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Not Eating 3 hours before bed time

Currently, I am trying to not eat anything past 7pm. I have heard this is very very effective in weight loss, so as a late night eater, I think its a good idea.

Does anyone know if that includes what you drink as well? For example: glass of wine?

Thanks!


Tue. Feb 26, 10:09pm

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I would assume that would be anything with calories in it.
I think it has to do with burning off the calories that you have ingested and once your body slows down for the night it may not burn calories as effectively.
Anyone else have a different idea?

Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 10:44 PM

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I personally eat nothing and drink nothing except water after seven. I don't like the taste of alcohol so that's not an issue for me. Are you more likely to want to eat if you drink wine? I would be careful if what you drink is a trigger to eat.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008, 10:46 PM

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If you have an active lifestyle, banning food after too early an hour could cause you to wake up hungry in the middle of the night.

Personally, I know that my metabolic rate is the same sleeping at 3am as it is sitting in front of a computer at 3pm, so it makes no difference for me. I don't know if that's the norm or not though.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 12:46 AM

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most current research suggests that the after dinner snack is better to keep up your metabolism since you fast the entire night. only give up that snack if you want. I've lost a ton of weight and always have a snack around 9pm - I usually eat dinner at 6.. if I eat dinner later, I eat my snack later. bed time has to influence on what time I eat my last snack. Trainers like Mark Verstegen and Bill Phillips attest to this theory about metabolism. but its all about what works for us. when I cut out my evening snacks in the past, it made it too hard for me to stick to and then I felt bad that I ate after dinner. this way, i dont feel guilty and I get to have a snack! (a healthy one)

Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 7:20 AM

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Agree

There is a lot more research that says eating later does not have an effect on weight loss / gain.
To have an evening snack is not bad at all (and yes I would put wine in that category). Depending how early I eat dinner, I sometimes am staring by 9:00 so I dive into a bowl of cereal - it works

Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 8:03 AM

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Some of us need cutoff times

Nighttime eating is fine for people who can have that little snack and be done. Then there are those of us who need that rule to keep us on track. I know I do much better if I just tell myself - 'no eating after dinner.' Anytime I leave open the possibility of night time snacking - it turns into two to three times the calories I intended or needed.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 8:42 AM

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A calorie is a calorie at what ever time you consume it, but I can understand if ppl want to cut it off at a certain time since they could overeat. For me, I don't like going to bed feeling hungry b/c then I can't sleep. I'll eat dinner at 6 but then don't go to bed until past 12. And usually my snacks are eaten late at night instead of in the afternoon so it's within my targeted calorie limit.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 10:54 AM

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Cutting off eating at night is a good way to stop yourself from eating more than you need to. The time isn't the issue, it's the definitive stopping point. Many people snack at night out of habit or boredom or comfort in front of the TV, and not because they're actually hungry. So, the excess calories are unnecessary, and thus hamper the weight loss efforts.

A glass of wine is, arguably, unnecessary calories too. But if you're going to have it either way, it makes no difference, weight-wise, if you hurry up to finish it before 7pm, or sip it at 9pm. If it's either sipping it at night or not having it, then not having it will lead to more weight loss, b/c it'll cut 100 cals/day. That's 10lbs/year.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 11:19 AM

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I eat dinner between 8-9pm. I have been losing significant weight. If I don't eat after 7pm, I wake up in the middle of the night and I have a very restless sleep.


Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 11:31 AM

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I did the zone chef's meal delivery thing for a while (highly recommended, good good and lost weight - but it was too expensive) and they provide a snack to be eaten within one hour of bedtime. I believe their theory is the same metobolic one as other posters have discusssed.

This of course does not mean that one must eat a before bedtime snack in order to lose weight. I, can, however attest that it can be an aid to weight loss.

-Diet Coke

Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 12:59 PM

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I always have a snack at night.
That was one of the issues when I started this. I am a night time snacker and if I can't have that snack then I will never be able to stick to a plan.
But I make it healthy.
Usually it is an apple Or maybe a bit of soup but ususally around 100 cal and not over 200. But I plan for it in my daily calorie alottment.
I don't know about the rest of the stuff you all mentioned I just know this works for me.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 3:31 PM

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I read recently that a calorie doesn't know what time of day you consume it so if you can eat a healthy snack and stop at that, it should be alright. I've lost 47 pounds and always have an after dinner snack.


Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 3:33 PM

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I eat if I'm hungry. Weather it's before 7 or after 7. As someone mentioned earlier it's really hard to sleep well when you're hungry. I personally don't think that it makes much difference weather you eat a little amount before bed. Obviously you don't want to eat a huge meal, but a little something to keep you going through the night is fine. It comes down to you as an individual.

It's so tuff because there are so many conflicting pieces of information everywhere. I take them all in ,consider them ,then do what works best for me & MY body. We are all very different. We have the same jumping off point, but from there what works best for me might not be the best for you. Experimentation is the way to go.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 3:41 PM

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OK IF YOU KNOW BREAKFAST IS BALANCED MEAL

thank you for raising the question... i figure that
a good breakfast routine.. would be a good incentive
to light supper.
i drink lots of herbal tea late at night

Wednesday, February 27, 2008, 7:50 PM

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Wow I can not tell you all how interesting I found this thread to be. I must say that I have been very successful about not eating past 8PM for the majority of the week, only perhaps one noght a week not do to a weekend outing..I originally heard about this idea a few years ago, on Oprah...but now that some of you mention it I have many restless nights or at least not great sound sleeps I often wake in the middle of the night, now I have no idea if these situations are related but it definatly gives me "food for thought" ha! Thanks everyone... I hope the OP found this as helpful

Thursday, February 28, 2008, 10:12 PM

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