One reason I decided on the Atkins plan is that I was so hungry for carbs in the late evening. I could eat an entire day worth of calories between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m., and still be hungry for more. I have been on Atkins for 4 days now and I am still feeling hungry at night. Last night I had egg salad, but I probably had already eaten all I should before that. Any ideas for me? Should I eat something that late at night, or just wait it out? I really don't want to be hungry, but still to lose weight. The scale says I have lost a pound, but I think that is likely within the margin or error!

Thank you, Stacey

If it is late at night, my go to snack is jello. I know sounds lame but if u get the generic brand it's cheap, has a tiny amount of calories and no carbs. I will sometimes eat a whole package by myself but who cares?! It's 20 calories.

The cravings and excessive hunger should go away after the first week or so. You should eat as much as you want from the allowed foods as long as your carbs stay within the limit. So yes, if you're hungry then eat.

Hi!
Iīm in my day 5 and I donīt feel hungry, but I drink a LOT of water and I make sure I donīt have anything sweet. I had tried low cal once before but failed because if I have something sweet I totally loose control even though it has little carbs. For example sacarine or those flavored waters (0 carbs), I drink one and then canīt stop and want more and more sweet things. The trick for me is to avoid anything sweet and even veggies late at night will make me hungry (I know I should have veggies in every meal but if I eat them at dinner I loose control, so the last meal for me doesnīt have any veggies)
Give it a few more days and if youīre really hungry eat... I have chicken late at nite when Iīm hungry or some meat..

My DH eats jello with home made whipped cream

Thank you for the tips. It really is encouraging. I am going to give it a little more time, and make up some sauteed chicken strips to have in the meantime. Last night I did have some tea, but then I finally went ahead and had some egg salad. Also, just figured out its my time of the month, so maybe that it adding to it. I am afraid to go the jello route, because I think it will be a trigger for me also. I want to stay away from anything sweet, even splenda. Thanks again.

This is also my time of the month and Iīve had less cravings than usual.. so thatīs good!
SMM: Seems that we both need to keep away from the sweet stuff even though if itīs carb free! Give it more time, in a few days youīll feel so much better (everyone says that..) and keep us posted!

When I was still on Atkins I'd often cook a good bit of bacon beforehand, and keep it in the fridge, then if I needed a snack I'd whip up some scrambled eggs and add the cold bacon to it at the last minutes. If I had any carbs left for the day I might put a tiny drop of sugar-free maple syrup or blueberry syrup on it (I called it fake french toast, LOL).

I am also one of those people who has chosen to do low carb without any sweeteners - for me it's easier to just adjust to life without the sweet taste than to be playing with the artificial sweeteners - which ones, how much, etc.

I do think as others have mentioned that you should eat if you're hungry. And 4 days for me isn't always the end of the carb cravings when I've been off plan and am re-starting induction levels. Are you monitoring your ketones for ketosis? Depending on how 'off' I've been I need 2-6 days to really be back in the groove with low carb being EASY and not having hunger, and losing my desire for carb foods. Once I'm back in the groove people can eat cake and bread around me and I don't flinch, but those first few days it can be hard.

There is possibly also a behavioral issue for you in terms of being used to eating a lot in the evenings. Are you having a good-sized dinner? Have you tried working with other things to replace late night snacking (sewing, crossword puzzles, etc)? What about mouth distractions like sugarfree gum (infrequent - carbs are hidden!) or herbal tea? A peppermint tea has the effect to soothe your tummy and can be quite nice in the evenings... But maybe you are just someone who needs to eat at that time of day, and you can just accept it & make sure you have appropriate food choices available.

You've done really well these past few days and I promise after you're really into ketosis it does get easier.

Hi SMM,

I can totally relate to the craving for carbs in the late evening phenomenon. One of my worst habits in the past was getting this overwhelming craving for sugar in the late evening (I'm more of a sugar person than a salt person when it comes to cravings).....and I would finally grab a package of cookies and literally eat them like an automaton....until I'd eaten half to 3/4 of the package. And then I'd swear to never do this again....and keep repeating it...hating myself for it. I can't even describe how intense the cravings would be....I literally could not sleep until I got that sugar fix.

I'm thrilled that I no longer do that. On the rare occasions that I do get cravings for something in the late evening....I will usually either eat a handful of almonds (salt-free roasted or Marcona), and eat them slowly, one at a time...or I will take a small container of goat cheese or feta cheese and slowly pick out little morsels and let them melt in my mouth slowly. The secret seems to be eating tiny pieces very slowly....and in about 5 or 10 minutes, the craving goes away.

I try not to eat any significant quantity of something during these times...as I don't want to get into the "craving food late in the evening" pattern...since this was so destructive and unhealthy for me in the past. I don't want to get into that "can't sleep without a full stomach" pattern...as this scares me.

In addition to losing weight and getting to my goal....I am trying to eliminate any bad/unhealthy eating patterns I had in the past. And this having to eat before I can fall asleep is a biggie for me.

deena

my late night snack if I must is salami with swiss cheese. Super filling and salty enough to make you drink water as you're eating it so you eat less

Funny, I am not hungry late at night. After I eat dinner I feel full but just in case, I keep some hard-boiled eggs in the frig. I always like to have a backup plan just in case! I agree that protein is the most filling.

Toby

I usually have herbal tea at night - I find if I'm hungry & drink the tea I usually am no longer hungry about 20 minutes after the warm tea... If I am still hungry, I eat, but I think part of it is psychological & the tea ritual is very self-nurturing and usually hits the spot. I drink a ton of water & teas during the day, so it's rarely dehydration for me.