When is it too late to eat?

Givememyflatbelly

Im trying to shift my life into a 5 meals a day thing, but I have a question. At what time does it becoming too late to eat?

Some dietary sites ive read said that a good time to stop anymore consumption is around 7pm. This is normally when i eat since i go to the gym after work.

I read somewhere, that your last meal of the day should be 4 hours before you go to bed.

If this is the case, what should i be eaten? Fruit and veg? I presume no heavy carbs or such?

Help help im confused

Givememyflatbelly

Im trying to shift my life into a 5 meals a day thing, but I have a question. At what time does it becoming too late to eat?

Some dietary sites ive read said that a good time to stop anymore consumption is around 7pm. This is normally when i eat since i go to the gym after work.

I read somewhere, that your last meal of the day should be 4 hours before you go to bed.

If this is the case, what should i be eaten? Fruit and veg? I presume no heavy carbs or such?

Help help im confused

Phoenix_Rising

I dunno.
I'm under the impression that if you gained more weight by eating late, we could beef up starving kids in Africa by feeding them after midnight.
While I don't think it matters how late you eat, I do think it matters how long you keep your body upright after eating (meaning, not napping or going to sleep afterwards).
I think I've always heard to eat 3 to 4 hours before bedtime.

jlwhelan1

I'm swamped and behind this morning, but I'll try and find a study that was done on this. If I remember correctly it makes no difference as long as you are not going to bed absolutely stuffed. Total calories matter.

Non-scientifically and anecdotally, I never go to bed hungry. If I do I'll lay awake all night. Sometimes I teach until 9 or 10 at night and then bike home. I'll have a second (small) dinner of ~200-300 calories. Although I have a healthy BMI, I'm trying to lose a few pounds gained recently. My eating pattern has been the same for years, it was my exercise pattern (severely reduced) that changed. My dh and children also have a snack before bed and are all lean and healthy.

This was a study done on animals
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/02/060202080832.htm

Fab140

I think the 3-4 hour rule is about right. It gives your body time to digest before you go to sleep.

OomarianneoO

I always heard two hours before bedtime. I want to say I heard it on Oprah, from Dr. Oz. (love him). But I'm not sure either. Personally, I do the two hours before bed.

Nich0le

There is no proof that eating before bed makes you gain weight. However, for sleep's sake it is recommended not to eat within 2 hours of your normal bedtime. So if you go to bed at 9 every night then 7 would be a great time to stop but if you go to bed at midnight 10 pm should be the cut off time.

Givememyflatbelly

I'm swamped and behind this morning, but I'll try and find a study that was done on this. If I remember correctly it makes no difference as long as you are not going to bed absolutely stuffed. Total calories matter.

Non-scientifically and anecdotally, I never go to bed hungry. If I do I'll lay awake all night. Sometimes I teach until 9 or 10 at night and then bike home. I'll have a second (small) dinner of ~200-300 calories. Although I have a healthy BMI, I'm trying to lose a few pounds gained recently. My eating pattern has been the same for years, it was my exercise pattern (severely reduced) that changed. My dh and children also have a snack before bed and are all lean and healthy.

This was a study done on animals
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/02/060202080832.htm

Thanks for your link. Quite an interesting read.

Al thought I was thinking of having my main calorie intact during the day anway.

thanks all:glasses:

gabi_ele

There is no proof that eating before bed makes you gain weight. However, for sleep's sake it is recommended not to eat within 2 hours of your normal bedtime. So if you go to bed at 9 every night then 7 would be a great time to stop but if you go to bed at midnight 10 pm should be the cut off time.

That's what I'm thinking too, plus it's important ( at least for me) to eat a lighter meal. If I don't, I have nightmares all night long. Lean meat some veggies and maybe some pasta for dinner would be ok.

Unknown

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OomarianneoO

When is it too late to eat?

I'm guessing when you're dead.

smart-*kitten*