I keep hearing that eating late night is bad because you gain weight..but i'm hungry.then what?

Question

I'm hungry always at midnight.. so hungry and if i don't eat i'll die.
I can't believe i have to starve. So i'm not going to starve myself. But why do they have this myth going around. I'm sure it is a myth.

i'm 27 by the way. I'm not overweight, but i do have some flab around my stomach. I'm eating healthy , doing exercise... and when i get super hungry at night. i eat some cereal . that's all.. with SOY millk

Answer 1

it is a myth. a body gains weight at any time, not just at night and it has more to do with the bodies metabolism in each individual.

cereal with soy milk certainly isnt a cause for concern. however, it doesnt mean that you can eat all you want before you go to bed either.

Answer 2

What's bad are the big dinners before bedtime. During sleep you're less active and burn fewer calories because you're just lying there, so any excess calories turn to fat. So it's not a myth about eating late.

One thing that helps is strategically planning a smaller healthy dinner perhaps a bit later than you're getting it. If you're routinely up late, this will help keep cravings down.

Also, are you eating often enough during the day? Do you skip meals at all? This is a big factor in how you feel at night. It could be your blood sugars are perpetually low and after a big spike at dinner, it goes low again. Keeping blood sugar levels sustained will keep your metabolism up and insulin levels down.

First I recommend trying a glass of water. If that isn't doing it for you, go for a small glass of fat free milk. From there, a small piece of fruit or a little yogurt is ok. Keep your portions really low. I don't suggest going for the full bowl of cereal like you'd have for breakfast - I'd half that at least that late at night. Definitely stay away from the candies or empty calories. Try to stick with protein and whole grains as much as possible.

Many times, it takes just plain self-discipline not to indulge on temporary discomfort.

Answer 3

The main reason they say that late night eating is bad for you is simple. If you're eating late at night, for a normal person this means either you're about to go to bed or you wake up hungry in the middle of the night. So you intake calories, but your body in its resting state won't utilize those calories as active energy, it doesn't need it. So instead those calories get stored, IE- fat. However, not eating when you're hungry is a cause for your body to slow down its metabolism, burning less calories no matter what you're doing. Eating slightly raises your metabolism. There may be some part of your diet that you could change to prevent you from being hungry late night, but it's okay to have a late night snack if not. Try to focus on fiber, and maybe some protein though, stuff that fills you with less caloric content. A serving of yogurt with some granola or cereal mixed in is a great example.

Answer 4

There are some things you can do if you're hungry and you HAVE to eat. You have to try delaying yourself. So there's two types of hunger: true hunger and emotional hunger. The first sign of true hunger is a little twinge or cramp in your stomach, maybe some gurgling? This means your stomach is hungry. If you ignore this feeling too long, you'll want to eat everything in sight! For emotional hunger, its when food somehow helps you feel better, or in a better mood, like a hobby? So than Delay... Than decide.. For example, ways you can delay is taking a bubble bath, read a fitness/health magazine, make a cup of tea, dance or sing to your favorite music, give yourself a manicure or pedicture, write a poem, do sit-ups, meditate, or go for a walk. But if none of these things work... Just eat something, but in a small porportion. Or eat something chewy and crunchy, like peanut butter and celery. Good luck!

Answer 5

There is nothing wrong with having the light snack that you do in the middle of the night. I think what they are basically concerned about are the people who eat a whole complete meal, then go to bed right after. I think Kellogg's is advertising Special K for a night time snack, so obviously there is nothing wrong with a light snack like that. The carbs from cereal help you sleep anyway. Take care.

Answer 6

Some European ppl eat supper very late (e.g. 9pm) but they are still slim bc their overall caloric intake is proportionate to their activity (in other words, they don't eat too much). Eating heavily just before bedtime might disturb your sleep, so a light snack is better. You might consider eating supper a little later so you won't be hungry at midnight.

Answer 7

Eat something with Fiber in it, or take a fiber supplement. Fiber helps keep you full and makes you feel full faster so you don't over eat. A great night time snack with fiber would be nuts, almonds are the best, they make you feel full without putting too much junk in your body that late at night.

Answer 8

It's not a myth.
Excess nutrition (fat, chalories, colesterols, even vitamins) will not be put to good use if you're sleeping. They're useful if you're awake and doing some activities. If you eat too late, your food will not be transformed into energy, it will transform itself to become fat and will lie beneath you skin.

Sleep before midnight. And you won't die from midnight hunger.

PS: All of the above is wrong only if you're nocturnal.

Answer 9

its all about calories in versus calories out. as long as you use more calories than you take in nothing will happen. when night time comes, most people are already up to or over the proper caloric intake, so when they eat a late meal, they are putting calories in their body that will not be used.

Answer 10

Go ahead, just eat late at night.
Starving yourself will just make it worse. Starving slows metabolism.
If you have slower metabolism you will have to put more effort in your exercise.