During my hardest times with nutrition and binge eating (going back about ten years ago), night-time cravings are what took me down every time. It was a battle I rarely won, if ever...(Don’t leave me hanging here, I know I’m not alone!)
There is actual science behind the causes of cravings – and that includes at night-time! They can happen even if you’re doing everything “right.” (Where my clients at?!)
And by “right”, I mean you’re not skipping meals, you eat a balanced diet with plenty of fibre and protein, you fuel your workouts, you’re sleeping well, you drink enough water during the day and you’re managing your stress (ummm....is this a robot..?).
That’s because your body’s internal clock is wired to make you feel hungry at night. This might have been for survival reasons for our ancestors, but it’s definitely not something we need now!
That internal hunger “alarm clock” can make it too easy to pick up a night-time snacking habit.
And that’s especially true if you’re coming off a period of time where maybe you’ve been a little extra stressed, or haven’t been getting enough sleep, or … you get the idea.
You might notice cravings kick in as soon as you start to wind down for the night – just out of habit.
The fix: give your night-time routine a general overhaul, at least for a while, to break free from your cravings cycle.
That means doing something different!
If you usually munch on snacks while watching TV … instead try reading, going for a walk or start a new hobby (specifically, a non food related one!).
It comes down to shaking up your routine to help shift out of your old habits and patterns. If nothing changes, nothing changes, right?
You might just be surprised at how much better you sleep! And you might be inspired to try new things and uncover new interests.
Give this a try for a few nights and see how it works for you!
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