Is it bad to eat most of your calories at the end of the day?

tomatoey

For weight loss, it doesn't matter. But it might set you up for bingeing in the evening. Also, just on a common-sense level, it kind of makes sense to eat to fuel your activity (i.e. before you do things). Also, if sleeping's an issue, the timing of food consumption might play into triggering wakefulness (sorry, in a rush and can't remember which studies showed this - basically, eating soon after waking tells your body you're awake by triggering metabolic processes. I don't know if eating late would keep you awake, though.)

It's down to how you feel and function, ultimately.

Unknown

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tomatoey

MrM27 wrote: »

tomatoey wrote: »

For weight loss, it doesn't matter. But it might set you up for bingeing in the evening. Also, just on a common-sense level, it kind of makes sense to eat to fuel your activity (i.e. before you do things). Also, if sleeping's an issue, the timing of food consumption might play into triggering wakefulness (sorry, in a rush and can't remember which studies showed this - basically, eating soon after waking tells your body you're awake by triggering metabolic processes. I don't know if eating late would keep you awake, though.)

It's down to how you feel and function, ultimately.

Triggering metabolic process?

Or something, I'm not a biologist and I was remembering. It's to do with a 'food-entrainable clock' thought to be involved in our circadian rhythms. It's more of a problem for sleep function.

http://www.prevention.com/health/sleep-energy/foods-and-meal-timing-linked-sleep-cycles

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronobiology

http://www.sciencemag.org/content/320/5879/1074.abstract

I mean I presume metabolic processes are somehow involved.

krazyforyou

For the love of Christ do what works for you. Me I usually only eat one meal a day and am good with it.

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tomatoey

I didn't say anything different. There s reason to think can be problematic for people with sleep issues. No issues, no problem.

GingerbreadCandy

According to my trainer at my gym (we are all assigned a trainer when we sign up) you should not eat carbs in the evening, according to her, it won't affect weight loss, but not eating carbs will help avoid an insulin peak before going to bed which should help with burning fat, as the body burns the most fat when it is asleep.

However, she was also trying to sell me protein shakes and bars, so I am not really sure how much to believe her. (Any hard science input on that?)

More seriously, based on what I learned so far, I'd say it shouldn't affect your weight loss. It is more a matter of how it affects your sleep.

Sued0nim

GingerbreadCandy wrote: »

According to my trainer at my gym (we are all assigned a trainer when we sign up) you should not eat carbs in the evening, according to her, it won't affect weight loss, but not eating carbs will help avoid an insulin peak before going to bed which should help with burning fat, as the body burns the most fat when it is asleep.

However, she was also trying to sell me protein shakes and bars, so I am not really sure how much to believe her. (Any hard science input on that?)

More seriously, based on what I learned so far, I'd say it shouldn't affect your weight loss. It is more a matter of how it affects your sleep.

your trainer is talking bro-science

eat when it works for you - I eat more in the evenings because I graze

GingerbreadCandy

rabbitjb wrote: »

GingerbreadCandy wrote: »

According to my trainer at my gym (we are all assigned a trainer when we sign up) you should not eat carbs in the evening, according to her, it won't affect weight loss, but not eating carbs will help avoid an insulin peak before going to bed which should help with burning fat, as the body burns the most fat when it is asleep.

However, she was also trying to sell me protein shakes and bars, so I am not really sure how much to believe her. (Any hard science input on that?)

More seriously, based on what I learned so far, I'd say it shouldn't affect your weight loss. It is more a matter of how it affects your sleep.

your trainer is talking bro-science

eat when it works for you - I eat more in the evenings because I graze

Thought so… would've been cool though since I don't actually like eating carbs in the evening.

Iwishyouwell

PeterSedesse wrote: »

Telling people to eat breakfast to avoid some symptoms is the same as telling someone to quit smoking.

That is a horrible analogy.

Scores of millions of people skip breakfast the world over. It's not even always been considered an essential meal in many cultures and societies. Entire societies, at given times, even shunned morning meals.

Christine_72

I have breakfast at around 12pm.

All the "breakfast is the most important meal of the day" studies were funded by the big cereal companies, particularly Kellogs. ......

KANGOOJUMPS

I do not

TheHumanMachine

I've been doing 23 hour fasts for the last few days, 9 pm to 8 pm the next day. I eat all ~1500 kcal a few hours before bed(usually about midnight), I haven't felt too tired.

jnv7594

Makes no difference as far as weight loss. I usually eat the biggest portion of my calories in the evening. I don't eat breakfast until about 11 or 11:30 a.m., and I eat my biggest and last meal around 9 p.m. I have lost 55 pounds in 5 months doing this. I find that if I don't save the biggest portion of my calories for the evening, then I will be starving, but that's just me. Evening is the time when I am most likely to overeat.

Aemely

I've eaten breakfast every morning since starting back on MFP, because it helps me not overeat at lunch. I eat about 12% calories for breakfast (including latte), 30% for lunch, and 58% for dinner/snacks. I think this is totally personal based on your metabolism, your work activity level, and your exercise plan. Find what seems to work for you (what keeps you satisfied/energetic), repeat, tweak, repeat. Good luck!