Is it just me?

Anyone have, either mentally or physically, the thought that you cant go to bed hungry?

This has to be my biggest struggle finding something that isn't carb heavy that will allow me to sleep at night. I really like a "sweet" before I go to be and carrots and peanut butter work but there are not my "always snacks". Lately its either yogurt and granola or some "Skinny Pop" but I have been known to eat chips or an occasional cookie or 2 or 4.

Thoughts?

Why do you see this as a habit to keep? I once ate a pint of ice cream every night before bed, but I weighed 511 pounds. Eating before bed isn't necessary or a good idea. Sorry but there isn't any research I've seen that shows eating before bed helps you sleep - just the opposite. I drink tea before bed to keep the head hunger quite - works well. Try something different vs. food. I find that I no longer need to eat much, if anything after dinner. Took awhile and a lot of work. It's worth it. I didn't see if you were in maintenance yet to be snacking like this, but either way - not a good idea in my opinion. So to answer your late night question - drink, don't eat. Time for a change in my opinion - not easy, but worth the effort to try different things to get away. Have you tried to answer some of these food queuing questions via therapy? It's in your head you know/ Good luck with breaking the habit.

Let me second the power of hot tea in a dessert flavor. It's now part of my night time ritual and really helps, both with winding down and with not craving a "treat".

I too, drink hot herbal tea at night, and keep a variety of flavors in stock--lots of soothing "bedtime" flavors like chamomile, or desert flavors if I'm having a sweet craving. Tazo brand has a Lemon Loaf flavor which is my current favorite. Add a little sweetener and it's like drinking cake! Going to bed with a full stomach is actually bad for digestion and can affect quality of sleep.

Can I assume these are all caffeine free products?

You definitely want to read the labels - just because It's dessert flavored doesn?t mean it?s caffeine free! There a a lot of herbal/decaf options - the lemon loaf one that Cassie mentioned is caffeine free, I?ve been drinking a vanilla cream spice that?s caffeine free; chamomile has no caffeine; most peppermints are caffeine free (but if it just says mint, check to see if it has green or black tea also). There?s a delicious salted Carmel tea that was recommended here, it?s a black tea blend so not for night time (for me at least).

The ones I mentioned are caffeine free. My surgeon is ok with me having some caffeine (one cup of coffee in the morning), but in the evenings I don't want or need it anyway.

Eat "dinner" later.

This is actually surprisingly common. Many children who grew up in poor households and regularly struggled with getting meals, take comfort as adults from the ability to supply their own food and become dependent on things like going to bed with a full stomach. Also children who were in abusive or unstable homes can exhibit that same behavior as adults. Food is one of the earliest ways we establish control over our own bodies and when that is disturbed and the control comes later it can manifest in unhealthy ways.

If it is something you are struggling with it might be a good idea to talk with a therapist about it. I have been and just identifying the issues has helped me keep my eating to assigned meal times. After the initial rough start, I even sleep better now and don't eat after 8:30p (bedtime is 11:30p).

Very insightful response!