Eating my calories at night

uki227
uki227 Posts: 1
edited September 2024 in Food and Nutrition
If I keep within my caloric limit, does it matter that some on them are being used in the middle of the night? I sometimes wake up at 2-3 am and have to have a protein shake. I am not going to bed hungry but it just seems my body is waking up hungry. This seems to happen if I do a HIIT program after dinner. Will eating so late mess things up?

Thanks.

Replies

  • drblythe
    drblythe Posts: 163 Member
    I was told it didn't matter. calories are calories, so it shouldn't make a difference when you eat them. I eat late because of work and haven't had any issues :)
  • ratkins811
    ratkins811 Posts: 190 Member
    I have this happen too. I usually grab a sf jello or somthing and add it to the next day.
  • Angela4Health
    Angela4Health Posts: 1,319 Member
    Try casein protein before bed, it will help a lot.
  • Fattack
    Fattack Posts: 666 Member
    As long as you have the calories spare, it won't affect your weight loss. I often get home and showered from the gym fairly late, so I often end up eating dinner at around 9-10pm and it's not been to my detriment, as far as I know!
  • jrich1
    jrich1 Posts: 2,408 Member
    Your body doesnt treat a calorie any differently at 6pm than at 1am.
  • tigerblue
    tigerblue Posts: 1,526 Member
    I, too, eat late because of my family's schedule (we try to have dinner together most nights, which means after 8 most nights). I lost 43 pounds last year, and have kept it off for 6 months now. I just stay withing my limits. It really works for me, because I know exactly how many calories I have for dinner and a snack, and I know that I won't have to go back to the kitchen later to graze, which sometimes happens on the weekends when we eat earlier!

    So I don't think time is an issue. It is just calories in vs. calories out!
  • Kanzaki3
    Kanzaki3 Posts: 656 Member
    I've been told to not eat past 8pm unless you plan on working out. I can't remember where I got that from. Maybe it's just my imagination.
  • dave4d
    dave4d Posts: 1,155 Member
    If you workout at night, you should eat something after. For HIIT you can wait about an hour to eat, but if you do any weight training, you should eat something within about 45 minutes of your workout.

    It doesn't matter what time you eat your last meal. Your body does all it's work when you're sleeping. It needs the protein to repair your muscles. Like someone else said. Cassein protein is supposed to be really good for you before bed, because it is a slow digesting protein, and will fuel your muscles all night.
  • heathersmilez
    heathersmilez Posts: 2,579 Member
    Your body doesnt treat a calorie any differently at 6pm than at 1am.

    Although I would generally agree with this I think the 1 problem you would have is b/c you are eating and then going back to bed that snack is 100% stored rather than meals that end 3h before bed as recommended that are partially burned during evening activities and used as fuel over the 8 hour sleep period until breakfast.
  • dave4d
    dave4d Posts: 1,155 Member
    Many people try to limit their carbs at night. If you are insulin resistant, your body may want to store the carbs as fat since you aren't doing any physical activity to burn them off, but I have never had any issues with eating right before bed. Like I said in my previous post, make sure you are getting a healthy protein, and some healthy fats before bed. The carbs depend on your body type.
  • _SusieQ_
    _SusieQ_ Posts: 2,964 Member
    I would say if you are not losing, then maybe go a week or so without that middle of the night snack and see if it makes a difference. Otherwise I would think it doesn't matter, calories are calories no matter what time of day they are consumed.
  • theresa7576
    theresa7576 Posts: 46 Member
    consider getting up and drinking a big glass of water. I know that you don't want to hear that.. but sometimes you are really thirsty and just need to hydrate.
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