Late night eating

amraymond18
amraymond18 Posts: 28
in Getting Started
So I understand that eating late isn't good, since your metabolism has slowed down and what not. However, I typically go to the gym from 7 - 9 or 10 pm and by the time I get home I feel like I need to eat something. I don't over-indulge. I eat a typical small 300-400 calorie meal. I stay below my calorie limit for the day as well. Will eating at night somehow cause me to gain weight despite the fact that I am working out and eating under my calorie limit?

Replies

  • Veil5577
    Veil5577 Posts: 868 Member
    The time of day you eat is another weight loss myth that is pure nonsense. As long as you stay within a calorie deficit, you'll be fine.
  • amraymond18
    amraymond18 Posts: 28
    The time of day you eat is another weight loss myth that is pure nonsense. As long as you stay within a calorie deficit, you'll be fine.

    Perfect! Thank you :)
  • JesterMFP
    JesterMFP Posts: 3,596 Member
    No problem eating late at night unless it gives you indigestion or disrupts your sleep or something. I eat the majority of my calories after 7pm, and often right up until I go to bed. I haven't had any problems losing/maintaining weight.

    (also remember your calorie goal is just that - a goal to hit, not something to strive to be under all the time. :smile: )
  • amraymond18
    amraymond18 Posts: 28
    No problem eating late at night unless it gives you indigestion or disrupts your sleep or something. I eat the majority of my calories after 7pm, and often right up until I go to bed. I haven't had any problems losing/maintaining weight.

    (also remember your calorie goal is just that - a goal to hit, not something to strive to be under all the time. :smile: )

    Awesome! Thank you so much :)
  • jjplato
    jjplato Posts: 155 Member
    Makes no difference
    https://www.uamshealth.com/?id=10937&sid=1

    And you didn't say what you're doing at the gym, cardio or weights, but if you're lifting weights, getting post-workout nutrition is definitely good -- no effect on weight loss per se, but for replenishment of nutrients that help with muscle repair and growth.
  • amraymond18
    amraymond18 Posts: 28
    Makes no difference
    https://www.uamshealth.com/?id=10937&sid=1

    And you didn't say what you're doing at the gym, cardio or weights, but if you're lifting weights, getting post-workout nutrition is definitely good -- no effect on weight loss per se, but for replenishment of nutrients that help with muscle repair and growth.

    Thanks for the article, definitely helpful! I do at least 120 minutes of cardio everyday, and every other day do 20-30 minutes of weights :)
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    What is your calorie goal?

    Also, don't worry about your metabolism slowing down, as others said, that's a myth. Eat when you are hungry and get as close as possible to your calorie goal.
  • Koldnomore
    Koldnomore Posts: 1,613 Member
    I'm with the above posters ;) I typically have my second dinner/snack just before bed, always have. As long as you are with your calories for the day the timing doesn't really matter for most people.
  • amraymond18
    amraymond18 Posts: 28
    What is your calorie goal?

    Also, don't worry about your metabolism slowing down, as others said, that's a myth. Eat when you are hungry and get as close as possible to your calorie goal.

    My calorie goal is on the low side, 1200. But I'm typically full with a day of eating 1000-1100. In the summer I stay active and eat foods that fill me up, such as oatmeal.
  • srv524
    srv524 Posts: 1,363 Member
    120 minutes of cardio???

    That's probably 800-1000 calories right there. I'd cut back the cardio so you don't burn out.
  • jjplato
    jjplato Posts: 155 Member
    120 minutes of cardio???

    That's probably 800-1000 calories right there. I'd cut back the cardio so you don't burn out.

    Yeah, that's a lot of cardio, unless you're training for a triathlon or in Navy Seal boot camp. Why so much?
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    What is your calorie goal?

    Also, don't worry about your metabolism slowing down, as others said, that's a myth. Eat when you are hungry and get as close as possible to your calorie goal.

    My calorie goal is on the low side, 1200. But I'm typically full with a day of eating 1000-1100. In the summer I stay active and eat foods that fill me up, such as oatmeal.

