How late do you eat?

sammama5

I haven't seen any posts on this, and was just curious what some of you successful MFP members are doing.
I've been trying to cut off eating any snacks 3 hrs before I plan on going to bed. (To be very clear, I go to bed around 10, so I stop eating by 7.)
Some days, I have a hard time getting to my goals for the day by 7 pm just because I don't feel that hungry. But come 9, if my hubby breaks out the chips while we're talking or watching a show, I get major munchies.

I'm not even sure why I picked 3 hrs- I think I read somewhere sometime in my life that 3 hrs. was a good time to cut off your intake of food since you'll be resting.
Thanks!

melissajane83

My daughter and I eat dinner around 5:30 on non gym days. On days she has gym, we eat at 7:30. We usually have pickles before bed. I don't know how that nightly ritual got started. I enjoy it though :bigsmile:

No_Finish_Line

there are a lot of BS 'articles' the perpetuate the myth that when you go to sleep your metabolism 'shuts down' which forces what you ate to be stored as fat

1) your metabolism doesn't shut down when you sleep
2) if it did shut down, then you wouldn't be storing anything as fat, since that a metabolic function lol

i happily eat a lot, sometimes most of my calories within the 3 hrs before bed. i just naturally like to eat in front of the tv and so i plan around that.


if eating before bed is a bad idea, its because typically people have already eaten thier day's worth of caloreis and the before bed snacking just represents over eating.

diannethegeek

Some people find that eating late at night gives them heartburn or problems sleeping. If you're not one of those people, then you can eat up to the time you fall asleep.

I usually hold onto some of my calories so I can have a snack around 9pm. I don't like going to bed too hungry.

ShannonMpls

I have no cut-off; meal timing doesn't matter for weight loss.

I typically eat dinner at some point between 6 and 8 because that suits my lifestyle. I also usually eat a snack at around 9pm. I go to bed around 10:30, so that means I normally eat 700-800 calories within three or four hours of sleeping, usually 200 within an hour or so.

Eat when it suits you for your lifestyle and preferences.

lseed87

Can be anywhere from 6 to 9ish. Generally i like it around 7ish but just depends on the day and what is for dinner type thing.

neandermagnon

there are a lot of BS 'articles' the perpetuate the myth that when you go to sleep your metabolism 'shuts down' which forces what you ate to be stored as fat

1) your metabolism doesn't shut down when you sleep
2) if it did shut down, then you wouldn't be storing anything as fat, since that a metabolic function lol

i happily eat a lot, sometimes most of my calories within the 3 hrs before bed. i just naturally like to eat in front of the tv and so i plan around that.


if eating before bed is a bad idea, its because typically people have already eaten thier day's worth of caloreis and the before bed snacking just represents over eating.

Plus the fact that if your metabolism did shut down, you'd be dead. Because that's what death is, i.e. cessation of all the metabolic activity keeping you alive....

cwolfman13

I generally eat dinner around 8:30/9:00 every night and I'm in bed by 10:00.

AlabasterVerve

I don't eat after dinner any more. It makes a calorie deficit easier to maintain and extends my fasting time which I think is healthful.

sammama5

there are a lot of BS 'articles' the perpetuate the myth that when you go to sleep your metabolism 'shuts down' which forces what you ate to be stored as fat

1) your metabolism doesn't shut down when you sleep
2) if it did shut down, then you wouldn't be storing anything as fat, since that a metabolic function lol

i happily eat a lot, sometimes most of my calories within the 3 hrs before bed. i just naturally like to eat in front of the tv and so i plan around that.


if eating before bed is a bad idea, its because typically people have already eaten thier day's worth of caloreis and the before bed snacking just represents over eating.

Plus the fact that if your metabolism did shut down, you'd be dead. Because that's what death is, i.e. cessation of all the metabolic activity keeping you alive....

LOL Yeah, I'm not sure I heard that your metabolism "shuts down". Maybe slows down? I don't know. I was just curious about whether any of the junk science you hear has any validity to it.

