Do you eat carbs in the morning or night?

NU2U

I'm very strict..and will only eat carbs.....................when I'm awake :happy:

phillieschic

All day...every day!

capnwo85

I don't know all the 'scientific' facts behind the great and mysterious carb - but for me I eat them through out the day. I just watch my portions and keep within my calorie range and macros.

Ding Ding Ding, winner!

Smart ppl from Chicago unite.

minimaggie

I am insulin resistant and my body loves to turn carbs into fat, therefore I try not to eat them too late in the day. I want to give myself plenty of time to burn them off before going to bed.

shanerg70

My trainer said carbs in the morning, protein in the evenings.

hiker282

I think that as long as you are in ur cals for the day you are safe.

This line of thinking always irks me. One should consider the quality of calories rather than just the quantity. Eat a diet of 1,500 calories of fast food and 1,500 calories of veggies, fruits, and lean meats and see what difference it makes in your weight loss and overall health.

kmmealey

I love carbs but find that I am "short" of my carb goal every day now. No longer craving them with healthier eating & exercise? Not sure of the reason but I'm glad whatever the reason!
For actual, definitive (medically sound) advice for to the American Dietetics *kitten*'c. website: htttp://eatright.org.
I found the website, then met with a Registered Dietician who was very helpful. Scientifically, I'm not sure of any reason to eat carbs late in the day unless you're very active then? I see lots of "urban legend" stuff written here, some of it downright dangerous. On the flip side, there are many great ideas here on MFP also. Love looking at food diaries (of those who have successfully & slowly lost weight) for meal & snack ideas.

lizziebeth1028

I don't know all the 'scientific' facts behind the great and mysterious carb - but for me I eat them through out the day. I just watch my portions and keep within my calorie range and macros.

Ding Ding Ding, winner!

Smart ppl from Chicago unite.

Thanks!!! ...And watch out for all those Nato protestors out on the street!

Elizabeth_C34

I eat carbs all day every day. I find that if I go too low on carb intake, my workout performance suffers quite a bit so I keep a relatively high carb intake.

bcattoes

I usually crave high carb foods at night... and do believe if I eat most of my high carbs during the day I have a better chance of burning them off.. But I'm 47 years old and my metabolism is slowing down... In my younger days I don't think it really mattered when the bulk of my carbs was consumed...

I'm 51 and I eat more than half my calories within an hour of going to bed most nights. I don't limit carbs, though I do focus on balanced meals. But I eat brown rice for dinner pretty often. I exceeded my original weight loss goal and have maintained it for a year now.

HYBRIDXXX

IT DOESN'T MATTER AS LONG AS U STAY WITHIN UR CALORIC RANGE

rml_16

i only eat carbs during the daytime or the nighttime.

Me, too. Much healthier that way.

vmessyness

well considering most of my diet is fruit, vegetables, and legumes, i pretty much eat carbs all damn day! i'm not a carbophobe, but i do generally stay away from any bleached or refined carbs like white pasta/white rice/white sugar etc.

FitLink

I am not a big fan of cutting carbs out all together but I do know that for me, limiting my carbs (especially the starching ones like potatoes, breads and pastas) work best for me.

Some people say if you are going to eat a starchy carb, it's best to do it at lunch time so you can burn it off throughout the day. But then I read a couple articles that stated it was better to have them at night.

For my carb loving friends, do you only eat carbs at certain times of the day?

As long as you are within your calories and macros, it doesn't matter what time you eat anything.

MsTT80

I spread my carbs through the day, but try to limit to just 2 out of 3 meals if I can. I also don't eat anything after 8pm unless out with friends for a meal

FitLink

My trainer said carbs in the morning, protein in the evenings.

Cool, bro.

Funsoaps

Morning. I have oatmeal in the morning or a smoothie. If you workout, it's okay to have them during the day as well or as snacks like apples, applesauce, smoothie or whatever.

Sidesteal

http://www.alanaragonblog.com/2010/06/15/why-nutritional-dogma-dies-hard/


Interesting read as it's relevant to the night-time carb myth.

FitLink

Why can't you work off carbs at night? Your body doesn't shut down you know.

