Carbs earlier in the day?

SideSteel

I'd really only concern yourself with specific carbohydrate timing for two reasons:

1) Personal preference pertaining to how you feel and when you PREFER to eat your carbohydrates.
2) Effect of carbohydrate timing on exercise performance.

I would argue that the above two variables are going to have a far greater impact on fat loss vs any theoretical benefit to partitioning.

JoRocka

In regards to the OP's original question... don't you think you are overcomplicating it just a tad?

In terms of anybody asking about eating ice cream in the morning - yes.

In terms of somebody else who may stumble on this thread wondering about eating carbs earlier in the day who also happens to be including exercise in combination to their daily routine to lose weight - nutrient timing is very a propos to the thread's title.

It seems complicated, but knowing that eating the same amount of food/nutrients per day, but timed differently could mean the difference between losing weight and gaining weight - it's a huge "hello" moment. Need I mention their are thousands of posts on these forums with posters asking why they are not losing weight even though their calories are low and they are working out. IMO - many, if not all, could use a lesson on nutrient timing.

for you're average MFP user- meal timing- nutrient timing- and almost every thing else at that level is largely irrelevant.

I've personally never really been over weight- I have a healthy relationship with food and I"ve been working out since I was like 3 years old and I still don't give a hoot about it unless I'm doing something really aggressive and it becomes necessary for me to manage my hunger so placing things strategically through the day is vital. For most people it's just complicating something they don't need complicated and they need to do some trial and error with basic guide lines- not stuff that's appropriate for high end competitors.

SingingSingleTracker

A deficit of energy is a deficit of energy is a deficit of energy...are you really saying that someone who is in a deficit of energy isn't going to lose weight...or in fact will gain weight due to nutrient timing? That's just ridiculous dude.

I did not say that. Neither did the OP. But bang for the buck, there just may be a more efficient way to get the nutrients you need if they are timed properly. Be it for maintaining weight, or losing weight.

Your goal may be to complete a metric century. Other's may have a goal of doing it 2 hours faster than you. ;-) And on the same amount of calories timed perfectly. ;-)

You said exactly that...

but timed differently could mean the difference between losing weight and gaining weight - it's a huge "hello" moment. Need I mention their are thousands of posts on these forums with posters asking why they are not losing weight even though their calories are low and they are working out.

Also, no question nutrient timing is important to performance come race day and the days leading up to it...last I checked, OP was talking about losing weight, not optimizing her 1/2 marathon time.

Also, there are just as many endurance athletes that advocate carbs in the evening, primarily to aid in protein synthesis...Matt Fitzgerald is awesome, but he's not God and Racing Weight isn't the Bible....you can pretty much find advocacy for just about anything (which is why there is such a plethora of bro-science spouted everywhere) and most endurance athletes will have to experiment to see what works best for them from a performance standpoint...but again, that's not even what the OP is talking about.

Semantics, I guess. In the quote you list, you will notice I was careful to use the word "low" which is different from the word "deficit". A "low" tank of gas, does not mean there are negative gallons in the tank and I cannot drive to work. A "deficit" would be "below".

Fitzgerald's book has the footnotes to all of the studies and sources that were conducted. It's not "bro science".

cwolfman13

A deficit of energy is a deficit of energy is a deficit of energy...are you really saying that someone who is in a deficit of energy isn't going to lose weight...or in fact will gain weight due to nutrient timing? That's just ridiculous dude.

I did not say that. Neither did the OP. But bang for the buck, there just may be a more efficient way to get the nutrients you need if they are timed properly. Be it for maintaining weight, or losing weight.

Your goal may be to complete a metric century. Other's may have a goal of doing it 2 hours faster than you. ;-) And on the same amount of calories timed perfectly. ;-)

You said exactly that...

but timed differently could mean the difference between losing weight and gaining weight - it's a huge "hello" moment. Need I mention their are thousands of posts on these forums with posters asking why they are not losing weight even though their calories are low and they are working out.

Also, no question nutrient timing is important to performance come race day and the days leading up to it...last I checked, OP was talking about losing weight, not optimizing her 1/2 marathon time.

Also, there are just as many endurance athletes that advocate carbs in the evening, primarily to aid in protein synthesis...Matt Fitzgerald is awesome, but he's not God and Racing Weight isn't the Bible....you can pretty much find advocacy for just about anything (which is why there is such a plethora of bro-science spouted everywhere) and most endurance athletes will have to experiment to see what works best for them from a performance standpoint...but again, that's not even what the OP is talking about.

Semantics, I guess. In the quote you list, you will notice I was careful to use the word "low" which is different from the word "deficit". A "low" tank of gas, does not mean there are negative gallons in the tank and I cannot drive to work. A "deficit" would be "below".

