Eating Late At Night

[Islandlily]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post here. I have been experimenting with raw foods for about a year and a half. I was 100% for the 9 months and then stopped for 3 weeks....started to feel depressed and heavy..so I started again. I lived in Bali over the summer, mainly eating sweet fruit, some lettuce and cucumbers as well....
I feel more energy and more alive on raw foods, yet, I still overeat.. It’s like I have this constant need to fill my belly to the tip top. I usually eat alot at night or wake up hungary in the middle of the night and eat. I do feel better when I don’t eat during the night, but I can’t sleep if I don’t eat usually. I get up in the night a lot to snack and then I can fall asleep, but usually wake up bloated or with a tummy ache in the morning. It is such a hard habit to break! And I know I feel better when I don't eat too late, but it's been a behavior I have had since childhood.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

[D'vorah]

Hi everyone,

. . .And I know I feel better when I don't eat too late, but it's been a behavior I have had since childhood.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

I'm guessing, so, don't feel judged or anything. Is it behavior, or true hunger?

Is it linked to something back there in childhood? Some fear or other feeling?

Just guessing. For me, it's definitely behavior and it's been very primitive and difficult to kick.

Deborah

[Thick]

You are using food like some alchoholics use liquor. I really understand=)

What are you so stressed out with during the day? Can you relieve that stress in any way? Relationship counseling, a babysitter, a new job, walks somewhere you enjoy, a massage..

For reasons I've read about but still have yet to fully understand, we often eat compulsively of things we are allergic to. I can eat a raw meal and maybe still be hungry and have something else..but if I eat something with wheat or sugar I go off the deep end and eat too much. For me, I don't keep this stuff in the house. It's easier to say no once in the grocery store than it is to say no 1000 times everytime you open the pantry. Sometimes I still prowl around looking, but if its not there, I can't eat it. I have learned that if I make a green smoothie the cravings will lessen. If Im craving a sweet thing I make it sweet, if I want salty--I make it savory and garlicky.

Maybe-
-use a smaller bowl/plate so you feel like you "ate it all" but didn't eat as much
-eat as much raw as you want and you will level off eventually--and be well nourished as well
-sometimes our bodies call for more food, more food because they are starving nutrtionally and still need more (think of a body who gets fed sugar and wheat when it needs nutrients)
-slow down and analyze how you feel when you eating, sit down without tv or computer and be in the moment--really experience the texture and taste of what youre eating and reflect on what you like about it--the crunchiness, creaminess--what is it you like? Smell it, appreciate the color contrasts, remember other times youve eaten it and chew it very thoroughly.
- use your balled fist to push into your stomach and feel the fullness of that-reflect
-drink more water to make sure youre not dehydrated--and get the full feeling, too

Hope some of that helps you=)

[Thick]

Also, while your eating practice drawing your attention to your body and how it feels by feeling your hands and feet--that immidiately draws your consciousness away from your pleasure seeking mouth and makes you feel how full you are=)>

[Stina]

A grossly over-simplistic tip for a complex problem: brush your teeth thoroughly and use a mouth wash to cut the strangle-old food has on your taste buds!

[RawKnitster]

I used to have a similiar feeling after waking up, whether it was in the middle of the night or after a nap. I would rush to get something sweet to eat.

I think it was a blood sugar issue, eating to many high sugar foods, compounded by not eating enough nutritious foods during the day. And eating too much, too late in the day.

Now my rule is I cannot eat for 3 hours before laying down. After eating dinner I clean my teeth. If I think about eating after that, I usually don't.

If I eat dinner too early and get hungry late at night, I might eat fruit. I used to make a raw type of ice cream late at night, but I'm over that. I would wake up during the night with a yucky stomach and burning esophagus.

Hope you find a solution that works for YOU! :)

[Islandlily]

Thank you everyone!

You all have very good advise and I agree with all of it. Yes, it is definitely behavior from childhood,and I know I need to let go some fear issues (I've been trying to work on that lately through journaling and meditation), but also to do with not eating enough during the day and then being really hungry at night. I do feel better when I find I am balancing my nutrients better. I don't ever crave cooked food or anything...I usually just eat too much sweet fruit when I over eat late at night. The problem arises more when I have eaten too much sweet fruit,and not enough greens. Or too much potassium and not enough sodium...Today, I added in some seaweed and juiced more celery, as well as used kale and romaine in my dinner. I always notice that helps with the bloating.
I tried everything you guys said today. I meditated, practiced yoga, walked and ate slowly and less sweet fruit, more non-sweet fruit and greens and I feel great. I am not hungry now, as it nearing time to go to bed and I don't feel the need for a snack. Yeah!

[annavon]

I would consider cutting back on the sweet fruit has it may cause you to get hungry later. Even though the sugar in fruit is natural it can still stimulate some insulin production and therefore make you hungry later. This happens to me if I eat too much sweet fruit.

[Linda1970]

A grossly over-simplistic tip for a complex problem: brush your teeth thoroughly and use a mouth wash to cut the strangle-old food has on your taste buds!

this has worked for me too. :)

[Jenifae]

Thank you everyone!

You all have very good advise and I agree with all of it. Yes, it is definitely behavior from childhood,and I know I need to let go some fear issues (I've been trying to work on that lately through journaling and meditation), but also to do with not eating enough during the day and then being really hungry at night. I do feel better when I find I am balancing my nutrients better. I don't ever crave cooked food or anything...I usually just eat too much sweet fruit when I over eat late at night. The problem arises more when I have eaten too much sweet fruit,and not enough greens. Or too much potassium and not enough sodium...Today, I added in some seaweed and juiced more celery, as well as used kale and romaine in my dinner. I always notice that helps with the bloating.
I tried everything you guys said today. I meditated, practiced yoga, walked and ate slowly and less sweet fruit, more non-sweet fruit and greens and I feel great. I am not hungry now, as it nearing time to go to bed and I don't feel the need for a snack. Yeah!

You've gotten some really Great suggestions that I think I will use. Epecially Thick's taking time to really thoroughly relax and enjoy and love the experience of the meal. David Wolfe suggests to be thankful and grateful with love for all that brought the bounty to us. I like that :)
Also, I can relate to the food issues recoverying from childhood trama and learned behavior of using food to cope and comfort is hard to overcome alone. I've done lots of therapy and I find that very helpful along with a support network of those who can relate. We actually have a thread here that's been a little stagnet lately for those with Eating Disorders. http://www.rawfoodtalk.com/showthread.php?t=41094&highlight=eating+disorders
Of course, only if that's an issue for you. If I'm reading into something that may not be there my apologies.

Wishing you Freedom and Peace,
Jen