Eating when you're up late

[nunu713]

Hey ladies,

This is something I've always wondered about. Currently, I'm on a cut - around 1400 cals per day with a 15/35/50 macro split (f/c/p - I arrived at that through some trial/error and tweaking, but it seems to be working well for me) I space my meals about 3 hours apart, with my last meal being somewhere between 7-7:30PM. I'm usually in bed somewhere between 10-10:30 and I'm not hungry before I go to bed.

Now, on a typical weekend, I'm usually up later than my normal bedtime. So how do I adjust my meals/calorie intake? Or do I even need to? I've spoken to a few trainer friends who tell me that if I'm going to stay up, then I should eat again after 3 hours like I normally would throughout the day. But what do I eat? By the time night rolls around, I'm already at my calorie limit.

How do you girls juggle your night life and meals?

[viridian]

Are you still getting a solid 8 hours of sleep? You'll probably harm your fatloss if youre sacrificing sleep to stay up later regularly.

Personally, if it happened that I had to stay up later once in awhile Id add in a protein shake before bed. Only about another 100 calories and chances are when on a cut youve burned them for the day being awake longer anyway

[nunu713]

I certainly don't make a habit out of staying up late - I'm definitely not a morning person! Sunday thru Thursday, I sleep from about 10pm to 5am, so I do get a decent amount of sleep. It's just the occasional Friday night when I'm up early for work, but am going out late that night. Saturdays usually aren't even as bad because I sleep late AND stay up late, so my eating schedule can stay the same - it's just pushed back a few hours so I can sleep in.

But yeah, Fridays can get pretty long. Today is no exception - I think we're going to the movies around 10 tonight. Movie theater food isn't a problem - I haven't eaten in a movie theater in years, but I know I'll be hungry for something...

[queenofswords]

What about eating slightly less during the day to compensate for the fact that u know u will be hungry late at night when ur up?

Like, say during the day ur gonna eat 5 meals or 6- then maybe u could eliminate a certain food from a few of those meals that would add up to the number of calories u would prolly eat at ur late meal.

I tend to do this if i know in advance that im gonna be up late and will be hungry. If, during the day when ur eating ur meals, u feel like u can happily eliminate something without compromising ur satiety at that particular time, then it could be an option.

[swindled]

I generally eat another meal when I am going to be up longer than usual, the usual 200 Calories or so. Otherwise I get hungry right before bed, which really sucks. I agree with another user that it shouldnt be a big deal, as you are up longer, your body is burning more calories anyway. Also, how much of a calorie deficit are you in? I have about a 500 Calorie deficit right now, so even if I eat another 200 Calorie meal, I am still at a 300 deficit.

[nextsuperhero]

If it's once a week, I don't see any harm in allowing yourself to dinner or drinks with your friends.

[kpettitt]

IMO- if I'm up, doing stuff, I'm burning more calories than on a normal day (like I'm installing laminate floors tonight and will be up late) so I deserve to eat! A spoonful of Peanut Butter, or 1/2 cup Cottage cheese. Something long feeding and healthy. I don't adjust my cals or worry about it. never go hungry.. defiantly not at night. Your body still eats at night.... feed it Cals- not muscle! I eat Casein before bed almost every night. and my last 'meal' is around 7:30pm. :)