    It's okay to stop eating when you're not hungry anymore. It's also okay for many people to net only 1200 if they are little, not very active, and don't have a lot to lose. However, with your two hours of cardio every day, I'd try and calculate your TDEE (the total amount of calories you are burning in a day including exercise) and eat about 85% of that. I see you are looking to lose 28 lbs. You will definitely lose weight eating 1200 and exercising, but I don't want you to eat TOO little, if you start feeling fatigued and grumpy you probably need more food to fuel your workouts. Also, if your weight loss starts to stall, you may find that eating a little more will start it back up again. Scientifically I'm not sure why.
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    double post
  • amraymond18
    amraymond18 Posts: 28
    120 minutes of cardio???

    That's probably 800-1000 calories right there. I'd cut back the cardio so you don't burn out.

    Yeah I typically burn 700-900. I'm really just trying to tone up. I also really enjoy the gym. I do 1 hour of bike, 30 minutes of elliptical, 20 minutes of stair stepper, and 10 minutes of cool down on the tredmill.
  • amraymond18
    amraymond18 Posts: 28
    What is your calorie goal?

    Also, don't worry about your metabolism slowing down, as others said, that's a myth. Eat when you are hungry and get as close as possible to your calorie goal.

    My calorie goal is on the low side, 1200. But I'm typically full with a day of eating 1000-1100. In the summer I stay active and eat foods that fill me up, such as oatmeal.

    It's okay to stop eating when you're not hungry anymore. It's also okay for many people to net only 1200 if they are little, not very active, and don't have a lot to lose. However, with your two hours of cardio every day, I'd try and calculate your TDEE (the total amount of calories you are burning in a day including exercise) and eat about 85% of that. I see you are looking to lose 28 lbs. You will definitely lose weight eating 1200 and exercising, but I don't want you to eat TOO little, if you start feeling fatigued and grumpy you probably need more food to fuel your workouts. Also, if your weight loss starts to stall, you may find that eating a little more will start it back up again. Scientifically I'm not sure why.


    Thanks for the advice. I'm honestly not starving myself or anything. I am not at all for losing weight in unhealthy ways. I just stay very busy throughout the day and only eat when I am hungry. With that being said, I do eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as one or two snacks. If I were to feel hungry then I wouldn't deprive myself of food, even if it did mean going over my calorie limit. I will take precautions when going to the gym for long periods of time. So far I do not feel fatigued or grumpy haha :)
  • srv524
    srv524 Posts: 1,363 Member
    Since you burn over 1K with exercise, I suggest consuming more calories. This is purely from a nutritional standpoint.
  • amraymond18
    amraymond18 Posts: 28
    Since you burn over 1K with exercise, I suggest consuming more calories. This is purely from a nutritional standpoint.

    Should I aim for around 1600? The main reason my goal is to lose weight relatively quickly is because I put it on so quickly. Not to make excuses but this winter was brutal, and after a long winter of not checking in on my weigh, I realized that I gained a womping 25 pounds! I'd say that I put this on in 4-5 months..
  • srv524
    srv524 Posts: 1,363 Member
    How much weight are you looking to lose and what are your overall fitness goals? Running, toning up, sports competition, etc.
  • rose313
    rose313 Posts: 1,146 Member
    Ooh I know how you feel! I gained 25 pounds too! I'm 6 pounds down in 6 weeks, so it's okay if it comes off slow. I consider myself very lucky to even be able to lose one pound a week because I have hardly ever been able to lose weight in the past successfully. For the amount you want to lose half a pound a week is normal.

