Does eating late affect my weight loss?

lionryan
lionryan Posts: 3
in Health and Weight Loss
I generally have to run from the office staright to my gym classes and as a result dont get home til 9.30/10.00pm at night and eat dinner then. Is this bad? Will it prevent me from losing weight? Ive heard you shouldnt eat after 8pm but I'm not sure there's any truth to it.

Replies

  • Reeceybaby1988
    Reeceybaby1988 Posts: 91
    I generally have to run from the office staright to my gym classes and as a result dont get home til 9.30/10.00pm at night and eat dinner then. Is this bad? Will it prevent me from losing weight? Ive heard you shouldnt eat after 8pm but I'm not sure there's any truth to it.

    no
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    There was a controlled study published last year that found it difference but it wasn't eating dinner early v. late (which is irrelevant).

    Instead, it found that if you ate most of your calories for the day before 2:00 in the afternoon you lost weight faster.

    I usually do (though not because of that study). I eat a good breakfast and decent lunch and a modest dinner. I also snack around 9 because I'm often hungry then (we eat at 5:30. That's what Jane Brody used to advise: Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dine line a pauper.

    In any case, don't worry about it. It's one factor, but only one of many. Measuring carefully and logging is more important than anything.
  • JessiBelleW
    JessiBelleW Posts: 836 Member
    Like you I often go from work to the gym and often don't eat until 9.30 - 10pm and I am losing weight consistently! I think as long as you stay under your calories you should be fine :)
  • lionryan
    lionryan Posts: 3
    Thanks everyone :-)
  • campbellbx
    campbellbx Posts: 25 Member
    No I dont think it does I always thought it did but iv just lost 14lb in 25days and I eat most of my calories after 8pm when I havd tea. So I shouldnt worry
  • ken_hogan
    ken_hogan Posts: 854 Member
    I've worked shiftwork where I have eaten at 3AM with no negative effects with weight loss.
  • b0nnyd0g
    b0nnyd0g Posts: 84 Member
    I also eat late, mostly 8.30-9.00 for main dinner. It has been suggested to me that I avoid carbs at this time because they are an energy source which is probably not needed at that time of night where I am relaxing before bed. I can see the sense in this and have replaced my potato, rice, etc with extra protein and vegs and am still feeling satisfied with my meal so will continue and see how the weight loss goes :)
  • mcibty
    mcibty Posts: 1,252 Member
    This was really useful, thanks guys. Since starting weight loss I've believed the myth and been miffed when dinner rocked in around 9-10pm. Is the rule not to eat about 3 hours before going to sleep?
  • Angelikajohnston
    Angelikajohnston Posts: 39
    You should avoid heavy food like Butter, Margarine with trans fat and cheap oils, and use healthy food which include cereal based coffee substitutes, herbal teas, fruit and vegetable juices.
  • missymakayla
    missymakayla Posts: 309 Member
    I think it all depends on the person. I can't eat past 7, or it seems I gain weight. If it works for you, then that's great.. Do what works for you....
  • jmcreynolds91
    jmcreynolds91 Posts: 777 Member
    If i eat big at night and late around bed time, i weigh more in the morning. I try and be done eating at around 8.
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    This was really useful, thanks guys. Since starting weight loss I've believed the myth and been miffed when dinner rocked in around 9-10pm. Is the rule not to eat about 3 hours before going to sleep?

    The only rule is don't drop crumbs in bed.
  • mycupyourcake
    mycupyourcake Posts: 279 Member
    This was really useful, thanks guys. Since starting weight loss I've believed the myth and been miffed when dinner rocked in around 9-10pm. Is the rule not to eat about 3 hours before going to sleep?

    The only rule is don't drop crumbs in bed.

    This.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
    It'll make your morning weigh-in slightly more due to undigested food. Doesn't matter -- won't stop you from losing fat, which is what counts, right?

    For some people, the 'no eating after x hour' rule stops from from evening grazing while watching tv (where it's really easy to pack away the cals), but unless you have those issues I wouldn't worry.
  • ken_hogan
    ken_hogan Posts: 854 Member
    This was really useful, thanks guys. Since starting weight loss I've believed the myth and been miffed when dinner rocked in around 9-10pm. Is the rule not to eat about 3 hours before going to sleep?

    The only rule is don't drop crumbs in bed.

    This.

    And as long as eating close to bed doesn't give you heartburn I don't see a problem.
  • vorgas
    vorgas Posts: 741 Member
    A big part of this notion comes becomes of what happens to the mitochondria in your cells. MC are the workhorses that breaks down food into energy.

    The more MC you have, the better, for a host of reasons.

    MC can either eat, or they can reproduce, they can't do both.

    When you eat late, you cut into the time that MC can reproduce.

    Is it going to affect your weightloss? No, not significantly. Bottom line, don't eat late every night, but don't worry about it if it happens 2 or 3 times a week.
  • rbn_held
    rbn_held Posts: 691 Member
    I don't eat after 7 but mostly in part that if I eat to late I do not sleep as well. I don't think it helps me lose weight any faster, it just makes me feel better.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    This was really useful, thanks guys. Since starting weight loss I've believed the myth and been miffed when dinner rocked in around 9-10pm. Is the rule not to eat about 3 hours before going to sleep?

    The only rule is don't drop crumbs in bed.

    Or mayonaise.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    A big part of this notion comes becomes of what happens to the mitochondria in your cells. MC are the workhorses that breaks down food into energy.

    The more MC you have, the better, for a host of reasons.

    MC can either eat, or they can reproduce, they can't do both.

    When you eat late, you cut into the time that MC can reproduce.

    Is it going to affect your weightloss? No, not significantly. Bottom line, don't eat late every night, but don't worry about it if it happens 2 or 3 times a week.

    My husband the biologist laughed when I read him this. The time of day you eat is not related to mitochondria replication speed.
  • maggs155
    maggs155 Posts: 258
    I eat until i lay my head down. I haven't had it hurt my weight loss. I don't see how i could!
  • blakerb29
    blakerb29 Posts: 74
    I'm no expert on this matter but ill put my input in as it could be relevant.

    I currently have next to no breakfast (200 calories or under)
    I then burn about about 1000 calories through walking and my work-out.
    I then have a lunch of about 500-700 calories which includes whey protein with water.
    I then have a dinner of 600-850 calories.
    Then I have snacks of 600-800 calories scattered all the way to when I go to sleep & often just before.

    roughly what I am doing time breakfast 9am-11am

    Lunch - 3pm-5pm
    Tea/dinner - 5pm-7pm
    Snacks - 100% in the afternoon/evening up until I go to sleep which may be up until 1-2AM.


    I know this is not perceived as healthy or efficient and it may change soon when i start my new job however the point of my post here is that my goal calories each day is 1361 and i burn about 1000 so consume over 2000 everyday and most in the last quarter of the day and I am losing between half a pound and 1 pound per day.

    Yep, up to 1Pound per day.

    So whilst i'm not a expert, it cannot possibly effect it THAT much.


    -Blake

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