Some support for "don't eat at night"?

sohmui

Article from BBC Website:

Myth: Eating late at night will make you gain more weight
A lot of people believe that eating after a certain time in the evening will lead them to gain weight because they do not get the opportunity to burn off the food they’ve just eaten. According to a study conducted at Dunn Nutrition Centre though, this may just be another diet myth. To test this theory researchers gave participants a smaller lunch and a larger evening meal for a period of time and measured the amount of fat the participants’ bodies stored. Then the researchers gave the participants a larger lunch and a smaller evening meal, again measuring the participants’ fat levels.

The results indicated that there was no link between when people ate and the amount of fat stored. Another study conducted by Oregon Health & Science University found similar findings, when they did a study on monkeys.

To read entire article click on:

http://uk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/5-shocking-diet-myths-091031427.html

n_red

What if you dont eat something big, to at least try to ween off of that habit without trying to cold turkey it. If you have to get up and eat something have something like almonds handy only 5 or 6 or a table spoon of sunflower seeds... and when you eat it, take a bit of the almond feel the texture of it in your hand, and the way it crunches in your mouth, the way it looks, smells, sounds, use all your senses when you take your time eating one single almond. Do it again to the others, when you eat slow, it actually helps you fill up and plus you're keeping busy you are taking your time and focusing on something bigger than you think. Try it! I hope it helps! ps-- this is a classic trick on healthy habit from Oprah!

MireyGal76

Oh dear Lord am I EVER hungry now... I think this may have done me in.

[singing] I'm gonna get fat on my way to the fridge but I don't care, cuz I always liked my mouse ears... [/singing]

MireyGal76

What if you dont eat something big, to at least try to ween off of that habit without trying to cold turkey it. If you have to get up and eat something have something like almonds handy only 5 or 6 or a table spoon of sunflower seeds... and when you eat it, take a bit of the almond feel the texture of it in your hand, and the way it crunches in your mouth, the way it looks, smells, sounds, use all your senses when you take your time eating one single almond. Do it again to the others, when you eat slow, it actually helps you fill up and plus you're keeping busy you are taking your time and focusing on something bigger than you think. Try it! I hope it helps! ps-- this is a classic trick on healthy habit from Oprah!

*knocks laptop to the floor in haste to seek out some almonds as a result of the food porn above*

ETA... I guess it's not really "porn" so much as a romance novel... regardless...
*takes a handful of naked almonds and slowly slips one into her mouth. enjoying the feel of the hardness on her lips...*
*ahem*

GOTTA GO!

SRH7

What if you dont eat something big, to at least try to ween off of that habit without trying to cold turkey it. If you have to get up and eat something have something like almonds handy only 5 or 6 or a table spoon of sunflower seeds... and when you eat it, take a bit of the almond feel the texture of it in your hand, and the way it crunches in your mouth, the way it looks, smells, sounds, use all your senses when you take your time eating one single almond. Do it again to the others, when you eat slow, it actually helps you fill up and plus you're keeping busy you are taking your time and focusing on something bigger than you think. Try it! I hope it helps! ps-- this is a classic trick on healthy habit from Oprah!

*knocks laptop to the floor in haste to seek out some almonds as a result of the food porn above*

ETA... I guess it's not really "porn" so much as a romance novel... regardless...
*takes a handful of naked almonds and slowly slips one into her mouth. enjoying the feel of the hardness on her lips...*
*ahem*

GOTTA GO!

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

ncl1313

My $.02...I had gestational diabetes. My nutritionist's meal plan included a bedtime snack (to be eaten within 30 minutes of going to bed) that included 15g carbs and at least 5g protein which she said helped maintain blood sugar levels overnight. Granted, this probably didn't mean a bowl of ice cream topped with peanut butter, but I was pregnant and it met the requirements so whatever. Anyway, like all things, I would be willing to bet the true answer to the "to eat or not eat" debate at night is "it depends". The study does indicate that the mice were fed a "high-fat diet". I wonder if the results would've been different had they been given a different diet.

mistesh

Speaking of mice, I have just returned from a trip to the local bookstore, where I read chapter one of The Hunger Fix by Pamela Peeke, who by no means beats around the bush on the topic of food addiction.

"Lab rats with an unlimited access to a high-fat/high-carb diet almost eat themselves to death. They'll voluntarily opt to walk across an electrified plate and endure painful shocks in order to get their hit of junk foods."

She also deals with mice in the beginning of chapter 2, with the point being a strong correlation to humans in these particular studies, not always of course.

One more sample from this delightfully entertaining book.

"If we've been seeking out pleasure in the name of survival since we slithered out of the swamp, you can be damn sure the reward system is powerful enough to trick you into eating an Oreo or watching Jersey Shore - even if your more cerebral side, your PFC (prefrontal cortex), is totally mortified at the thought."

andreagreen1974

I always eat at night!!!! I don't like having too many hours without food. I eat dinner at 5pm, so not eating again until 7am means 14 hours without eating. I always have a proteien snack at about 8-9 pm!

