Will Eating Late Night Carbs Cause You To Put On Weight?

By Russ Howe


If you have asked any fit friend for tips on how to lose weight recently you might have heard them saying that you shouldn't eat any carbohydrates after 7 o'clock. Today we are going to delve into this theory and reveal the simple truths behind this commonly misunderstood gym myth.

Let's face it, there is an overwhelming amount of contradicting information in the fitness industry. Everywhere you turn there are people trying to out-yell each other with their latest tips. More often than not, this leads many regular people to be scared of trying to build a better body.

Despite all of the different approaches and the massive confusion out there, the basic principles of a successful diet are the same as they were two decades ago.

In a business with so many supplements and workout plans on the market, it is easy to see why people get lost so frequently. Everybody claims to have 'the big secret formula', of course.

Over the last five years it has become a popular belief that eating carbohydrates late at night will cause your body to store more fat. Is this true? Does your body actually know what time it is when you eat your meals?

Of course not. This myth is a generalization which has been taken slightly out of context and, as a net result, has misled a whole generation of dieters into believing they must starve their body after a certain time of day even if they are hungry.

Let's take a look at the actual research in this area.

Scientific studies have shown us that individuals who consume a large intake of carbohydrates while in a sedentary state tend to store more fat than individuals who ate their carbohydrates around periods of exercise or other physical activity.

But what does the science actually mean for you?

The 'no carbs after 7 pm' fascination was first created by gossip magazines directing readers to the latest quick fix method to lose fat. Their core audience, of course, are secretaries and office workers. The majority of that audience doesn't exercise regularly, hence looking for a quick fix solution to their fitness problems. They also tend to work 9-5 jobs.

This is how they were able to put an actual time on the moment you should stop eating carbohydrates. This stereotype of somebody working in an office all day, not exercising regularly and then being completely inactive after 7 o'clock each night simply doesn't fit everybody.

The actual research doesn't state that it is bad to eat carbohydrates late at night, it states that it is bad to eat carbs while you are in a long period of inactivity. Depending upon your individual lifestyle, that could occur at any point in your day.

So how do you use this to your advantage?

Figure out which point of the day tends to be your busiest period and make sure you fit your biggest intake of carbohydrates around this period. Your body will be able to use the fuel, rather than simply storing it as fat. This can also be applied to those gym members trying to figure out how to build muscle, as it is one of the main factors in muscular hypertrophy.

This myth is very common throughout the world now. Almost everybody who wants to know how to lose weight has encountered somebody giving them instructions on never to eat carbs after a certain time of day. Now you know the facts, you will be able to structure your nutrition far more effectively throughout your day.




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