.  I’ve been asked several times on how to curb those cravings as well as what are some examples of late night snacks that are ok.  I decided to address that with this post so I hope you gain some valuable insight!

Tip #1: Drink Water

I know nighttime can be tough because you’re unwinding after a long day at work or hard workout and you start to get hungry….or at least you think you’re hungry.  Many times, the hunger cravings people have are really related to thirst.  So instead of reaching for the bag of chips, reach for a glass of water and drink it up.  Chances are it will give you a feeling of being full and you won’t be interested in snacking.

Tip #2: Stay busy

Boredom can be a big factor in eating at night.  You’re not really hungry but you’re watching the tube and need something to munch on at the same time.  Instead, finish that home project you’ve been working on, call a friend, hit some body squats, go for a walk or do something to get your mind off of it.

Tip #3: Don’t skip meals

EAT BREAKFAST!  Make sure you eat a well rounded breakfast and spread the rest of your meals out throughout the day.  Work to get in healthy fats during the morning and day as well as your lean proteins and fiber rich carbohydrates.  Near the end of the day, try to minimize your starchy carbs and focus more on your veggies and lean protein.  You’re not going to be as active after dinnertime so you won’t need all those carbohydrates.

Tip #4: Find the trigger

What is it that causes your late night cravings?  Have you ever asked yourself that question?  It might be smart to check out so you can try to identify any triggers.  Perhaps it’s always when you lounge on the couch or if you’re rationalizing because you worked out that day or if you’re stressed out.  Whatever it is, try to find that trigger and think of creative ways to counter it.

Tip #5 If you’re going to snack, choose wisely.  Here’s a little list of some choices you can look into but make sure you control your portions and add in some water.

Low fat or non-fat cottage cheese, low-fat or non-fat greek yogurt, apple with small piece of cheese or string cheese, grapes, couple pieces of dried fruit for dessert, rice cake with small smear or almond butter, fat-free pop corn with no butter or air popped pop corn, glass of milk, piece of sugar-free gum, cup of decaf tea….or one of my favorites…..

go brush your teeth!  Nothing will taste good after that.

Hope this post helps you out with your cravings and late night eating so you can stay on track with those fitness and fat loss goals!  And be sure to leave a comment below if you enjoyed it!

Dedicated to your success,

John Heringer