how late is too late to eat?

seansegaloff
seansegaloff Posts: 1 Member
edited November 8 in Health and Weight Loss
Ok, trying to get healthy again... dropped 60lbs a few years ago and have slowly put 40lbs back.

Using the meal and recipe counter to plan meals, what is somewhat difficult for me is my work schedule hours changes on almost a daily basis... some days 830-530, some 1-9, some 830-9... I tend to work the later shifts more than the early shifts...

my question is how late is too late to eat? I'm always afraid at work (lots of sitting at my job) that if I eat at 6pm the food just sits there and I don't burn anything.

I'm stretching to make the 1,600 calories it says I should have per day (fruits, veggies, chicken, turkey, trying to stay away from red meat, snacks like pretzels or carrots and hummus, coffee black for caffeine in the morning, no soda, 9 cups of water a day).

So yes, sorry back to my original question... should I be worried about eating at 6 or 7pm? I usually don't go to bed till 10pm at the earliest... and I've tried going to the gym after work and it never works... I do walk my dog but that's probably half mile to a mile at the most.

thank you in advance for the advice!

Replies

  • jrline
    jrline Posts: 2,353 Member
    no such thing as long as you are not over your daily calorie goal.

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  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    there is no 'too late' unless you have trouble sleeping straight after a meal (some people do)?

    if you're in a calorie deficit you'll lose weight.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    11.58pm because then I'd wonder what day to put the calories on
  • ithrowconfetti
    ithrowconfetti Posts: 451 Member
    edited November 2014
    There is no "too late". If it fits into your daily calorie intake, you'll still lose weight so long as you create a deficit. My only concern with eating too close to bedtime, is experiencing acid reflux and/or indigestion. But it's all good after a couple of days. Solely eating "late" has never caused me to gain weight. Good luck on your journey to achieving your goals, OP!
  • AllAboutThatPace
    AllAboutThatPace Posts: 151 Member
    If I am eating a later meal, I try make it a lighter meal, without a lot of carbs. Basically, I try not to sit down at 7pm and eat a big bowl of spaghetti, instead maybe some green beans and grilled chicken. I don't know if there is a "rule," but that has seemed to work for me in the past.

    I also have a hectic schedule and it's 8 before I get a chance to eat, so I feel your pain!
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    After you fall asleep
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  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    BFDeal wrote: »
    After midnight. Also avoid bright light and don't get wet.

    Side note: I never understood the midnight and don't get them wet thing. After midnight? Well isn't it always after midnight, in theory? Does the clock start over at some point? Also, at one point they run through the snow but nothing happens. Isn't snow wet?

    Gizmo :grinning:
  • lLionMindl
    lLionMindl Posts: 76 Member
    meal timing doesnt matter.
  • tindeyy
    tindeyy Posts: 25 Member
    its too late whenever you've hit your calorie goal for the day.
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    This is one of those things in life that you need to decide for yourself.

    Everyone does their own thing, for their own reasons. There is no One, True Way.

    Do what works for you. :)
  • janiceclark08
    janiceclark08 Posts: 1,341 Member
    I think its a myth about "dont eat after 8". If that was true I would never be able to eat dinner and lose weight. I eat till I'm out of calories or just done eating, even if I have a couple of hundred calories left. I have still lost about 40lbs in 8 1/2 months.
  • asdowe13
    asdowe13 Posts: 1,951 Member
    Kalikel wrote: »
    This is one of those things in life that you need to decide for yourself.

    Everyone does their own thing, for their own reasons. There is no One, True Way.

    Do what works for you. :)

    Calorie Deficit = The one true way.
  • DiabolicalColossus
    DiabolicalColossus Posts: 219 Member
    You probably shouldn't eat while you're sleeping.

    That said, some people have issues with eating before bedtime or in the hours preceding it.

    It's a highly individual thing.

    That whole thing about not eating after a certain time is bunk.

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  • mccindy72
    mccindy72 Posts: 7,001 Member
    it's too late if you're dead.
  • oORosadaOo
    oORosadaOo Posts: 97 Member
    tindeyy wrote: »
    its too late whenever you've hit your calorie goal for the day.

    True!

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Your body consumes...i.e. burns energy...i.e. calories 24/7. The majority of your "burn" is a result of you merely existing.

    Overwhelmingly what matters is if your total calorie consumption for a period is less than your body requires to maintain the status quo...that is all...don't over-complicate it with things like this.
  • beakers33
    beakers33 Posts: 11
    rabbitjb wrote: »
    11.58pm because then I'd wonder what day to put the calories on

    So true!!!
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    BFDeal wrote: »
    After midnight. Also avoid bright light and don't get wet.

    Side note: I never understood the midnight and don't get them wet thing. After midnight? Well isn't it always after midnight, in theory? Does the clock start over at some point? Also, at one point they run through the snow but nothing happens. Isn't snow wet?

    I never got that midnight part either and it always bothered me. When is it not past midnight?
  • sardelsa
    sardelsa Posts: 9,812 Member
    It is never too late to eat. If I am hungry enough, I will eat in the middle of the night, a scoop of pb or some nuts will take care of it. As long as you are in deficit of course. Do whatever makes you feel good though, don't focus too much on the clock.
  • sofaking6
    sofaking6 Posts: 4,589 Member
    jemhh wrote: »
    BFDeal wrote: »
    After midnight. Also avoid bright light and don't get wet.

    Side note: I never understood the midnight and don't get them wet thing. After midnight? Well isn't it always after midnight, in theory? Does the clock start over at some point? Also, at one point they run through the snow but nothing happens. Isn't snow wet?

    I never got that midnight part either and it always bothered me. When is it not past midnight?

    When you can feed your mogwai.

  • amberj32
    amberj32 Posts: 663 Member
    It's never too late to eat!
  • SteveMFP123
    SteveMFP123 Posts: 298 Member
    I have a crazy sleep schedule and I eat in the am every day and it doesn't affect the scale for me.
  • WildOkapi
    WildOkapi Posts: 81
    I eat 2 meals a day, at least 4 hours apart. If I don't eat my first meal until 7p-8p, I will eat my second meal 11p-12a, regardless. It hasn't affected my weight loss; only calorie intake ever would.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    From a weight loss perspective, it doesn't matter, other than if you eat late, you will have more hours when you feel hungry, since your non-hungry time will be when you are asleep. But some people have acid reflux, and eating late can cause a problem. On the bright side, eating at a calorie deficit can reduce or eliminate acid reflux.
  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    yesterday
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