Late Night Eating – DO IT.

Nice one Joel… It absolutely makes sense not to eat dense carbs that are used for fuel for the body during the day, late at night. And the advice on potential lean muscle tissue loss is also critical.

Great to see someone putting the often ridiculous myths into perspective as time and time again they are incorrect.

Regards, Clayton
Personal Trainer | Adelaide, Australia

Took some doing to convince my body after a lifetime of not eating late that it was ok but now when I drink my protein drink at night I feel entitled!!

I am glad to hear that one because I am usually starving before bed, and have found that the Prograde Lean really helps as a late night snack when I do not want to chew or I am craving “sweet.” Knowing I can eat healthy helps me not to always eat the wrong thing, especially the carbs.
thanks Joe for the encouragement!

This is comment number 199

While eating a quesadilla and is 11:36pm

The total caloric intake and the sources from which those calories are derived are more important considerations than the time that you consume that food.

Okay, what about the night owls and early birds… does that matter?

I sometimes use a low carb casein protein shake with added fiber if I don’t have any food readily available to eat.

cottage cheese

I’m asleep by 8:30-9:00 pm so no late night snacks for me, just simple dinner. Am I doomed in the muscle loss department?

thanks for that, Joe, it makes so much sense when you explain the reasons for rule breaking.

Hi! so if milk has a very high insulin index how should you do with the protein shake? I often drink milk plus protein, but what should I use instead? Yoghurt?

Tuna on wholemeal toast Mmmmmmmm Yummy. I know the toast is probably not great but it is low GI Wholemeal stuff………

I dunno. I’ve always heard that if you want to eat late at night, it should be something relatively light, because if your body is working hard to digest things while you sleep, it isn’t able to do as much rebuilding and repair. However, spinach and turkey at night sounds pretty good to me! Hehe! I’ll give this a try.

Hey Joel, i read this tip the first time it was up, i usually just grab a protein before i brush my teeth at night.

I agree with MARLA about the cottage cheese, protein powder and sugar free cream, that’s some tasty stuff.

can i have a guess as to why Soy based stuff is no good?

I could be wrong, but i remember reading something about Soy Lowers testosterone levels, and increases Estrogen levels. Am i warm?

In the CheatYourWayThin program you talk about metabolism falling off and going into starvation mode after about a week. Here you talk about metabolism falling after about 12 hours.
In number terms what is the minimum amount of food a person would have to eat say every 2 – 4 hours to prevent a persons metabolism slowing down and going into starvation mode?
Could it be 1 carrot because some days I do not really feel like eating much.

Hey Joel. Two comments, one possibly controversial.

First, I also sometimes like to drink a slow digesting protein shake before bed(like a Casein or a blended protein) or have protein pudding (using similar slow digesting carbs — such as CNP Professional Dessert Protein Pudding (available on line)). These all have the effect of providing a dessert like option if I am not in the mood for savory, and aid in muscle preservation and growth.

Second, I have been reading alot about Intermittent Fasting as a healthy eating technique (and one recently promoted by Craig Ballantyne), to allow the body to cleanse itself of raised insulin and other hormone levels kept high by steady stream of food, and aid in calorie restriction. From what I have read (albeit light research), periodic regular fasting is also better for overall health, and that as a general matter, americans (and humans generally) eat much more food than the body needs to be healthy. Moreover, what I understand is that fasting for less than 48 hours does NOT impact muscle and that this a a bit of a misnomer in teh health and fitness industry — so a short period of fasting up to 24 hours for example (although I have tried more along the lines of 12-15 hours) does not impact muscle gains or metabolism. I personally have not noticed any muscle loss, but haven’t been doing it that long. So what is the real skinny here?

Jason

@Joel Marion – Hey Joel, I gotta ask you this: What is so wrong about processed foods? Honestly, if u read the lable of corn flakes and the one of a pack of oatmeal, there would be virtually no difference. Natural penut butter has the same label as pocessed peanut butter. Why is the natural one better.
I would greatly appreciate you explaining this to me because corn flakes taste a heck of allot better than oatmeal.
Thanks

@Diet Tips – The Best Diet Tip EVER | Body Transformation Insider – PS, Joel do u know any kind of site that can tell me what are the profiles of different foods like steak or fruits. They dont come with labels and id love to chek the carb profilles 2 see which fooods i should eat and which I should at night.

Btw, does this no carb eating still apply if i work you around 7 or 8 PM? Also is it true that we chouldnt eat anything at all 1 hour before going 2 bed?

chocolate milk has a lot of carbs in it.