How late do you eat?

AntWrig

The is no real benefit from a weigh loss perspective what time you eat, assuming calories remain constant. It's a personal preference as to which one allows you to adhere to your calorie goals.

Actually there is a benefit from a weight loss perspective. Some of us have to eat 5+ meals per day to keep the metabolism at a level that allows weight loss. If you don't need to eat until after noon, then that's fine with me, but that is not recommended.

This is just not correct. Please see the links below that explain/show that meal frequency is irrelevent:

http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/research-review/meal-frequency-and-energy-balance-research-review.html
http://body-improvements.com/resources/eat/#frequency
http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debunked.html

While I don't intermitant fast, I agree that meal frequency is irrelevant - I still however choose to space my meals out over 5-6 meals per day...I simply enjoy it like that, It also allows me to time my carbs closer to my workouts, so I don't feel low on energy. (I have a bigger carb meal 3 hours before workout and one after)

What else is irrelevant I've come to find is the whole don't eat carbs after 5pm/9pm/insert time here, nonsense.

Ultimatley calories in vs calories out will determine weight loss/gain that plus macros are the only thing you need to really worry about.

Beleive me, I used to be one of those forum rats, copying what people were saying "Frequency is important, don't have carbs after 8pm" blah blah blah... from a person that thought I would never get lean (even thinking I had thick skin or soem condition that prevented me from getting my abdominals pop out)..I am now enjoying the benefits of getting shredded, and guess what? I only worry about Calories, and Macros :-)

Agreed 100%.

kelly_e_montana

sometimes I work nights, and sometimes I work days. On the times that I work nights, I sometimes can't eat for 10 hours and then have to go to bed 1-1 1/2 hours after getting off work. I eat WHENEVER I feel hungry because my life has no rhythm anyway!

AnvilHead

I try to finish my last bite before falling asleep. It gets messy and presents a choking hazard otherwise.

As several have posted (including links to Pubmed studies and the excellent research review by Lyle McDonald), meal frequency has absolutely no effect upon weight loss and does not "stoke" or "jump start" the metabolism. It's strictly a matter of personal preference.

ash190489

I try and eat earlier, but sometimes I do a late gym session and have dinner afterwards (like tonight - I won't get home from gym til probably 7.30-8pm or something! So dinner will probably be eaten at 8:30pm. Sometimes I like eating a bit later though, so then I am not hungry later and start snacking (say if I have dinner about 5-6pm) I usually get a bit hungry again at 8ish or so.

wannabeher

I stop eating at 4 pm,but if I'm really,really hungry then I eat an apple.

Sandy307

Maybe you were not hungry at all...just thirsty?? That is what I keep reading, that when we are thirsty our bodies trick us into thinking we are hungry. Just wondering. Am exploring this theory myself.

jenilla1

I stop when my head hits the pillow. A snack with carbs or some cheese really helps me fall sleep. I've read it's different for everyone, though. Some people get terrible heartburn if they eat too close to bedtime. I do have to stop drinking liquids a couple of hours before bed - if I don't want to have to get up later...:drinker:

queensturg

Some nights I work late and don't get home to eat dinner even as late as after 10pm. But I always still eat something small at least, better that than to skip a meal totally.

runningfataway

Tonight I vowed to myself to quit eating after dinner which should be around 6-7pm. This means no more snacking/supper because each time it leads to uncontralable snacking. I know that the body doesn't know what time it is so it doesn't really matter what time you eat, but to a certain extent it does. See when you eat at night which is around the time of chilling on the couch or going to sleep than your body isn't moving so the energy isn't being burned. I want to give myself enough time to move around a little bit and not eat close to sleeping.

downtome

I'm a night eater, it has never affected my weight loss! I normally don't eat much during the day though. I'm up pretty late though. If your truly hungry, and your stomach is growling, my mom used to say because it means your losing weight! LOL...Not sure about that, but if I over eat one day, i try to make it up the next day by eating less. I know how hard it is to not eat at night, it's my down fall as well! Good luck!

LaMujerMasBonitaDelMundo

While meal frequency is irrelevant as is timing, for some people who need a closed window to avoid snacking setting a time in the evening for no food works.
Personally, I feel this is silly, I like long evening meals and anyone that has spent time in Spain or many LA countries will eat late to very late if they follow local social customs. I'd likely roll my eyes if you were out with/at my table and used such an artificial excuse.

I agree. My family is of Spanish Mexican origin (Dad's side) & its our family practice to eat late even if we now live in Philippines where dinner time is 7pm. We eat between 9-11pm & we actually don't follow the "normal" eating time here. See no matter the timing of your meals are but if you overconsume your calories for the entire day then the end result will be weight gain.

Hiccup90

I work nights so I suppose the latest I eat is 7:30am and that's a yoghurt after work then I hop in bed.
But I never 'close' the kitchen. If I'm hungry I'm not going to leave starving. I will have something like a piece of fruit.

traceygl1967

as late as i want but usually its around 9pm

jennaworksout

usually around 9.... I may have something, .....but alot of nights I don't finish eating dinner until 8 so I am not hungry , I find if I am and I don not want to compromise my calories for the day, I drink a huge glass of water and brush my teeth, works like a charm

jynxxxed

On most nights I stop around 12-1am but that's just because I'm getting ready for bed. I otherwise eat whenever.. most of my food is consumed later in the day though (after work).

My eating patterns are solely based off of when I'm hungry.

n0ob

I eat my one "cheat" every day just before bed.

I down one or two skinny cow ice cream sandwiches.