I'm not sure why. . .

TateFTW

people think they aren't allowed to eat at night. It's been shown over and over that when you eat really doesn't matter that much, but people still think they are gaining something by making a martyr of themselves and starving themselves in the evening.

I have a protein shake every evening. What and how much go in it depend on what I need to fill out my numbers. If I need protein, I add extra protein powder. If I need carbs I add more milk or maybe a banana. If I need fat I add natural peanut butter (which tastes AWESOME).

In my daily plan I always allow for a protein shake approx. 1.5 hours before bed. Not noly does it fit into my numbers, it actually helps me fill the gaps and stay right at or just below my numbers, and I never have to go to bed hungry.

ashlee954

Agreed! Especially when you're following a specific calorie/day eating plan. If you eat all day but not at night you have eaten the same amount of cals as if you were to eat some in the day and some in the evening. Same cals! Same amount burned during the day too. I am such a night eater and I have steadily lost weight. I once tried eating lighter later and saw no difference. I know everyone is different but more and more studies are proving that it is not when you eat, but rather what and how much. Great post!

MissAnjy

I always eat at night too I usually have a snack of popcorn around 8 or 9pm. I can't stop eating at 7 "like i'm supposed to" because I'll go to bed completely starving and then overeat at breakfast the next day!! It works for me!! hehe

ickybella

My husband's hours are a little odd, so we are forced to eat dinner at 8. It's been working for me so far. I can't sleep if I go to bed hungry anyway.

heathersmilez

I believe the people who pride themselves in not eating at night do so not b/c of some rule they believe but b/c they were constant grazers at night, not eating b/c they were hungry but because they were lounging around watching TV.

I try to not eat past 7:00 because once I start I can't stop. If I didn't get enough calories for the day I would probably have a protein shake or apple since I workout at night.

millermichellelea

Due to my calories I am finding that I have to eat at night to make my goals. I have been eating whole foods, mostly unprocessed and it takes a lot of food to get to 1200 calories. I try never to go over 600 calories at one meal, so this means I have to spread them out in to tiny meals all day and evening. I like eating all the time :laugh:

ashlee954

I like eating all the time :laugh:

DITTO! :bigsmile:

potluck965

Well, I am not a stickler for the rules, but I can't eat close to bedtime due to digestive problems. I have learned that I can battle the hunger better than what happens if I give in. I sometimes eat a cracker or two without too bad consequences, although it sort of depends. On exactly what it depends I don't know. My stomach has been a weak spot all my life.

Interestingly enough, though, if I fight through the hunger I do not wake up hungry.

Everyone is different, though and should do what works for them. If you can't sleep on an empty stomach, then eat. If you are not sleeping well you are doing yourself more harm than the perceived problems about eating late.

TateFTW

Well, I am not a stickler for the rules, but I can't eat close to bedtime due to digestive problems. I have learned that I can battle the hunger better than what happens if I give in. I sometimes eat a cracker or two without too bad consequences, although it sort of depends. On exactly what it depends I don't know. My stomach has been a weak spot all my life.

Interestingly enough, though, if I fight through the hunger I do not wake up hungry.

Everyone is different, though and should do what works for them. If you can't sleep on an empty stomach, then eat. If you are not sleeping well you are doing yourself more harm than the perceived problems about eating late.

Digestive issues definitely make an exception.

I also find that if I go to bed hunry I wake up with no hunger, and if I go to bed stuffed I always wake up starving. Isn't that interesting?

ashlee954

I also find that if I go to bed hunry I wake up with no hunger, and if I go to bed stuffed I always wake up starving. Isn't that interesting?

ME TOO!!!! WEIRD!

superwmn

I agree! I can not sleep if I have a grumbly belly and frequently eat late at night.

I think the same holds true for the belief that one must roll out of bed and consume breakfast EVERY DAY! EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT HUNGRY! EAT BREAKFAST IMMEDIATELY!

Sometimes, I'm not hungry until 10am. Sometimes, I wake up with a grumbly belly. I eat all meals when I'm hungry, not by the clock

Charmagne

tgh1914

I also find that if I go to bed hunry I wake up with no hunger, and if I go to bed stuffed I always wake up starving. Isn't that interesting?

From what I understand, this is because during the night your metabolism is slowing down as a response to the lack of fuel. And, if too much, will start the catabolism process. If, however, your body has enough food source fuel to not need to slow down the metabolism at night it's still revved & ready to go when you awake. But I'm no expert.

TateFTW

I agree! I can not sleep if I have a grumbly belly and frequently eat late at night.

I think the same holds true for the belief that one must roll out of bed and consume breakfast EVERY DAY! EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT HUNGRY! EAT BREAKFAST IMMEDIATELY!

Sometimes, I'm not hungry until 10am. Sometimes, I wake up with a grumbly belly. I eat all meals when I'm hungry, not by the clock

Charmagne

I don't think there's anything wrong with the "eat when and only when you're hungry" theory. That doesn't work for me, as my hunger singals have never realy matched what I know my body needs. I always eat breakfast 20 minutes fater waking up, although I've read that within an hour is fine. I also always eat right after working out, as soon as humanly possible, even though I'm hardly ever hungry at that point. I'm currently taking creatine, so I have a protein shake with creatine right after I workout.

alantin

There is also a superstition going around that, if you eat in the evening it just gets stored as fat no matter what.
Anyone else heard that one?

I didn't use to eat anything in the morning and it would often be 3 or 4 pm before I consumed anything but coffee. I didn't think that it had any ill affect back then but now that I eat 4-6 times a day, I'm definitely more alert and feel better throughout the day. My hunger is actually following the clock now!

ashlee954

There is also a superstition going around that, if you eat in the evening it just gets stored as fat no matter what.
Anyone else heard that one?

I didn't use to eat anything in the morning and it would often be 3 or 4 pm before I consumed anything but coffee. I didn't think that it had any ill affect back then but now that I eat 4-6 times a day, I'm definitely more alert and feel better throughout the day. My hunger is actually following the clock now!

Yes I'd heard something of the sort too. But like tharrop stated in regards to why some are starving in the mornign after eating late and not hungry in the morning if they hadn't, your body still works to digest that food at night. No food? Slower metabolism. Food? Need to rev it up a bit to digest this food. I think this is why a lot of people have trouble with grumbling tummies if they eat too late. Your body is wanting to slow down but your tummy is saying ummm, no, I still have a process to complete...

TateFTW

I've also found that snacking in the evening is a really bad idea for me, because I never stop feeling hungry if I snack. I need atleast a few hundred calories to have a noticable affect on my hunger. Luckily I can have 300-400 calories 6x a day and stay within my numbers. I usually have a full dinner around 6-7:30 and my evening shake around 9-10. As long as they are full meals, at least 250 calories, I'm good to go.

Uptopargolf

I think the thing behind eating late at night, is most people will tend to over eat. Not all but most. My girlfriend eats late and night, and very rarely eats breakfast (terrible IMO). But hey whatever.. not my place to say right?

I also am the same way, If I go to bed stuffed I wake up and I am super hungry. It is really odd.

Personally I don't like to eat after 7ish, I don't normally get hungry after than anyway.. The only reason I don't do it is because normally it will put me right to sleep if I eat. Clearly if you feel hungry you should eat.

But like said before, the times you eat don't make any, or not a noticeable difference in a diet.


ALTHOUGH I did read somewhere than when people eat late at night, they tend to over eat simple carbs, like cookies, cake, etc etc. AND that will get stored as fat. But not if you are having a protein shake, or complex carbs like a banana.