As I’ve been losing weight (now 18 pounds below my pre-pregnancy weight), I’ve found one simple but helpful strategy to continuing to see smaller numbers on the scale each week.
Don’t eat late at night!
All my life, I’ve been a night eater. When I was in High School, I rarely went to bed without my nightly bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch. As a busy mom, eating at night felt like the only time I had to myself and my own food. I munched mindlessly as I talked with my husband, surfed the net, or watched a movie. I wasn’t moving anything but my mouth, so I wasn’t burning many of the calories I was taking in during those late hours.
I will admit, I am a night owl, and when you stay up several hours past suppertime, you tend to get hungry. When I was in college, I chose to sleep through meals and hungry times in order to lose weight before my wedding. It worked, but that isn’t exactly healthy or feasible these days.
However, I have found that if I refrain from eating too close to bedtime, I see significant results in weight loss! The biology of it is simple: a body sitting idle during evening hours simply cannot burn calories efficiently. I’ve heard it for years, but never chose to take it to heart and act accordingly. Now that my heart has changed in how I view food, I don’t feel that pull to eat late at night anymore. Praise the Lord!
At the weight I am right now, everything in my closet fits. Think about that for a second…
I was obviously squeezing into clothes that were too tight for me. And while I could lose my motivation for losing weight since eventually it is going to mean an entirely new wardrobe (which costs money), I know this is not where I want to land. I have more to go. How much more? I’m not sure.
I have 2 more pounds to my next BIG goal. Currently, I am at a weight I have not seen in over 5 years. And I have no intentions of going back.
I don’t fear gaining weight because I don’t see food the way I once did. Which is why I don’t need the late night binges, away from the watchful eyes of my children. Food doesn’t mean that much to me. I’m not hungry.
Did you hear that? I’m not hungry!
Now, THAT is progress!
For more of my weight loss journey, READ HERE:
Elodie says
As I am reading this, I am munching on tortilla chips & dip at 11:15 at night. LOL
Amy says
Guess what?! I was writing that at night and had to work really hard to keep my mind from wandering to food. LOL!
Susan M. says
Good for you!!!! I have found the same thing about not eating at night. We have our main family meal at noon, so evenings are just toast, cereal and fruit anyway, so I do not feel like I am missing that much. And once your stomach isn’t expecting food at that time, I really don’t feel hungry!
Michele says
That is wonderful Amy! I am 16 pounds down and it feels so good. Being healthy for your family is the greatest benefit. Proud of you!
Amy says
Great job, Michele!!!
Stacy @Stacy Makes Cents says
If I don’t eat before bed, I have to wake up in the night to eat because my belly is growling. LOL 🙂 But I cannot be filled up when I’m nursing…it’s literally sucked right out of me. Ha, ha!
You look great, Amy!!
Jillian says
That’s funny, I thought I was the only one who lost weight by sleeping through meals! You’re right that it doesn’t work now with so many kids. What you said about late night binges away from watchful eyes is so true. I struggle with this so much. :/ you’re doing great though!
Amy says
Yet another thing we have in common! lol
Renee says
Congrats on your weight loss 🙂 you look amazing!
Amy says
Thank you!
Amy says
LOL! My husband loves to eat Cinnamon Toast Crunch before bed!
Amy says
Ha! That’s funny!
Jennifer says
This is how I lose weight after my babies are born. I cut out night time eating after supper. Sometimes I am starving though because of nursing so I will have a tiny snack (i.e. 8 oz milk, fruit or fruit with less than 8 oz yogurt). Cutting the night time eating is really where I see the numbers drop. I also up my water intake, cut items like chips and replace with carrots, celery, fruit, etc. You are doing fantastic! -Keep up the good work!
PS-I was having great success with the Tupler technique and splint prior to becoming pregnant this time. I am doing exercises during this pregnancy to help retain that ground and will pick it back up after October. Thanks for sharing that part of your journey.
