When should you stop eating for the day?

doulanik
doulanik Posts: 84
in Health and Weight Loss
How long before bed do you stop eating for the day? I have read that you shouldn't eat anything after 8 pm because your body can't metabolize it before you go to sleep. My problem is that I'm often up late because I work evenings (usually not getting home til 1 am) and go to bed around 2 am most nights. If I don't eat something after 8 then I spend most of the night starving and pig out when I get home RIGHT before bed. Thoughts?
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Replies

  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    I try to swallow the last bite before I fall asleep, to minimize the choking hazard.

    Not eating after a given hour is a myth that has been disproven over and over, but still will not die. Your body doesn't have a clock and your metabolism works 24 hours a day unless you're dead - in which case you have bigger problems than what time to stop eating.
  • lilpoindexter
    lilpoindexter Posts: 1,122 Member
    A couple of times, I've been hungry at bed time, I look and I have a bunch of calories in the bank, and I munch...Doesn't seem to have affected my weight loss.
  • Mokey41
    Mokey41 Posts: 5,769 Member
    When you run out of calories or you fall asleep. There is no truth to the eating after 8 myth.
  • wibutterflymagic
    wibutterflymagic Posts: 788 Member
    I've heard 3hrs before going to bed. I think that has more to do with getting the food digested before laying down so heartburn isn't a factor. If you're up, no matter what time it is, your body is working so it needs fuel.
  • MysticRealm
    MysticRealm Posts: 1,264 Member
    I try to swallow the last bite before I fall asleep, to minimize the choking hazard.

    Haha, yup! I leave as many calories as I can so I can eat and eat in the evenings when I am most likely to have food on my mind. I eat up until as close to bed as I can so I have less chance to go over my calories by sitting around trying NOT to eat.
  • doulanik
    doulanik Posts: 84
    Well thanks for clearing that up for me! Here I've been all worried about eating my last snack at 900 pm and I shouldn't really worry about it. :D
  • NikiDeaf
    NikiDeaf Posts: 28 Member
    I try to swallow the last bite before I fall asleep, to minimize the choking hazard.

    LMAO! I too am a nighttime snacker and I blamed this for why I wasn't losing any weight. Really, it was because I would eat my allotted calories during then day and THEN ON TOP OF THAT eat 3787432581 additional calories with all the snacking. Now I just eat less during the day and save a good chunk of my calorie allowance for evening (healthy, mostly) snacks.
  • db1106
    db1106 Posts: 42
    I usually have a protein shake with almond milk right before bed.
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    The only practical reason for not eating past a certain time is because people tend to make poor food choices late at night. I don't eat past 11pm but only because I do 20/4 IF with a feeding window of 7pm-11pm.
  • sharkloversmom
    sharkloversmom Posts: 2
    It has been proven that eating right before bed is bad for digestion and if you are trying to get healthy then hurting your digestion is not smart. But it is 2-3 hours before bed, whenever that is.
  • yowza101
    yowza101 Posts: 196 Member
    I heard at least 2 hours, sometimes I follow that and sometimes I don't. But I never eat anything heavy just before bedtime.
  • RunHardBeStrong
    RunHardBeStrong Posts: 33,069 Member
    When you run out of calories or you fall asleep. There is no truth to the eating after 8 myth.

