Does it matter when you eat during the day?

SheRa1964

What is VEGA?

I believe it does matter.

Like not eating high sugar/carb anytime before bed (eating heavy protein has shown to increase the amount of REM sleep when I tracked it with ZEO).

I tend to follow the nutrient consumption as described by VEGA - especially on workout days. That has helped me recover faster from workouts.

Your question will not get a definitive answer here though... Trial and error

Librarymind

I think it Does matter what you eat during the day. It matters that you get the nutrition that your body needs, especially healthy fat for the brain so that you won't be desperately craving fat. Healthy fat is found in whole eggs, coconut, olives, nuts, seeds, and other things.

I do think it's better to eat the biggest meal for breakfast, and the smallest meal for dinner. But it's also important to get enough to prevent hunger later on. Is it crucial? Probably not. I did have one trainer tell me that people should eat only protein after 6pm. I don't know about that.

But it does matter what we eat. It helps to eat healthy food.

justkeepgoing1010

Not really. It hasn't affected me. I eat most of my calories in the evening because we like to do family dinners. Being indian, I eat a lot of carbs in general lol I know a lot of people say limit carbs after certain time but that's difficult for me to do...it hasn't affected my weight loss so I'm sticking to the plan I have

aelunyu

The question is loaded. before the science gurus jump on me, let me tell you why it matters (sorta).

most people that are moderately or severely overweight develop an emotional connection to food, one that isnt always so easy as the scientific literature would have you believe. I don't think a blanket statement can be issued to all people about meal frequency and timing, as it's such an individual affair. I've read the studies, reviewed them, and many have design flaws, or at least leave more questions unanswered. Just to read the abstract and then make a recommendation based on it, is also not the best way to approach things.

Back to the question, theoretically all that matters in the whole grand scheme of things is if you're in a calorie deficit. That being said, if you find it easier to maintain that deficit with a rigid, structured, and restrictive eating pattern, then it does matter when you eat. You eat the same time everyday...you do it for years, and ingrain that pattern of healthy living despite it all. Once you have that down. you may take freedoms with the science that exists. I spent the first 3 years of my journey eating 8 meal a day of "clean" foods.

You must notice, by now that all the "fit" people will try very hard to "debunk" dieting myths, regardless of if they have some value, despite being scientifically invalid.

Josalinn

Just to read the abstract and then make a recommendation based on it, is also not the best way to approach things.

True for so many things in life.

TheFitnessTutor

The question is loaded. before the science gurus jump on me, let me tell you why it matters (sorta).

most people that are moderately or severely overweight develop an emotional connection to food, one that isnt always so easy as the scientific literature would have you believe. I don't think a blanket statement can be issued to all people about meal frequency and timing, as it's such an individual affair. I've read the studies, reviewed them, and many have design flaws, or at least leave more questions unanswered. Just to read the abstract and then make a recommendation based on it, is also not the best way to approach things.

Back to the question, theoretically all that matters in the whole grand scheme of things is if you're in a calorie deficit. That being said, if you find it easier to maintain that deficit with a rigid, structured, and restrictive eating pattern, then it does matter when you eat. You eat the same time everyday...you do it for years, and ingrain that pattern of healthy living despite it all. Once you have that down. you may take freedoms with the science that exists. I spent the first 3 years of my journey eating 8 meal a day of "clean" foods.

You must notice, by now that all the "fit" people will try very hard to "debunk" dieting myths, regardless of if they have some value, despite being scientifically invalid.

Agreed, but it's a technicality. You're talking about the consumer,emotional patterns,etc. not the science, if I read that correctly. That's why I say eat when you're hungry or when you want, and stay on top of your macs. If rigidness makes one feel great, then do rigid. If not eating after a certain time of day makes you feel better about whatever, then do that. Whatever is easier to stick to, is what I said. But one still needs to eat enough, and eat the right amounts.

I agree that most research has something if not alot to be desired. For the record, I'm one of the few that reads more than the abstract and I have to pay to do that of course. But at the end of the day, it's not even necessary for the average person to worry about. The greater problem is the spreading of unnecessary nonsense, straight lies, misrepresentations, correlations sold as causation, urban myth, pseudo-bro science, etc., etc., In the face of such, all one can do is try to speak truth to the chaos. I would rather someone site a bunch of abstracts then repeat a falsehood.

To be as picky or specific as you imply, one needs to address the concept of insulin resistance, thermogenic effect of foods, and the FACT that a calorie is NOT a calorie, and head down that billion-forked rabbit hole that still generally leads back to the same place.