Why can't I eat at night?

Options
1246

Replies

  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    Options
    Dr. Oz says that "eating at night makes you gain weight" is...a MYTH!! *whew* Glad that's cleared up. NEXT!! :laugh:

    Wait... If Dr. Oz says it, then I have to start questioning it. :tongue:
  • hailzp
    hailzp Posts: 903 Member
    Options
    Night food is the best food!
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,326 Member
    Options

    i eat all times of the day and it hasnt hindered my weight loss. i've even had times where i've woken up in the middle asleep was HUNGRY. ran to the fridge and grabbed a handful of strawberries and apiece of cold chicken ate it and went back to sleep

    Lol-I have done this too-but didn't feel the need to air that dirty laundry. But I am under the impression that my calorie burning aliens work 24/7/365. Maybe other people's calorie burning aliens come from another planet where they don't have such a rigorous work schedule? Now I'm just getting silly (even though this is the second thread in which I've mentioned my calorie burning aliens) I know there's no shortage of garbage posted as "advice" (I guess my calorie burning aliens fall under that umbrella) I really was curious behind the reasoning.

    :laugh: @ my dirty laundry.. it's true though. there i am, awake thinking its because i have to use the bathroom and no it's because i'm hungry. i then rush off, shove something in my mouth and go back to sleep. i do feel guilty about not brushing my teeth again, but that only lasts for the 10 seconds it take me to go back to sleep.

    but really, from what i've noticed the people i know who believe this are on severe calorie restricted diets (ie cayenne pepper for breakfast, slim fast for lunch and can of tuna and orange for dinner :laugh: ) so in order for their crazy diet to work, they can't go over their calories and they've already eaten that by 8. anything after that time is just extra calories that will delay their results
  • tlc12078
    tlc12078 Posts: 334 Member
    Options
    I dont believe every thing every one up here say. I eat at nite sometimes n I am still losing, so why not I think, but the thing is, if you get indigestion you should wait for a bit. Dont lay down right after eating cus then your indigestion can most likely act up. I see a gastro specialist cus I have bad gerd.
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    Options
    Lol-I have done this too-but didn't feel the need to air that dirty laundry. But I am under the impression that my calorie burning aliens work 24/7/365. Maybe other people's calorie burning aliens come from another planet where they don't have such a rigorous work schedule? Now I'm just getting silly

    I don't think so at all. Well, OK, with the aliens bit. I'd go with faeries. But whatever.

    I strongly suspect that some people's metabolisms DO kickstart in the morning with the introduction of calories. I've tried breakfast-skipping and it sucks for me. I'm tired, logy, and just all-around even more miserable a bastage to put up with than usual.

    But that's me. I have friends who wake up happy but find that anything other than coffee before noon messes them up.

    Experiment. Play with different sized meals at different times. Find what works for you. Then encourage others to do the same without mistaking the rules that work for you with rules that might work for them.
  • crisanderson27
    crisanderson27 Posts: 5,343 Member
    Options
    I guess next time I will try to spell it out for people lol it sounded like he was being smart, but anywho! I always hear from doctors and online and whatnot that it isn't good to eat at night, but I don't think I've ever heard an actual explanation. Logically it makes sense that if you're sedentary at night you wouldn't burn them, but who knows!
    You burn quite a few calories just keeping your organs going, you know. Over 1400 a day for me.

    Then there's the fact that if you don't burn all the calories while you're sleeping, you will continue to burn them the next day.

    Logic.


    again, I don't need the smart *kitten* attacks. I was trying to explain my thought process, which I never said was correct, by any means. I'm done with this post.

    Ugh..thin skinned, this one.

    No smart assery there either hun...but have a wonderful evening!

    The "Logic." statement just wasn't necessary considering it was in response to my "logical" thinking, and yes, I'll be the first to admit I'm sensitive. So be it.

    Well, I still hope you have a wonderful night :).

    :flowerforyou:

    lol right back atcha, thanks.

    Dont mind me. I just wanted the reply chain to be really long.
    Gotcha.
  • OSC_ESD
    OSC_ESD Posts: 752 Member
    Options
    ~ I honestly believe everybody has to find what works for them ... eat at night and see if you gain weight, if not ... eat whenever you want. I have tested this theory and can honestly say I see a gain every time I " graze " before bed .... BUT, this doesn't mean it is an actual " weight gain " ... the mystery about our digestive system and how our bodies will determine what stays and what burns off is where people get confused. Just as sodium plays a huge part in " water weight gain " .... simple choices at night play a huge part in the " grazing periods ".

    Again ... don't rely too heavenly on the scale, go with how you look and feel. If your body is hungry at night ... fuel it ! The idea is to make " healthy choices " ... some will say if you stay under your calorie goal you will not gain weight, period. I say test that theory and eat a Big Mac, Large Fries and Milkshake right before you crash for the night and see what the scale says in the morning ! Call me crazy ... but I am almost willing to bet there will be a " few " pounds difference ...

