Ask A Fitness Model: Should I Eat After Dark?

The ‘should I eat after 6pm’ debate has popped up again, and I am here to give you my download on the topic.

“Don’t eat after 6pm if you want to lose weight” — Have you heard this before?

As a seasoned bikini competitor, I know this to be very untrue for me — I go to bed hungry if I eat earlier than 6pm (goodness me that’s early), but does this mean you should follow suit and eat calories after dark?

Short Answer: Calories are calories, whatever time of day you want to eat them.

There are a few things to keep in mind though, as we’re all different, and have different needs. Take a look at my top tips below, so you don’t have to worry about eating after the sun goes down.

Don’t midnight snack

Those late night trips to the cupboard can hurt your waistline and your goals. We all eat later at night for various reasons, like boredom, stress or satisfying niggling cravings, not necessarily because we’re hungry.

Those after dinner snacks you eat when the sun goes down are not controlled, and it is all too easy to consume the entire bag, or packet — you know how it is!

“I’ll just have one”… and the entire packet ends up empty. If this is a habit you find yourself repeating, don’t make it so easy for yourself.

Have fruit and veggie sticks available first of all, and hide the sweets!

Plan your calories

Keep yourself from overeating by planning your day. We all know about meal prep and it plays a vitally important role in keeping you accountable to your goals.

Fill your plate with wholesome food and less of the fried stuff — My Muscle Chef well and truly has you covered with meals that are healthy, delicious and filling. You need not even think about prepping; the work is done for you!

But if you find yourself having to snack, plan these out so you don’t make trips to the chocolate box or vending machine. Bring your snacks with you — know what you’re going to eat for the day, and keep yourself from consuming too much.

Keep consistent with meal timing

Eating between certain hours and being strict on yourself about your after dinner eating habits can really make a difference.

I try to eat 90% of my calories for the day between 9.00am and 9.00pm. Anything after is portion controlled so I don’t find myself overeating from the packet! It means I eat every 3 hours give or take, works a treat to keep the night cravings at bay!

The benefit of eating meals every couple of hours is it helps regulate your blood sugar, and therefore controls your hunger levels, so you don’t end up eating too much after dark.

There are studies that show eating after a certain hour in the evening can have negative effects on weight loss goals, but you shouldn’t feel as though there is a right or wrong way to approach your health and fitness.

Do your own research into possible options and find what works for your lifestyle.

After all, it is about being consistent and keeping up with good daily habits — if you’re an early riser and therefore early to bed, you’re already not really eating after dark!

Honestly, do what works for you; you never know, the extra hours spent sleeping and not eating may surprise you with unexpected results.

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