Is eating a big/late dinner hurting my weight loss?
Replies
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I believe this myth about not eating late is just another way for people to control their total calorie intake. Most people have more control in the morning and during the day than at night. So in an effort to control total calories consumed, nutritionists would advise to not eat at night.
I eat late and almost every single day have an apple or some other snack right before I go to bed. This hasn't stopped me from losing weight.
that's because self control is a trainable skill AND it's not 'never ending' meaning you have a limited supply for the day.
So if you spend ALL day trying to NOT eat crappy food at work- and trying to NOT scream at your moronic co-worker- and trying to NOT slap your kids silly- by the time you sit down at 8 PM- you are out of self control.
This is true.
BUT it's also why just not eating in the AM works so very very well. I don't eat till 9/10 am easily- sometimes not even till 11. Then I eat 2-3 small meals at work- go work out- then come home and have another 5-900 calories. usually in the form of some protein plus oreos and ice cream
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No. Nutrient timing is irrelevant. Calories in vs calories out.
That's a bold statement. In the spirit of the forum rules, do you have science to back that up?
One of the 7 rules of nutrient timing is #7: Minimize eating after dark.
Now, another rule is eating on a consistent schedule. So if one's schedule due to work, and finishing the workout later in the day includes consistent eating after dark around the same time every evening - it is probably well mitigated.
A simple thought process of "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Prince, and dinner like a pauper" is not a bad way to time nutrient intake. More on nutrient timing in the following thread...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1213512-carbs-earlier-in-the-day0 -
I agree with those saying the timing of your food intake is irrelevant. It's how much you take in vs. how much you burn over the course of the day. Food is unaware of time.0
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I didn't see you mention what your overall calorie target was but personally, I don't see a 500 calorie meal as large. As many have said before, timing is largely irrelevant. As long as you're making progress, you're doing it right.0
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I agree you have no weight to lose:) I have read that as far as eating late its ok but you should make sure you go a full 10-12 hours before your breakfast meal, its somethong about how fat is burned at night and the order in which it burns it was technical i dont remember where i read it but i eat late too thats why i found it.0
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I got my abs to back it up and is all I needNo. Nutrient timing is irrelevant. Calories in vs calories out.
That's a bold statement. In the spirit of the forum rules, do you have science to back that up?
One of the 7 rules of nutrient timing is #7: Minimize eating after dark.
Now, another rule is eating on a consistent schedule. So if one's schedule due to work, and finishing the workout later in the day includes consistent eating after dark around the same time every evening - it is probably well mitigated.
A simple thought process of "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Prince, and dinner like a pauper" is not a bad way to time nutrient intake. More on nutrient timing in the following thread...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1213512-carbs-earlier-in-the-day
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9040548
"To conclude, ingestion of larger AM meals resulted in slightly greater weight loss, but ingestion of larger PM meals resulted in better maintenance of fat-free mass. Thus, incorporation of larger PM meals in a weight loss regimen may be important in minimizing the loss of fat-free mass."0 -
No. Nutrient timing is irrelevant. Calories in vs calories out.
That's a bold statement. In the spirit of the forum rules, do you have science to back that up?
One of the 7 rules of nutrient timing is #7: Minimize eating after dark.
Now, another rule is eating on a consistent schedule. So if one's schedule due to work, and finishing the workout later in the day includes consistent eating after dark around the same time every evening - it is probably well mitigated.
A simple thought process of "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Prince, and dinner like a pauper" is not a bad way to time nutrient intake. More on nutrient timing in the following thread...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1213512-carbs-earlier-in-the-day
IF would strongly argue this " rule of nutrient timing"
I don't have time to eat breakfast- and I hate eating right when I get up. Dinner trumps breakfast on average.
If anything I eat like
Breakfast = homeless person
Lunch= someone on a diet
afternoon lunch- again diet
Dinner- someone who doesn't give a crap at all.
I still hit my macros- still look good- still making progress.
You have to find what works for you and is maintainable.0 -
I tend to eat a lot of my calories at night time, and I've seen quite a lot of people do it
I don't know if it has affected me, because I have always done it so have nothing to compare it to
If you find it easier to stick to, carry on
The only "danger" is if you wake up early and weigh yourself because with all that food still transiting inside you, you may see a higher than actual number on the scale.
Other than that, I don't see any harm in eating at whatever time you feel hungry.0 -
I also agree it doesn't matter what time you eat your calories, but if you know you are going to burn 300-500 calories through your exercise you can build those calories into your overall plan for the day and eat extra calories earlier if you prefer.0
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No. Nutrient timing is irrelevant. Calories in vs calories out.
