No Carbs at Dinner?

magerum

Why would you restrict carbs at dinner? Not judging or disagreeing. Genuinely curious about what it's supposed to accomplish?

I had read this in a Jillian Michaels book. It was all about hormone/sugar regulation (particularly gherelin...spelling?). Thought someone might know a bit more about this idea in particular.

Jillian is talking out of her *kitten*.

No she isn't.

Simple truth, carbs increase blood sugar and blood sugar spikes cause hunger which increases Gherelin, the hormone responsible for stimulating hunger, so when you spike blood sugar you are increasing Gherelin. Do it at night and it results in night snacking which for many people is the reason they battle with weight. You want to fight your body chemistry? Be my guest. Eat carbs to your hearts content until you die from diabetes. To the rest of you out there seeking real solutions to control your cravings: Reduce your carb intake all day , but especially at night. At least balance your consumption with equal amounts of protein, fiber and a bit of fat so it promotes slower sugar absorption. You will see a change in hunger almost immediately.

For MANY people reducing carbs results in controlling blood sugar spikes is the BEST way to control irrational hunger cravings and ANYONE who has a lick of food and digestion science knows this.

Jillian Michaels is no fool. She has made a respectable living teaching millions of people how to manage their weight and get in shape and from what I can tell with an legit motivation to do what is right. I have had the pleasure to meet her and she is awesome. Her concepts are not anti carb, but she does push be responsible in your eating and bed educate about how food affects your body.

I think the people who tell others that they can eat as many carbs as they want without consequence are the ones talking out of their *kitten*.

First of all, Jillian Michaels is NOT a credible source for nutrition.

Secondly, who mentioned carb cravings? Not the OP. Carb cravings are a totally different issue as to whether you need to restrict carbs at night.

And talk about hyperbole with the 'die of diabetes'...lawdy.

In for carbs causing diabetes.

taso42

sounds about as effective as only eating out of white dishware. which is to say, not at all

mittencat77

thanks all for the great advice!

mittencat77

[/quote]

Not to derail your carb question, but I am 4' 11" and I consume between 1400-1600 cals daily. I cycle 20 miles and lost 4 lbs and 2 inches off of my thighs, and an inch from my buttinsky. Are you netting 1200 daily?
[/quote]

It depends. Today I had a 13 hr day of work, so I was at 1400. However, yesterday I ate about 1200 yet my net was 800 because of my workout (I wear a HR monitor to get a more accurate count...I only wish I could burn as much as machines would suggest one does....especially when you are short).

Not sure about what I am supposed to net, whether I am to eat back my calories, etc.

Sarauk2sf

Not to derail your carb question, but I am 4' 11" and I consume between 1400-1600 cals daily. I cycle 20 miles and lost 4 lbs and 2 inches off of my thighs, and an inch from my buttinsky. Are you netting 1200 daily?

It depends. Today I had a 13 hr day of work, so I was at 1400. However, yesterday I ate about 1200 yet my net was 800 because of my workout (I wear a HR monitor to get a more accurate count...I only wish I could burn as much as machines would suggest one does....especially when you are short).

Not sure about what I am supposed to net, whether I am to eat back my calories, etc.

This should help with your question re eating back your exercise calories:

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/818082-exercise-calories-again-wtf

Edited to fix quotes

harphy

As long as you are in cal deficit it does not matter. I go to bed at midnight so I'm starved as my dinner is at 6 pm. I eat something and write it down to next day breakfast.

QuilterInVA

Unless you are only eating meat, you have carbs in vegetables and everything else you eat.

suelegal

Wondering if anyone has tried this. I did so once and it seemed to work (but it could have been a host of other things...particularly that my weight training was really intense then). Thinking about taking it up again. Don't have a lot to lose and I eat fairly well...definitely under my calorie limit each day (1200....I am only 4'11).

Has anyone done this? Had it work? Have a sense of why or why it didn't work?

My hesitancy is around how things would need to change re: my cooking (husband does most of it and is great at it.....I tend to set kitchens aflame!) and the fact that I don't eat meat which makes this a bit of a challenge.

Any thoughts, ideas, stories, would be much appreciated!
thanks!

The science (limited to be sure) says the opposite -

http://iifym.com/carbs-at-night/
"One group (control) ate carbs throughout the day, whereas the experimental group consumed the majority of their carbohydrate intake (approximately 80% of the total) at the night. What they found after 6 months may shock you. Not only did the experimental group consuming the majority of their carbs at night lose significantly more weight and bodyfat than the control group, they also were better satiety and less hunger!"

lcransaw

I use to do the no carbs after lunch, but to be honest, I was starving after dinner and had a headache, like the pp said. So, I just focus on staying in my calories, and carb ratio for the day. I have eaten carbs for dinner and still lost weight, so I am going to just be mindful of my portions, but not ban carbs totally at night or for dinner, I should say. I haven't read Jillian Michael's plan, but I did hear this from a trainer I worked with in the past. He said you don't want the huge insulin spike before you go to sleep. Either way, I think as long as you are eating and working out to create a deficit, you should lose. I got my hormone levels tested, and also did a glucose tolerance test, and both came back normal, so I am not going to focus on the time I eat carbs. Good Luck to you!

highervibes

I try and keep my carbs at 100/day from non grain sources (veggies, fruits and legumes) and I find it doesn't much matter what time I eat them.

This was an interesting article summarizing a recent Harvard Medical School study on carbs and their affect on hunger...

http://articles.latimes.com/2013/jun/27/science/la-sci-high-carbohydrate-hunger-20130627

I'm not sure if the article links the actual study, but my own personal anecdotal evidence supports these claims.

amandatapar

I haven't had processed carbs (rice, pasta, potatoes, only 2 slices of bread a day) in 3 months and I feel so much better. I still get carbs from the fruit and veggies but those aren't processed carbs so I don't worry about those. Eating more fruit and veggies has increased my fiber intake which helps you feel full longer. I usually have fish or chicken at night with a veggie and am full afterward.