Late Night Eating

denee422 · 07-07-2009, 08:10 AM

I just started back waiting tables at night. I usually eat good before the shift, like a 6 oz. chicken breast and a baked sweet potatoe, or a salad. At home the latest I usually eat is 7:30. I get done working between 9:30 and 11 and am usually pretty hungary. Is this because I'm walking around all night? I end up eating another small-midsized meal at like 11 right before I go to bed. Help, I can't help but be hungary at the end of the night.

viridian · 07-07-2009, 11:31 AM

Will they let you eat there?

If not, take a protein shake.

The current restaurant I work at will let me eat (as long as it doesnt interfere with customers of course) but the last one wouldnt. Protein shakes worked fine at that one. Got old, but if you work 3pm to 10pm youve gotta eat atleast twice in there if you typically eat 5-6 times a day! Id pre-blend protein powder with peanut butter or cottage cheese and coconut oil for my last two shakes of the day and have a small protein + fat meal when I got home.

CharliC · 07-07-2009, 11:44 AM

Just arrange your calories to fit in a pre-bed meal. There's nothing wrong with eating late at night, and if you've been on your feet (and around food!) for a few hours, you're bound to be hungry. To make things easy, maybe prepare something beforehand that you can grab as soon as you get in.

apeszt · 07-07-2009, 01:51 PM

I eat that late too, most evenings I don't get home until 11pm.

I just go easy on the carbs, usually just have an egg white omelet with some saut?ed veggies, or some cottage cheese sprinkled with cinnamon. Keep your portion in check & eat mostly protein & you should be fine

digitalbath11 · 07-07-2009, 02:27 PM

some of the leanest people I know, take a lot of their calories at night, but of course, they make it fit into their macros.

Try some cottage cheese with a little sugar free jelly.

Gracehbd · 07-07-2009, 03:26 PM

Hungary is a country.

Gracehbd · 07-07-2009, 03:27 PM

A small meal just before bed is important - not eating again after 7:30 would be very unwise.

denee422 · 07-08-2009, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gracehbd

A small meal just before bed is important - not eating again after 7:30 would be very unwise.

That's easy for you to say, you don't have my life. I work that late my body is still up and going until at least 10.

twinnett · 07-08-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denee422

That's easy for you to say, you don't have my life. I work that late my body is still up and going until at least 10.

???? She's telling you to eat later if you're hungry....???

abergirl · 07-08-2009, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denee422

I just started back waiting tables at night. I usually eat good before the shift, like a 6 oz. chicken breast and a baked sweet potatoe, or a salad. At home the latest I usually eat is 7:30. I get done working between 9:30 and 11 and am usually pretty hungary. Is this because I'm walking around all night? I end up eating another small-midsized meal at like 11 right before I go to bed. Help, I can't help but be hungary at the end of the night.

Eating at night (before bed) isn't as big of a deal as everyone makes it out to be. The calories consume during the ENTIRE day is what matters, independent of what time they were consumed. I do think it is because you are so active during the night, but also it could be cravings kicking in as well. I've done anything from a bowl of cereal with milk and fruit, to ice cream, to peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before I sleep and it hasn't seemed to cause weight gain of the sort. But I agree with some above posters, you could stick to simple high protein meals to kill the hunger, like cottage cheese (maybe with some peanut butter, or ground flaxseed, protein powder, etc.).

Beefcupcake · 07-08-2009, 10:30 AM

Just spread out your meals so that your last one is late at night. There is nothing wrong with eating late. It's the amount of your calories that will break or make your diet, not when you eat them.

I usually workout out until 10 PM and that means I'm having my PWO around 10:30 or so and I have managed to stay pretty lean.

ccchance22 · 07-08-2009, 03:49 PM

I agree with all the above as long as it fits into your macros it really doesnt matter how late you eat...I say either a quick RTD or protein bar if you have too(i'm not into protein bars anymore)

Mindi911 · 07-08-2009, 03:52 PM

I train either BJJ or MMA every night of the week from 8 - 10, I eat when I get home so my workout doesn't suffer.