Eating after 8pm...?

FedtRN

I am an RN and work 12 hour shifts. I don't get home until 8pm or later and I'm wondering if its bad if I eat when I get home. My food choices aren't crazy. Tonight I had 1/2 cup cottage cheese and a banana. Its close to impossible to sneak away at a decent time for a quick supper while at work. I just don't want to be ruining my diet if I am eating at this time of day. Any suggestions?

zafferFL

Eat whenever you want. Its a myth that eating after a certain time causes fat gain.

rlv2680

It's perfectly ok to eat a little something when you get home. It's better to eat late than not eat at all. It will not ruin your diet:)

trixirn

In the same boat, but you got to eat sometime. I am losing weight eating after 8 pm.

Captain_Tightpants

Makes no difference to weight loss what time you eat.

The only thing negative eating late may do is disturb your sleep a little with indigestion etc.

Shelby814

I am a NP & SANE. I am on call 24hr/day 7 days/week. I eat every 3 hours up until about 1hr before I go to bed. I do not eat fruit or bread-carbs after about 5pm per recommendations from my personal trainer. It has definitely worked for me. Fat free cottage cheese is a great choice, but personally, I would ditch the banana. If you're going to eat the fruit, an apple would be a better choice (higher fiber).

Nerdy_Rose

Due to my schedule, I often eat dinner at 10:00 p.m. or later. My weight loss has gone great :-)
Make good choices, don't worry about time of day.

dvisser1

Eating after 8pm is fine. I eat at 8pm or later regularly. Just don't go to bed 10 minutes later. Give yourself an hour or two minimum to digest and you'll be fine.

cressievargo

EAT!
Skipping a meal based on the clock is far worse for you than eating late.

Captain_Tightpants

I ought to add that because my wife is a comedian and often has gigs that run past midnight, a few times a month I find myself eating dinner at 1 or 2am and weight loss is progressing just fine.

leomentlines

I always eat dinner after coming from the gym, which is usually at 9-10 at night. Hasn't stunted my weight loss at all. As long as you're meeting your macros and staying at/near your calorie goal, you'll be fine

kvissy

I was told by a nutritionist that you should eat every 3-4 hours and try to hold off at least 1-2 hours before bed. If you must eat THAT late try to keep it higher in protein/fat and very low carb. If you're in bed at 1am,. totally find to eat at 11. Going 5 hours with no nourishment and then sleeping on it isn't the greatest.

Danny_Boy13

I was told by a nutritionist that you should eat every 3-4 hours and try to hold off at least 1-2 hours before bed. If you must eat THAT late try to keep it higher in protein/fat and very low carb. If you're in bed at 1am,. totally find to eat at 11. Going 5 hours with no nourishment and then sleeping on it isn't the greatest.

Agreed...

zafferFL

I was told by a nutritionist that you should eat every 3-4 hours and try to hold off at least 1-2 hours before bed. If you must eat THAT late try to keep it higher in protein/fat and very low carb. If you're in bed at 1am,. totally find to eat at 11. Going 5 hours with no nourishment and then sleeping on it isn't the greatest.

Why?

Pebble321

I think its a personal thing - we each need to find a routine that works to get in a healthy amount of calories over the course of the day, it doesn't matter what the clock says.

Dave198lbs

I was told by a nutritionist that you should eat every 3-4 hours and try to hold off at least 1-2 hours before bed. If you must eat THAT late try to keep it higher in protein/fat and very low carb. If you're in bed at 1am,. totally find to eat at 11. Going 5 hours with no nourishment and then sleeping on it isn't the greatest.

total nonsense. hope you didnt have to pay for that bogus poop.

kvissy

I was told by a nutritionist that you should eat every 3-4 hours and try to hold off at least 1-2 hours before bed. If you must eat THAT late try to keep it higher in protein/fat and very low carb. If you're in bed at 1am,. totally find to eat at 11. Going 5 hours with no nourishment and then sleeping on it isn't the greatest.

total nonsense. hope you didnt have to pay for that bogus poop.

Was covered by insurance ha.

Anyway--I do agree w/ what was said because by following that along w/ adequate exercise I was able to lose weight steadily and in a healthy manner. Obviously some things work for some people and some dont but I don't find it to be bogus at all.

Carry on!

zafferFL

I was told by a nutritionist that you should eat every 3-4 hours and try to hold off at least 1-2 hours before bed. If you must eat THAT late try to keep it higher in protein/fat and very low carb. If you're in bed at 1am,. totally find to eat at 11. Going 5 hours with no nourishment and then sleeping on it isn't the greatest.

total nonsense. hope you didnt have to pay for that bogus poop.

Was covered by insurance ha.

Anyway--I do agree w/ what was said because by following that along w/ adequate exercise I was able to lose weight steadily and in a healthy manner. Obviously some things work for some people and some dont but I don't find it to be bogus at all.

Carry on!

My money is on the exercise being the trick.

