The Myth: Eating At Night Causes Weight Gain

THE MYTH: EATING AT NIGHT CAUSES WEIGHT GAIN

THE TRUTH:

Many people believe that their metabolism plummets later in the day, which is when we often overeat nutritionally corrupt foods. But a kilojoule is a kilojoule, no matter when you eat.

As long as you don’t take in more calories than you burn in a day, you won’t gain weight. Overeating at 9 p.m. is essentially no worse than overeating at 9 a.m. You may have a slightly higher metabolism earlier in the day, but the impact on weight loss is likely trivial.

And if you train in the evening, noshing at night is a must: you have to eat a well-balanced meal to encourage recovery no matter how late it is. As long as you don’t gorge, you’re not in danger of gaining weight. But if you routinely spend too much time with a tub of ice cream at night, you’re going to sabotage your efforts.

How to ward off night time overeating:

A lot of people don’t eat enough after lunch, leaving them ravenous at night. Having whole-grain crackers and low-fat cheese, or plain yogurt with fruit midafternoon to avoid getting intimate with Haagen-Dazs later.

Try low-fat popcorn for night time finger food. It’s a high-fiber whole grain, and one cup has just 31 calories.

A study in the journal Appetite reported you’re more likely to overindulge when parked in front of the TV, which distracts you from noticing how much you’re eating.

Researchers in the United Kingdom found that a 15-minute walk weakened chocolate cravings in people who abstained for three days. Make an after dinner stroll routine.

Coming home famished after a workout without a dinner plan can lead to grabbing the nearest bag of Doritos. Having a meal made ahead of time you can easily heat up or a few quick go-to recipes can ensure you make healthy choices.

More Weight-Loss Myths Exposed
The Myth: you can spot-reduce fat
The Myth: Running on empty is a smart way to burn extra fat
The Myth: Exercise in the fat-burning zone
The Myth: Weight-lifting will only bulk you up
The Myth: Low fat foods are a healthy choice