Eating exercise cals: Is it bad to....

kmorris246
kmorris246 Posts: 312 Member
edited October 4 in Health and Weight Loss
So, on my workout days, I always find myself scrambling to eat my exercise calories at the end of the day. Is it bad to consume these calories later in the evening? I hate the idea of food just sitting on my belly a few hours before bedtime?
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Replies

  • It doesnt matter what time you eat them. Your body does not shut off at any time of night or while you sleep
  • hottottie11
    hottottie11 Posts: 907 Member
    It doesnt matter what time you eat them. Your body does not shut off at any time of night or while you sleep

    ^^This!
  • spammyanna
    spammyanna Posts: 871 Member
    Your body digests and burns calories 24/7. The myth about eating too late is just that, a myth. Plus, if you know you are going to work out, try eating those calories earlier in the day, spread them out.

    And if you are under by a few, and aren't hungry, don't worry about eating them.
  • It all depends on the way your body reacts.. I know I was eating my workout calories and I got stuck at a speed bump.. so I decided to not eat my workout calories only my normal ones and I have started going down again.. Just listen to your body and how it reacts :D
  • sarah307
    sarah307 Posts: 1,363 Member
    It doesnt matter what time you eat them. Your body does not shut off at any time of night or while you sleep

    ^^This!

    100% correct. :)
  • engineman312
    engineman312 Posts: 3,450 Member
    personally, i don't like to eat less the two hours before bed, but no, you won't have any trouble eating at night. and you don't HAVE to eat all those exercise calories back. i don't always do.
  • mirenner
    mirenner Posts: 205
    before you go saying its a myth, check out if its a myth, your body functions and nervous system do slow down at bedtime

    rule of thumb, I would not eat after 8pm

    no, your body will not just let the food sit in your belly without digesting it

    but, your body WILL send more of a percentage to be stored as FAT rather than keeping it in reserve for potential energy for a person who ate at 5pm and still was wide awake being relatively active
  • kmorris246
    kmorris246 Posts: 312 Member
    Thanks for the info! Now if I could only go for that apple and peanut butter rather than the 3 Musketeers bar ;-)
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,331 Member
    before you go saying its a myth, check out if its a myth, your body functions and nervous system do slow down at bedtime

    rule of thumb, I would not eat after 8pm

    no, your body will not just let the food sit in your belly without digesting it

    but, your body WILL send more of a percentage to be stored as FAT rather than keeping it in reserve for potential energy for a person who ate at 5pm and still was wide awake being relatively active

    I would love to see the actual clinical study that shows this. Everything I have see shows the exact opposite. Your BMR does not slow down during the night significantly. Also, it is at night that your muscles and other parts of your body are repaired. To do that repairing your body needs food.
  • keenslk
    keenslk Posts: 126
    before you go saying its a myth, check out if its a myth, your body functions and nervous system do slow down at bedtime

    rule of thumb, I would not eat after 8pm

    no, your body will not just let the food sit in your belly without digesting it

    but, your body WILL send more of a percentage to be stored as FAT rather than keeping it in reserve for potential energy for a person who ate at 5pm and still was wide awake being relatively active

    Agreed !! it is def not a myth that your body slows down and metoblism when you are sleeping - although it doesnt stop completely! i dont like to eat to late at night, but everyone is different :)
  • salmanajmal
    salmanajmal Posts: 93 Member
    before you go saying its a myth, check out if its a myth, your body functions and nervous system do slow down at bedtime

    rule of thumb, I would not eat after 8pm

    no, your body will not just let the food sit in your belly without digesting it

    but, your body WILL send more of a percentage to be stored as FAT rather than keeping it in reserve for potential energy for a person who ate at 5pm and still was wide awake being relatively active

    "like"
  • So, on my workout days, I always find myself scrambling to eat my exercise calories at the end of the day. Is it bad to consume these calories later in the evening? I hate the idea of food just sitting on my belly a few hours before bedtime?



    When you sleep your metabolism is slower, so you might gain weight if you eat right before going to sleep. Sleeping is when your metabolism is the slowest. It is bad if you are trying to lose or maintain weight.

    Just dont eat right before bed. Give your body time to digest the food. You will sleep better if you do this. Take care xoxoxo:wink:
  • hottottie11
    hottottie11 Posts: 907 Member
    Whether you eat your calorie allowance at noon or right before bed, you will be still be in deficit and lose weight.
  • mirenner
    mirenner Posts: 205
    before you go saying its a myth, check out if its a myth, your body functions and nervous system do slow down at bedtime

    rule of thumb, I would not eat after 8pm

    no, your body will not just let the food sit in your belly without digesting it

    but, your body WILL send more of a percentage to be stored as FAT rather than keeping it in reserve for potential energy for a person who ate at 5pm and still was wide awake being relatively active

    I would love to see the actual clinical study that shows this. Everything I have see shows the exact opposite. Your BMR does not slow down during the night significantly. Also, it is at night that your muscles and other parts of your body are repaired. To do that repairing your body needs food.

