Does it REALLY matter how late you eat dinner?

Sunshine78

Sunshine78

New member
Ok...first, sorry everyone, for the double post......I figured I should post my questions in the more widely used areas of the forum.....(you are thinking "stupid Newbie" :iamwithstupid:) hahahaha.....

I have been avidly into fitness for about 8 years now....daily gym-goer, runner, & all around active person. Although I have had my workout problems as well as everyone else. I have had issues between consuming the right amount of food, and at the right time of day (I am also a daily user of FitDay.com as well to count what I take in.....loveit!).
My problem isn't too much food, but too little for the amount I workout.....and then that is a whole other issue in itself. Last year I suffered 3 stress fractures in my foot from running too much. I was running 10 K sometimes 2 - 3 times a week, but not taking in enough calories for someone who was running like I was training for something. I am still unsure how I had the energy for it....after the run, I'd still hit the gym for weights. I realized after that I was either plateauing or even gaining. I have definitely slowed it down a lot, & I am trying my hardest to break that plateau (& seem to be doing a not so bad job at it). Although I am curious what those of you have to say about eating later in the evening. I am off work at 4:30, and always do my workout before I eat supper. Somedays I do gel nails out of my home resulting in not getting to the gym until 6:30 or 7, which ends sometimes in me eating as late as 9. I have heard both that it isn't bad to eat that late, and then I have heard that it is. Is this hindering to my workouts?
 
Why is it bad to eat "late"? I've never understood that. Mostly because what is "late"? If I stay up until 2 in the morning, then a dinner at 9:00 is practically equivalent to a dinner at 5:00 for a person who goes to bed at 10:00. I don't think you should let the number on the clock determine your eating. Look more at the time between meals/workouts/sleep etc and decide if you think it's healthy - i.e. probably shouldn't eat a huge meal 10 minutes before hitting the gym or going to bed. This is less to do with weight loss though and more to do with proper digestion. For weight loss, it doesn't matter when you eat.

(and now someone smarter than me is probably going to come along and correct me...)
 
It is never too late for dinner. When this happens to me, I generally eat a bit less than if it were a more usual time.

When you think of how long it was since your last meal and how many hours you're going to sleep, it's probably far too long to go without fuel. Calories can't tell time, and your body burns fuel 24/7.

By the way, I got home really late last night and I ate dinner around 9pm!
 
Well thats what I was under the impression....it matters mostly on the 'amount' of calories consumed in a day........and a calorie is a calorie......when it is consumed makes no difference. (of course only on this level....not when we are getting down to things like whether to eat breakfast or not. I know when you should be consuming them for energy and to fuel your body. I am talking on the issue of weight gain)....
 
I have heard both that it isn't bad to eat that late, and then I have heard that it is
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There are some that will say eating after XX at night will contribute to weight gain... when the reality is - fat gain is caused by excess of calories...

you might see a difference in the scale the next morning if you eat late at night but doesn't mean that you gained fat - just means the scale changed...
 
maleficent said:
There are some that will say eating after XX at night will contribute to weight gain... when the reality is - fat gain is caused by excess of calories...

you might see a difference in the scale the next morning if you eat late at night but doesn't mean that you gained fat - just means the scale changed...
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And the difference on the scale can most likely be caused by the fact that your body has not burned all of the food off, or just because it is still in your system, I am assuming???
 
Well this is all good to hear though because I have found that eating dinner later also helps me curb snacking in the evening before bed anyway. I am usually busy busy right after work, until I get the chance to eat, so I can go from about 3 pm (when I have a snack) to 8 pm or so until I eat again.
 
To an extent, yes. For the average person, not really. Are you verboten from eating after a certain time? No. Does what you eat late at night matter? Yes. Does what you eat almost always matter? Yes.

That's basically it in a nutshell. I could get really really complicated on you, but I don't think you'd enjoy it.

... That was not intended as innuendo. :D
 
Oh I know what I am eating matters, I was thinking more along the lines of what time of day. I am a very healthy eater, so that wasn't really what concerned me. I wouldn't have a supper of steak and potatoes and go to bed either. Most times my meals are lighter.....grilled chicken, steamed veggies, salad, and sometimes brown rice.....
 
i think the whole "eating late at night is bad" theory was made popular by Oprah and her personal trainer Bob Greene. on one of Oprahs shows, back in summer 2007, both Oprah and Bob made the statement that the single most important thing that a person can do to promote weight loss is to choose a time at night beyond which a person will not eat. Oprah's cut off time was 7:30pm and I can't tell you how many people I knew who adopted this as part of their weight loss program.

to say that chosing a time at night to stop eating is the most important thing a person can do to lose weight is a bit...well, silly. i think that controlling your calorie intake is the most important, followed immediately by exercising. everyone before me in this post has nailed it on the head. it doesn't matter when you consume the calories, only that you don't consume too many (or too few as the case may be).
 
Hahaha I know I am going to be shunned for this, but I have never been much of an Orah fan (of her show anyways). I think most of my life I have heard people say that. I have heard 7 pm, 8pm, and 9pm the most often. I, myself, eat when I either have time, or am hungry. I don't give myself a cut off time. And, thank goodness, I am pretty sure I have been able to regulate the 'lack' of calories......I eat tons of fresh veggies and chicken, & whole grains, but not enough for when I was running like a maniac. Now I stick to about 1500 calories a day, with weekends being a bit more for my "cheat days". I have cut back the amount of cardio I was doing and that seems to be helping....
 
Just putting in my two cents! From what I've learned its all about digestion. As someone previously stated you shouldnt eat a huge meal then hit the sheets. Your body needs time to being digestion before you lie down. For some people going to bed with a full tummy can mean a very bad tummy in the morning. And for other's its just fine. It's all about personal preference and if your body is used to eating late then meh.. eat late! I myself like to give my body a few hours before lying down so I eat early... but that's just me!!!
 
Hmm ya once I eat, I relax for a few hours, do some housework, or play with my dog so it isn't that I go to bed right away. I have been able to lean out, but not technically "lose" any weight in a while, and that is ultimately my goal so I wondered if this contributed to my difficulty.
 
I think that for the most part it really doesn't matter when you eat your calories. The thing that kind of sticks with me is to have enough calories to burn when you need them. If you are running on empty all day working, running, chores and whatnot, you won't be doing these things to the fullest. Your daily burn will be less. Then you eat a bunch of calories after you are done for the day and sit around watching TV or whatever and then go to bed. That can't be helpful. Eating a couple hundred calories later I don't think makes a big difference, but if you are getting your bulk of calories after the day is done, you might want to change that around a bit.
 
I go to the gym much later in the day (joined a 24 hour one!!) like at 7, then when I come home at 8 I usually snack on something healthy. It hasn't really affected me. Question: is it bad to eat something right after the gym? Or should I wait?
 
JulianaRose said:
I go to the gym much later in the day (joined a 24 hour one!!) like at 7, then when I come home at 8 I usually snack on something healthy. It hasn't really affected me. Question: is it bad to eat something right after the gym? Or should I wait?
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Just the opposite. It's really good to eat something, and the sooner the better.
 
Yup, the thing you wanna avoid is eating close to bedtime especially if you haven't gone to the gym. If you've been at the gym though, your body needs that fuel after a workout. I'd go for a high protien/low carb meal, carbs late at night can be bad for ya.
 
I eat a full meal just before hitting the sheets. So does my wife ordinarily, who doesn't workout ever.

My meals are balanced and calorically controlled.
 
eat a full meal just before hitting the sheets. So does my wife ordinarily, who doesn't workout ever
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:whistles::

:thinks really dirty thoughts::

carry on...
 
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