    This. The only reason to limit it would be if you have digestion troubles!
  • Guamybear
    Guamybear Posts: 1,061 Member
    We always have early dinners.. I prefer not to eat anything after 7pm..but if I am hungry, I will snack. No way I am starving.
  • mercymarque
    mercymarque Posts: 450
    I stop eating 90 minutes before going to be and my times vary. I go to gym around 8 ish on nights I'm not working two jobs. On those days unless I am hungry from working out... my last meal is around 7 ish. Try having protein with every meal.. this tends to keep u fuller longer. Also eat smaller meals every 2-3 hours. Have a meal replacement, smoothie three snack in between (no cookies, cakes or candy) and drink water before, after and during the meal. Don't eat these smaller meal till ur full just enough were ur build sugar is satisfied. I hope this helps
  • belgerian
    belgerian Posts: 1,059 Member
    Glad to see Im not the only one who eats most of their calories in the evenings. I do the same during the day busy in the evening relax and have some food.
  • justal313
    justal313 Posts: 1,375 Member
    I try to eat at least an hour before I go to bed or wait an hour after eating before I sleep. Not doing so may cause a digestive issue that gives you bad dreams, maybe even the dreaded iguana dream. The iguana dream won't kill you but it is so unnerving that it WILL HAUNT YOU until your dying day. Eat late at peril to your own sanity.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,976 Member
    It has been proven that eating right before bed is bad for digestion and if you are trying to get healthy then hurting your digestion is not smart. But it is 2-3 hours before bed, whenever that is.
    If it is please post the clinical study supporting this. I have yet to see any definitive evidence to back this. I've eaten many times, many times right before I go to bed with no issues of digestion.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,976 Member
    I try to eat at least an hour before I go to bed or wait an hour after eating before I sleep. Not doing so may cause a digestive issue that gives you bad dreams, maybe even the dreaded iguana dream. The iguana dream won't kill you but it is so unnerving that it WILL HAUNT YOU until your dying day. Eat late at peril to your own sanity.
    I'm Asian.................I'd dream of eating the iguana.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • drmerc
    drmerc Posts: 2,603 Member
    I try to eat at least an hour before I go to bed or wait an hour after eating before I sleep. Not doing so may cause a digestive issue that gives you bad dreams, maybe even the dreaded iguana dream. The iguana dream won't kill you but it is so unnerving that it WILL HAUNT YOU until your dying day. Eat late at peril to your own sanity.
    I'm Asian.................I'd dream of eating the iguana.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    You're having those dreams because you eat too soon before bed
  • cmcollins001
    cmcollins001 Posts: 3,472 Member
    The note says: "If you eat right before going to bed...you will die."

    w93SW.gif
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    I try to swallow the last bite before I fall asleep, to minimize the choking hazard.

    Not eating after a given hour is a myth that has been disproven over and over, but still will not die. Your body doesn't have a clock and your metabolism works 24 hours a day unless you're dead - in which case you have bigger problems than what time to stop eating.

    ^^first answer is correct answer.

    Unless it impedes sleep or means you are going over calories - eat whenever
  • iAMsmiling
    iAMsmiling Posts: 2,394 Member
    The real question is, when you wake up at midnight and have a snack, do you log it on today's calories, or tomorrow's calories?
  • Shanthornton
    Shanthornton Posts: 36
    I have read 'somewhere' that our bodies produce a hormone called Leptin at nite during sleep that controls our appetite and metabolism and this is when we actually lose the weight.. I've been instructed to try not to eat after 6pm however I'm working out at time and don't get home until 8pm.. then I was instructed not to eat after my 8:30pm snack and go 12hrs until the next meal.. which seems to be working for me... Any thoughts?
  • rudegyal_b
    rudegyal_b Posts: 593 Member
    i eat like 3oz of chips nightly immediately before bed, cant say its set me back
  • zaph0d
    zaph0d Posts: 1,172 Member
    Eat when you're awake. Don't eat when you're sleeping.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    The real question is, when you wake up at midnight and have a snack, do you log it on today's calories, or tomorrow's calories?

    YES!
  • Alex_is_Hawks
    Alex_is_Hawks Posts: 3,499 Member
    The real question is, when you wake up at midnight and have a snack, do you log it on today's calories, or tomorrow's calories?

    YES!

    which?
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    When you run out of calories or if you're not hungry anymore, whatever comes first. Your stomach does not know what time it is!!
  • lizziebeth1028
    lizziebeth1028 Posts: 3,602 Member
    Well thanks for clearing that up for me! Here I've been all worried about eating my last snack at 900 pm and I shouldn't really worry about it. :D

    9pm is my snack time too!! If you still have calories go for it!
  • hiker359
    hiker359 Posts: 577 Member
    I stop eating when I go to sleep. I am not aware of any proof that setting any kind of time frame on your eating results in weight loss. Eating well and burning more calories than you consume is the typical formula for weight loss.

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