    I will dig up some information for you and email it to you. I study Science Nutrition at University, so I have had access to this topic in the past.... but of course Eggs are bad for you one year then good for you the next as studies prove. Needless to say, is it advantageous to eat 2 hours before sleeping, YES... will you gain weight by eating a big meal and going to bed straight after a few times, NO... will you gain weight by eating a big meal and going to bed straight after most nights, YES... its all situational.
  • It all depends on the way your body reacts.. I know I was eating my workout calories and I got stuck at a speed bump.. so I decided to not eat my workout calories only my normal ones and I have started going down again.. Just listen to your body and how it reacts :D

    I had to stop eating my exercise cals to see the scale move. I was working out a lot so measurements were slightly changing, but I had to stop eating my exercise cals. Everyone is different, so I agree that you should see how your body feels. A lot of people on here say that they eat up until the time that they go to bed. I stop a few hours before, so that I'm not full when I lay down.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,331 Member
    before you go saying its a myth, check out if its a myth, your body functions and nervous system do slow down at bedtime

    rule of thumb, I would not eat after 8pm

    no, your body will not just let the food sit in your belly without digesting it

    but, your body WILL send more of a percentage to be stored as FAT rather than keeping it in reserve for potential energy for a person who ate at 5pm and still was wide awake being relatively active

    I would love to see the actual clinical study that shows this. Everything I have see shows the exact opposite. Your BMR does not slow down during the night significantly. Also, it is at night that your muscles and other parts of your body are repaired. To do that repairing your body needs food.

    I will dig up some information for you and email it to you. I study Science Nutrition at University, so I have had access to this topic in the past.... but of course Eggs are bad for you one year then good for you the next as studies prove. Needless to say, is it advantageous to eat 2 hours before sleeping, YES... will you gain weight by eating a big meal and going to bed straight after a few times, NO... will you gain weight by eating a big meal and going to bed straight after most nights, YES... its all situational.

    I would figure that second situation would depend on whether you are at a calorie deficit or not. Since the OP is clearly in a calorie deficit, that would be a rather important variable to take into account. I don't know if anyone has done a study using subjects that are in a calorie deficit eating a large meal just before bed. That would be what I would want to see.
  • PB67
    PB67 Posts: 376
    before you go saying its a myth, check out if its a myth, your body functions and nervous system do slow down at bedtime

    rule of thumb, I would not eat after 8pm

    no, your body will not just let the food sit in your belly without digesting it

    but, your body WILL send more of a percentage to be stored as FAT rather than keeping it in reserve for potential energy for a person who ate at 5pm and still was wide awake being relatively active

    I would love to see the actual clinical study that shows this. Everything I have see shows the exact opposite. Your BMR does not slow down during the night significantly. Also, it is at night that your muscles and other parts of your body are repaired. To do that repairing your body needs food.

    I will dig up some information for you and email it to you. I study Science Nutrition at University, so I have had access to this topic in the past.... but of course Eggs are bad for you one year then good for you the next as studies prove. Needless to say, is it advantageous to eat 2 hours before sleeping, YES... will you gain weight by eating a big meal and going to bed straight after a few times, NO... will you gain weight by eating a big meal and going to bed straight after most nights, YES... its all situational.

    Everything you've ever said is wrong.
  • mirenner
    mirenner Posts: 205
    haha okay you both are right and im wrong... have a good night :)
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,331 Member
    haha okay you both are right and im wrong... have a good night :)

    I didn't say you were wrong, but that I have not seen evidence to the fact that you are right. Most studies are epidemiological and suffer from a fair share of short comings. The few studies done tend to go against their results as well. I like more information.
  • RNMDFF
    RNMDFF Posts: 153 Member
    It's fine. Why do people argue? Not all the info is correct on here, you have to use your judgement.

    I do not eat after 8:00 for many reasons. I used to stay up late and eat pasta (with Alfredo sauce ) and Ice cream. I would eat an extra 1000 cals (if not more) at night so I set that limit of 8. I did lose weight doing that but I cut out 1000 calories. If your just having an apple or some crackers you are probably fine, just dont undo your whole day like I did
  • Saruman_w
    Saruman_w Posts: 1,531 Member
    I never had to eat back my exercise calories. Still lost lbs either way. Although if I ever felt hungry after a workout and I had calories left, then I would eat something til the hunger went away.
  • mirenner
    mirenner Posts: 205
    if im not mistaken, as im still learning, after a meal, the glucose created is stored in your muscles as glycogen. In theory, unless this glycogen is burned as fuel, it will ultimately be stored as fat. so, one can assume that if you ate at 5pm and stayed active until 9pm, you would have a less of a chance of storing glycogen as fat, rather than a person who ate at 9pm and went straight to bed.

    but as i said, you are right, and i am wrong

    have a good night :)
  • allijoy13
    allijoy13 Posts: 66 Member
    Of course, this is just one web site, but I did just read something very similar in my nutrition text book.