Fitzgerald's book has the footnotes to all of the studies and sources that were conducted. It's not "bro science".

I've read it...along with other numerous other health, fitness, and nutrition books that also have footnotes for numerous studies the contradict those studies and other studies that contradict those studies so whatever, and again...average MFPer is going to see very little if any benefit from nutrient timing...average MFPer is not world class athlete trying to shave off milliseconds from their time. Not sure how you're not getting this.

LolBroScience

I'd really only concern yourself with specific carbohydrate timing for two reasons:

1) Personal preference pertaining to how you feel and when you PREFER to eat your carbohydrates.
2) Effect of carbohydrate timing on exercise performance.

I would argue that the above two variables are going to have a far greater impact on fat loss vs any theoretical benefit to partitioning.

This.

SingingSingleTracker

I've read it...along with other numerous other health, fitness, and nutrition books that also have footnotes for numerous studies the contradict those studies and other studies that contradict those studies so whatever, and again...average MFPer is going to see very little if any benefit from nutrient timing...average MFPer is not world class athlete trying to shave off milliseconds from their time. Not sure how you're not getting this.

Fine. I thought that perhaps the title of the thread would attract more than just any "old average MFP'er" who wants to know if eating ice cream for breakfast within the broader question of "carbs earlier in the day" or not. I thought there was a diverse group of people partaking of this site that includes anything from top level amateur and even pro athletes to the "any old average MFP'er" who wants to know how to start exercising, or how to start a training program.

Suffice it to say, that nutrient timing is - as you mention - not for the run of the mill average person. But for those that are different than the "run of the mill" - and I have read a lot of posts on these boards that are indeed from a diverse background and experience level - I don't see the harm in valid disucssion.

If there are any amateur "above the run of the mill" endurance athletes on the boards, nutrient timing and getting it right is very crucial to training and racing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sStK1KG8lnA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W-SGNh3AD0

DeadliftAddict

Do whatever works for you. I don't eat breakfast (IF) so all my carbs come after noon. I love it. But, i'm not a low carb person.

J72FIT

I've read it...along with other numerous other health, fitness, and nutrition books that also have footnotes for numerous studies the contradict those studies and other studies that contradict those studies so whatever, and again...average MFPer is going to see very little if any benefit from nutrient timing...average MFPer is not world class athlete trying to shave off milliseconds from their time. Not sure how you're not getting this.

Fine. I thought that perhaps the title of the thread would attract more than just any "old average MFP'er" who wants to know if eating ice cream for breakfast within the broader question of "carbs earlier in the day" or not. I thought there was a diverse group of people partaking of this site that includes anything from top level amateur and even pro athletes to the "any old average MFP'er" who wants to know how to start exercising, or how to start a training program.

Suffice it to say, that nutrient timing is - as you mention - not for the run of the mill average person. But for those that are different than the "run of the mill" - and I have read a lot of posts on these boards that are indeed from a diverse background and experience level - I don't see the harm in valid disucssion.

If there are any amateur "above the run of the mill" endurance athletes on the boards, nutrient timing and getting it right is very crucial to training and racing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sStK1KG8lnA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W-SGNh3AD0

I appreciate what you are saying but it really does not pertain to the op's question.

yo_andi

It does not matter when you eat which macro-nutrients.

J72FIT

It does not matter when you eat which macro-nutrients.

For weight loss I would tend to agree, that said I would not go to that extreme either. For body recomp, nutrient timing may play a more significant role. But, I would not get all crazy about either.

LolBroScience

I've read it...along with other numerous other health, fitness, and nutrition books that also have footnotes for numerous studies the contradict those studies and other studies that contradict those studies so whatever, and again...average MFPer is going to see very little if any benefit from nutrient timing...average MFPer is not world class athlete trying to shave off milliseconds from their time. Not sure how you're not getting this.

Fine. I thought that perhaps the title of the thread would attract more than just any "old average MFP'er" who wants to know if eating ice cream for breakfast within the broader question of "carbs earlier in the day" or not. I thought there was a diverse group of people partaking of this site that includes anything from top level amateur and even pro athletes to the "any old average MFP'er" who wants to know how to start exercising, or how to start a training program.

Suffice it to say, that nutrient timing is - as you mention - not for the run of the mill average person. But for those that are different than the "run of the mill" - and I have read a lot of posts on these boards that are indeed from a diverse background and experience level - I don't see the harm in valid disucssion.

If there are any amateur "above the run of the mill" endurance athletes on the boards, nutrient timing and getting it right is very crucial to training and racing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sStK1KG8lnA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W-SGNh3AD0

OP isn't an endurance athlete. Merely concerned with fat loss...