Logic Behind Not Eating After 8?

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cspong
cspong Posts: 260 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I've been losing weight just fine, and I'll eat right up till I go to sleep. I'm not planning on changing that, but I keep seeing people saying that it slows your weight loss to do that... Which, frankly seems dumb to me, lol. I know you tend to sleep better if you don't eat right before bed (because your body isn't working on digesting), but I really don't see how it could possibly affect weight loss...

Any clue?
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Replies

  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
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    It's a good idea for people who don't count calories, because it limits their intake. It's also good for people who tend to sabotage their day by mindlessly snacking all evening. If you're counting your calories and you stay within your goals, it doesn't matter what time you eat.
  • suziecue66
    suziecue66 Posts: 1,312 Member
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    It only affects weight loss by limiting amount of calories you consume. If you tend to over-consume in the evenings, having a cut-off time will be beneficial.
  • caraiselite
    caraiselite Posts: 2,631 Member
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    i can't sleep if i'm hungry, so i always eat before bed. it doesn't affect me.
  • BackTatJIM
    BackTatJIM Posts: 1,140 Member
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    I always feel kind of bad about eating a late big dinner. By the time I get home from the gym I end up eating late every night and it is always my biggest meal of the day, but I am still losing weight so I have no idea how that works
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
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    I always feel kind of bad about eating a late big dinner. By the time I get home from the gym I end up eating late every night and it is always my biggest meal of the day, but I am still losing weight so I have no idea how that works
    Why would you feel bad about it?
  • mcrowe1016
    mcrowe1016 Posts: 647 Member
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    I think that the only logic is that a lot of people have the bad habit of binging before bed. Having a firm end time for eating can help end that.

    Besides that, I see no reason to not eat past certain times.
  • suziecue66
    suziecue66 Posts: 1,312 Member
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    I always feel kind of bad about eating a late big dinner. By the time I get home from the gym I end up eating late every night and it is always my biggest meal of the day, but I am still losing weight so I have no idea how that works

    Of course you have an idea - you're eating at a deficit.
  • kandrews24
    kandrews24 Posts: 610 Member
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    I'm with you. Eating more often can increase metabolism and certainly protects against feeling ubber hungry and then over eating. I think the issue of night eating is really an issue of over eating. Many folks over eat at night and if they didn't they would not be so fat. If you can stay within your calories, I don't think it matters when you eat. There are other issues too like acid reflux that some have and some have bad dreams if they eat late at night. But again, if no issues, then who cares. I sleep better with something in my tummy too.
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
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    I always feel kind of bad about eating a late big dinner. By the time I get home from the gym I end up eating late every night and it is always my biggest meal of the day, but I am still losing weight so I have no idea how that works

    You are still losing weight because you are still eating less calories than your body uses during the day. That's how it works.
  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
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    What they said. I have a feeling too that the 'forgot to log' stuff tends to happen later on.

    Some people say it's good for your body to not be digesting over night, just for better rest. I don't know. I think my body digests for a loooonngggg time. I guess maybe that intestine work is less taxing than the stomach part? I don't know. :ohwell:
  • barth76
    barth76 Posts: 1
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    I completly agree. I work out of town and have a tendancy to eat late today is day 22 for me and and it hasent affected me yet.
  • Rocbola
    Rocbola Posts: 1,998 Member
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    I know for me, when i don't eat late at night, i am hungry enough for a proper breakfast in the morning. If i eat late, i am not hungry until later. When i eat breakfast, i am less likely to binge at night. That's not very scientific, but based on my own experience, i get better weight loss when i eat my meals earlier in the day. And i sleep better, too.
  • Diadre1986
    Diadre1986 Posts: 1
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    I had a dietician tell me evening snacking was fine, your body doesn't have a clock and at a certain time it shuts down. Just count the calories and stay within your limit and you should be fine.
  • cspong
    cspong Posts: 260 Member
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    Okay, so the people who keep saying that as a rule are basically taking it out of context... Like, they don't realize it's to stop snacking and binging, rather than actually physically having an effect on your weight loss...

    I was like "What? My body keeps working... even when I'm sleeping..."
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
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    Some people say it's good for your body to not be digesting over night, just for better rest. I don't know. I think my body digests for a loooonngggg time. I guess maybe that intestine work is less taxing than the stomach part? I don't know. :ohwell:
    I don't see that it matters which one is more taxing. You will have to digest it at some point, so why would it matter if you're awake or asleep? The only way it makes a difference is if it disrupts your sleep.
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,280 Member
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    Okay, so the people who keep saying that as a rule are basically taking it out of context... Like, they don't realize it's to stop snacking and binging, rather than actually physically having an effect on your weight loss...

    I was like "What? My body keeps working... even when I'm sleeping..."

    Correct. There is NO scientific reason you have to stop eating at any specific time. It is all personal preference.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
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    Okay, so the people who keep saying that as a rule are basically taking it out of context... Like, they don't realize it's to stop snacking and binging, rather than actually physically having an effect on your weight loss...

    I was like "What? My body keeps working... even when I'm sleeping..."
    Look at you, with the common sense! :drinker:

    Lots of people believe it just because they've heard it a million times. They never stop to think of what the reason might be. And then that weird logic creeps in, like "your body shuts down at night!" and "if you don't burn it off before you go to sleep it instantly converts to fat!"
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
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    Okay, so the people who keep saying that as a rule are basically taking it out of context... Like, they don't realize it's to stop snacking and binging, rather than actually physically having an effect on your weight loss...

    I was like "What? My body keeps working... even when I'm sleeping..."

    You're a smart lady.
  • mcarter99
    mcarter99 Posts: 1,666 Member
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    Oh I agree. I think the people who advocate it have a more Eastern approach. Your body is working on it, whether it bothers you or not, sort of thing. I think I've read it in yoga, feng shui and Ayurveda books. Probably some plain old American weight loss books, too. I don't bother. If I get too hungry I feel deprived and that's not good, especially if I'm tired and my discipline is low.
  • rosiecotton24
    rosiecotton24 Posts: 81 Member
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    I just got done eating supper and it's 9:30. In the summer especially, I tend to eat late because I'm busy doing other stuff- it stays light so long. If I didn't eat supper this evening after 8:00 (I didn't get done walking until about 8:10) I would have been way under my calorie intake for the day not to mention VERY hungry by the time I went to bed!

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