I guess if I'm feeling a little hungry, and I've got "room to spare" I will not feel guilty about eating right before bed.

emdeesea

I usually eat at around 7ish. But sometimes a bit later - like 8:30 p.m. I try not to eat later because I tend to get heartburn. But the time of your meal has nothing to do with weight loss or gain.

RobynMWilson

I eat late and break all the "rules" as far as that's concerned. I eat dinner typically around 8:30pm and if I have a snack it's usually 9:30 and I go to bed around 11:30 most nights. It's a myth. I was obese as a kid so I'm not naturally "skinny", either. I find I cannot sleep if I am hungry.

mmm_drop

I just don't eat after midnight, for personal reasons.

whitebalance

Night owl here... Dinnertime is frequently around 9-10pm, and bedtime is generally between midnight and 1am. I have no qualms eating right up to bedtime if necessary. Because when your sleep patterns suck as hard as mine do, waking up early because of a rumbly tumbly sucks harder.

sammama5

I just don't eat after midnight, for personal reasons.

LOL haven't thought about that since I was a kid! Thanks for the laugh.

Francl27

It doesn't matter when you eat, but typically I'm out of calories by 7pm.

Vermilliana

I work graveyard shift so my calories are spread over 18 hours. I pre-log my food so I can portion it out properly. So long as you're staying in your intake range then timing really doesn't matter. Eat when you're hungry, stop when you're full and keep track. I personally have discovered that a small bowl of cereal with milk helps me sleep....a rumbley tummy doesn't *L*

SugaryLynx

Oh whenever. Usually about an hour or so before bed but if it's a busy day and I need calories, right before. As long as I don't get a stomach ache *shrugs*

Sinful_moon

If I don't eat close-ish to bed time, then I feel horridly nauseous in the morning. I try to eat the most nutrient dense food(high protein and fat) I can, lately that has been salmon.

What works for me might not for others, this is just how I've learned to deal with my own body.

JoRocka

when i get home from the gym or studio- and after I shower- so usually between 1030 and midnight.

beachylove

Depends...some nights we dont even eat dinner until 8:30-9. If I want a snack before bed or if I need to get some more calories in my day I might have something around 10ish. Usually I am in bed around 10:30-11 weekdays and weekends its whenever I decide to crash out.

Escape_Artist

Last meal is normally around 9:30. I go to bed around 10

PurpleCupcakes01

I eat whenever I'm hungry

EllenKay63

I go to bed around 10:30/ 11. With the new job and new house, I sometimes don't even start dinner until 7 o'clock. For me it's not an option- I have to eat supper. I eat when I'm hungry.

bethlaf

truthfully - i eat till my calories are filled . if i dont like the number or want to eat more, i exercise till i have earned it , usually the urge to eat whatever has abated by the time i have completed enough exercise to "earn" it ...

but I am a WAHM - so i can take mini breaks from work to exercise almost any time..

CyberEd312

Meal Frequency will have no bearing on weight loss. Just make sure you are hitting your calorie and macro goals for each day... I take a 500-600 calorie snack to bed with me every night and have lost a few pounds.... Best of Luck

jodescorinna

I eat as late as I need to, I also work shifts so sometimes I have my 'lunch' at 10pm and my 'dinner' at 3am!!
Generally on my normal days I eat dinner at around 7-7:30pm.But I generally always have a snack after that too. I like eating watching a movie or tv!!

jennifer_417

The only time I don't eat is when I'm actually sleeping...it gets too messy.

sammama5

I'm so glad to hear that I was crazy for falling for the junk science!
I will happily eat my calories, even near bedtime, and just watch to see how my body responds to it.
No more sniffing the bag and drinking water while hubby eats a snack. :-)
Thanks for the input!

PinkyPan1

I do have a cut off time and it is 8 pm. One of my bad eating habits was to snack all night after dinner so now I make sure all my food is accounted for and logged in MFP then I am done for the day. Start again tomorrow. At first it was difficult now it is no big deal because I am learning self control and learning not to graze.

pseudomuffin

I should probably implement a cutoff time for food but I often stay up until 2 or 3 am so it's hard :frown: I try not to eat anything a couple of hours before I go to bed, though, because it always makes me feel sick.