Eating late = gaining weight?

cindy4mica
cindy4mica Posts: 777 Member
edited December 16 in Health and Weight Loss
Myth or truth? If I eat my dinner at 11pm versus 5pm, am I going to gain weight?
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Replies

  • strawberrie_milk
    strawberrie_milk Posts: 381 Member
    Myth. Meal timing is irrelevant.
  • Leylaos
    Leylaos Posts: 136 Member
    i would like to know also as im always hungrey at night
  • EZGruv
    EZGruv Posts: 215 Member
    It's not when you eat, it's what you eat. Time of day means nothing.
  • KPainter70
    KPainter70 Posts: 152
    Myth. I eat cottage cheese or have a protein shake almost every night before bed.
  • TrailRunner61
    TrailRunner61 Posts: 2,505 Member
    I don't think so if you are still within your goals. I think it's all about caloric intake and exercise. If I was hungry and hadn't eaten by 11pm I'd eat
  • jsapninz
    jsapninz Posts: 909 Member
    Myth according to the articles I have read.

    The NUMBER of calories, NOT the timing.
  • entropy83
    entropy83 Posts: 172 Member
    I don't think it matters. However, sumo wrestlers work out the entire day on empty stomach then eat large meals, and go to sleep to gain weight. I would say if you are not piling it on late at night it shouldn't be an issue. However, I would stick with protein. I personally don't make this a habit as my digestion and laying down don't make a good combination.
  • ashnm88
    ashnm88 Posts: 748
    You can eat whenever, just watch that its not junk.
  • hesn92
    hesn92 Posts: 5,966 Member
    I don't think it matters. I usually eat before I go to bed. (not dinner, just a snack)
  • arielaliza
    arielaliza Posts: 20 Member
    Agreed! I am a late night eater as well and have researched this... eat away! As long as you stay within your cals for the day, you should be good to go!
  • Airbear3
    Airbear3 Posts: 335 Member
    if there is one thing i learned its not to eat below your BMR....it never stressed unless its night time! so i eat whenever i haven't gained from it so i say nope:smile:
  • LisaKunz
    LisaKunz Posts: 73 Member
    I've heard this, too. Everything I've actually read indicates it's myth...but it seems like if you eat something before bed, you won't be able to burn it off. Babies sleep better if you fill up their stomach before you put them to bed...maybe we should take our cue from them..
  • Waszo
    Waszo Posts: 41
    myth, but eating right before bedtime can cause sleep issues which in turn can lead to weight gain. It would have to be a constant problem with sleeping to cause the weight gain
  • gollyitsmolly
    gollyitsmolly Posts: 54
    MYTH! I train late so I have 2 late meals. Typically post work out shake @ 11 and a big meal @12! I've never felt better. I used to go to bed hungry all the time.
  • saragato
    saragato Posts: 1,154
    I don't think it matters. However, sumo wrestlers work out the entire day on empty stomach then eat large meals, and go to sleep to gain weight. I would say if you are not piling it on late at night it shouldn't be an issue. However, I would stick with protein. I personally don't make this a habit as my digestion and laying down don't make a good combination.

    It's what Sumo wrestlers eat that help them gain. They eat large portions of specifically prepared meals, many prepared by the wrestlers themselves, designed to bring up the weight. If I'm not mistaken they also exercise to build muscle so it's not all flab. Yes it's true if your body is idle food is stored as fat, but you burn it when you become active again.
  • kolkol
    kolkol Posts: 300 Member
    I am always afraid to eat too late. I normally try to eat anything heavy at least 3 hrs before bed. Mainly my reason is because a really long time ago I fell asleep when I was stuffed (Thanksgiving or Christmas Dinner) when I woke up I had the worst belly ache ever so I associate going to bed too soon on full belly w/having a bad stomach ache.
  • Kissybiz
    Kissybiz Posts: 361 Member
    Since joining MFP there are two diet myths that I've had to change... one is it's okay to eat after 6 pm.. the other is that I needed to eat more.

