January 2, 2023
I’m a recovered binge eater who changed the story from something that happened to me to something that happened for me. Now, I’m a licensed therapist teaching you to do the same.
My mission? To help you ditch food stress and live your life with mental peace and freedom every single day!
Why is food harder at night? If you’ve ever wondered about this, you’re not alone. It’s a question I asked myself for years. During the day, I felt in control around food, but every evening, like clockwork, I’d find myself tangled in food chaos. Does that sound familiar to you too? Here are five reasons why food tends to be more challenging at night:
Sometimes, when you don’t eat enough during the day, it catches up with you as you slow down at night. Your body is smart, and it seeks to fulfill its needs. So, if you’ve been restricting your food intake throughout the day, your body can end up in a significant energy deficit by evening. This can leave you feeling too tired to resist your body’s hunger signals, leading to intense nighttime cravings.
Solution: Try adding more nourishing meals and snacks throughout the day. If you struggle with recognizing hunger and fullness cues, consider joining a hunger and fullness masterclass to reconnect with these signals.
As you wind down in the evening, unprocessed emotions may start to surface. During the busy daytime, you might not have paid much attention to your feelings, but when there are no more distractions, your emotions can take center stage. At this point, your body presents you with two options: address your emotions in a healthy way or seek comfort in food.
Solution: Work on addressing and healing your emotions in a constructive manner.
Pleasure is a fundamental human need. If your day lacks experiences that bring you joy and pleasure, your body will look for ways to find that pleasure, which can lead to food cravings in the evening.
Solution: Incorporate other sources of pleasure into your day. If you need ideas, click here for inspiration.
Mental restrictions, such as rules, judgments, or strict beliefs about food, can resurface in the evening, making food more challenging to deal with. If you’ve been eating during the day but still have these restrictions, you may never feel satisfied. Your body might perceive food as a scarce resource, and when you return home at the end of the day, it may act as if you are still restricted, leading to intense food cravings.
Solution: Focus on healing your relationship with food and breaking free from these restrictive thoughts and beliefs.
Your body has three biological needs: functional, social, and emotional. If you’re not meeting all three of these needs, your body will try to satisfy them in its own way, which can trigger cravings for food in the evening.
Solution: Examine the unmet needs you might be trying to fulfill with food. Then, work on meeting these needs through healthier coping strategies. For instance, if you identify functional needs, ensure you’re eating enough and enjoying your food. For social needs, seek more connections, set boundaries, or change your environment. And for emotional needs, focus on healing your emotions, processing any trauma, or acquiring emotional regulation skills.
It’s clear that there are numerous triggers for nighttime eating, and here’s the spoiler: none of them are about the specific food you eat at night. Any form of physical, mental, or emotional restriction during the day can lead to the nighttime food struggles you may be familiar with. Recognizing these triggers is a significant step toward understanding and overcoming nighttime food challenges.
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“Bullet Journal Method” by Ryder Carroll
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“The Artist’s Way Morning Pages Journal” by Julia Cameron
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“52 Lists Project” by Moorea Seal
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Intimate group coaching to break free from binge eating
Real talk on food, mindset shifts, motherhood, and finding peace.
A safe space to connect with others on the same journey.
Have real conversations and hear others share their struggles.
Ryann Nicole
Licensed Therapist, Certified Nutritionist, and Virtual Wellness Coach
Ryann is a licensed therapist and virtual wellness coach who has assisted individuals worldwide in establishing a healthier relationship with food and their bodies.
I understand—it can be overwhelming to figure out where to begin. Let's simplify things and have you start right here:
Why Am I Overeating?
First Steps To Stop Binge Eating
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