Eating times. How much does it matter?

davypr86 · April 2013

I've heard that eating the biggest food earlier and eating later a smaller meal makes a world of difference.

What is your experience with that?

misssbluiz · April 2013

i'd like to read some opinions on that too

jzammetti · April 2013

It make no difference so long as you are staying at your calorie goal - and your goal is the correct one (I said in a previous post by you that you seem to be eating too little).

For example: I have my goal set at 1850 a day. I typically eat at least half of that, and sometimes up to 1200, between 6pm and 11pm. Makes no difference for my weight loss.

86_Ohms · April 2013

It make no difference so long as you are staying at your calorie goal - and your goal is the correct one (I said in a previous post by you that you seem to be eating too little).

For example: I have my goal set at 1850 a day. I typically eat at least half of that, and sometimes up to 1200, between 6pm and 11pm. Makes no difference for my weight loss.

I agree with the above.

However, it's on your willpower really. Some people just have the urge to eat at certain times or else they might binge later. I know I do

theCarlton · April 2013

It's a toss-up between minuscule to not at all.

links_slayer · April 2013

The ONLY reason I don't eat within an hour before going to bed is because I have a history of bad reflux/heartburn.

lauren3101 · April 2013

Not one bit.

If you would rather not eat a thing all day then eat your entire allowance at 10pm, you will still lose weight at the end of the week provided you have stuck to your calorie goal. I am a night time eater, so I tend to save at least half of my calories for dinner. Eat in a way that works for you.

GettinIT6 · April 2013

I have read to eat about 5-6 small meals a day to keep your metabolism going. Like split your calories up about evenly for each meal. I have also heard to eat the denser foods earlier in the day, but that it doesn't matter as much.

slim_photographer · April 2013

Some people set a rule like 'no eating after 6pm' and I don't think it can help with maximizing weight loss. But I think it helps with overeating. So when someone says "what you gotta do is not eat right before bed!" I'm like I get you but it doesn't have to do with the time of the meal but with actually limiting calorie intake.
On the other hand some people think eating as soon as possible after waking up in the morning can help get your metabolism going.
I find that worrying too much about this is counterproductive because it distracts you from the main objectives which should be healthy eating and staying active no matter the time of day.

Jacwhite22 · April 2013

Just don't eat carbs after 5PM otherwise they turn to fat while you are sleeping.

thisismeraw · April 2013

Just don't eat carbs after 5PM otherwise they turn to fat while you are sleeping.

I'm hoping you aren't serious.

Unknown · April 2013

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seena511 · April 2013

I have read to eat about 5-6 small meals a day to keep your metabolism going. Like split your calories up about evenly for each meal. I have also heard to eat the denser foods earlier in the day, but that it doesn't matter as much.

no, it takes the same amount of energy to metabolize1500 calories whether you eat them in 100 calorie incrememnts or all at once. just eat when you're hungry.

Unknown · April 2013

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davypr86 · April 2013

Wow! I thought I would get an avalanche of people saying it
matters. This is good to know.

cschiff · April 2013

At the end of the day, what matters is the calories. However, I know some people choose not to eat past a certain time of day (night) so that the next morning the number on the scale might be lower because if gives your body more time to digest/break down/ pee/poop etc.

Honestly, I don't think that eating later at night makes a big difference, but if that half pound or whatever it is being lower the next day helps you feel motivated and stay on track then I see no problem eating meals earlier.

Personally, I always have a late night snack..... usually some homepopped popcorn or chocolate chips when I get the munchies

Paco4gsc · April 2013

Wow! I thought I would get an avalanche of people saying it
matters. This is good to know.

I'll play the devil's advocate if you want. There was a study released at the beginning of this year that suggested that eating time could impact weight loss. Just google "eating time weight loss" and a whole slew of articles from around Jan 29 will pop up. The study claims a sample of 420 overweight/obese adults with similar activity and caloric intake levels that differed in when they took their midday meal (study was done in Spain where the midday meal is the largest of the day, which could be an influential factor).

However, even if eating times does impact weight loss, I don't think there's enough information out there to correctly make use of it.

RedneckMomma77 · April 2013

I just look at it like this, in a 24 hour period, I have 1,690 calories that I can eat. It does not matter when in those 24 hours I actually consume them, as long as I try to keep at or below the 1,690. That is one reason my meals aren't labeled as such on here. I have them broke down into 6 different 4 hour time slots. And when I eat something, I record it in the appropriate time slot. I don't care if it's 01:00 or 23:00 or anywhere in between. I just try to log everything accordingly, and go on about my cat killing.

