Eat dinner early or late?

Buckeye19XX
Buckeye19XX Posts: 33 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I usually eat lunch around 12 and dinner around 6, however, when I work from 5 or 6 until 11pm, I'm not sure if I should eat dinner around 4 (before leaving for work) or when I get home around 11:15pm. Opinions? I'm currently around 138lbs and aiming to reach 125.

Replies

  • Moxie42
    Moxie42 Posts: 1,400 Member
    The time of day you eat won't directly affect your weight loss, so I think whichever leaves you more satisfied throughout the day is the right way to go. Maybe try both ways and see which feels better to you. You could always save some calories for snacks during the day if you go with eating later, or if you go with eating earlier, save some calories snack you can have when you get home.
  • VeronicaA76
    VeronicaA76 Posts: 1,116 Member
    Eat when it is most beneficial to you. As long as you remain calorie deficient throughout the day, you're fine.
  • Buckeye19XX
    Buckeye19XX Posts: 33 Member
    I try to loosely follow intermittent fasting, eating from 10-6 and fasting for the remaining 16 hours. To continue intermittent fasting, would it be worth it to move up my eating window and eat a big breakfast? I rarely eat breakfast but can change that if it would aid in losing weight.
  • seska422
    seska422 Posts: 3,217 Member
    edited August 2017
    NinjaT4202 wrote: »
    I try to loosely follow intermittent fasting, eating from 10-6 and fasting for the remaining 16 hours. To continue intermittent fasting, would it be worth it to move up my eating window and eat a big breakfast? I rarely eat breakfast but can change that if it would aid in losing weight.
    It won't make a difference in the amount of weight loss if you stick with the same calorie intake amount.

    Intermittent fasting is a way to spread out your calories that helps some people stay at a deficit more comfortably. It doesn't give better overall results than any way of eating that creates the same calorie deficit.

    Would you like to move your window? Would that work better for you? Then move it. If you like it where it is, leave it where it is. If you decide that intermittent fasting isn't for you, feel free to change up when you eat.

    Big breakfast or tiny/no breakfast? Whichever leaves you more satiated over the course of the day.

    When isn't important in the big picture as far as weight loss goes but can make a big difference in comfort so figure out what works best for you personally and go with that.
  • kimcalica
    kimcalica Posts: 525 Member
    Early.. and I go to bed early too to avoid late night eating lol!!!
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • JaydedMiss
    JaydedMiss Posts: 4,286 Member
    Id go late but thats just because i like to know i have fallback calories at the end of the day, Vs going home in the mindset iv eaten everything for my day and if im hungry im screwed. I sleep beter full. No one but you knows whats best for you
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,997 Member
    I eat at all hours of the day and night and it has no noticeable effect on my weight overall as long as I'm eating w/in my calorie limits.

    HOWEVER, I weigh myself daily each morning after I get up and use the toilet AND, if I eat late at night, I find that my weight tends to be heavier than expected based on my caloric intake the previous day, because there has not been sufficient time to digest and/or pass the food previously comsumed.

    SO, if you're worried by such things, don't eat late and then weigh yourself early the next morning. Otherwise, it shouldn't matter.
  • okohjacinda
    okohjacinda Posts: 329 Member
    Eat at whatever time will not make you want to eat more. For me 2-10 or 3-11 works for me because I am more hungry at night.
  • boredloser
    boredloser Posts: 119 Member
    I usually try to hold off til about 4 hours before sleep.

    If I start work at 4pm and finish at midnight, I usually have dinner around 8pm.
    If I start work at 8am and finish at 4pm, I usually have it between 6pm and 8pm.
    If I start work at midnight and finish at 8am, I'll have breakfast at 1am, second breakfast at 9am and then lunch or dinner at around 1pm.
  • Orphia
    Orphia Posts: 7,097 Member
    edited August 2017
    If you fly 12 timezones to the other side of the world, your body doesn't suddenly go, "that's it, I'm not burning any more energy ever again".

    Eat at whatever time you like. :smile:
  • amandacalories
    amandacalories Posts: 107 Member
    Eat whenever you want..don't force yourself to eat early if you're not hungry and don't starve yourself late at night if you're hungry. I often eat late at night because I work nights and I've been losing consistently
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