    I workout after work and often by the time I hit the gym, I've only eaten maybe 800 calories. Which for me leaves about 700 I need to eat BEFORE working out.. then I workout and usually burn between 700-900 calories. I don't try to eat back everything.. but I have a nice big dinner and then a snack before bed.. even a little nightcap.

    In 3 months I've lost 30 lbs, which is amazing to me. I don't feel like I'm dieting at all! It truly is a lifestyle change I can live with!
  • Helloitsdan
    Helloitsdan Posts: 5,564 Member
    http://www.leangains.com/search/label/Fat Loss
  • KaleidoscopeEyes1056
    KaleidoscopeEyes1056 Posts: 2,996 Member
    It's 10:40 here and I just ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I have no regrets.
  • rawhidenadz
    rawhidenadz Posts: 254 Member
    Total myth. I eat my biggest meal a couple of hours before bed. Hasn't hurt my progress any.
  • WinWinGo
    WinWinGo Posts: 99 Member
    It's 10:40 here and I just ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I have no regrets.

    I really want one of those right now... but it's 2:30am...but I'll be up... but...

    Ahem. I don't think the timing matters unless you're going straight to bed. Calories matter though.
  • JBsCrazyGirl
    JBsCrazyGirl Posts: 337
    It is a myth

    BUT

    Sometimes it might matter!

    For example,

    The night before my weigh in (Tuesday mornings)
    I will NOT eat past 7pm.
    I do this, because I want my body to have a good amount of time to burn what I have consumed that day, and by doing this I hope it will help keep my water weigh, lower, for a more accurate weigh in :smile:
  • butterflyrae2010
    butterflyrae2010 Posts: 44 Member
    I think it's a myth. I have eaten late and not eaten late and see no difference.
    I work swing shift so my dinner is at 9:30. It's not a heavy meal however. I don't go to bed until 2 or 3am so I guess it's not really eating before bedtime anyways.

    I always wonder why I am more hungry at night say between midnight and 1am, then I am in the day.
  • Robbie32
    Robbie32 Posts: 65 Member
    I would think that eating a meal before bedtime would effect weight loss. Maybe not a light snack like a few crackers or fruit, because the sleep activity and metabolism would cause those calories to be used, but if your having enchiladas with beans and rice (even if its low fat) I would think it better to eat well before your body is at rest because if those calories are not used weather protein or carbs they will eventually be broken down and stored in fat cells. Im no expert but it just makes sense to me.
  • coconutbuNZ
    coconutbuNZ Posts: 578 Member
    For me personally I think it is truth. After dinner if I stop myself from eating before I go to bed, I will lose weight. If I keep eating at night I will gain.
  • Elizabeth_C34
    Elizabeth_C34 Posts: 6,376 Member
    I would think that eating a meal before bedtime would effect weight loss. Maybe not a light snack like a few crackers or fruit, because the sleep activity and metabolism would cause those calories to be used, but if your having enchiladas with beans and rice (even if its low fat) I would think it better to eat well before your body is at rest because if those calories are not used weather protein or carbs they will eventually be broken down and stored in fat cells. Im no expert but it just makes sense to me.

    It might "make sense to you" but it's not scientifically correct at all.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3508745

    There are several more studies linked to that one if you look.

    I routinely eat most of my calories at dinner, which I normally eat between 9pm and midnight.
  • lickmybaconcakes
    lickmybaconcakes Posts: 1,063 Member
    Not especially but try to keep your insulin ( amount of sugar you eat) constant through out the day ,as the bigger the spike compared to the last the more likely it is the body will try to store it as fat rather than use it as energy.
  • taunto
    taunto Posts: 6,420 Member
    My stomach dont know what time of day it is...
  • hiker282
    hiker282 Posts: 983 Member
    Myth. I eat when I want and lose weight. It's all about calories in vs calories out.
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    myth. your body needs as many calories as it needs during a 24 hour cycle. it's not like your body stops working at bed time.

    and if the not eating before going to sleep to avoid gaining weight had any truth to it, then what about naps?

    the weight loss people see with not eating after a certain time has more to do with the fact that they are eating less calories overall rather than when they are eating.
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