How I Stopped Eating at 2am After Being on Calorie Deficit During the Day

How I Stopped Eating at 2am After Being on Calorie Deficit During the Day: A Story of Late-Night Chaos and Fajr Revelation

You know, there was a time when 2 a.m. and I were best buddies. We had a routine: I’d be lying in bed, trying to convince myself I wasn’t hungry after surviving the entire day on a calorie deficit, when my stomach would betray me. Suddenly, the leftovers in the fridge would start calling my name. And let me tell you, there’s nothing quite as persuasive as cold jollof rice when it’s whispering sweet nothings at 2 a.m. 

This, my friends, was how I used to fail at life, calorie deficits, and, let’s be honest, sleep.

Midnight Browsing and… Other Issues

Now, let me paint you a picture. After eating at 2 a.m., I’d lie there thinking, "Hey, since I’m already awake, why not browse the internet?" Midnight browsing became an unhealthy habit. I’d scroll through social media, fall down YouTube rabbit holes, and sometimes even find myself in the dark corners of Reddit. And, as if this wasn’t bad enough, this unholy hour also tempted me into other activities — activities I’ll leave to your imagination but know I’m talking about the kind that would make me feel guilty come Fajr. Yup, the M-word. And no, it’s not ‘meal prep.’

But something had to give. I realized I couldn’t keep this up if I wanted to live a healthier lifestyle, wake up early for Fajr, and, well, not hate myself in the morning.

The Game-Playing Problem

If you think midnight browsing was bad, you should have seen me during my chronic gaming phase. It started innocently enough with a couple of mobile games. Then it escalated into competitive online games that had me yelling at 12-year-olds halfway across the world. Trust me, losing a game at 1 a.m. does wonders for your blood pressure.

I used to tell myself it was just a bit of fun, but the truth was, I was avoiding dealing with my actual life. I mean, why face the reality of your almost-poverty state when you can play FIFA or PUBG? And when I lost a game, well, that’s when I’d go back to the fridge for a little ‘consolation snack.’ By then, it wasn’t even about being hungry. It was about soothing my wounded pride. “Oh, I lost 10 games in a row? I bet a plate of spaghetti will fix that!”

Spoiler alert: it didn’t.

Skipping Dinner for What?

Part of my genius plan during the day was to skip dinner “in the name of a calorie deficit.” Yes, I believed that if I just pushed through, I’d lose weight faster. No dinner meant fewer calories, right? It sounded good on paper. But by 2 a.m., my stomach would stage a protest louder than a stadium full of handball fans (I should know, I play handball). Skipping dinner didn’t make me stronger or leaner; it just made me a nighttime kitchen ninja, sneaking around for food like I was on a mission to steal the Declaration of Independence.

The worst part? This vicious cycle messed with my sleep. I’d eat, play games, browse the internet, and somehow find myself falling asleep just before Fajr, which is a dangerous game when you’re trying to wake up early to pray.

The Wake-Up Call (Literally)

So one day, after yet another sleepless night of 2 a.m. snacks and overthinking my broke state, I had enough. I said, “If I don’t stop this madness, I’ll forever be a night owl who’s constantly tired, spiritually unfulfilled, and still not making gains.”

That’s when I decided to make some changes. First, I had to tackle the big one: sleeping earlier. I committed to it like it was the finals of a handball tournament. No more late-night games, no more midnight browsing, and (thankfully) no more of those other tendencies. The plan? Sleep earlier so I could wake up early for Fajr. It wasn’t easy at first. My brain was like, “Are you sure you don’t want to check Instagram real quick?” But I resisted.

Dinner: The Savior I Didn’t Know I Needed

And, get this: I started eating dinner. I know, revolutionary, right? Who knew that eating a balanced meal at a reasonable time could prevent 2 a.m. snack attacks? It’s like all the diet advice on the internet finally made sense. I ate dinner, felt full, and went to bed. That was the magic. No more creeping down to the kitchen like some sort of carbohydrate vampire.

Daytime Data Deals Only

Another trick up my sleeve? I stopped waiting for those cheap midnight data deals. You know the ones: ₦100 for 2GB at midnight. It seemed like such a good idea to wait until 12 a.m. to subscribe, but it always led to me staying up way too late, browsing endlessly just because I had data to burn. Instead, I started buying data during the day. Sure, it was a little pricier, but it saved me from hours of wasted time and that inevitable trip to the fridge. 

The Battle Against Overthinking

The last piece of the puzzle was my habit of overthinking my nearly poverish state. I mean, I spent so many nights thinking, “Am I going to be broke forever? Should I start selling my things to make ends meet?” It was a constant spiral, one that always ended with me grabbing a snack to distract myself from my existential crisis.

But with my new plan in place — eating dinner, avoiding late-night data traps, and going to bed earlier — I found that I didn’t have time to overthink. I was too busy sleeping like a baby.

Fajr and Fresh Mornings

Now, I wake up early, pray Fajr, and start my day fresh. No more late-night regrets, no more sneaky snacks, and, best of all, no more unhealthy habits at 2 a.m. It’s like I’m a new person. Okay, I still sometimes play games during the day, but hey, progress, right?

So, in conclusion, if you’re battling that 2 a.m. snack urge after being on a calorie deficit during the day, maybe it’s time to look at the bigger picture. Fix your sleep schedule, stop skipping dinner, and for the love of all that is good, stop staying up for cheaper data deals. Your future self will thank you.

Me at 2am after being on calorie deficit during the day