Does Late Night Eating Cause Weight Gain?

Posted on August 20, 2007

If you are satisfied with your hunger at dinner, then eating in late nights is not just because you are hungry. It may be a result of habit, boredom, stress, or fatigue after working hard in daytime. Late night eating usually leads to overeating, and this can also cause problems in your weight-loss diet.

Late-night eating is a habit for many people. People like it because there is no one is around to see what they eat and it’s the best time to enjoy favorite foods. If you want to lose weight permanently then you have to leave this habit. It you are eating at all times of the day, your body is getting more calories. And, if you’re not expending much energy you will gain weight.

Tips for Avoiding the Habit of Late Night Eating

You have to understand the fact that it is not only the time you eat that causes weight gain, but also what type of foods you like to eat late at night. Generally the favorite foods for late night eating include: ice cream, potato chips, chocolate, desserts, etc. Nighttime is the most sedentary time of the day, when your calorie needs are minimal. And, especially eating after dinner causes weight gain.

The best solution to stop this habit is to eat three square meals a day and avoid between-meal eating. Because this is not an easy task to do, here we give the tips to help you get out of the habit of late night eating.

Try your level best not to eat late in the day or after dinner.
You can distract yourself by following simple tips like taking your dog for a walk, spending time reading a good book, or relaxing in a hot bath.
You can satisfy your hunger with low calorie alternatives like herbal tea, handful of vegetables, or a piece of fruit.
Its better to increase the fiber content in your diet, especially at dinner. Adding beans or whole grains makes you feel stomach full and you won’t get hunger at late nights.
Increase the protein content in your dinner. Research findings suggest that proteins have power to keep hunger at bay.
Limit your eating to the kitchen or dining room. Eat only while sitting down at the dining table. This helps you avoid the habit of ‘eating more’ in front of the television.
Eat slowly and enjoy the taste of your food.
Take breakfast everyday. People who don’t take breakfast are more likely to eat more calorie-laden foods.
Keep a diet diary. It is your friend in weight loss programme. It helps you keep track your diet schedule and keeps you on target with your balanced diet plan.
Drink more water to stay hydrated and not get hunger at irregular timings.

Also Remember These Things

You have to consider one important thing. You should not cut your calorie intake so low that you get hunger at night. Instead you may have to increase your daytime calories a bit to avoid late-night hunger. But when you plan to make a new eating plan, you have to be sure that the reason for your late night eating is really hunger, not boredom or just habit.

The successful dieters try to eat three meals a day and control their temptation to eat between meals and after dinner. Following a regular meal routine is the best way to stop the habit of late-night eating.

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Does Late Night Eating Cause Weight Gain?

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