Dave198lbs

I was told by a nutritionist that you should eat every 3-4 hours and try to hold off at least 1-2 hours before bed. If you must eat THAT late try to keep it higher in protein/fat and very low carb. If you're in bed at 1am,. totally find to eat at 11. Going 5 hours with no nourishment and then sleeping on it isn't the greatest.

total nonsense. hope you didnt have to pay for that bogus poop.

Was covered by insurance ha.

Anyway--I do agree w/ what was said because by following that along w/ adequate exercise I was able to lose weight steadily and in a healthy manner. Obviously some things work for some people and some dont but I don't find it to be bogus at all.

Carry on!

well good that only the insurance company got ripped. ha. those "old" ideas have been totally debunked. If your choice is working for you thats good but not necessary.

kvissy

I was told by a nutritionist that you should eat every 3-4 hours and try to hold off at least 1-2 hours before bed. If you must eat THAT late try to keep it higher in protein/fat and very low carb. If you're in bed at 1am,. totally find to eat at 11. Going 5 hours with no nourishment and then sleeping on it isn't the greatest.

total nonsense. hope you didnt have to pay for that bogus poop.

Was covered by insurance ha.

Anyway--I do agree w/ what was said because by following that along w/ adequate exercise I was able to lose weight steadily and in a healthy manner. Obviously some things work for some people and some dont but I don't find it to be bogus at all.

Carry on!

My money is on the exercise being the trick.

I wish I can agree w/ you...unfortunately food intake is a big big part of weight loss. I workout like a machine and if my food is a mess I don't lose a pound. I maintain at best.

If you're blessed w/ exercise being your only solution, I envy you. A Lot. and if that were the case I would probably be a nothing by now ha.

zafferFL

Of course not, I'm guessing you changed caloric intake and not just eating times? Couple that with your exercise and you have the answer to your weightloss, not the fact that you don't eat just before bed time.

kvissy

Of course not, I'm guessing you changed caloric intake and not just eating times? Couple that with your exercise and you have the answer to your weightloss, not the fact that you don't eat just before bed time.

Yup I adjusted caloric intake and also adjusted the percentages to 40 carb 30 fat 30 protein. Also tried to keep the food coming at a rate of every 3-4 hours so I didn't get too hungry and overeat.

CMmrsfloyd

As long as eating late does not cause you to go over on your calories, it's fine. As far as I know, calories are still counted the same by your digestive system no matter what time you eat them. ;-) Half the time I don't even eat dinner until after 8, and I always plan to have a couple of snacks at night while watching TV - I log my snacks in advance so I know how many calories I'm going to use for snacking and can plan the rest of my day's food and exercise accordingly. Usually my last snack of the night is around 11pm right before I go to bed. Sometimes my snacks are nutritious (fruit, baby carrots and spinach dip, vanilla banana protein shake, mmmmmm, yummy) sometimes they're not (ice cream sandwich, cinnamon graham crackers, other deliciousness LOL). I can't stand going to bed hungry - I have personally found that if I go to bed feeling hungry, I'm probably going to wake up in the middle of the night starving and make some slightly regrettable choices when I make it downstairs to the pantry. LOL But some people find that eating too late might make it hard to sleep. So honestly it's personal preference. If you find that eating late doesn't work well for you, don't do it. If you find that it helps you or that you can plan it into your day and enjoy it w/o messing up your goals, go for it. Find what makes you feel satisfied and works for you. :-)

patton2012

as long as you make good choices as to what you are eating you will be fine..i found out that because i keep a fruit basket on my counter that when im looking for something to eat the fruit is the first thing that i see so im making better choices that way also...

ckish

Thanks to everyone for the wonderful info. I am an independent accountant and sometimes I have to chose between eating late or not eating. Now I won't worry so much about it becaue I am staying with in my cal count

knightfyre

I work the night shift and often don't eat my last meal (meal #5 or 6) until 2 or 3 in the morning, I wait at least an hour before going to bed so I don't cause my acid reflux to flare up and I haven't had any problems losing weight. I eat smaller meal about every 3 to 4 hours. I'm working with a personal trainer for a "Biggest Loser" challege at my local gym and so far have lost 9 lbs in 2 weeks. So far, so good. So I wouldn't worry about eating late.

44nFab

I am a NP & SANE. I am on call 24hr/day 7 days/week. I eat every 3 hours up until about 1hr before I go to bed. I do not eat fruit or bread-carbs after about 5pm per recommendations from my personal trainer. It has definitely worked for me. Fat free cottage cheese is a great choice, but personally, I would ditch the banana. If you're going to eat the fruit, an apple would be a better choice (higher fiber).

My doctor just said something to me this week about not eating carbs after 7pm. I have alot of respect for his knowledge and trust that it is not a myth.
That being said, definitely eat, but focus on protein (cottage cheese). My docotor even said fats are better to eat at night and suggested some tree nuts.

Phrak

I eat about 3000 calories 10 minutes before bed (10pm). Weightloss has not been hindered.

FedtRN

I really appreciate all your input! Cutting off carbs/fruit after 5pm is a great hint too, thanks!