Umm.....of course it does but I've never known anyone to exercise while they sleep. When you are sleeping your body does burn calories, you're right; uhh....but only like 2 calories per minute. Now, the people I know, want to burn more than that. That is why people do not eat a heavy carb dinner past a certain time of day because you will NOT burn it all off while you are sleeping!!!

Uhh...that's just crazy. There is no scientific evidence that it matters what time you eat anything. None what-so-ever.

PedroDVC

In my opinion the best time to eat carbs is: in the morning, because you've been without food for a long period of time and the body needs the energy and also before and after training, because you'll need the energy to train and the energy after training to replenish the body again, so, try to consume most part of your carb intake at these times... in the rest of the day try to eat legumes and vegetables (fiber carbs) that will help in regulating your stomach (if you know what I mean ... but try to eat carbs for fuel when your body will need them the most... especially whole food carbs, like brown rice, sweet potatoe, whote weat bread, whole pasta, since they will take more time before converting into fat...
If you do not train try to consume carbs and limit them until the afternoon, maximum until 3, 4 P.M. and reduce the amounts gradually...
But in general, don't be afraid of carbs, but make sure you know what kinds you are eating...

Hope it helped... sorry for my english... I'm Portuguese...
Take care!

mes1119

I eat them all day long

OM NOM NOM NOM NOM

tawny9753

I personally avoid carbs throughout the day because they trigger cravings for me. I also try to eat lighter in the morning. I feel more focused and productive. It also gives me more wiggle room if I have a client lunch or want to eat a nice dinner with my husband. It's not because some diet told me to, I've tried many diets and am discovering that if I just do what feels right for me I am so much happier than following a diet. I try and stay in my calories and choose healthier foods and stop beating myself up about everything.

I think with all the diet "rules" and "myths" out there it's important to step back and realize how amazing our bodies are. They can survive with a lot of food, they can survive with a little food. They keep us functioning through periodic famines or food shortages. They are adaptable. Until recently we haven't been able to provide them with perfectly balanced meals and vitamins every single day. There were seasons and you ate what was in season and our bodies worked just fine.

Being preachy to other people that they MUST eat breakfast, MUST not eat carbs, MUST eat such and such amount of protein, MUST eat this superfood every day for health is rude in my opinion. Full disclosure: I have been rude this way in the past. No more, I will encourage and give advice about what has worked for me and things you might want to try, but leave people to their own discoveries. What works right now might change in the future. Lives change, preferences change, attitudes change.

Let's just take care of ourselves the best we can and encourage everyone else to do the same

atomiclauren

Time of day shouldn't matter - quantity (and maybe time of day) can matter if you have issues with insulin resistance (or insulin generally).

Fwiw, as a diabetic, time of day does seem to matter to *me* (but of course, my mileage varies, and it's usually bad ).
Also, I probably represent less than a percent of the general population...

LilRedRooster

I eat them all day long

OM NOM NOM NOM NOM

I second that. Including the noming.

msradio

i EAT MY CARBS AT NIGHT IT REALLY DOESNT MATTER BECUZ I TRY NOT TO EAT AFT 7 OR 8PM ANYWAY AND I ALWAYS WORKOUT FOR AT LEAST A 1/2 HR AT NIGHT AFT I EAT AND I'M STILL LOSING I DON'T THINK IT REALLY MATTERS

TheLongRunner

I pretty much eat carbs whenever I damn well please.

^This...I don't pay attention to carbs and I have had no problems losing almost 100 pounds in 12 months.

Mercenary1914

[Uhh...that's just crazy. There is no scientific evidence that it matters what time you eat anything. None what-so-ever.

Actually there is...but there is evidence that supports both.

Onesnap

All day long.

Watch The Weight of the Nation (aired last week on HBO--it's a 4 part documentary).

Just eat less of each thing but a calorie is a calorie is a calorie.

TrailRunner61

I honestly eat what I want whenever, as long as I stay under my cals. I generally eat mostly healthy stuff though and so far it's worked, as I've lost 34lbs since Jan.

Mercenary1914

http://www.alanaragonblog.com/2010/06/15/why-nutritional-dogma-dies-hard/


Interesting read as it's relevant to the night-time carb myth.

Here is another good one:

http://www.worldofdiets.com/best-time-to-eat-carbs-morning-or-evening/