Halting late night snacks could be the key to breaking your stall

#1

N=1 here, but I’m sure this applies to many others.

I’ve had the habit of waking up between 12am-2am and eating a snack, which could range anywhere from 100-400ish calories. Although I include those calories for the day and exercise; I typically find that when weigh myself in the morning, the weight loss is either negligible or I have a small gain.

Yet, when I don’t eat a late night snack (for example I ate at 6pm yesterday and fast until the next day) my weight loss is usually 1-2lbs at minimum when weighing the next morning.

Scientifically speaking, this could be due to midnight snacking spiking insulin, water retention, in addition to metabolism slowing down during sleeping which could be resulting in fat storage.

I’m almost certain that if you’re a midnight snacker and you’ve been at a stall or slow loss, this could be the key to moving that scale :wink:

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #2

Thanks for pointing this out.

I have read that it is important to stop eating at least four hours before bedtime. I don’t understand exactly why, though I know it has something to do with the body’s pattern of insulin secretion. I’m sure that your discovery is part of it, too.

(Jennibc) #3

Whenever you eat anything, including a small snack, you raise insulin. If you have increased insulin in your system, your body can’t access fat stores. I found the book “The Obesity Code” to be very enlightening with regards to explaining the science behind it. It’s better to eat larger, satisfying meals and go four to five hours without eating again and not eating for at least 12 hours at night time so that you insulin levels drop during those periods.

(Scott) #4

I was having a snacking problem at about 10:00 am each morning consuming about two handfuls of macadamia nuts but have stopped this week. Okay I didn’t stop but I ran out of them. Anyway no snacking this week. Not only have I lost any weight gained over the bachelor party weekend trip but today I showed an over three pound loss from the previous day. I was so happy that I went out for a run this morning.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #5

Eating a bit more for breakfast might help with the urge to snack. Or snake. :rofl:

(Scott) #6

I still have two eggs and bacon or sausage for breakfast but cut the extra meat helping, cheese, HWC and MCT oil out. It did break a three month stall so I am just going to ride it out for awhile to see what happens. I think the running makes the hunger a bit worse. I am trying the more water and a pinch of salt thing to resist. I just peeked and the pork rinds are screaming “eat me”.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #7

As well they should! :pig: :rofl:

(RossanaF) #8

Happy to see this post, After loosing 14 lbs in December and none since Jan 4th, I see I have to stop eating late at night. I want to try fasting for the first time on Monday, see if I can make this stall go away and start loosing again. I just received my Keto-mojo today. I promised myself to loose 50 lbs this year, not going so well…Love this forum! have read many inspiring posts!

(Carl Keller) #9

I think if were designed to eat at night, we’d have huge eyes that were capable of seeing in the dark and our other senses wouldn’t be as dull as they are.