Can You Stay Fit and Still Eat Before Bedtime?

At some point, the overwhelming consensus was that eating right before bedtime is a bad idea. In recent years, this topic has become surprisingly controversial. Some believe it really doesn’t matter that much. Even more shocking is the belief that a late night snack can actually help you stay fit. So what’s the real deal? Should you eat at night or not?

Why Opinions Vary

Without a doubt, there are a lot of discussions and dissenting opinions about eating at night. Technically speaking, eating at night is when you consume food after dinnertime and before you go to sleep. Whether it’s ice cream on the sofa or an extra slice of pizza in the bed, eating after dinner can become a habit. The reason why it’s a big deal is because some experts say eating at night will slow your metabolism and make you gain weight. They say it’s because the food that has not been digested will become fat.

The contrarian viewpoint is that eating at night is fine and will not affect your metabolism or hinder your fitness goals. It’s because your nighttime metabolic rate won’t change just because you ate something at night. As with most arguments, the truth is somewhere in between.

Potential Weight Gain

There’s a reason why it’s believed you’ll gain weight from snacking at night. It’s because late night snacks are often above and beyond what you normally consume in a day. In other words, it has nothing to do with the actual time of day in which you’re eating, but the fact that it’s an additional meal.

If you have a strict workout routine and you consume high levels of protein, it wouldn’t matter if you had your chicken or protein shake in the afternoon or at midnight. You won’t gain weight if it’s one of your regular meals. However, if you’re knocking back a can of soda and a bag of chips with your meal at night, that’s an entirely different story.

When contemplating about whether or not to have a snack at night, consider prioritizing the quality of your sleep. Whether or not you gain weight from snacking, it’s best to focus on getting a great night’s sleep. Why? Because the quality of your sleep can significantly impact the quality of your life, including your ability to stay fit. As it turns out, some believe a good snack helps them sleep better at night and workout in the morning. Go figure.