Eating later in the evening?

sunlovers
sunlovers Posts: 22
in Health and Weight Loss
I have been having leftover calories after dinner ......should I eat a snack before bed to fill my days total or is that not a good idea?

Replies

  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Unless eating before bed causes stomach issues there is no reason to avoid eating later.
    I am a big proponent of eating to fuel your body so if you have calories left, I say eat them. Especially if you are hungry.
  • juli_jones
    juli_jones Posts: 101 Member
    bump....I'd like to see what people say about this.
  • LoraF83
    LoraF83 Posts: 15,694 Member
    Eat when you are hungry and when it's convienent for you. Meal times and calorie amounts per meal are personal preference.

    One day of being under your goal won't hurt. So, if you are hungry eat something. If not, don't. Food is fuel, so you don't want to make it a habit of being really far under your calorie goal, but like I said, one day here and there is no big deal (just like one day here and there of being over is also no big deal).
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Eat when you are hungry and when it's convienent for you. Meal times and calorie amounts per meal are personal preference.

    One day of being under your goal won't hurt. So, if you are hungry eat something. If not, don't. Food is fuel, so you don't want to make it a habit of being really far under your calorie goal, but like I said, one day here and there is no big deal (just like one day here and there of being over is also no big deal).

    Yes. I agree.
  • effcla
    effcla Posts: 33 Member
    I like to save enough calories to eat a little something before bed. I usually have a half a cup of frozen yogurt (100 calories) and an apple or peach (between 50 - 70 calories). Sometimes I eat it, sometimes I don't.
  • sunlovers
    sunlovers Posts: 22
    I guess I still am going by diets I've done in the past.....you know the ones where they say not to eat after a certain time. I'm glad to hear that I should eat if I'm hungry, no matter wha the time. Old habits are hard to give up ????????
  • HoneyIShrunktheMom
    HoneyIShrunktheMom Posts: 76
    I've lost over 50 lbs. and I eat a snack every. single. night. :)
  • sunlovers
    sunlovers Posts: 22
    That is good to hear! Have to stop categorizing foods as good ???? or evil ????
  • AmberJo1984
    AmberJo1984 Posts: 1,067 Member
    For myself... I usually eat a small snack (usually peanut butter, crackers, and milk) before bedtime. This usally gives me the boost to get to 1500 total calories a day... plus added protein.

    If eating late does not cause problems for you, I would suggest eating later. Personally, I've been sleeping better lately since eating these snacks.

    ETA: I also usually burn a candle. Something like lavendar. It's very calming.
  • sunlovers
    sunlovers Posts: 22
    Ok, so I was feeling hungry pretty late....decided to just have 1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk and 1 low fat graham cracker. Just took the edge off.
  • stines72
    stines72 Posts: 853 Member
    i eat my snack at 11 pm sometimes later! because i dont go t sleep until 2-3
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    I often have to have something small or I struggle falling asleep and I wake up during the night more often. Even just a glass of Dark Chocolate Almond Milk seems to help.
  • onyxgirl17
    onyxgirl17 Posts: 1,722 Member
    I always eat late...
  • Jerodhold
    Jerodhold Posts: 87
    Go for it, I eat up until I go to sleep, just make sure it's something healthy.
  • Rhia55
    Rhia55 Posts: 247
    That "don't eat after 7 PM" is a ridiculous rule if you ask me.. some of us have NO choice but to eat that late because we work late. I don't think it affects you unless it's over your set limits.
  • MemphisKitten
    MemphisKitten Posts: 878 Member
    Eating before bed is not a bad thing. . . IF you don't binge. I try to avoid eating before bed because I can easily consume 2000 calories because I have no self-control. But having a small snack before you sleep will not cause you to gain weight. In fact, it can help you sleep better!
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    I have been having leftover calories after dinner ......should I eat a snack before bed to fill my days total or is that not a good idea?

    No one can tell you. Listen to your body. It won't kill you to try it one way one day and the next another day and see what works for you.

    Some people can handle a deeper calorie deficit than others. Some people have emotional eating disorders and it comes into play. Even a small deficit puts your body in a state of flux with hormones and such and everyone is different.

    To find the exact calories needed for YOU to be in a healthy sustainable calorie deficit is the right answer. Wait, if you need to adjust by 100 do it, wait, adjust, wait, adjust, wait. The tortoise wins this race.

    All that matters is calories. A healthy balanced diet within a calorie budget for a deficit that is right for YOU is all that matters for weight loss. Don't make it complicated. When you eat your calories doesn't matter.
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    Meal timing will not have an effect on weight control. I eat 2250 of my 3350 between 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm. To go one step further I typically eat 1500 cals between 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm then march to bed, often while chewing my last bite ;). Eating like this has not hampered my weight goals. Granted I dont have an acid reflux, comfort, or blood sugar issues. Which are about the only reasons to not eat at night.

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