That's a bold statement. In the spirit of the forum rules, do you have science to back that up?
Yes. It is called the first law of thermodynamics, the law of conservation of energy. Which states that the total energy of an isolated system is constant; energy can be transformed from one form to another, but cannot be created or destroyed.
In weight loss terms, that translates to calories in vs calories out.0 -
Someone asked for a peer-reviewed study, so here's one: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3756673/
The researchers found a slight correlation between late-eaters losing less weight, but a) it was slight; b) their subjects were obese Mediterraneans; c) although they didn't discover other variables in the 2 groups, there may have been some; and d) it sounds like most of this is based on self-reported food intake, and not monitored closely during the trial (this is really the biggest problem).
So while there MAY be a correlation in the timing of eating, it's a small one that hasn't been studied closely.
I'm on the side of the "it doesn't matter" group.
But more importantly, I came here to say: Don't eat to make up for the calories lost when exercising. Just count your caloric intake and forget about what you're burning (unless you're doing marathons or something ridiculously strenuous).0 -
No. Nutrient timing is irrelevant. Calories in vs calories out.
That's a bold statement. In the spirit of the forum rules, do you have science to back that up?
One of the 7 rules of nutrient timing is #7: Minimize eating after dark.
Now, another rule is eating on a consistent schedule. So if one's schedule due to work, and finishing the workout later in the day includes consistent eating after dark around the same time every evening - it is probably well mitigated.
A simple thought process of "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Prince, and dinner like a pauper" is not a bad way to time nutrient intake. More on nutrient timing in the following thread...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1213512-carbs-earlier-in-the-day
Hilarious. I lost 109 pounds eating the bulk of my calories later in the day. I don't know how in the hell I lost 109 pounds eating later in the day. Eat at a deficit, timing doesn't matter. I think most agree.0 -
No. Nutrient timing is irrelevant. Calories in vs calories out.
That's a bold statement. In the spirit of the forum rules, do you have science to back that up?
One of the 7 rules of nutrient timing is #7: Minimize eating after dark.
Now, another rule is eating on a consistent schedule. So if one's schedule due to work, and finishing the workout later in the day includes consistent eating after dark around the same time every evening - it is probably well mitigated.
A simple thought process of "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Prince, and dinner like a pauper" is not a bad way to time nutrient intake. More on nutrient timing in the following thread...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1213512-carbs-earlier-in-the-day
Hilarious. I lost 109 pounds eating the bulk of my calories later in the day. I don't know how in the hell I lost 109 pounds eating later in the day. Eat at a deficit, timing doesn't matter. I think most agree.
Could be you lost all of that weight due to running a caloric deficit. ;-)
I'm not concerned with weight loss. I'm concerned with performance. Energy during the day. Immune system. Getting the most out of my training by being properly fueled at the right time to train at the highest level I can and cause better adpatation. As mentioned on another thread - that's probably not important for the average fun of the mill MFP'er. But there are high level athletes that do participate on MFP concerned about performing their best at the leanest they can be.
Different strokes for different needs. You needed to lose weight. Others need to perform and do it the leanest they can. Nutrient timing can be an effective tool to perform better during the day, have plenty of energy, and train at a high level.
Maybe you can anwer the OP if she is getting the best, high quality training when hitting the gym after work based on her nutritional intake during the day before she hits the gym. I don't know. She's the one who posed the question and wondered if her schedule (work/workouts/nutrition) were "hurting her weight loss"....0 -
No. Nutrient timing is irrelevant. Calories in vs calories out.
That's a bold statement. In the spirit of the forum rules, do you have science to back that up?
One of the 7 rules of nutrient timing is #7: Minimize eating after dark.
Now, another rule is eating on a consistent schedule. So if one's schedule due to work, and finishing the workout later in the day includes consistent eating after dark around the same time every evening - it is probably well mitigated.
A simple thought process of "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Prince, and dinner like a pauper" is not a bad way to time nutrient intake. More on nutrient timing in the following thread...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1213512-carbs-earlier-in-the-day
Hilarious. I lost 109 pounds eating the bulk of my calories later in the day. I don't know how in the hell I lost 109 pounds eating later in the day. Eat at a deficit, timing doesn't matter. I think most agree.
