Eat Late or wait?

[CalvinFish]

Hello all!

A dilema has hit me last night. I serve on the board of directors for a local non-profit. We had a meeting last night directly after I got out of work. As meetings do on occasion, we went late and I didn't get home until after 9 pm. It is my basic understanding that eating late is not a real good idea for weight loss. But, at the same time, I have been very good about three good meals a day, not more than 6 hours apart.

Because I wasn't feeling hungry, I took my multi, a couple celery stick and called it a day. This post is not at all about messing up, but rather what others would suggest in a similar situaton.

So, which is it for you, eat late or wait?

Dave

[not2sweet]

Hi Dave

When you have a normal day/week, do you normally eat late or is it like a normal dinner time (5-6pm)? The reason I ask is that I have always been a night eater, I could go all day and eat very little, then at night I would make up for it. I have since straightened that all around with 3 square meals and a snack at night...but I still eat the snack before 9 and I go to bed usually around 11 or so.

I have a point in here somewhere I just have to find it lol. If you don't make a normal habit of eating late then you will be fine. You don't want to starve yourself just because a meeting ran over. Let your stomach start digesting a bit before you go to bed, that way your body will be able to burn more than just the food you ate before you went to bed. That's not a golden rule though, it's what works for me, I'm sure others will have more to say about it also.

Good luck!

[iwillbethin]

I try to eat before 7PM and not have anything else after that. I have on ocassion eaten after that and not really had a problem. I would say eat dont worry about it being late. If you body is accustomed to eating 3 meals go and ahead and give it that last meal for the day even if it's late. It sounds like it's not gonna be something you will be doing all the time.

[New_Me_In_2005]

In the past I have eaten a smaller size meal and atleast stayed up 2 hours after. Otherwise I thought I would be too hungry to function in the morning or be tossing and turning all night. Normally I eat by 7pm.

Another thing is to maybe have a snack when you go to those meetings just in case you get out late.

[FightingTheFight]

Depending on how big the meal is. If it is really late and you are starving its best to eat a nice little protein/fat snack. Maybe egg and mayo or cheese?...if you are going to eat and go to bed soon after make it small.

If you have a bigger meal, wait at least 2 hours before hitting the hay. IT will make your digestion so much easier.

[Finelly]

I always have something late at night. I don't believe the theory that you shouldn't eat after a certain time. It's the total amount of calories and fat/protein/carb ratio that matters..............

[Curveegrrl]

I usually don't eat until late either. I'm just not hungry until 9 or 10pm!! But, I wouldn't go to bed right after eating. That might give me heartburn. And by "might" I mean "does." But sometimes I skip dinner, If I'm more sleepy than hungry. But if that is the case, then i've usually eaten more in the day anyway.

[tickletussler]

Personally, I avoid eating late, because for ME, I discovered there is a direct correlation between weight gain, to eating more later in the night. Maybe there aren't any Atkins-based proof for this, but I have noticed during every period of weight gain in my life, it was eating too much just before I went to bed. SO, these days I stick to trying to eat no later than 7-7:30pm each night, and if I'm delayed, then I try to go straight to bed. If I'm absolutely famished, then I have a small snack and sit up for at least half hour before I head off to bed.

[Kent]

My personal opinion is if you are really hungry late you should eat something. By that same token if you aren't hungry but you haven't eaten for 6 hours, I wouldn't be having a full meal either. During the summer and working outdoors in heat, it just isn't in the cards to eat or even be hungry. The only thing I don't vary on is water. You have to be able to drink throughout the day (no delaying on that part of WOE).

[ttdriver]

I agree with Fighting the Fight .. a light protein/fat snack will do nicely if you're hungry.

Its a known fact that your metabolism slows during sleep (including your body's ability to digest food) so you don't want alot in your stomach and then go right to bed.

Betty