    The real question is ... are those pounds here to stay ???? It's diabolical trying to figure all this out, reading all the forums .... do this, don't do that ... truth is ... just find what works for YOU !

    Best of luck my friend ... all I know is the journey is worth it. Chin up and carry on ! :flowerforyou:
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    Options
    ~ I honestly believe everybody has to find what works for them ... eat at night and see if you gain weight, if not ... eat whenever you want. I have tested this theory and can honestly say I see a gain every time I " graze " before bed .... BUT, this doesn't mean it is an actual " weight gain " ... the mystery about our digestive system and how our bodies will determine what stays and what burns off is where people get confused. Just as sodium plays a huge part in " water weight gain " .... simple choices at night play a huge part in the " grazing periods ".

    My wife and I had an interesting discussion about this the other day. She's a "eat after 8, gain weight" believer, and I constantly have a snack after 8 because I hate going to bed hungry.

    I got home from a long cycle ride at 7:30 and sat down and proceeded to eat a 2,000 calorie meal because I had just toasted off 3 hours worth of intense cycling. The next morning, sure enough, I weighed 2 pounds more and my wife hassled me over it no end (jokingly and lovingly, of course). Now I know for SURE that a 7,000 calorie excess in a day is required to gain 2 pounds of fat, and I actually ate a net of just under 900 calories the day before but I simply could not fit any more food down. So I knew it wasn't fat gain.

    Then about 10AM I had a very large bowel movement. The next day, my weight was right down where it had been.

    I think this may be part of where the myth came from. If you eat really late at night, your body (being asleep) might not fully process all the food until you get up and start moving around again, so you're just holding on to "used food" and the scale doesn't differentiate between that, water retention, and actual fat.

    Or it might be anecdotal evidence on my part proving nothing. But it certainly explained that one incident quite well.
  • RonSwanson66
    RonSwanson66 Posts: 1,150 Member
    Options
    TMI
  • myfitnessnmhoy
    myfitnessnmhoy Posts: 2,105 Member
    Options
    TMI

    Should I describe the accompanying "crescendo in B-Flat"? :tongue:
  • MissFit0101
    MissFit0101 Posts: 2,382
    Options
    uh ... calories can't tell time.

    :tongue:
  • shayleeloves
    shayleeloves Posts: 72
    Options
    I think it depends on the person. For me, when I eat late at night it isn't good for my body. It keeps me up, can make me sick or nauseas, and I don't think the food digests as well as it would during the day. But that's just me. It works for many people....
  • capnwo85
    capnwo85 Posts: 1,103 Member
    Options
    I actually set an alarm to wake up @ 2am just to eat. ....Still drop weight.
  • RaeN81
    RaeN81 Posts: 534 Member
    Options
    I personally ate whenever I needed to when I was actively losing weight and it did not stall my loss. If you find it has effects you adversely (indigestion, whatever), then don't eat before bed. The research is split on this topic--I really think you can make a personal choice on this one.
  • CharisSunny
    CharisSunny Posts: 276 Member
    Options
    The only major con to eating late (as for what I know) is the threat of heartburn you may have from eating then getting immediately horizontal.

    I leave the gym at nine, ravenous!!! I eat, I even have a snack then I knock out about 1AM.

    I'm good :)
    I think you run a greater metabolic risk when you spend the night hungry because u REFUSE to eat after this Jedi-suggested 7PM poppycock,
  • leomom72
    leomom72 Posts: 1,797 Member
    Options
    i heard you can..your body doesnt know what time it is, calories are calories..they will be consumed no matter how late it is..good luck
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    Options
    You can eat whenever you want. I save most calories for the evening because that's when I'm hungriest. Don't listen to anyone who says otherwise. I've lost almost 20lbs and I know several who have lost even more eating well after they're supposed to have, based on trainers' recommendations.
  • Heatherdl52
    Heatherdl52 Posts: 20
    Options
    I seem to have the same problem. Eat most of my cals in evening meal . Interested in if that is good or not. Not too hungry during the day, but try to eat well, but the bulk is only about 2 hours before bed.
  • ebelliss
    ebelliss Posts: 126 Member
    Options
    your digestive system is actually most active when you are sleeping! it is controlled by the parasympathetic nervous system, which is what calms you down, slows your heart rate, BP etc. which is what is happening when you are sleeping. so eating at night should not be a problem at all, it might even be a good thing! but again, i think it just has to do with personal preferences
  • BondBomb
    BondBomb Posts: 1,781 Member
    Options
    I dont believe every thing every one up here say. I eat at nite sometimes n I am still losing, so why not I think, but the thing is, if you get indigestion you should wait for a bit. Dont lay down right after eating cus then your indigestion can most likely act up. I see a gastro specialist cus I have bad gerd.
    Oddly enough I find this to be the most interesting reply. You said you don't believe everyone 'up here'. This has me fascinated. Do you see the Internet as up? And no I'm not trying to be an *kitten*. I just tend to focus on things that catch my attention.

Categories