Schmidt722 · April 2013

This is good information, thanks! I'm also often told that it's better to eat large meals earlier, and then have smaller dinners. But with a typical 9-5 job, I'm supposed to have all my calories when I'm running out the door in the AM, or trying to fit lunch and errands into a workday? But in the evenings when I have time to relax by opening a bottle of wine and cooking a nice dinner with my fiance, that's when I should be having my smallest meal? Do not like! So I'm glad to hear so many people say that it doesn't really matter. (As long as calorie goals are met, etc.)

nataliepio · April 2013

I'm kinda like that tryna save calories for later on in the evening otherwise i'm up in the middle of the night hungry :S

magerum · April 2013

Meal timing has no effect on weight control.

Willowana · April 2013

In the last few months, I have used myself as an experiment. I've done just about every timing thing you can do. I've eaten all my calories around 8pm-9pm. I've eaten many meals throughout the day, and now I'm intermittent fasting. I've got 30 minutes before my first 24 hr fast of the week begins. (I'm fasting for 24 hrs 2x a week right now....ESE method)

I have lost consistently every week, regardless of my method....or what foods are eaten when. The ONLY thing that slows down my progress is not eating enough. I don't pay as much attention anymore to daily calories. What matters most is my overall weekly count.

mistesh · April 2013

I've heard that eating the biggest food earlier and eating later a smaller meal makes a world of difference.

What is your experience with that?

My experience following such an energy conscious meal pattern is that I'm now three quarters of the way. Not from my starting point to my goal weight, but from my goal weight to my low record as an adult! Still, weight is but a byproduct of health. Eat real food, and everything falls into place. As cravings go away, snacking ceases. Your pancreas is thankful for the breaks that you take between meals with co-workers, family and friends, and at bedtime you feel light, yet not hungry. You burn calories throughout your full night's sleep. Water helps too in enhancing your digestion and metabolism. If there's a downside to any of this, I have yet to come across it.

Toddahlie · April 2013

It make no difference so long as you are staying at your calorie goal - and your goal is the correct one (I said in a previous post by you that you seem to be eating too little).

For example: I have my goal set at 1850 a day. I typically eat at least half of that, and sometimes up to 1200, between 6pm and 11pm. Makes no difference for my weight loss.

I agree with the above.

However, it's on your willpower really. Some people just have the urge to eat at certain times or else they might binge later. I know I do

I agree with that!

1ConcreteGirl · April 2013

Studies show that it doesn't make even a tiny bit of difference.

If you feel better eating later, do it. Earlier, do it. Wanna skip breakfast? Let's get crazy and skip breakfast.

Do what works for you, as long as you eat the right number of calories in a 24-hour period.

TheWinman · April 2013

I've heard that eating the biggest food earlier and eating later a smaller meal makes a world of difference.

What is your experience with that?

It makes NO difference at all. Your body is working doing it's job 24/7.

katy_trail · April 2013

eating a big breakfast just sets me up mentally to wan't more food all day, but physically doesn't matter.

arielky · April 2013

I have a very low metabolism, and without paying much attention to my body, I've been carrying on the average 100 pounds too much. I tend to get caught up in what I'm doing, and not eat meals for eight hours or more. Then hunger hits me like a savage beast and I eat to0 much. When you get that hungry, you're not too careful about what you eat. My son and his wife are coaching me to spread out my meals evenly throughout the day and eat snacks in between because they tell me that it will help ramp up my metabolism and make it easier to lose weight. Right now I'm looking for a job and recovering from some major health problems, largely induced by being so heavy for so long. It feels so strange to have so much focus on food. The doctor has warned me not to have ANY salt, so we are working on low sodium meals for me. It is quite a challenge, and my son is training me to approach it in a scientific way. I also need to watch my potassium and calcium intake as I am taking blood pressure medication that also has a diuretic, so I am learning about foods rich in potassium: not just bananas (which I knew about), but also baked potatoes, acorn and butternut squash, white beans, lentils, avocado, dates, melon, papaya, soy beans and chard. I am learning about sodium levels in food as well. My cholesterol is also high, so I'm watching the fats as well.

I am eating a lot more tofu now, salads every day, and roasting vegetables. There is no doubt about it, I must make major changes in what I eat and how it is prepared. This is what happens when you reach age 59, and have been neglecting your body. I really love this website because it makes it easy to count calories and also track the exercise you get. It is so wonderful that I am staying with my son and his wife, who jog five miles every day. I follow them to the park at my own pace, but it is a great support in getting out there to watch them do it all the time. They really encourage me to go walking every day, and there are beautiful parks nearby in Portland, Oregon where they live. It's a new city to me, so I'm enjoying the walks and exploring the neighborhoods around us, especially the Overlook neighborhood.

So my latest mantra is to baby my body, and give myself all the loving care that I gave my son when he was a baby.