When do I need to stop eating for the day?

sandeepnair
sandeepnair Posts: 21
edited September 22 in Health and Weight Loss
A lot of people have mentioned 6 pm, but I don't know when they go to bed. I sleep late, around midnight and cannot stay hungry for 6 hrs before sleep.. I take almost 50% of my day's calories after 6 only.. for dinner and after my late night workout.. but I stop eating 1 hr before sleep.

I'm not really loosing calories despite the cardio almost daily and following the 1 lb/day plan for more than a month. Could this be the reason?

Replies

  • tinasullens
    tinasullens Posts: 203 Member
    Your best bet is to stop eating at least 3 hours before you go to bed at night. That way your body has time to digest your food before you go to sleep. Our metabolism slows down when we sleep and whatever we eat right before is a candidate for being stored up as fat.
  • SouthernBell86
    SouthernBell86 Posts: 275 Member
    Yeah, I usually don't eat for two hours before I go to bed, unless I didn't eat my prunes for the day, then I pop a few right before I go to bed. I haven't had any trouble losing weight this way.

    You say you aren't losing calories, do you mean weight?
  • alysen2012
    alysen2012 Posts: 71
    Personaly i try not to eat anything after 8 since i dont go to bed til like 11 depends on the day but my nutritionist say about 3-4 hours before u go to bed.
  • PLUMSGRL
    PLUMSGRL Posts: 1,134 Member
    :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:
    Don't know for sure could be alot of things- but 50 % is alot to have at the end of the day.
    Could be salt, sugar, fat, amount of water you drink during the day, ect.
    I eat my last meal around 9-10 pm most nights, but my cals consumed are usually 1/3 of my days total, and I'm in bed by 12.
    I haven't had a problem, but I understand from other MFPs they can't get away with eating that late...
  • NatalieBrooke88
    NatalieBrooke88 Posts: 240 Member
    I have actually been doing research on this, and apparently it the idea that our metabolism slows down at night is false. It doesn't matter when you consume your calories, it matters how many you consume.

    Refer to this article: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1896439_1896359_1896345,00.html
  • YeaILift
    YeaILift Posts: 580 Member
    As long as you have a caloric deficiency, it really doesn't matter when you stop eating before bed. Just stick with your macros/calories and you'll be fine.
  • CakeFit21
    CakeFit21 Posts: 2,521 Member
    I have actually been doing research on this, and apparently it the idea that our metabolism slows down at night is false. It doesn't matter when you consume your calories, it matters how many you consume.

    Refer to this article: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1896439_1896359_1896345,00.html

    I'm with Natalie. I just read an article this morning on active.com that said your body handles calories the same way if you eat at 10am or 10pm. I can't find it now but will post when I do.
  • ashleighk2010
    ashleighk2010 Posts: 135
    I found the following answer on another site when I was researching this issue... due to my schedule I also find myself eating and sleeping later. The truth is no one can agree if it matters when you eat.


    "I think that this question (like to many others here) is very individual. I know some people have trouble losing when they eat at night, but I personally plan extra calories for my evening snack because I know I like to have something then, and I get up later and am hungry in the night if I don't. And I've had no trouble losing weight at a reasonable rate. If you're losing, don't worry too much about it. If you've plateaued and need to try something new, try eating your calories earlier to see if it helps. Remember, there is no "one magic secret" that works perfectly for everyone!"
  • NatalieBrooke88
    NatalieBrooke88 Posts: 240 Member
    On another note, if you are worried about consuming calories at night- remember to take into consideration when you work out. For example, if you do high intensity interval training (known to raise metabolism and great for fat loss), your metabolism will be working more for a couple/few hours following the workout, which is potentially during mealtime... Really, don't stress too much about timing.. besides from making sure you time your meals so that your body is not hungry.
  • Memah
    Memah Posts: 129
    I asked my nutritionist this very question on Wednesday, and she said that it depends on when I go to bed, as about three hours before bedtime give my body time to digest the food.

    I have been trying really hard to finish by 7 pm, and have been successful, for the most part.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Stop eating before you fall asleep-otherwise you'll get crumbs between the sheets-or even worse, barbecue sauce on the pillows.
  • WalkingGirl1985
    WalkingGirl1985 Posts: 2,046 Member
    I usually wait 2-3 hours at most. I try to finish up by 8-9..and im in bed by 11-12a.
  • AnAbsoluteDiva
    AnAbsoluteDiva Posts: 166 Member
    Eat before you fall asleep. Start eating after you wake up.

    People worry about too much insignificant stuff. In MY humble opinion. And NO.... your metabolism does NOT slow down at night.
  • LotusF1ower
    LotusF1ower Posts: 1,259 Member
    Stop eating before you fall asleep-otherwise you'll get crumbs between the sheets-or even worse, barbecue sauce on the pillows.

    :laugh:

    To the OP: It doesn't matter when you stop, it's staying within your daily calories allowance what matters.

    I work shifts and often have no choice and have to eat just before I go to bed, it doesn't seem to have affected my own weightloss.

    People are trying to be too scientific at times when all they have to do is stick to their daily calorie allowance, do their exercise and in both cases to be completely 100% honest about it all.

    Simples *squeak*
  • Kate_UK
    Kate_UK Posts: 1,299 Member
    Some days I eat as much as 70% of my cals after 7pm. Hasn't made a difference to my loss.
  • BleedsBlu
    BleedsBlu Posts: 1 Member
    Good advice Tina
  • jimmydeanbakker
    jimmydeanbakker Posts: 333
    I do try to spread my calories throughout the entire day, and I eat after 10 pm. Personally, I haven't found any problems with nightly eating as long as I don't consistently eat all my deficit calories. I think the idea of eating all the food that I want to eat as long as it's before 6 pm is false. If I eat four thousand calories before 6 pm, I am still going to be overweight.
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