When to Eat Dinner for Weight Loss?
Eating dinner at a certain time of day won't lead to weight
loss. Only burning more calories than you consume causes you to lose weight.
Eat when you're truly hungry and have dinner at a certain time if it helps you
to restrict calories.
Night Eating
Some people believe that eating late at night will cause
weight gain because they think your metabolism slows down at night. However,
according to Columbia University's Go Ask Alice! medical resource website, your
metabolism is always working. The site reminds that calories are the bottom
line when it comes to weight loss, and it doesn't matter if you eat at night as
long as you watch what you eat. If you're more likely to eat fatty,
high-calorie foods late at night, then it might be a good idea for you to have
dinner earlier.
Intervals
Extending the interval between meals may cause you to eat
more calories, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. For instance,
waiting five hours between meals instead of four adds about 52 calories for
someone on a diet of 2,000 calories per day. Don't wait too long after lunch to
eat dinner. Consider having a healthy snack between lunch and dinner to keep
hunger under control.
Meal Frequency
Consider eating several small meals a day. Have one meal
earlier in the evening, and one meal later. Eating more frequent meals
throughout the day can help you control your appetite, according to the
Weight-Control Information Network. Eating small meals also may cause your
stomach to shrink over time, leading you to feel full sooner, Go Ask Alice!
adds.
Situation
People often crave rich foods when stressed,
"Psychology Today" magazine reported in 2003. Anger, fear, boredom,
sadness and loneliness can also trigger overeating, the Mayo Clinic adds. The
best time to eat dinner is when you can devote your full attention to the
experience and enjoy it. Before you eat, make sure true hunger is driving you,
not emotion. If your appetite is a result of poor mood, distract yourself, try
stress-management strategies or seek support from others.
Exercise
Consider your exercise schedule when deciding when to eat
dinner. If you exercise after dinner, allow three to four hours for a big meal
to digest, and two to three hours for a small meal to digest, Go Ask Alice!
urges. Eating before exercise can lead to gastrointestinal problems,
particularly in runners, people who are unfit, younger people, women, people
with emotional stress and intense exercisers. Eating carbohydrates 15 to 60
minutes after a workout replenishes glycogen stores, and eating protein after a
workout helps to repair muscle.