FloraSin

I've been hearing this theory for years and I've seen some people use it effectively with a weight loss plan, but I am a terrible human being when I'm hungry, not to mention I can't sleep when I'm hungry.

Anyway, point is: I eat if I'm hungry.

At night though, I try to keep it light. Baby carrots (one of my favourite snacks) or smart food popcorn (1 cup instead of the full 3 cup serving).

divemunkey

I disagree with testing on any animals. :grumble:

Awesome, I guess you won't be hogging any of the medications we all enjoy (20 guinea pigs are killed for EACH lot of every single pill on the shelf, even stuff like aspirin) and wasting time in the doctor's offices, since all of the stuff they learn is tested on animals, too. From surgical techniques on down to the drugs they use to sedate you, and every little thing they put in your body.

If you do enjoy the wonders of modern medicine, then I hope you are able to sleep at night and your hypocrisy keeps you nice and warm.

eric_sg61

I'll be back tomorrow... want to read that study when I have some time at work. Also, one study doesn't prove or disprove anything.

I agree 100%.

But to discount any research that acts against one's belief, is just as sloppy thinking as clinging to beliefs that are unproven or disproved.

If my beliefs produce results, then studies mean nothing to me

lyttlewon

I wonder how many humans follow their circadian rhythms?

I'd say most, unless I'm mistaken on what a circadian rhythm is.

You may likely be somewhat mistaken. Circadian rhythm is largely motivated by light. Most of us do not wake and sleep according to light. We do it according to clocks and work schedules.

http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Education/Factsheet_CircadianRhythms.htm

jonnythan

I'll be back tomorrow... want to read that study when I have some time at work. Also, one study doesn't prove or disprove anything.

I agree 100%.

But to discount any research that acts against one's belief, is just as sloppy thinking as clinging to beliefs that are unproven or disproved.

If my beliefs produce results, then studies mean nothing to me

And what about other "beliefs" that produce results?

wikitbikit

You may likely be somewhat mistaken. Circadian rhythm is largely motivated by light. Most of us do not wake and sleep according to light. We do it according to clocks and work schedules.

http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Education/Factsheet_CircadianRhythms.htm

And most people work by day and sleep by night--because that's what everyone ELSE does so that's when we're needed to work--which suggests that we are basically ruled by circadian rhythms. In my view, anyway.

lyttlewon

You may likely be somewhat mistaken. Circadian rhythm is largely motivated by light. Most of us do not wake and sleep according to light. We do it according to clocks and work schedules.

http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Education/Factsheet_CircadianRhythms.htm

And most people work by day and sleep by night--because that's what everyone ELSE does so that's when we're needed to work--which suggests that we are basically ruled by circadian rhythms. In my view, anyway.

Did you read the link? It talks about depression, SAD and other health issues caused by not following the natural sleep cycle. I wake up and go to work according to the schedule of people in the time zone three hours ahead of myself. It isn't based upon the cycle of the sun where I live, but where other people live.

amilypic

then youd better stop wearing makeup and taking any medications ever.

sleepytexan

I am steadfast about not eating while I'm asleep.

AnvilHead

Glucose turns to fat when it is not used. If you are running around you use more of it. If you sleep you burn much less. But time of day is not the key here. If you eat it at 4 pm and park yourself on the couch - same result as at 10 pm - unused glucose stores as fat...

No.

In a caloric deficit, nothing is stored as fat.

wikitbikit

Did you read the link? It talks about depression, SAD and other health issues caused by not following the natural sleep cycle. I wake up and go to work according to the schedule of people in the time zone three hours ahead of myself. It isn't based upon the cycle of the sun where I live, but where other people live.

Yes, I read it... And what you've said pretty much proves my point. Most people do not suffer from SAD, depression, or--unlike you--work outside of their own time zone.

I'm also an exception to the majority... I have Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome, which means that--left to my own devices--I am an extreme night owl. The rest of the world doesn't work that way though, overall, so I have to make an effort to work with in their rules.

mistesh

My nutritionist's meal plan included a bedtime snack (to be eaten within 30 minutes of going to bed) that included 15g carbs and at least 5g protein which she said helped maintain blood sugar levels overnight.

I came across a compelling book today, Power Foods for the Brain: An Effective 3-Step Plan to Protect Your Mind and Strengthen Your Memory by Neal Barnard.

"Protein blocks serotonin production in your brain, while carbohydrate has the opposite effect, helping you make serotonin. That's important, because serotonin helps you sleep."

LolBroScience

Makes no difference when it comes to body composition

Eandretta96

It's funny because I lost most of my weight eating 80% of my calories after like 7:00 pm. Seriously, just worry about your caloric intake and your body will do the rest.