help with carb cravings at night

[arizonanewbie]

I am looking for some guidance here. I am on a 40-30-30 clean bulk right now so I'm not really restricting carbs but I've found over the last month that I get intense cravings for carbs late at night - especially sugary cereal, which I don't eat. I don't want to eat carbs before bed and I am curious where this came from. Does anyone have any experience with this or any advice?

 

[faetfiada]

what time of day are you training? and are you staying up late?

 

[arizonanewbie]

I train in the late morning or early afternoon generally, although this summer I will start training around 6pm because of work. And as far as staying up late - generally btwn 11 and midnight. Does that fill in the picture at all?

 

[Rodja]

Could be hypoglycemia from undereating carbs throughout the day. I used to get this when I would cut because I would overdiet and reduce carbs too much and this would happen about 90 minutes before I went to bed.

 

[arizonanewbie]

Thanks, I wonder if thats it. Maybe it is that simple. But I don't eat a super-low-carb diet as it is. Hmm?

 

[Rodja]

Thanks, I wonder if thats it. Maybe it is that simple. But I don't eat a super-low-carb diet as it is. Hmm?

Low-carb can be a relative term. For example, if you should be eating 500g of carbs, then 250g would be low.

 

[Steveoph]

Sugar-free Jello is a favourite trick of mine. It even hits the sweet spot without the cals, if you don't mind some aspartame/splenda.

 

[arizonanewbie]

Thats a good idea. I'll try that one. Thanks Steveo.

 

[Nitrox]

Are you doing the separate P+C and P+F thing?

 

[arizonanewbie]

I don't know what you mean, so I assume not. Please explain.

 

[Rodja]

I don't know what you mean, so I assume not. Please explain.

Your meals contain either protein and carbs or protein and fats, never all three.

 

[Nitrox]

Yeah there is an ideology that combining carbs and fats in the same meal is bad. A consequence of this is that a single meal then tends to have double the fat or double the carbs cause you are still trying to make up your overall daily macro ratio.

I was going to suggest that if you were doing this that your blood glucose levels are more variable and leading to cravings. However if you are not separating them then disregard...

 

[AnonyMoose]

are these cravings for carb foods or do you need carb foods at night?