Do you remember the 1984 comedy horror Gremlins? There were cute, fuzzy creatures called Mogwai that, if fed after midnight, turned into monsters. Gremlins! We can debate whether or not Gremlins is a Christmas movie, however I’m sure that you can eat late in the day and it won’t throw off your body composition or weight loss goals. Also, you most likely won’t turn into a monster.
There is no magic time in the day after which everything you eat will turn into fat and cause weight gain. As long as you’re sticking to quality, real food (meat, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fruit) in quantities that support your activities and goals, you’ll be fine.
Eating too close to bedtime (within 2 hours or less) can cause digestive issues and negatively impact your sleep. Sleep is important for weight loss and fat burning. It’s also when your body builds and repairs muscle.
It’s okay to occasionally have a late dinner when necessary. Do your best to regularly eat 2 hours or more before your bedtime, and when you need to eat late, skip extra snacking.
My bedtime is between 9 and 10 PM, and I eat dinner after 8 PM at least once or twice per week after coaching. On these days I move my after dinner snack to between lunch and dinner to make sure I hit my daily protein goal. It’s worked to this point. I haven’t turned into a gremlin yet!
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