how long to stop eating before bed?

xtinalovexo
xtinalovexo Posts: 1,376 Member
edited September 27 in Food and Nutrition
anyone know? i cant seem to get a good stable answer. i dont get home from work until almost 6 and i try to excercise for about an hour and after my shower its already anywhere between 7-8pm. i go to bed by 10 so i dont like to eat late, but im not meeting calorie goals... i have also tried excercising before dinner, but then its almost dark.

any tips?
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Replies

  • kleavitt1992
    kleavitt1992 Posts: 592 Member
    not that i follow this....but i have an app for jillian on my phone and it says dont eat after 9pm
  • frugalmomsrock
    frugalmomsrock Posts: 1,123
    Honestly, I think it depends on your schedule. You should probably give yourself a couple of hours. I usually stay up until 1 or 2 AM, so I usually don't have anything past 11 or midnight. Sometimes it's much earlier-depends on whether I feel like snacking or not. I've been trying to avoid all late night nibbling, though.
  • durhamity
    durhamity Posts: 174 Member
    I've always been told 2 hrs before you go to bed.
  • muriah2
    muriah2 Posts: 143 Member
    A good rule of thumb to follow is to stop eating 12 hours after you eat breakfast. (Hoping and assuming you have breakfast shortly after you wake in the morning.)
  • spacecase76
    spacecase76 Posts: 673 Member
    I've always heard 2 hours before bed as well, but, you do want to have something after your workout. As someone that has a similar schedule as yours....I started walking during my lunch break, or running immediately after work...even before my afternoon commute!

    Good luck!
  • jrt9999
    jrt9999 Posts: 114
    I eat anytime night or day... Does not seem to make any difference, I lose or gain, depending on what I am trying to accomplish each month, strictly by the amount of calories I eat regardless of the time of the meals.
  • unmitigatedbadassery
    unmitigatedbadassery Posts: 653 Member
    I agree with Frugalmomsrock - When I was training for the army I was told to allow 2-3 hours before bed to digest. I don't know how much of that is from a nutritional standpoint or if it's just not a good idea to have a meal right before bed. I know some people get reflux or can't sleep well if they eat too late before bed. I generally adhere to no fewer than 3 hours before bed though.
  • Q9S7
    Q9S7 Posts: 74 Member
    Your best bet is to ask yourself what your goal is. Trying to gain weight? Lose weight? If you're trying to gain weight my suggestion would be don't worry too much about it (just don't fill up completely before bed). Toning up and losing fat is easier than gaining muscle (in my opinion) especially if youre tracking macro's. If your goal is to lose weight, many people/studies suggest not eating 2 hours before bed, this allows for gastric emptying.
    Best of luck!
    P.S. if you're not meeting your calorie goals, try moving some of your calories to earlier in the day.
  • kkauz42
    kkauz42 Posts: 537 Member
    I was told by my Dr. not to eat 2 hrs before bed. Helps with acid not coming back up your esophagus etc.
  • natskedat
    natskedat Posts: 570 Member
    It doesn't matter. Eat when you're hungry. Several days of intense workouts will often lead to hunger at 2 am. I eat because my body is still working even though I'm asleep.

    If you're hungry at night, eat a high protein, low-fat snack. The protein will be put to work making muscular repairs throughout the night and you'll wake up recovered and not starving!

    Honestly, time of day does not matter. What in the world would people who work the night shift do?
  • PJS323
    PJS323 Posts: 115
    Depends on what time you get up & eat breakfast. You shouldn't go more than 9-10 hours without eating. I stopped eating after 8pm, and then wasn't eating until 7am, and I was getting sick. As long as you are within your calorie goal, and it's healthy, you should eat when you are hungry.
  • jkestens63
    jkestens63 Posts: 1,164 Member
    I think it comes down to calories in verses calories out, not when you eat them. I eat heavily at nite... helps stave off binging on "bad" stuff:

    6 pm- tea with banana on crispbread with honey
    7 pm - friut or salad
    Between 8 and 9:30 pm - dinner
    Before bed - usually around 10:30 - 11:00 pm - 8 oz skim milk and 100 calorie snack pack.

    I exercise hard so I have a lot of calories to use and I have never been concerned with the time. Ihave done pretty good. I think you need to do what fits your lifestyle and feels good/right to you.
  • xtinalovexo
    xtinalovexo Posts: 1,376 Member
    2 hours seems doable for me! thx for the info
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    Wow, misinformation a-plenty. You can eat any time. There is no magic cutoff time.
  • Aetarac
    Aetarac Posts: 135 Member
    I think the idea of not eating before bed was mostly geared toward simple carbs because during sleep you will not be utilizing many muscles and do not need the sugars to burn. A light protein or good fat can help to keep sugars stable and ward off "midnight snack" if that is a problem. I usually eat a casein based protein food.
  • xtinalovexo
    xtinalovexo Posts: 1,376 Member
    I think the idea of not eating before bed was mostly geared toward simple carbs because during sleep you will not be utilizing many muscles and do not need the sugars to burn. A light protein or good fat can help to keep sugars stable and ward off "midnight snack" if that is a problem. I usually eat a casein based protein food.

    yeah a midnight snack always turns into junk food. also if i eat dairy too close to be i get a stomach ache.
  • kleavitt1992
    kleavitt1992 Posts: 592 Member
    Wow, misinformation a-plenty. You can eat any time. There is no magic cutoff time.

