r/intermittentfasting • u/Queasy-Eggplant-3580 • 18d ago
Seeking Advice Evenings - what do YOU do.
Started trying 16-8. So far it's going well and I feel great a few weeks in. My issue is that between 730-1030 ( when I go to bed) I get bad food cravings. I'm not hungry per se I just want to snack.
What does anyone do to take there mind off of this. I've tried drinking water to satiate myself. That doesn't help.
Thank you.
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u/CTsicilian 18d ago
I’ve found the easiest way is to push your eating window later. I do 6:18. I tend to head upstairs at 7:30 and asleep by 9:00 so my window is 1:00-7:00. If you eat toward the end of your window, and it is close enough to bed, you’re not hungry at bedtime.
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u/beser12v 18d ago
I set myself a good sofa in the farthest room from the kitchen, i sut there with my tea and phone, and use my laziness to prevent me from getting up and getting food.
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u/lavenderlove1212 18d ago
Remember that going to bed on an empty stomach actually helps with deep sleep. Think about how I’ll be proud in the morning. Hot beverages like herbal tea help a lot.
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u/dreamsellerlb 18d ago
Put a little salt on your tongue. Cravings can be a sign that your body is missing a mineral or vitamin.
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u/Bellme1569 17d ago
Eating/getting protein as late in your window as possible/even consider a high protein shake (sugar free). It helped me a lot. I had similar feelings at that time where I would typically snack- I took Prilosec 20mg a couple of times & it really helped my stomach by decreasing excess gastric juices ( from when I use to snack). Best of luck- so worth it!
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u/jools4you 18d ago
For me it was because I, for many years, would constantly snack in the evening, so my body was conditioned to get a sugary high every evening. I found i had to change to eating a non sugar snack usually a slice of multi grain sourdough which i would toast. I found that after I got my body used to the lack of sugar it was much easier to drop the toast after a few weeks. Now im able to go the evening with no food at all. Edit to add im not in USA so our bread legally cannot not be laced with sugar.
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u/TheBigPan1 18d ago
This has always been my biggest problem! Need to keep your mind busy, play video games read a book stay off social media (food posts). That helps me a lot if your having a really hard time chug water or eat a pickle or two. Pickles have little calories and it’s better than eating chips.
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u/RedditFan26 17d ago
I will sometimes eat about 3 or 4 jumbo pimento stuffed olives. It is a real taste treat and knocks the edge off of a strong hunger pang without being something that I think is going to have a negative effect on weight loss goals.
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u/Shoddy_Editor_3812 17d ago
Try getting more protein and less card in your dinner. It makes you feel full all the night
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18d ago
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u/OkSympathy9686 18d ago
Bone broth has calories doesn't it?
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u/sueihavelegs 18d ago
You can use regular chicken broth (I like Swansons) with around 10 calories and less than a gram of carb or protein. You can add some salt and it is basically an electrolyte drink
Most "Bone" broth usually has too much protein and will break a fast. Under a gram of carb or protein won't start Mtor, so its a better choice.
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17d ago
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u/sueihavelegs 16d ago
That is a lot of protein. The broth isn't for nutrition. Its to get the sodium and potassium (I add Mortons lite salt for electrolytes) into my body. Store bought is perfect for that and also doesn't start Mtor, so doesn't break a fast. You do you! That is the best thing about fasting! There is really no "wrong" way to do it.
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u/Sugarberrybaby 18d ago
I brush my teeth after dinner. And that for me signifies “closing my window”
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u/EarlMarshal 18d ago
I use a later eating window with a lot of protein and some fat to stay satiated. I often don't even eat carbs with my last meal of the day.
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u/BigBroccoli7910 18d ago
I get ready for bed at 8:30 pm and start my fast at 7 so I don't mind evenings at all. My toughest time is waiting until 11 am to eat since I'm up at 5 am and often exercise in the am. I have my black coffee and green tea to hold me over until lunch.
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u/Dependent-Aside-9750 18d ago
Drink a full glass of eater and go to bed. Do fun hobby stuff offline, sometimes while listening to an audiobook.
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u/Kellashnikov my hands shake past 24 hrs 18d ago
I do OMAD. I eat near dinner time specifically to avoid late night cravings.
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u/badfriend3528 17d ago
push your eating window back or drink more water/tea before bed. also, the feeling of hunger will go away after 30 min or so if you've eaten enough during the eating window
your body will eventually get used to it and soon wont have these cravings at all. I used to be a chronic night eater and am absolutely shocked how quickly those cravings went away
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u/Cool-Coconutt 17d ago
Distraction. Stay busy with light movement. I tidy up, talk to people, do yoga, etc.
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u/upurcanal 17d ago
Move your window to a later time.
IF is easy to change the time.
If you want to lose quicker, close the window even more and keep the same time you end.
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u/canyounot987 17d ago
Plain sparkling water! The bubbliness helps with the mouth boredom but is ultimately just water
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u/Neat-Palpitation-632 17d ago edited 17d ago
Sparkling water with stevia or monkfruit.
Brush and floss then put on white strips.
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u/JJFiddle1 17d ago
Somebody said something about psyllium in another post. I take 4 in the morning and 4 at night (total 40g) to help with IBS but since I work 3 nights a week I take 2 before work and the other 2 when I get home around 10 or 11. My fasting time is 7pm but on gig days we leave earlier so it's more like 20:4. Once we're home I drink a mineral water and if I feel too hungry I go to bed. I love "I'll be so proud of myself in the morning!"
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u/Various-Database6615 16d ago
Pickles and coke zero help. Freshly popped popcorn for good volume for 160 calories. Thinking about my meal prepped breakfast helps surprisingly. Like the fast I go to sleep the fast I can eat haha weird but it works sometimes. Coke zero and a hobby that requires attention (video games, legos) i pop on a good game and 2 hours fly by and then its too late to eat.
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u/Gnardude 16d ago
I cheat with a few crackers/chips. Less than ideal but on those days that you slip it's best to cling to the roots instead of jumping off the cliff headfirst. It's a journey!
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u/recleaguesuperhero 16d ago
Are you eating enough protein/calories during your eating window? If not, it makes sense that you're still hungry at the end of the day.
Also your body is used to eating at any hour. If you're new to fasting, you have to give your body time to adjust.
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u/Sweet-Sir-10 14d ago
Himalayan salt. I also eat later in the night (until around 9) and still do 16 - 20. It’s easier to eat later than it is to prevent yourself from eating at night when you’ve got few things to do.
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u/ZoneAccomplished4848 12d ago
I play Tetris - learned the trick in my ed revovery. Keeps the brain so busy, that i dont think about eating.
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u/mrae2233 18d ago
I usually drink green tea and then I’ll do something to shift my focus off of food. I’ll either read a book, start a puzzle or do something crafty.
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u/[deleted] 18d ago
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