Could be you lost all of that weight due to running a caloric deficit. ;-)
I'm not concerned with weight loss. I'm concerned with performance. Energy during the day. Immune system. Getting the most out of my training by being properly fueled at the right time to train at the highest level I can and cause better adpatation. As mentioned on another thread - that's probably not important for the average fun of the mill MFP'er. But there are high level athletes that do participate on MFP concerned about performing their best at the leanest they can be.
Different strokes for different needs. You needed to lose weight. Others need to perform and do it the leanest they can. Nutrient timing can be an effective tool to perform better during the day, have plenty of energy, and train at a high level.
Maybe you can anwer the OP if she is getting the best, high quality training when hitting the gym after work based on her nutritional intake during the day before she hits the gym. I don't know. She's the one who posed the question and wondered if her schedule (work/workouts/nutrition) were "hurting her weight loss"....
So, in a thread about weight loss, everyone points out that nutrient timing is irrelevant to weight loss. You come in and argue that nutrient timing IS relevant. And when you figure out that you can't win that debate, you change your premise to say that you are talking about something ENTIRELY different than what everyone else was talking about in the first place (performance rather than weight loss).
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^ he did the same thing in the other thread comparing the op (who is interested in fat loss) against high class endurance athletes... lol.0
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So, in a thread about weight loss, everyone points out that nutrient timing is irrelevant to weight loss. You come in and argue that nutrient timing IS relevant. And when you figure out that you can't win that debate, you change your premise to say that you are talking about something ENTIRELY different than what everyone else was talking about in the first place (performance rather than weight loss).
Well, others preach it. Coach it and use it for fat loss.
"Nutrient timing is your answer to successful fat loss. By eating your carbohydrates at specific times of the day, you enable your body to remain in a fat burning state for a longer period of time." --- http://www.coachcalorie.com/nutrient-timing/
The OP's mileage may vary. However, I offer it up as a means to her being successful with her weight loss using the added tool of nutrient timing.0 -
Anecdotes aren't evidence. The body burns calories ALL the time while one is alive. People don't lose weight if they are eating at/over what their body physically expends in a day's time.yes it does...you should eat a good breakfast a medium lunch and a small dinner...you will burn the calories during the day, but if you eat late you don't burn the calories...that has been my experience.
Meal timing is irrelevant . Total calories at the end of the day count.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
This is advocated by a lot of the fitness industry, but the actual impact on the average person is pretty insignificant. MAYBE if it was someone who was spot on with nutrition, a trained athlete/competitor, it would hold more relevance, but the evidence for it is weak at best. The link you provided cited no reference studies to back the article, which usually means that the person writing the article is basing it off anecdotal evidence. And that happens A LOT in the diet and fitness industry.Well, others preach it. Coach it and use it for fat loss.
"Nutrient timing is your answer to successful fat loss. By eating your carbohydrates at specific times of the day, you enable your body to remain in a fat burning state for a longer period of time." --- http://www.coachcalorie.com/nutrient-timing/
The OP's mileage may vary. However, I offer it up as a means to her being successful with her weight loss using the added tool of nutrient timing.
A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition0 -
No. Nutrient timing is irrelevant. Calories in vs calories out.
That's a bold statement. In the spirit of the forum rules, do you have science to back that up?
One of the 7 rules of nutrient timing is #7: Minimize eating after dark.
Now, another rule is eating on a consistent schedule. So if one's schedule due to work, and finishing the workout later in the day includes consistent eating after dark around the same time every evening - it is probably well mitigated.
A simple thought process of "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Prince, and dinner like a pauper" is not a bad way to time nutrient intake. More on nutrient timing in the following thread...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1213512-carbs-earlier-in-the-day
Grr!! Why did you reference a thread where everyone told you that your endurance athlete bible was not relevant to the average MFP'er. Now I just want icecream since there were like eight posts talking about it
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Some cultures, not known for being overweight, like Spain and France are known for having the evening meal after 9 pm. If eating late hasn't negatively impact them, I think it's safe to say it's not that bad.gale1089
Is eating a big/late dinner hurting my weight loss?
By the time I get home it's almost 7:00pm and I end up eating around 7:30-8:00pm. Is this slowing my weight loss eating so much so late?
Not a scientific study, just an observation of life.0 -
You still burn calories and process nutrients while sleeping. That's when your body does a lot of repair work and your brain is very active which both contribute to calorie burn.
Eating before sleep is only a problem if you have GERD or other digestive or medical conditions where being in a reclining position with food still in your stomach could be an issue.
