when to stop eating for the day.....

Jerrih45
Jerrih45 Posts: 10
in Health and Weight Loss
Hi everyone....

I have a general curiosity question about when is the best time to stop eating for the day. Some say nothing after 8:00, I know some who don't eat after 7:00 which seems kind of early to me but then I know some who eat as late as they want...which is where I tend to fall most of the time. Anyone know some good reasoning behind a certain time? I truly appreciate any and all information ya may have... knowledge is power and I'm fighting for my health!

Hope everyone is having a good day!

Jerri
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Replies

  • iwantahealthierme13
    iwantahealthierme13 Posts: 337 Member
    if I'm hungry I'll eat up to 10pm... but not a meal, just snacks.
  • ColleenRoss50
    ColleenRoss50 Posts: 199 Member
    As far as weight loss is concerned it doesn't matter what time of day you eat. Calories are calories. Do what best suits your lifestyle as long as you stay within your calorie allowance.
  • runfatmanrun
    runfatmanrun Posts: 1,090 Member
    I snack up until about 1/2hr to an hour before I go to bed, around 9:30.
  • tracypk
    tracypk Posts: 233 Member
    I once read that it doesn't matter how late you eat. Calories for the day are calories for the day. I'm not an expert and personally I am not usually hungry after dinner. I would just do what works for you.
  • ladyraven68
    ladyraven68 Posts: 2,003 Member
    Hi everyone....

    I have a general curiosity question about when is the best time to stop eating for the day. Some say nothing after 8:00, I know some who don't eat after 7:00 which seems kind of early to me but then I know some who eat as late as they want...which is where I tend to fall most of the time. Anyone know some good reasoning behind a certain time? I truly appreciate any and all information ya may have... knowledge is power and I'm fighting for my health!

    Hope everyone is having a good day!

    Jerri

    When your calories remaining = zero.
  • yoouperh
    yoouperh Posts: 68 Member
    [/quote]

    When your calories remaining = zero.
    [/quote]

    ^this
  • Contrarian
    Contrarian Posts: 8,138 Member
    As most people have said, time of day is irrelevant. This is an old myth that is exceedingly difficult to kill. :smile:
  • HotAshMess
    HotAshMess Posts: 382 Member
    I believe calories are calories and it doesn't matter when you eat them. But I have made some personal observations.... I try to have a little something (coffee, juice, ect) as early as I can in the morning to kick start my metabolism even if I choose not to eat breakfast for another hour or whatever. I try to eat balanced meals throughout the day....eating a big lunch means I often eat a smaller dinner, but I hate feeling stressed over what calories I have left at dinner time. If that makes sense. Plus....I feel sluggish for the rest of the day afterwards. I try not to eat too late in the evening as I've noticed my binges tend to take place at night when I think I'm super hungry and I just want to stuff my face. Also, I prefer not to eat at least an hour before bed....I find I don't rest as well.
  • XXXMinnieXXX
    XXXMinnieXXX Posts: 3,459 Member
    I eat 1\3 of my calories around 9pm. Doesn't seem to hinder me. X
  • ArtemisMoon
    ArtemisMoon Posts: 144
    I read just a few days ago (I can't remember the exact source since I read it through Google), but they cited a recent study that suggested more calories earlier in the day is better for metabolism and blood sugar. I didn't like reading that, lol, since I tend to like the majority of my calories at dinner with just a light breakfast, and they suggest you do it the other way around. Either way, I still prefer my heavier dinners, I just try not to eat past 7:30-8pm. By mentally having a cut off point (when I tell MFP my food diary is done for the day), it is easier to avoid snacking when I don't need to.
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    Preferably before you fall asleep.
  • tashaa1992
    tashaa1992 Posts: 658 Member
    Personally I don't think time makes much difference, the last time I eat anything is usually around 9pm, I don't like going to bed if I'm hungry because I can't sleep when my tummy's rumbling lol. I typically just choose a piece of fruit with a bottle of water, it fills me right up and even throughout my anorexia I did this, and I was always losing so yeah I don't believe the time you eat actually matters but that's just my opinion. If you are physically hungry, eat but try to make it as nutritious as possible:)
  • Linda_Darlene
    Linda_Darlene Posts: 453 Member
    I generally hear 2 hours before bed, but if you are prone to heartburn, maybe earlier! I've had a snack before bed, but never a meal.
  • RestartThisRight
    RestartThisRight Posts: 115
    whenever, but i dont eat past my calorie limit. I also like to go to sleep at least 2 hours before i go to sleep (i just dont like sleeping right after eating) so I try to finish by 8 just because i wake up so early in the morning
  • truc111
    truc111 Posts: 5
    I doesn't matter when you stop. You could get up in the middle of the night and have a snack as long as it does put you over your TDEE.

