Exercise vs. eating late?

I have a problem, kind of. I get out of work at 4:30pm and can get to the gym by 5:30pm. My goal is to work out for a little over an hour each time. BUT, my eating cut-off is 7pm, since I go to bed between 10pm and 10:30pm. I don't know how I can get dinner in without eating late! I don't want to workout and then ruin that by having a late dinner! Any suggestions?

Thu. Mar 9, 1:06pm

I don't really have any suggestions I just wanted to let you know I am in the same boat with you. I workout after work 5:30 PM and go to bed at 9:30-10PM. I hate eating late, but I want to get at least an hour in at the gym. Well, I guess I do have a suggestion, I thought I didn't....I started going to the gym in the morning before work. It is hard to get myself up at 5:30 AM and workout but on the mornings I actually do it I feel energized and great the whole day.

alias1013

Thursday, March 9, 2006, 2:33 PM

Some studies say it's bad to eat before bed, and some say it has no effect. The main point is to get in the correct amount of calories in an entire day. If you eat breakfast in the morning, lunch at noon, dinner at a normal time, and then continue to eat until bedtime, you probably got in your calories by dinner but then eat "extras" afterwards. Eating late at night may or may not actually affect your weight loss, but it's definitely not an absolute, proven fact, that it will. What will affect your weight loss is taking in the wrong number of calories (too many or too few). If you count calories, and keep your calories within your given range, I personally don't think it matters when you eat them within the day. I counted calories, but never paid attention to the time, and reached my goal weight!

Thursday, March 9, 2006, 2:42 PM

Having protein before and after you work out is really helpful. what about having a snack at work around 4:00? trailmix, granola bars, nuts, dried fruit or a gatorade and a power bar could all be good choices. then you could workout with plenty of enegy and hopefully feel full enough to get through the night (with maybe a small snack after you work out)

Thursday, March 9, 2006, 2:54 PM

I agree with the 2:42 poster - I think that the stop eating 3 hours before bed rule is to help people stop snacking after dinner. As long as you're not eating a gigantic meal right before bed, I don't think eating closer to sleep than 3 hours is going to mess anything up. I'm on approximately the same schedule, just a couple of hours later (I don't get to the gym until 7ish, and I try to be in bed by 11). I end up eating dinner around 9 or 9:30 every day, and I've been losing just fine. I also find that I need a much smaller dinner after a workout than on days when I don't work out, which helps with the whole going to bed full thing.

Thursday, March 9, 2006, 3:03 PM

I Workout Late, Too

It's really about your total calories in for the day. I didn't get home from the gym last night until 9:15. I had a quick, light low-calorie meal (unfortunately just a frozen box and a wedge of light cheese) so I wouldn't wake up starving, but also so I wouldn't have a big gut bomb before bed.

When I have more time, I try to eat lots of vegetables after a late gym night. that way I'm full, but the calorie count is lower. Big stir fries with a bit of shrimp or chicken and only 1/2 cup or so of brown rice are good for post-gym dinners.

the good thing about late dinners is there is ZERO time for late snacking!

And by the way, I've always been an evening exerciser and I've lost (and maintained) well over 50# doing it.

Thursday, March 9, 2006, 3:12 PM

In response to the 2:54pm poster - please don't have a granola bar or some trail mix at 4pm and then skip dinner!

Thursday, March 9, 2006, 3:48 PM

OP here

Thank you guys so much for the advice. For today, I'm going to try having a light dinner and then going to the gym. That wouldn't have worked, of course, when it was colder out, lol.
I will try that tonight and if it doesn't for me I will try having a light dinner after gym nights- no snacking! Thanks for the input- it seems I got a consensus!

Thursday, March 9, 2006, 4:20 PM

Try more efficient workouts!

May I suggest a shorter workout....

I'm doing the Body For Life workouts and LOVE their efficiency!!! Today is the beginning of week 3 for me.

www.bodyforlife.com

You only spend about 4 hours in the gym a week!!!! People have phenomenal results on the program in just 12 weeks!

There is 3 days of cardio (20 min. cardio sessions - using high intensity interval training - explained on their website)

There is 3 days of lifting - no longer than 45 min. sessions and you alternate between upper body and lower body. Some weeks you get 2 sessions of upper and one session of lower - the next week you get 2 sessions of lower and one of upper.

7th day you get a break.

Thursday, March 9, 2006, 4:24 PM

I do my heavier work outs in the morning, but I do like to spend at least a half hour in the evenings working out as well. I get off work at 5:30 and don't get home until 6:30. Generally, I have a peanut butter sandwich (or clif bar) right before I leave work, get home, change, and work out. Then, I have a light dinner, such as spinach salad. I go to bed really early as I get up between 4 and 5:00 am.

Thursday, March 9, 2006, 4:44 PM

I took a running class last summer where they suggested to take a small snack within 1/2 hour of working out to replenish the body so that you are not as exhausted the next day.

My suggestion is to "graze" and eat a light dinner before working out (maybe a sandwich?) and a little something afterwards to replenish the body. But, yes, stay away from snacking before bedtime!

Thursday, March 9, 2006, 5:04 PM

i've lost more than 40 lbs by eating healthy and exercising often. i have never given a moments thought to what time i am eating-sometimes i eat dinner at 7 sometimes i eat dinner at 11. it's all about healthy food choices and portions . . .if it is 10:00 and you have only taken in 800 calories all day AND you are hungry-eat!!!!! unless it disrupts your sleep (some people can't sleep w/ a full belly) it won't make a big difference in your weight loss unless you are eating too much that late.

Friday, March 10, 2006, 1:37 AM

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