You'll actually burn less calories watching TV than you do sleeping. Watching TV decreases brain activity to a minimum as it is a very passive activity and burns minimal calories other than basic basal functions.0 -
No. As some have alluded, your profile pic shows that you are probably within your ideal weight range anyway so additional weight loss is probably not necessary... Restructuring and gaining some lean body mass (muscle) would probably come closer to helping your reach what you are trying to accomplish more than additional weight loss anyway.
IF, you are doing strength training (though I suspect you are probably doing an hour to an hour and a half of cardio), then eating some protein after your workout will actually help you rebuild your muscle that you broke down during the strength training... This would actually be a GOOD thing... Studies show that eating protein AFTER a workout actually helps build lean muscle. However, as far as weight loss is concerned, meal timing does not affect that in the long term. I have actually left a relatively strenuous workout and been shaky when I got out to get beverages for my family at a convenience store; my body NEEDED that fuel and a quick snack helped immensely.
What you will find after eating late, however, is that your morning weight will likely increase just a pound or two; however, this is not a real weight gain but is rather just a little water weight build up that will clear up later in the day as you start moving around... Don't let that throw you off; those fluctuations are common and not real or permanent.
Please don't get too attached to that scale. What really matters is are you HEALTHY and how do you LOOK... If I am 233 and wearing size 34 pants and getting stronger and able to run a 5K distance on a treadmill, I'll take THAT over 210, wearing size 34 pants and weak and unable to accomplish anything physically... It is all about how you feel and how you look more than the number on a scale.0 -
No. Nutrient timing is irrelevant. Calories in vs calories out.
That's a bold statement. In the spirit of the forum rules, do you have science to back that up?
One of the 7 rules of nutrient timing is #7: Minimize eating after dark.
Now, another rule is eating on a consistent schedule. So if one's schedule due to work, and finishing the workout later in the day includes consistent eating after dark around the same time every evening - it is probably well mitigated.
A simple thought process of "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Prince, and dinner like a pauper" is not a bad way to time nutrient intake. More on nutrient timing in the following thread...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1213512-carbs-earlier-in-the-day
Hilarious. I lost 109 pounds eating the bulk of my calories later in the day. I don't know how in the hell I lost 109 pounds eating later in the day. Eat at a deficit, timing doesn't matter. I think most agree.
Could be you lost all of that weight due to running a caloric deficit. ;-)
I'm not concerned with weight loss. I'm concerned with performance. Energy during the day. Immune system. Getting the most out of my training by being properly fueled at the right time to train at the highest level I can and cause better adpatation. As mentioned on another thread - that's probably not important for the average fun of the mill MFP'er. But there are high level athletes that do participate on MFP concerned about performing their best at the leanest they can be.
Different strokes for different needs. You needed to lose weight. Others need to perform and do it the leanest they can. Nutrient timing can be an effective tool to perform better during the day, have plenty of energy, and train at a high level.
Maybe you can anwer the OP if she is getting the best, high quality training when hitting the gym after work based on her nutritional intake during the day before she hits the gym. I don't know. She's the one who posed the question and wondered if her schedule (work/workouts/nutrition) were "hurting her weight loss"....
OP asked if the late dinner was affecting weight loss. The answer is no. I naturally practice IF and eat more of my calories later in the day. Not affecting my weight loss / fat loss / muscle gain.0 -
No. Nutrient timing is irrelevant. Calories in vs calories out.
That's a bold statement. In the spirit of the forum rules, do you have science to back that up?
One of the 7 rules of nutrient timing is #7: Minimize eating after dark.
Now, another rule is eating on a consistent schedule. So if one's schedule due to work, and finishing the workout later in the day includes consistent eating after dark around the same time every evening - it is probably well mitigated.
A simple thought process of "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Prince, and dinner like a pauper" is not a bad way to time nutrient intake. More on nutrient timing in the following thread...
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1213512-carbs-earlier-in-the-day
Hilarious. I lost 109 pounds eating the bulk of my calories later in the day. I don't know how in the hell I lost 109 pounds eating later in the day. Eat at a deficit, timing doesn't matter. I think most agree.
This is an easy one to answer. Since no one told you losing weight by eating in the evening is impossible, you lost weight. I read somewhere that bees shouldn't be able to fly, either, but since they don't study or understand aerodynamics, they are able to fly anyway. Now that you know you can't lose weight by eating late in the day, you won't lose anymore.
Please, no one tell the bees they can't fly - that would be a h*** of a mess with all those bees falling on the ground everywhere! :laugh:0
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