Eating in the evening

[lia]

How close to bedtime can you eat a snack and not do terrible damage to your weight loss efforts?

I know that you’re not supposed to eat right before bedtime because you’re giving your body calories right before it’s starting to shut down for the night (so to speak) but if I don’t have something somewhat close to bedtime, I’ll wake up starving and that will ruin my sleep.

Also, I read that you burn more calories sleeping than you do sitting on the couch watching television, so wouldn’t it be better to eat before sleeping than to eat before relaxing?

If I am going to have a snack sometime before bed, what’s the nearest possible time to bedtime that I can have it? For example, if I go to bed at 11 pm, what’s my latest time possible for snacking?

[bruceH]

If you go to bed at 11, I wouldn't eat anything at any point after 7 or 8pm at the very latest.

After that time, though, try drinking lots of water to keep your hunger to a minimum. If you really want something other than just water, try having an herbal tea such as chamomile that will not only give some taste to the water, but it will also help you to go to sleep at night!

[tobetinytina]

I don't think that eating in the evening is as bad as people sometimes say it is, as long as you choose the right things.

For example, I read that if you choose whole grains, then it won't keep you awake at night and you won't gain weight from it. Also, high water veggies like cucumber are supposed to be alright.

I mean, I wouldn't sit in bed with a giant bowl of whole grain cereal and a whole cucumber, but if you got a little peckish around 8, then a little snack that consists of that type of thing shouldn't do too much damage.

Just don't overdo it...and don't put a lot of things on your whole grains or eat a bunch of dip with your cucumber. the point is to keep it light and simple.

[treehuggertodd]

Just don't overdo it...and don't put a lot of things on your whole grains or eat a bunch of dip with your cucumber. the point is to keep it light and simple.

This actually makes sense to me. Instead of not eating and losing sleep from being hungry, just eat something light that won't give you energy. Eat the minimum amount of it, too. You don't have to be full, just not hungry.