    17713838.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter
  • paulasue145
    paulasue145 Posts: 157
    if i'm hungry, then i eat something. period! if i go to bed starving, i'll wake up in the middle of the night with my heart pounding because my blood sugar has dropped. Eat a small protein snack is my advice. But, everyone is different....you have to do what works for YOU! I'm not into being hungry and ignoring it!
  • tat2dmrsgrimm
    tat2dmrsgrimm Posts: 226 Member
    I eat clear up until I turn the computer off at bedtime some evenings. It depends on how many calories I have left and if I am really hungry or not. Last night I felt like a bottomless pit. So I drank a HUGE glass of water after I had my strawberries. Was still hungry, had a light string cheese. and then 2 york mini peppermint patties.
  • paulasue145
    paulasue145 Posts: 157
    Oh, Unless you have trouble with heartburn.... then i would eat something up to an hour before i go to sleep.
  • fitnessfashionista17
    fitnessfashionista17 Posts: 16 Member
    I don't think there is a specific time that you have to stop eating, but if you stop 3 hours before bed, you will sleep a lot better. I usually brush my teeth once I am done eating for the day so that everything tastes weird after that and I won't want to eat.
    But for weightloss I don't think there is any reason to stop eating at a certain time, it jut gives you a better sleep.
  • determinedhealthy
    determinedhealthy Posts: 199 Member
    7:00pm is my cut off, but I think it depends on your schedule and what calories you have left. I have always heard it's not good for food to sit in your stomach when your sleeping, but if your hungry and it's a snack you should be fine.
    Telling myself nothing after 7pm helps me personally, so I don't raid the kitchen and ruin my day. When I was at my highest weight I would eat more at night then the rest of the day so I had to reverse it to gain control, so far it's been working. Best of luck to you!
  • truc111
    truc111 Posts: 5
    I have a protein shake before bed every night to help combat the fasting my body does while I sleep for 8 hours.

    17713838.png
    Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter
  • MariaAlbina
    MariaAlbina Posts: 130 Member
    It truly doesn't matter when you stop eating. I'll eat my dinner at 11pm if I really wanted to and still lose the weight.
  • Vixen0113
    Vixen0113 Posts: 78 Member
    I don't eat past 7..my metabolism is already shot to **** lol..once in a while if I get hungry i'll have a handful of dry cereal, something small..but everyone is different..so if ur not over your intake for the day and are hungry, eat something
  • Katalysts
    Katalysts Posts: 11
    I think the only reason people stop at a certain time is for the people who (like me) end up snacking on a bunch of un-needed calories at night time. If you don't have that problem then it really doesn't matter. If you consume an entire bag of potato chips "snacking" after dinner then you probably need to put a limit on yourself.
  • veronicacannon
    veronicacannon Posts: 107 Member
    I don't work too too early so I often stay up til 1 or 2 in the morning. So I usually have a couple of snacks after my dinner. Sometimes, and I don't know if this is cheating or what, but if its after midnight and I have a snack, I add it to my next days calories. Then for that day I just have a little less to work with or I add some extra cardio to even it out.
  • Calvinette
    Calvinette Posts: 2
    The weight lost Doctor told me to stop at 7pm, But some time I dnt get to eat dinner until around abt that time, so do I listen to him and not eat dinner, or go ahead a eat, even if it's around 8 or 9 pm?
  • kj6785
    kj6785 Posts: 2
    If you have any digestive problems like acid reflux or a hiatal (sp?)hernia then it is best to stop 2 -3 hours before bed.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    The weight lost Doctor told me to stop at 7pm, But some time I dnt get to eat dinner until around abt that time, so do I listen to him and not eat dinner, or go ahead a eat, even if it's around 8 or 9 pm?

    You find out why he told you this. If his claim is that you will store fat in your sleep due to not burning off the food, or something about your metabolism is slower at night, you get yourself a new weight loss doctor and I'm not kidding when I say that.

    If he gives you a different reason, post it here.
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    The weight lost Doctor told me to stop at 7pm, But some time I dnt get to eat dinner until around abt that time, so do I listen to him and not eat dinner, or go ahead a eat, even if it's around 8 or 9 pm?

    Your "weight lost Doctor" is wrong. Your body doesn't care what time you eat, it's going to metabolize the food the same way.
  • TheresaDa
    TheresaDa Posts: 3
    I was told nothing two hours before your bed time. Your last meal should be the one with the lest sugar and crabs.
    What have work for me is to eat at 7:30 AM 10:00 AM 12:30 PM and again at 3:00 ,5:15 and the last meal is at 7:30 and I go to bed at 9:00 when I can.
    Hopes this will help you.

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