Eating late at night? Y/N? Why?

Time of day has nothing to do with it. If you have calories left, eat if you're hungry.

I completely disagree with this statement. Every person's body composition is different, and the way our bodies breakdown calories is different. Also, depending on WHAT you eat before going to bed (and how often you do it) can be problematic.

You can disagree, but medical conditions aside we are all very similar in the biological processes that happen. We all gain weight from energy surpluses and we all need a deficit to lose weight because thermodynamics.

We certainly have different preferences so in that regard you might feel a certain way about when you eat, but simply put: you don't gain weight from eating at a specific time if you're eating in a calorie deficit.

So I guess "slow metabolisms" are a myth. Gotcha.

What does this have to do with eating at night? Yes we have different total energy requirements but this has absolutely nothing to do with nutrient timing.

My comment regarding metabolism was in response to your comment regarding "we are all VERY (emphasis added) similar in the biological process...."

There are many variables as to why certain things work for some people, but are detrimental to others. If our bodies worked exactly alike, then we'd all look alike if we all did the same exact things (i.e., nutrition and exercise).

If the OP eats at night and is still losing weight, then great for the OP (or anyone else this works for). This, however, does not work for me, no matter how many deficit calories I may have for that particular day. I ALWAYS see a gain the morning, no matter what I eat, if I eat late at night.

So, I maintain my disagreement to the sweeping statement that "Time of day has nothing to do with it. If you have calories left, eat if you're hungry." This DOES NOT work for SOME people.

Judgmental much?

You are so mad...take a deep breath and step away from the computer...just because someone disagrees with you does not mean they are being judgemental

I assure you that I am not mad. I have a sarcastic sense of humor, but I don't expect any of you to know that.

SideSteel raises some good points. But, my point is that for WHATEVER the reason (I don't really give a damn what it is), eating late at night simply doesn't work for me. It doesn't matter what I eat. I don't give a damn about whatever people say is impossible, blah-blah-blah....I know what the *bleeping* scale says the next morning.

*drops the mic and walks off stage*

So don't weigh yourself the next morning. If I weigh myself after eating, I weigh more. It's a pretty basic concept. Long term impact is what's important here.

THANK YOU!!! That's all I was saying!!!!!

Personal preference should always be a factor in your nutrient timing. I would never say otherwise.

But this doesn't change thermodynamics.

Personal preference should always be a factor in your nutrient timing. I would never say otherwise.

But this doesn't change thermodynamics.

but your thermodynamics don't take quality of sleep into account. so there are always variables to everything.

Yes it does. Poor sleep over long periods of time could theoretically increase cortisol which could lower energy expenditure. It's accounted for and energy balance will still dictate change in weight.

Additionally, if eating late screws up your sleep then guess what: it's your preference to not eat late at night which is exactly what I'm trying to say above.

The problem comes in when people cannot separate personal preference from physiology.

if late night eating screws up your sleep, it's no longer a preference, but something you physiologically need to change in order to get the results you're looking for.

i know we're splitting hairs and arguing semantics, but i just think it's an important point to make - that eating a large meal before bed CAN adversely affect weight loss in some people. Not across the board, not for everyone, but it is a thing that happens.

Personal preference should always be a factor in your nutrient timing. I would never say otherwise.

But this doesn't change thermodynamics.

but your thermodynamics don't take quality of sleep into account. so there are always variables to everything.

Yes it does. Poor sleep over long periods of time could theoretically increase cortisol which could lower energy expenditure. It's accounted for and energy balance will still dictate change in weight.

Additionally, if eating late screws up your sleep then guess what: it's your preference to not eat late at night which is exactly what I'm trying to say above.

The problem comes in when people cannot separate personal preference from physiology.

if late night eating screws up your sleep, it's no longer a preference, but something you physiologically need to change in order to get the results you're looking for.

i know we're splitting hairs and arguing semantics, but i just think it's an important point to make - that eating a large meal before bed CAN adversely affect weight loss in some people. Not across the board, not for everyone, but it is a thing that happens.

It is a thing that happens in people who eat in a calorie surplus. It does not happen in people who eat in a calorie deficit, because thermodynamics.

THAT requires a study to back up. Sorry. Don't buy it.

Edit: that only a calorie surplus causes reduced sleep quality

The gain in weight requires an energy surplus. When I say "It" I mean weight gain.

Look, here's what I'm saying:

Eating at night does not cause fat gain if you are in a caloric deficit. This is true and if you don't think it's true I'm not sure what else to tell you.

Here is your counter argument:

But if you eat at night and it messes up your sleep, and you continue to do it long enough, you can raise stress hormones enough that your metabolism slows down enough that you're now over-eating because your metabolism slowed and then you gain weight.

If this is NOT what you're saying, then please clarify what other mechanism could possibly cause weight gain from late night eating.

If this IS what you're saying, then it does nothing to refute my claim that you do not gain weight from eating at night if you're in a calorie deficit.

You are doing a lot of hand waving in my opinion. Everything you're trying to claim about sleep quality can simply be addressed by this "If eating at night messes with your sleep then don't eat at night". That's pretty simple and intuitive.

Personal preference should always be a factor in your nutrient timing. I would never say otherwise.

But this doesn't change thermodynamics.

but your thermodynamics don't take quality of sleep into account. so there are always variables to everything.

Yes it does. Poor sleep over long periods of time could theoretically increase cortisol which could lower energy expenditure. It's accounted for and energy balance will still dictate change in weight.

Additionally, if eating late screws up your sleep then guess what: it's your preference to not eat late at night which is exactly what I'm trying to say above.

The problem comes in when people cannot separate personal preference from physiology.

if late night eating screws up your sleep, it's no longer a preference, but something you physiologically need to change in order to get the results you're looking for.

i know we're splitting hairs and arguing semantics, but i just think it's an important point to make - that eating a large meal before bed CAN adversely affect weight loss in some people. Not across the board, not for everyone, but it is a thing that happens.

It is a thing that happens in people who eat in a calorie surplus. It does not happen in people who eat in a calorie deficit, because thermodynamics.

THAT requires a study to back up. Sorry. Don't buy it.

Edit: that only a calorie surplus causes reduced sleep quality

The gain in weight requires an energy surplus. When I say "It" I mean weight gain.

Look, here's what I'm saying:

Eating at night does not cause fat gain if you are in a caloric deficit. This is true and if you don't think it's true I'm not sure what else to tell you.

Here is your counter argument:

But if you eat at night and it messes up your sleep, and you continue to do it long enough, you can raise stress hormones enough that your metabolism slows down enough that you're now over-eating because your metabolism slowed and then you gain weight.

If this is NOT what you're saying, then please clarify what other mechanism could possibly cause weight gain from late night eating.

If this IS what you're saying, then it does nothing to refute my claim that you do not gain weight from eating at night if you're in a calorie deficit.

You are doing a lot of hand waving in my opinion. Everything you're trying to claim about sleep quality can simply be addressed by this "If eating at night messes with your sleep then don't eat at night". That's pretty simple and intuitive.

actually we're misunderstanding each other. i'm not saying it will cause weight gain. i'm saying it will slow weight loss. sorry for that confusion.

Whether it causes weight gain or slows weight loss, the discussion is similar. You are claiming it does so by poor sleep over time, to cause an increase in stress hormones which then reduces energy expenditure. It's still largely hand-waving and can be summed with "if eating late causes you sleep issues, don't eat late".

Just like telling someone who is allergic to peanuts to not eat peanuts.