Amy says
Great! Keep me posted on how things go with your exercises and pregnancy!
Angie says
I would love to lose weight while I’m nursing, but I’m worried losing too much will affect my milk supply. My 2 month old son is in the 60th percentile with his weight, so maybe I don’t need to worry after all. Have you noticed a decrease in your milk?
Amy says
No, I haven’t, but I’ve never had milk supply issues. Creed is 4 months old, exclusively breastfed and weighs 18 pounds. I make cream. 😉
Katena says
As a person who has lost 230lbs I do not eat past 6 pm. I have a friend that once told me they had dinner at 9 10pm at night. I was like wow really. We try to have diner and bath during the weekdays at least by 6pm. On the weekend we stay close but mama still does not eat after six. I have also made it a priority to eat breakfast everyday. I have noticed a different Great job and I totally understand. I have to share food as well and don’t have a problem with it.
Amy says
Congratulations on such an amazing weight loss!
Rose says
Amazing!
Christy says
Oy, This is a challenge for me too! I know drinking enough water helps a lot with this too and exercising regularly. At least when I’m doing both of those things I snack on a lot less and usually better things. 🙂
Melissa says
Congratulations! Don’t let the fear of not fitting in your clothes deter you! That’s a good problem to have.
I’ve lost 72 pounds in the last 8 months and probably have about 10 to 20 more to go. After the first 30 pounds, I no longer fit in any clothes in my closet. I found a nice Goodwill and spent less than $20 to get clothes in the next size. A month or two later, I did the same thing. Over and over again as I dropped many dress sizes. It’s cost me less than $80 so far.
I only wish I would have lost the weight before I was done having children. Being pregnant would have been so much easier at this size!
Can’t wait to continue reading your progress.
Amy says
Thank you for the encouragement!!
Kathy says
Congratulations! I have lost 45 lbs in the last year following Weight Watchers. I have not been this size since before I got married 15 years ago and had 4 children along the way. I feel so much better and have more energy to play with my kids. I was nervous about having money to replace an entire wardrobe, but God provided. Being a smaller size, I have been able to find a large selection quality clothes at resale stores and lots at yard sales. I would even buy things that were too small so that I could “shop” in my closet as my size got smaller. Keep up the good work. You look wonderful.
Amy says
Congratulations on your weight loss!
Tamyra says
That is awesome. My family just started a healthy eating plan. Ill be 42 in August and my youngest is 3. I want a better quality of life. Shes a busy girl and I want to keep up with her. Im going to stop eating at night to. Im sure it will help. Keep up the good work.
Kat says
Hi Amy,
Great job with losing weight! I know that once I hit forty, I started looking at health in a whole different way. I guess I thought that there was always time to get my ‘healthy eating’ house in order!
My family starting eating healthier a few years ago, and we implement Vegan recipes about 3 to 4 times per week. These dishes do not taste Vegan……from the teens to the toddlers, everyone loves them!
I have a few recipes on my blog, http://www.raisingservantsofchrist.wordpress.com The post is entitled, ‘Frugal and Healthy Cooking Alternatives…..Vegan Style’. None of these recipes have any added fats, no dairy or meat products and are a great way to ‘hide’ vegetables.
Thanks for your blog, as a homeschooling mother of only four, I love tips from larger families on how to make everything work…..in His name.
Kat
Susanna says
I know my late night bingeing was keeping me from losing weight. Cereal too, was my biggest offender. I’ve pledged to not eat after dinner anymore. Tonight is my third night. It’s been hard, but this article is inspiring, and I’m resolved to stick to it. In the morning after not eating three bowls of cereal in the middle of the night, I noticed I felt less hungry in the morning. I do believe I’d eat late night out of comfort, boredom, and habit. I’m hoping to a see results soon with my new pledge to stop the midnight munchies.
Rose says
I want to try not eating after 6 pm for a month. I want to see what happens.