Advice from The Biggest Loser trainer is bad?

Thanks for clarification thus far.

Not eating after 7 is somehow controversial and I'm gathering that is simply due to the fact that it is not a realistic long term goal for sustainability.

Here is what Mr. Harper said regarding the thought process on that:

"Go to Bed Hungry
If you skip that midnight snack, your body will “burn fat like crazy,” Harper writes. After five hours without food, you’ll start burning your own fat and sugar."

I had just seen Dr. Oz's episode that mentioned the same scenario - eating small and frequent meals does not allow your body to turn to your fat stores for energy since you're replenishing fuel frequently with the meals or snacks.

Does anyone have thoughts on that as it seemed clear to me?

I don't see what's unsustainable abut eating after seven. I pretty much always eat the vast majority of my day's calories after 7pm - a large meal and snacks until I go to bed. It's not for everyone, but it just suits how I like to eat. I've done this since I started on MFP. So, that's coming up 2 and a half years, 18 months of which has been maintaining my weight loss. I also eat dairy and other white foods, and have done fine doing so. I'm not allergic or intolerant to these things, so why cut them out unnecessarily? Why do we have to start calling certain foods "junk" or "bad" or "dirty"? Eat foods that are nutritious. Eat foods you enjoy. Avoid foods that you are allergic to or intolerant to, or you don't enjoy, or you have a problem eating moderately.

If these guidelines help you maintain your calorie deficit or feel less hungry or whatever, then that's great, but they shouldn't be considered "rules" to live by. As for Dr Oz - well, I have zero respect for him based on the advice I've seen him give and the fad diets I've seen him promote. Just very glad that he's not too prominent (yet) in this country.

This is all great - I am realizing I have a lot of personal myth busting in my immediate future lol!

I have actually believed that I should never eat a large meal before bed since sleeping isn't burning calories that meal is turning into fat 'overnight'!

Aaron_K123 - "eating as fast as possible"! Effectively funny myth busting lol!

I have lost a few hundred pounds taking a 500-600 calorie to bed with me (literally) every night and it never stalled my weight loss.... SO to me yeah that whole eating after 7 thing is kind of a myth to me anyway..... :drinker:

In my opinion following these things can be helpful to losing weight - but for me (and many real people) permanently banning certain foods could be setting up for failure. Following that list is not the only way to lose weight. Bottom line, eat less and move more will do it. (Though moving more is for general overall health, and can help lose weight - but moving more is not THE key to losing weight. For that, its to eat at a deficit. Out > In.)

To clarify, the advice I listed is not verbatim and some of it was gathered from other areas - a full glass before meals as well as not eating after 7 was, however.

Not eating "white junk" including diary are things I've read and heard from many when it comes to clean eating for optimum and organic health.

Instead of following advice from a bunch of different sources and people trying to sell you their books/products, try following this one piece of advice.

1. Log your food.

If you do that you'll know how many calories you're eating and how much protein/fats/carbs you're getting. It's really all you need to do.

The rest, the eating at certain times, don't eat at your desk, avoid foods with this color... that's hokum. The only thing you need to do to be successful is to watch what you eat. Make sure you're getting the right number of calories and hitting your macros.

Throw in some exercise, water, and sleep and you can't lose.

^ This.

Don't overcomplicate things. Keep it simple, and stop listening to TV personalities for diet/fitness advice.

Good luck!

Do not eat after 7 pm. Fill your plate half full of veggies (cooked at home either without butter or eat simply raw) and fist sized portion of fish or chicken.

Do not eat at your desk!

These are both related to the same thing. When we create a good meal (have vegetables, small amounts of protein), we eat consciously and intelligently. Whether you eat dinner at 6 PM, 7 PM, or 8 PM really depends on your schedule.

HOWEVER, most "late night eating" is dumb eating in front of the TV, or carb-heavy snacking to keep yourself going. There is nothing wrong with smaller meals throughout the day, but if you are going to eat after dinner, it needs to be a healthy small meal, NOT "snacking."

A pint of ice cream @ 10 PM, awful. A bowl of berries with a dollop of yogurt on top (my late night snack of choice), okay.

If you prefer to eat dinner later, that's okay, but if you eat ice cream, chips, or other "in front of TV" snacks, you'll be in trouble.

Whether or not ice cream or chips gets you "in trouble" is still entirely dependent on the remainder of the diet. There are contexts in which ice cream in front of the TV is perfectly fine and there are also contexts in which it's not a good idea.

Instead of following advice from a bunch of different sources and people trying to sell you their books/products, try following this one piece of advice.

1. Log your food.

If you do that you'll know how many calories you're eating and how much protein/fats/carbs you're getting. It's really all you need to do.

+100. I had a cup of milk yesterday from a 2-shot Peet's latte, and I ate a big dinner around 10pm because I was so on-the-go yesterday, and my weight loss is totally on-track.

You don't even NEED to follow that advice. Logging what you eat doesn't make you lose weight. I don't log my calories and haven't had any problems.

The only advice you need to lose weight is make sure you're eating fewer calories than you're burning off.

Instead of following advice from a bunch of different sources and people trying to sell you their books/products, try following this one piece of advice.

1. Log your food.

If you do that you'll know how many calories you're eating and how much protein/fats/carbs you're getting. It's really all you need to do.

+100. I had a cup of milk yesterday from a 2-shot Peet's latte, and I ate a big dinner around 10pm because I was so on-the-go yesterday, and my weight loss is totally on-track.

You don't even NEED to follow that advice. Logging what you eat doesn't make you lose weight. I don't log my calories and haven't had any problems.

The only advice you need to lose weight is make sure you're eating fewer calories than you're burning off.

Right, except a lot of people have trouble "making sure" unless they're logging (accurately).

Lot's of great advice here. I wanted to add something about the water before meals. If you drink a glass of water right before you eat, your tummy is more full when you DO sit down to eat, you can eat less. I have tried it, and it's working well.