    you are misinformed........ you have to give your body time to to digest your hormones time to do their thing, because if u dont stop eating after 9pm your body won't slip into a deep sleep, so you wont be as rested which causes you to be hungrier in the morning
  • natskedat
    natskedat Posts: 570 Member
    Wow, misinformation a-plenty. You can eat any time. There is no magic cutoff time.

    you are misinformed........ you have to give your body time to to digest your hormones time to do their thing, because if u dont stop eating after 9pm your body won't slip into a deep sleep, so you wont be as rested which causes you to be hungrier in the morning

    This is not true. Many body builders and professional athletes eat their last meal around 10 pm. Eating a protein based snack late does not affect your ability to slip into a complete sleep cycle.
  • auntiebabs
    auntiebabs Posts: 1,754 Member
    Wow, misinformation a-plenty. You can eat any time. There is no magic cutoff time.

    you are misinformed........ you have to give your body time to to digest your hormones time to do their thing, because if u dont stop eating after 9pm your body won't slip into a deep sleep, so you wont be as rested which causes you to be hungrier in the morning

    yeah, sorry katieallen7 I don't buy this so much.
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    Wow, misinformation a-plenty. You can eat any time. There is no magic cutoff time.

    you are misinformed........ you have to give your body time to to digest your hormones time to do their thing, because if u dont stop eating after 9pm your body won't slip into a deep sleep, so you wont be as rested which causes you to be hungrier in the morning

    Where on earth did you hear that? I will remember that as I have my last meal tonight 11:30pm, before I fall into a deep sleep. And yes I will wake up hungry. If only there was a solution to that problem... oh wait... I can eat my breakfast!
  • susanswan
    susanswan Posts: 1,194 Member
    I asked a similar question and all that responded said EAT to lose! If you leave TOO much time between meals your metabolism slows. Overwhelmed by the response from people who eat at bedtime on a regular basis AND lose, I just shrug and say, oh well. If I need to I do. I never want to go to bed with a "full" stomach, but I don't mind waiting an hour and then going to bed. So far, it hasn't hurt me!

    I think it is like asking if you should eat your exercise calories.
  • cupotee
    cupotee Posts: 181 Member
    DW about it. A giant steak before bed might give you indigestion, but it's still the same amount of calories. As long as your net intake for the day is the same, and your net metabolism is the same (which it always is), you're fine. If not, try eating when you get home at 6, exercising, then showering. Then you'll be nice and relaxed before bed :)
  • jen0619
    jen0619 Posts: 414
    You can eat any time of day your body still process it the same. Just watch what you put in your body before you go to bed. If you wait 2 hours before you go to bed after eating and only sit around for 2 hours and watch tv well that is just the same as lying in your bed and sleeping.
  • xtinalovexo
    xtinalovexo Posts: 1,376 Member
    I asked a similar question and all that responded said EAT to lose! If you leave TOO much time between meals your metabolism slows. Overwhelmed by the response from people who eat at bedtime on a regular basis AND lose, I just shrug and say, oh well. If I need to I do. I never want to go to bed with a "full" stomach, but I don't mind waiting an hour and then going to bed. So far, it hasn't hurt me!

    I think it is like asking if you should eat your exercise calories.

    yeah, i see a mixture of opinions. most people seem to eat and go to sleep i suppose. i only asked because i used to eat more frequently before bedtime and wake up with terrible stomach pains, something to do with heartburn it turns out.

    *
    thanks for the opinions all, even the borerline rude ones.

    if someone isnt on your page or up to your speed or thinks otherwise, dont act like they're a complete idiot!
  • Barneystinson
    Barneystinson Posts: 1,357 Member
    I eat a pretty high protein content dinner between 6-7 each night (as long as I'm cooking at home, eating out - may not be eating until 8 or 9). I stop eating after dinner then do not consume anything until after my workout the next morning @ 7:00.

    That's a 12 hour window without food in a fasted state. If I don't have a workout in the morning, that window extends in some cases to 14 hours in a fasted state. Then I consume 3 meals on weekdays with about 4 hrs between them, usually no snacks, usually 2 meals on weekends. Protein shake or food after lifting.

    Your metabolism slows when you don't consume an adequate amount of calories to meet your daily activity needs over a longer span of time. What's more important is that you are meeting your caloric intake goals over the span of a week...regardless of whether you consume 2 meals or 6 meals daily.
  • florentinovillaro
    florentinovillaro Posts: 342 Member
    You can eat any time of day your body still process it the same. Just watch what you put in your body before you go to bed. If you wait 2 hours before you go to bed after eating and only sit around for 2 hours and watch tv well that is just the same as lying in your bed and sleeping.

    I agree, but only with the exception of acid reflux. I do a 3 hour window before bedtime just to let everything settle.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,993 Member
    not that i follow this....but i have an app for jillian on my phone and it says dont eat after 9pm
    Broscience. Most people can't eat after 9pm for one reason.......................they reached their calorie allowance by that time. If they haven't, then it's fine to eat up to it after 9pm.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,993 Member
    A good rule of thumb to follow is to stop eating 12 hours after you eat breakfast. (Hoping and assuming you have breakfast shortly after you wake in the morning.)
    And if you don't eat breakfast?

    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • jayjay12345654321
    jayjay12345654321 Posts: 653 Member
    2-3 hours. This gives the food time to move out of the stomach and gets you past the initial insulin spike we get after a meal so that your body can begin production of HGH on time after you go to sleep. It can only produce either insulin or HGH at one time.
  • Fiery_Vixen
    Fiery_Vixen Posts: 795 Member
    I've heard not to eat after 9 pm but that's for people who go to bed by midnight. I think as a general rule, it's to stop at least 2 hours before you'll be going to bed
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