Midnight Munchies: Are You Trapped In This Horrible Habit?

Today, I'm pleased to present an intriguing article from a fellow classmate at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. This is a compelling piece by Amanda Lerner about the snack attack that hits many people at midnight (or thereabouts).

FYI, please note that whenever articles by other people are posted on the SUGAR SHOCK! Blog, their views do not necessarily reflect my views, too. Now, I encourage you to read Amanda's article.

Are you a victim of The Midnight Munchies?
By Amanda Lerner

• Do you find yourself eating mindlessly in front of the tube only to wake up feeling bloated, exhausted, irritable and full of guilt and remorse?
• Does what starts out as a little Snack Attack turn into a full-fledged Battle with the Binge?
• Is your late night splurge preventing you from reaching your weight loss goals?

Then you may be a victim of The Midnight Munchies.

The good news is that you can step out of the victim role and take back the night with a few steps towards self-awareness. But first, let's uncover the true reasons behind this potentially harmful habit so you can break free without feeling deprived.

Did you know that the #1 reason why people tend to overeat at night is not because they're bored, stressed out or single? I'll let you in on a secret.

The main reason why people overeat at night…is because they're HUNGRY! It's actually very simple. You're hungry from either a lack of food during the day or a lack of the right kinds of food. Now don't get me wrong, emotional factors like stress, boredom and loneliness certainly reinforce the habit so we will investigate both.

Let's take the first scenario. You spent the entire day trying to be "good". You skipped breakfast, restricted calories at lunch and forced yourself into a low-carb dinner.

Then, 9 o'clock rolls around; you're curled up in front of the tube and the kitchen calls your name. Suddenly you're ravenous and can barely control yourself. You're likely to overeat because you are physically hungry.

Let's take a look at another kind of hunger…the kind that comes from not eating the right kinds of food. You're eating bagels and cookies and pasta and pretzels, and nothing does the trick.

You think, "I've already eaten a ton of calories today, why am I still starving?"  You're starving because you're consuming foods that don't include the nutrients, minerals and vitamins that your body desperately needs. Your hunger is insatiable because you're eating empty calories.      

When people find out that I'm a health counselor, they ask me what they should eat. Do you know what I tell them? Food. EAT FOOD. But what is Food? If it walks, swims, flies or grows…it's food.

Question: Which of the following is food? Boxed Cereal, Deli Meats, Frozen Dinners, Sugar-Laden Energy Bars, Tasty Delight?

Answer: None of the above.

You get the point.

Your body wants real food that can't be found in quick-acting carbs and sugar but can only be found in fruit and veggies, whole grains and beans, lean proteins and healthy fats. Generally, eating protein and fat will keep you full and satisfied. Eating both at every meal will likely stave off that late night fling with food.

Let's go back for a moment so we can understand the concept of good vs. bad.  I always hear people say, "I don't know what happened. I was 'good' all day."

Since when was 'good' associated with skipping meals, restricting calories, and avoiding fat?  'Good" means taking time to care for and nourish your self; stopping the flow of your busy day to sit down, breathe and eat a balanced meal (preferably with family or friends).

I've got news for you. There is no morality on food. If you ate a cookie after lunch, you're not "BAD".  You ate a cookie!  OK? NOt bad. You ate a cookie. A cookie is actually a very friendly creature. So eat it, enjoy it, and then, let it go.

Here's the most important point I want you to remember: Eating at night a not a problem. It's a solution.

Most people see cravings as a sign of weakness. But cravings are messages from our bodies; clues to an underlying imbalance.

Your job, then, is to be a food detective so you can uncover what the craving is all about. So stop consulting books and articles and following the advice of the latest expert and tune in to the real authority…you.

Ask yourself the following: Why am I hungry? Did I eat enough food? Did I eat enough of the right kinds of food? Do I need a nap, a walk, a nap, a glass of water…or a hug? Or am I purely eating out of habit or stress?

If you are binge-eating at night instead of addressing what's really going on, consider this. The food we put into our mouths is only secondary to the things that feed our soul. There are so many choices today -- there is so much hope for change, for living an extraordinary life. Be strong and ask for help.

Amanda Lerner is a holistic health counselor, who studied at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

Note from Connie: Thanks, Amanda, for contributing this article, which raises some interesting points. I hope you've given my readers some food for thought. FYI, I agree with you that people do often eat at night because they're hungry, but I also believe that some other things also are probably happening as well.