I too get the nighttime cravings. I eat surgar free popsicles, usually 2-4 of them. They take some time to eat because they are frozen too.

However one suggestion is to retrain the brain at night. What else can you do so you don't eat. Can you rearrange your schedule a bit to be busy in the evening? Go to bed earlier?
Heidi

Night cravings, as New Heidi mentioned, or just the grazing many of us are familiar with is habit, really. We all know how tough it is to break habits. They say it's not about changing them, so much as replacing with a new behavior. It's something I find i have to decide well in advance of the evening, or any down time, for that matter. It was in those times, for me, that the looking throu

When I just feel like I need something sweet, I too love the sugar free popsicles. Not a big fan of jello or the s/f pudding but I have to say they help with the sweetness craving. Infrequently, I'll pick up a package of s/f stouffer's candy. The good thing about those is you only get 6 pieces in a bag. The bad thing is one shouldn't eat more than one or two, and some days I could polish off all 6 pieces. For me, it's best not to even go there...unless I'm sharing.

I also have decided that sweetness craving is not going away for me, and I am not 25 months post op. I think it serves as a reminder to be on my toes, fill that time with something constructive...even walking in place while watching tv is movement and distracts the brain. Reading , taking a bath, calling a friend, working on a hobby, are other suggestions...but it all boils down to deciding NOT to give in to those cravings...doesn't it?

Thanks. I try to fill my evenings , but old habits die hard

Yes, the cravings don't go away easily. but the SF popsicles are great,and there are other SF items, and no sugar/low fat ice creams, depending on what you like. I admit I have slipped a couple times, but you just forget it and get back to your program with those SF substitutes. Good luck!

I recently just decided I didn't get this far to fail and be one of the statistics on regaining the weight.

I was grazing. I was eating too much junk. The one little mini candy bar turns into a half bag. 2 kisses turns into 15 and so on.

I "detoxed" off of all sugar and crap! I decided no more refined sugar, no more refined flours no more junk food.

I did amazingly well. I didn't give into the cravings and I am finding the further out I get from eating the crap and sugar the less I am craving it. I have some strawberries when I want something sweet. I have a SF caramel/chocolate latte or a cup of my tea that is chocolate flavored but no calories. It's all about making choices and sticking with it. I too want to munch in the evening, but if I go for a walk, knit, read a book, do something instead of sitting around the house, I can manage to refrain from eating..............most of the time!

Good Luck!

Laura

If you are looking for a sugar free snack with protein, there is a newer greek yogurt popsicle (Yasso is the brand name) which is very good, especially the raspberry!

I just discovered that Extra gum makes some dessert flavors. I bought all of them to try and I think they are fantastic. They have Strawberry shortcake, keylime, orange dream and mint chocolate chip. (I have not opened the keylime yet but I have tasted all the others and they help me alot w/the sweet cravings and because its gum your also chewing.

Shelly (eggface) has great Sugar Free, But yummy desserts and Ice Cream All homemade! Check it out.

Shelly's "According to Eggface" website has so many legal things, the Ice Cream being the best!

I was a night eater before. I eat a salad at 5:30, Protein and vegs at 6:30, protein Ice Cream at 8, chicken salad at 10, then take meds and have 2 popsicles before midnight. this has been my evening sched the whole time. I am down130#...

I cannot do the "three meal, no evening snacks, last food 3 hrs before bed thingy".... RD

I am 7 months post op and my rule is the following- -I do not deprive myself of anything. I feel that the more you deprive yourself the more you will want and eventually give in to that temptation. With that being said I also do keep a food journal and I make sure that whatever I have is alloted in to my daily calories and everything is eaten in moderation.
My trick for defeating my "demons/sweet tooth" at night has been crystal light or eating a piece of sour fruit such as grapefruit or orange.
I also do not purchase any sweets for my home at all. Milk chocolate was my downfall before and I didn't put myself through all this to revert back to all ways.
Another tool that has helped me stay focused is I have a list that details all the reasons why I wanted to lose weight. I keep this list on my fridge, in my purse, and on my computer. Anytime I have a craving for something that I know I do not need I refer to that list and make a CONSCIOUS decision to whether or not I need that food.
This surgery is a lifestyle is not another pretentious diet- -the key to everything is moderation and making healthful and conscious decisions that you can abide by.

Oh and when everything else fails brush your teeth and rinse your mouth with Listerine- -everything tastes disgusting after that and you will certainly limit or disregard what you wanted to eat.

Keep healthy snacks on hand. My favorites? Almonds, bananas and Activia yogurt. Greek yogurt is good, too.

I figure if I snack, I treat it like a meal. No water before or after for a duration. Eat enough to make it a one-stop snack. I just had 1.5 oz of Almonds, 1 banana and 1 4 oz. Activia. It was a healthy snack and it works with my plan. I'm five months out. No problems with this type of snack.

Oh, and the Almonds are great because they give you a "crunch" and are salty (but the salt isn't so bad it will make you retain water).

My best to you... :)