Do you all stop eating after a certain time?

conniehv40

I am trying, really trying, to not eat after dinner. That is my down fall. I love to snack--then snack some more. I started back on mfp with a goal to stop gaining weight. I started looking at my food and all day, I did pretty well. Then after dinner, just wanting crackers, cookies, popcorn, just kind of a mindless, but obsessive snacking, so I have tried to just stop. It isn't the calories counting, it is my will power that no just says why start snacking after dinner... Good luck!

CaliMomTeach

No. I will eat a snack at 10 pm. I'm sure if I put a deadline, I'd eat fewer calories as my snack calories are what I add out a snack while watching t.v. habit I have had for years.

Lounmoun

cefleischman wrote: »

I know some people say they won't eat or snack after 7:00 PM. What do other people do? Is there benefit to doing this when it comes to losing weight or health in general?

I go to bed between 10 pm and midnight typically. I usually don't feel the need to eat after 9 pm.
I don't think it matters for weight loss what time you eat as long as you stick to your calorie deficit.
If you have issues with eating close to the time you will sleep there is probably a benefit in eating lighter at night or stopping a few hours before bed.

CindyWard2

I got in the habit years ago with a bad bout of acid reflux of not eating 2 hours before bed. That completely stopped my acid reflux problems and I've mostly kept to that habit. I'm not 100% with it and it has nothing to do with my weight loss.

Need2Exerc1se

cefleischman wrote: »

I know some people say they won't eat or snack after 7:00 PM. What do other people do? Is there benefit to doing this when it comes to losing weight or health in general?

There definitely can be a benefit if it lowers your overall calorie consumption.

Personally, I go for the opposite approach. I don't start eating until later in the day. I shoot for 1:00 but it's usually closer to 2:30. We eat dinner at about 8:30 - 9:00 p.m. so stopping at 7:00 would be a problem for me.

123Miche

I try not to snack after i eat dinner (usually around 7). Brushing my teeth after i eat usually helps. I will also drink some tea if i get in the mood to snack

Carlos_421

Evamutt wrote: »

My trainer at the gym said to stop eating 2hrs before bed so that's what I do

Trainers at the gym aren't typically certified to give nutritional advice.

JJBCPP

Can't even make it through the night without eating

earlnabby

conniehv40 wrote: »

I am trying, really trying, to not eat after dinner. That is my down fall. I love to snack--then snack some more. I started back on mfp with a goal to stop gaining weight. I started looking at my food and all day, I did pretty well. Then after dinner, just wanting crackers, cookies, popcorn, just kind of a mindless, but obsessive snacking, so I have tried to just stop. It isn't the calories counting, it is my will power that no just says why start snacking after dinner... Good luck!

I have the same issue so I leave plenty of calories for the late night snacking (usually 300-400). Instead of fighting it, I decided my best course of action was to control it. I have specific foods that I have and select from them based on what macros I have left over. Examples: snack size bags of microwave popcorn, yogurt, cheese, eggs, nuts, protein bars, etc.

DawnOfTheDead_Lift

I eat a snack right before bed every night if I have the calories. I love going to bed with no hunger and it hasn't slowed down my progress one bit.

Parabellum68

Timing of eating matters to me, personally I train before eating in the morning and then have shakes for breakfast and lunch followed by whatever I want for dinner, I try not to eat in the evening but if I have cheese in the fridge it ends up like Russian roulette

kami3006

I sleep better after having some food so I save calories for the evening and eat shortly before bed. My next meal isn't until around 11a.m. so it helps stave off hunger in the morning too.

shiverness

I wake up at an extremely early hour so I tend to be in bed by 8 p.m.. So that whole don't eat after 7pm guide that I see often is complete bull for me.

I do try to eat dinner by 5pm, 6 latest. And dinners my last meal of the day.

Of course on my days off I may have a snack since I don't go to bed till later.

Icrizz

I typically don't eat after 7-8 pm because usually the things I want to eat at that time aren't healthy for me and I'm more likely to binge if I start eating later at night

cefleischman

A lot of good responses! And some funny ones as well ("I'm not a gremlin so it's generally not a problem for me") haha!

Gisel2015

cefleischman wrote: »

I know some people say they won't eat or snack after 7:00 PM. What do other people do? Is there benefit to doing this when it comes to losing weight or health in general?

I stop betteen 7:30 and 8PM, sometimes sooner. I just don't like to eat later than that or to have the kitchen open late. My choice.

Momepro

No. I can't sleep at all if I'm even a little hungry

ahoy_m8

RunRutheeRun wrote: »

I aim not to eat much after 7 pm but thats because I've generally eaten all my calories by then! Its all a matter of preference and finding what works for you, the timing doesn't matter.

Same here. I pre-log and plan to eat whatever calories I have left for the day at dinner. I found that if I save calories for an after dinner snack/treat, I tend to want to keep nibbling. My will power isn't strongest at the end of the day. For some reason, it's mentally easier for me to know I'm done when I've had dinner. The time is somewhat variable, and not the driver, but it's generally not later than 7.

kommodevaran

conniehv40 wrote: »

I am trying, really trying, to not eat after dinner. That is my down fall. I love to snack--then snack some more. I started back on mfp with a goal to stop gaining weight. I started looking at my food and all day, I did pretty well. Then after dinner, just wanting crackers, cookies, popcorn, just kind of a mindless, but obsessive snacking, so I have tried to just stop. It isn't the calories counting, it is my will power that no just says why start snacking after dinner... Good luck!

This was me four years ago. Well, I actually "fasted" until afternoon, overate some boring dinner, and then grazed/binged until I fell asleep, but I thought about snacks and sweets as something I loved, I felt entitled, and tried to not think too much about the consequences (it ruined my health). I don't believe in "mindless eating", I think we are fully aware, just don't want to think about it. I really tried, and hoped, it would stop. Of course it didn't - it takes conscious effort. But when I discovered that I was in fact eating compulsively, it was quite easy to stop. And just not buying trigger foods, makes it impossible to eat it. Regular meals does something to your mind, you get accustomed to that there are times for eating, and the rest of the time, there is not eating. And the last piece of the puzzle, the one that always lead to failure after "successful" weightloss, was to eat food I like and not be afraid of it, instead, really pay attention and let myself enjoy the pleasure. It's so much easier to say no when I don't feel deprived, don't feel like I'm missing out, don't feel sorry for myself. Good eating habits, environment control and attitude adjustment is the lazy person's willpower.