    I've been eating like 1550 calories a day on average and I really do not exercise often enough so if I can do it you can too. Just do it safely!
  • srv524
    srv524 Posts: 1,363 Member
    Rose looks great so why not give it a try? Or maybe it's the steroids...
  • bettyjoburdett
    bettyjoburdett Posts: 120 Member
    Shoot, I allocate calories to take to bed with me, I love to read and this just makes it a treat:tongue:
  • amraymond18
    amraymond18 Posts: 28
    I agree she looks good as well! I lost 2 pounds last week, and am pretty sure that I will be at around 2 pounds for this week as well. I'm okay with upping my calories, as it is healthier. However, like I said... I don't get hungry beyond what I eat already. So I don't want to just eat for the sake of getting more calories in. A lot of what I eat is really nutritional but low in calories.
  • SugaryLynx
    SugaryLynx Posts: 2,640 Member
    You only have 28 lbs to lose. I would aim for closer to 1 lb a week weight loss. The closer you are to your goal weight you are, the less aggressive you want your deficit. If that means you have to eat the remainder of your calories in ice cream and or peanut butter, so be it.

    just because you're eating "healthy" doesn't mean you're eating enough. Your body takes calories in as a unit of fuel, don't get enough and it's more likely to jeopardize muscle along with fat for energy. Also, hunger cues are terrible for measuring whether or not you're eating enough.

    You're doing a crazy amount of cardio. Do you like weightlifting? If you do, I'd switch the time up. Find a structured lifting program and use more time doing that. Weightlifting helps you retain muscle. It'll help you look leaner at goal weight, assuming you're eating at a moderate and not aggressive deficit. Here's a good read

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants
  • srv524
    srv524 Posts: 1,363 Member
    Agree with Sugary. The more aggressive weight loss goals are for those who have more to lose. The closer you are to your goal, the less aggressive you should be. Make sure you're eating for nutrition and then a bit more :)
  • amraymond18
    amraymond18 Posts: 28
    You only have 28 lbs to lose. I would aim for closer to 1 lb a week weight loss. The closer you are to your goal weight you are, the less aggressive you want your deficit. If that means you have to eat the remainder of your calories in ice cream and or peanut butter, so be it.

    just because you're eating "healthy" doesn't mean you're eating enough. Your body takes calories in as a unit of fuel, don't get enough and it's more likely to jeopardize muscle along with fat for energy. Also, hunger cues are terrible for measuring whether or not you're eating enough.

    You're doing a crazy amount of cardio. Do you like weightlifting? If you do, I'd switch the time up. Find a structured lifting program and use more time doing that. Weightlifting helps you retain muscle. It'll help you look leaner at goal weight, assuming you're eating at a moderate and not aggressive deficit. Here's a good read

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1080242-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants

    Okay! I'm going to start making sure that I eat at least 1300-1400 calories a day. Like I said, I'm all for being healthy, so if it's healthier for me to lose 1 pound a week as opposed to two, then that's fine. I guess I'm just a little impatient, because like I said I put the weight on so fast haha. Thank you!
  • Michelle2W
    Michelle2W Posts: 163 Member
    Just try not to eat 2 hours before bed!
  • cracklinrosi
    cracklinrosi Posts: 12
    I've read that it doesn't matter when you eat in a 24-hour period, it's all about net calories. That being said, you do need to let your digestive system do its thing (20 minutes in the stomach for digestion, etc.) So I wouldn't be eating a steak and then hopping in to bed. Your body does go into sleep-time mode, so give it a chance to digest your post-workout snack. Yes, you do need a snack post-workout for muscle recovery.

    120 minutes of cardio is a little much, unless you're training for a triathlon, and even then that's too much. I have a friend who trains for Ironman competitions and he doesn't do that much! You may end up injuring yourself or burning out and making yourself sick. Look up "overtraining" and you'll see what I'm talking about. You say you gained 25 pounds over the winter? So that's what, four months? You can't expect you'll lose it all in one month. If you gained it in four months, expect to lose it in four months.
  • SugaryLynx
    SugaryLynx Posts: 2,640 Member
    Just try not to eat 2 hours before bed!

    or you'll turn into a gremlin. .right?

    there's no reason not to, unless you get a stomach ache. I eat upwards of 1000 calories sometimes less than an hour before bed and my weight loss was steady.
  • PennyVonDread
    PennyVonDread Posts: 432 Member
    I lost most of my weight while working graves. Your body doesn't care what time of day it is.

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