Eating just before sleeping?

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   alqxposted 14 years ago

   I suppose many people do this. Sometimes before I go to sleep I feel a little hungry so I eat a few biscuits or cookies. Is that bad, or will it cause weight gain? Maybe it's because I have higher than normal metabolism?

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      Never_Forgetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I used to eat an entire frozen pizza, a pint of ice cream and 16 oz of milk every day before bed. I would wake up weighing 1-2 pounds less than I did before I ate all that food.
      
      It won't hurt you to eat before bed, but it will make you wake up hungry a lot because it stretches out your stomach and when you wake up it's big and you feel hungrier than normal. This can lead to overeating, but as long as you have self control and exercise a few times a week you will be ok. Especially if you say you already have a high metabolism to begin with.

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         alternate poetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         If you stuff that lot in and then weigh less in the morning you must be getting some pretty damn strenuos excercise in the night - or you are defying physics, or perhaps mistaken.

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            alqxposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            It would be comical to observe such a strenuous exercise at night.

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               WryLiltposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Maybe she sleep walks? Or sleep-works-out-at-the-gym?

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                  klarawieckposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Talking about Sleepwalkers, the other day my husband and I were coming back from the movies. We were on the expressway (about 1am) and I see this woman wearing a sleeping gown. She was entering the expressway, right in the middle of the road. I tell him "LOOK LOOK! SHE'S GOING TO GET KILLED!" He was driving and didn't get too see her. I wanted to call the Police, but I wasn't sure if what I had seen was an actual person or a spirit. My husband didn't really have enough time to turn and see her so he couldn't verify. It was very strange!

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                     WryLiltposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     Wow. Interesting to find out....

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            blondepoetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Or have worms
            
            

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               alternate poetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Hi BP - where have you been ???  off flirting with everyone again !!!!!!! 

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                  blondepoetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Hey there handsome, flirting.....me.......oh my......I am just a wee country gal....LMAO
                  
                  I have been working full time boo hoo missed u guys.

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                     alternate poetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                     Well we know about peace and the wicked so no surprise there then !
                     
                     
                     On a lighter note, this semester I get to teach English to 180 pretty nurse undergrads    You know what they  say BP, it isn't what you got - it is where you got it !

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                        blondepoetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                        Oh wonderful congratulations that is awesome you must have been in heaven. Love your saying too 'it is where you got it' which lead me to the bra strap thread

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                           alternate poetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                           I am already in heaven, this is just icing on the cake.  So does all this work stuff you are doing bring home the bacon?  Are you promoted from bed pan duties and whipping the old men in the mornings yet ?

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                              blondepoetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                              Oh yes I have gone from sponge baths to serving croissants and caviar in the waiting room. I am concentrating on my human relation skills,after removing a 'ball' instead of a 'gall'. Oooooooooo sometimes it is hard to hear when you are listening to 'Powderfinger' through your headset.
                              
                              

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               Never_Forgetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               I do have worms but we have an agreement. They aren't allowed to eat my food. I have special times of the day set aside when I feed them. So it couldn't have been the worms making me lose weight over night. We're pretty tight I don't think they would do something like that.

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                  blondepoetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  Hahahaha
                  Oh how can one tell if they have worms. I eat like a giant but I am so tiny myself......I must investigate the matter.
                  
                  

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            Never_Forgetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            @alternate poet
            
            LOL, it's true. It didn't happen all the time but it definitely happened. I have a very high metabolism and also very severe hypoglycemia. Pizza and ice cream before bed was a horrible decision (I wasn't aware of my health at the time, just wanted to gain weight). All those simple carbs from the pizza and ice cream, my body literally burned it all off in my sleep and most people lose a pound or two over night anyway from sweat and metabolism.

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               DoorMattnomoreposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               man, I wish that was true. About people loosing a pound or two overnight.

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                  Never_Forgetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  A lot of people do. You gain it back after breakfast though ;-) It's just water weight, nothing serious.

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      britneydavidsonposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Eating before sleep is not good, eat 1 hour before sleeping to make yourself healthy.

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         hanging outposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         and only when married
         
         my bad
         
         ribbit

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      Alien invasionposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I believe it all has to do with what you consume in a 24 hour period. However it makes for some unusual night terrors.

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      girly_girl09posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Well, if you've been eating this way for a while and haven't noticed weight gain, then I doubt it will, unless your metabolism eventually declines as you age.
      
      I used to eat a LOT at night time. Then I started eating my last meal of the day at 8pm and it was only protein and a LOT of veggies. No carbs. (I would eat carbs all throughout the day, though). I found this helped with some weight loss, but I think it was only because I wasn't consuming *extra* calories in a nighttime snack. Plus, I noticed I didn't sleep as well. I now eat some carbs with dinner and sleep better and just don't eat after dinner. No weight has come on.
      