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/489157-does-your-metabolism-slow-down-at-night/

    A 2011 study conducted by researchers from Northwestern University demonstrates that there is a link between your body's circadian rhythm, or the natural wake/sleep cycle that humans experience, and your metabolism. Your body is hardwired to gear down at night, which lowers your metabolism whether you are awake or asleep. A disruption in your natural wake/sleep cycle also has an effect of slowing your metabolism by causing your body to produce more hormones that are related to feelings of hunger and weight gain.
  • NoAdditives
    NoAdditives Posts: 4,251 Member
    Your body digests and burns calories 24/7. The myth about eating too late is just that, a myth. Plus, if you know you are going to work out, try eating those calories earlier in the day, spread them out.

    And if you are under by a few, and aren't hungry, don't worry about eating them.

    This is what I do. While I was trying to lose weight and was exercising (I'm pregnant now and am not counting calories) I'd plan my day the night before. I'd estimate my calorie burn and plan my meals and snacks accordingly.
  • Gee45
    Gee45 Posts: 171
    I'm wondering if ti's okay to eat them the next day. I had about 1100 calories left to reach my goal at the end of the night. (2400 calorie burn for a 4.5 hour bike ride). I did make up for it the next day. Hope that isn't too bad! I can't eat much before or during the ride as I'll get stomach pains.
  • BHealthyBeHappy
    BHealthyBeHappy Posts: 19 Member
    before you saying its a myth, check out if its a myth, your body functions and nervous system do slow down at bedtime

    rule of thumb, I would not eat after 8pm

    no, your body will not just let the food sit in your belly without digesting it

    but, your body WILL send more of a percentage to be stored as FAT rather than keeping it in reserve for potential energy for a person who ate at 5pm and still was wide awake being relatively active

    Agree!
  • GkMusic
    GkMusic Posts: 110 Member
    before you go saying its a myth, check out if its a myth, your body functions and nervous system do slow down at bedtime

    rule of thumb, I would not eat after 8pm

    no, your body will not just let the food sit in your belly without digesting it

    but, your body WILL send more of a percentage to be stored as FAT rather than keeping it in reserve for potential energy for a person who ate at 5pm and still was wide awake being relatively active

    Yep, I am also going to agree with this! ^
  • LilMissFoodie
    LilMissFoodie Posts: 612 Member
    before you go saying its a myth, check out if its a myth, your body functions and nervous system do slow down at bedtime

    rule of thumb, I would not eat after 8pm

    no, your body will not just let the food sit in your belly without digesting it

    but, your body WILL send more of a percentage to be stored as FAT rather than keeping it in reserve for potential energy for a person who ate at 5pm and still was wide awake being relatively active

    Ok, so theoretically -

    Day 1 - I eat 1600 calories in 3 meals, I burn 400 calories after I have eaten dinner then I go to bed.
    Day 2 - I eat 1200 calories in 2 meals, I burn 400 calories (therefore creating an extra deficit, perhaps which could be taken from my fat stores) then I eat the extra 400 calories to total 1600 calories before I go to bed.

    There is not going to be a difference here and it has nothing to do with whether or not you burn less calories when you are sleeping. It has to do with the fact that the time of day that you create your calorie deficit is irrelevant - in your theory, you are assuming that you actually have to have already eaten the food to be burning the calories (and therefore need to time to burn calories after eating) which is not true.
  • Uerzer
    Uerzer Posts: 273
    before you go saying its a myth, check out if its a myth, your body functions and nervous system do slow down at bedtime

    rule of thumb, I would not eat after 8pm

    no, your body will not just let the food sit in your belly without digesting it

    but, your body WILL send more of a percentage to be stored as FAT rather than keeping it in reserve for potential energy for a person who ate at 5pm and still was wide awake being relatively active

    I would love to see the actual clinical study that shows this. Everything I have see shows the exact opposite. Your BMR does not slow down during the night significantly. Also, it is at night that your muscles and other parts of your body are repaired. To do that repairing your body needs food.

    BasalMR is always the same, and you are always over it
    your metabolic ratio does slow down (closer to BMR during sleep)... still... doesnt matter in that case... its just a matter of input - output
  • Uerzer
    Uerzer Posts: 273
    before you go saying its a myth, check out if its a myth, your body functions and nervous system do slow down at bedtime

    rule of thumb, I would not eat after 8pm

    no, your body will not just let the food sit in your belly without digesting it

    but, your body WILL send more of a percentage to be stored as FAT rather than keeping it in reserve for potential energy for a person who ate at 5pm and still was wide awake being relatively active

    Yep, I am also going to agree with this! ^

    It is correct, but since your INTAKE, is always the same and your KCAL BURNED are also the same, the KCAL DEFICIT doesnt change and you lose weight at the same speed.

    it gets stored as fat... but gets burnt anyway
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