      My ultimate advice is: if you work your night time snack into your daily calorie allowance, then it shouldn't be much of an issue. So, for example, instead of eating some cookies as a dessert with dinner (assuming you normally eat dessert), why not save them for later when you get hungry?

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         Never_Forgetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Carbs before bed will put you to sleep because they make you "crash". By the way, veggies have lots of carbs in them. They're healthy carbs tho :-) Simple carbs from pasta or sweets will make you crash shortly after eating because your body processes them very fast, but complex carbs (like fiber) from veggies take longer to metabolize and therefore do not cause a crash usually. Protein and fiber both will help you sleep deeper and keep you from waking up at night or in the morning hungry.

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      couturepopcafeposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      alqx - I don't know if that's you in the profile picture.  If it is you don't need to worry about calories a) because you're a young male b)you're slim.  Whatever you eat, make sure it's whole food.  Processed flour products, like your crackers or biscuits are empty calories, devoid of nutrients unless they're added back in without their edifying counterparts.  They fill you up temporarily but your brain doesn't recognize it as food and will always be looking for more.

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         alqxposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, the point you make about 'always looking for more' applies to me. I can't seem to stop eating biscuits, crackers and the like.
         
         Whole food: Do you mean wholemeal or just proper food (not junk food)?
         
         Sometimes I also drink packet-milk before sleeping. What do you think of that?

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      packingboxesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Eating before you go to sleep is O.k but it can affect your circadian rhythm.. If not then its cool.. You wont out on weight if you have a balanced lifestyle and excercise etc

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      Nino Plevnikposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Are you Breakfast skipper?If you skip breakfast you will compensate for those missed calories by overeating later. You will be extremely hungry, and more likely to snack frequently or eat a bigger lunch. It will become difficult to control how much you eat later. Breakfast skippers often eat more toward the END of the DAY and into the NIGHT! So, when they get up the next morning, they’re not hungry, and they skip breakfast again! With skipping meals you're doing yourself more harm than good, because your blood sugar level drops, and causes you to feel hungry.
      
      In conclusion: eat when is time to eat, 3x a day, or small portions 6 x a day.

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         alqxposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Perhaps. I'm not naturally a breakfast skipper. I know breakfast's important, but I sometimes eat less because the breakfast provided in the army camp I'm in isn't exactly tasteful.

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      Moxylposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Eating right before sleeping is to best way to gain weight ...:p

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   WryLiltposted 14 years ago

   If I can't sleep I'll wake up and have a peanut butter sandwich and a glass of milk - after that I'll fall asleep in 5-10 minutes.

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      klarawieckposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      My muffin-top would become a Goodyear tire if I were to eat that before going to bed. Would be nice.

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   Stacie Lposted 14 years ago

   I sometimes do get up and eat when I can't sleep.it seems to help but I would be a blimp if I did that every night!

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   alternate poetposted 14 years ago

   Here in China eating before bed is not considered a good idea.  The Chinese way is a small breakfast, an early and large lunch, and a reasonable but not large dinner with no snacks after.
   
   Fat Chinese are relatively hard to find.

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      alqxposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Not that hard to find fat Chinese in Singapore, even though people here are weight-conscious. Must be something to do with the lifestyle.

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         alternate poetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Chinese normal diet seems to be extremely healthy, When my Chinese partner moved in with me she gained 4 kilos in about one month until I stopped cooking and she took over and she stopped gaining weight.  The only appreciable difference was that I use butter and twice as much meat as Chinese dishes normally contain.
         
         I would guess the same applies in Singapore unless youare all filthy rich !
         
         In China the place to find fat Chinese is in KFC and McDonalds.

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   wilsonallen01posted 14 years ago

   It is a bad habit to eat food just before the sleep. It is not a sign of healthy living. We have to take food or any eatable thing before 2 - 3 hours of sleep.
   
   Thanks

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      Never_Forgetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Everyone is different. We're all like....little snowflakes ;-) to quote the great Lewis Black

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   alternate poetposted 14 years ago

   In the UK on my way home in the middle of snowstorm I passed a woman in a nightie and bare foot running on the hard shoulder.  I pulled over and asked where she was going, she told me "I am going to London to see my son!"  I offered to take her and got her into the passenger seat with the heater full blast. A quick phone call to the local police got me turned around to deliver her back to the home she had 'escaped' from.  She just said "thank you", jumped out and ran back into the home herself.  I kept a lookout for her every time I went home along that stretch even years later

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   alternate poetposted 14 years ago

   On that note I am off to take the prettiest girl in China to work, grab some noodles and go shopping. Have a good one BP, nice to chat again

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      blondepoetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Wow you go for it Poet.
      You lucky man you....
      Have a terrific time and enjoy your tucker.

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   Bard of Elyposted 14 years ago

   My cat does it all the time and even wakes me up to get her food and then after she's eaten she goes back to sleep! It's no wonder she is fat and I get tired! lol

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   BenjaminBposted 14 years ago

   It has been proven in studies that as long as what you eat before bed is within your normal caloric intake for a day that it will not have any effect on your weight. That being said there are some things it could effect the most prevalent being that your sleep could be restless and dreams may be bad depending on what you've eaten.

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      alqxposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That's interesting. Any examples?

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    khmohsinposted 14 years ago

    Exactly, meal should be taken at least 1-2 hours before sleep. Not only a person can get fat also he could get heart diseases. So avoid that habit if you are doing this.
    One more thing, in dinner, we should take very little food.

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    Thumb86posted 14 years ago

    its not good for you. think about it. by the time you are ready to sleep, your body is tired..your mind/brain are tired. eating and then going to sleep put a strain on your body at the wrong time. It kick starts processes into action that your body doesnt want to have to go through. The food will take longer to digest and some people may have problems sleeping.
    
    I have gastric reflux and eating right before bed is a huge no no for me!

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       Never_Forgetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       You make some good points but do you think humans have always avoided eating before bed? I would assume at least a good amount of humans have been eating before bed for thousands of years and that is probably why some people can handle it and some can't today. Some of our bodies have adapted to it.
       
       For me, I have no choice but to eat before bed. There is no way I can sleep without eating an hour or two before bed MAX. But, I have severe hypoglycemia, and if I don't eat, I wake up in the middle of the night starving and experience nocturnal hypoglycemia. When I wake up in the morning it's even worse. It feels like a hangover.
       
       So even though you are right to some extent, not everyone is the same. Not everyone needs the same diet, not everyone needs the same hours of sleep, not everyone can handle alcohol, not everyone needs to workout to stay slim, not everyone can eat peanuts, not everyone enjoys sex, etc etc etc
       
       There are no "general rules" of health other than breathe and drink water.

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    paulstephenukposted 14 years ago

    I eat like a pig before bed, I'm still pretty skinny. Think it comes down to your metabolism?

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       DoorMattnomoreposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       and what you eat and how much you exercise and maybe...Im just guessing..how old you are. When I was 19 I ate whatever I wanted whenever I wanted...burgers,pizza,nachos, chips and never ever gained weight. Now, Im not 19, and if I even think about a burger I gain two pounds!

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    CMCastroposted 14 years ago

    Comfort Foods such as icecream, milk with strawberry flavor or noodles makes me sleepy!

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    ExpandYourMindposted 14 years ago

    I've always heard that it's better not to eat late in the day since you tend to less active and have less opportunity to burn the calories off.  I know a few folks who won't eat after a certain time of day -- say 7:00 pm.  I try not to consume too murch after 8pm.

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    CYBERSUPEposted 14 years ago

    I have no self control so I eat all day long, including before going to bed. My passion for eating is equal to my passion for cycling which is over 100 miles a week. So you see I do not have a weight problem.

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    bird of happinesposted 14 years ago

    drink more, make sure that the need for lost minerals in your body do not interpeted as eating.

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    timorousposted 14 years ago

    Any knowledgeable dietition will tell you it's a bad idea to eat anything less than 2 hours before bed.
    
    For one thing, that notion about weight loss is pure bunk.  Your body wants to rest and repair itself while you sleep.  If it's being forced to digest food as well, it can't do what it's supposed to do, and you lose valuable restoration and sleep time (even if you aren't aware of it).  So lay off the midnight munchies, and get a good night's sleep.  Pleasant dreams, boys and girls...

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    richtwfposted 14 years ago

    No real harm with a milky drink before sleep but would be very wise to stay away from heavy meals just before going to bed for reasons highlighted in previous post.

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       alternate poetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Here in China they generally would disagree about the milky drink before bed, I had to drop that occasional habit when my cute soft partner with the iron fist moved into my life.  Milk in general is taken in small doses and not too often - the western idea of a pinta milk a day and sweetened flavoured hot milk before bed comes directly from the milk marketting board and nowhere else.  If a Chinese family wants a fat kid (which some do) they feed the kid milk morning and night, works instantly and obviously.
       
       Every Chinese I know considers breakfast the most important meal with a big lunch and modest supper followed by some activity like a walk around the block. No foods or snacks after around 7 in the evening normally, which is about three and a half hours before bed.

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