Carbs before bedtime, truth or myth?

the groutch

is there much truth to the advice that you shouldnt eat carbs before bedtime?
I often walk (1/2 hour+) home late in the evenings and need a carb/sugar blast to recover, and to avoid getting too hungry during the night, but does it really get stored as fat because you burn less calories while you sleep?

saa

the groutch wrote: »

is there much truth to the advice that you shouldnt eat carbs before bedtime?
I often walk (1/2 hour+) home late in the evenings and need a carb/sugar blast to recover, and to avoid getting too hungry during the night, but does it really get stored as fat because you burn less calories while you sleep?

Maybe its one of those cases where you're really thirsty and think you're hungry?
Woah there not all carbs were created equally I know if you're worried about weight gain simple carbs will definitely be stored more than complex, now thats where my certainty ends as the eating past a certain hour is disputed but right before bed I'd imagine that would get stored as the carbs/sugars are not used slowly and really not used at all, your body deals with getting through the night without a huge amount of energy quite well.

Its best to eat protein to recovery so maybe a mix or something light only if your issue is not being able to sleep because of hunger pains, maybe you're not eating enough earlier in the day or lacking in nutrience sorry if im not the best help but I have exercised late at night for years and never had issues with hunger maybe its a mental thing,

torn on this one, I think if you are eating right during the day a small portion veg or protein and a large amount of water would stop hunger pains, aid in muscle recovery and I don't see how it would ruin your efforts.

Ah please no one get mad at me I haven't quite decided what I think of the food later thing myself.

alexsmith

its a myth.but i only eat carbs around my workouts becuase its more beneficial

saa

alexsmith wrote: »

its a myth.but i only eat carbs around my workouts becuase its more beneficial

Wait are you bulking up? See because you're working out OP im not really that worried about the time you're eating its really the nutritional value and portion but personally I work out for an hour and don't eat quick release energy foods that some carbs are because I've only done a normal workout I haven't burned that many calories, you're only worried about hunger pains, eat a little to with that, eat enough to recover but personally I think there are better foods nutritionally than carby/sugar foods, lots of carbs in foods you wouldnt expect that are good for you.

Gummy Panda

It's a myth. Overall calories matter

metamorphosis

Yup - myth.

I'd also question the 'need' to have carb/sugar as you say after a 30min walk? Any good decent fuel will do, doesn't have to be sugar/carb but can be too if that's what you want

Transform

Myth and you got to earn your carbs or just be really feckin lean in the first place

--Kaiser--

the groutch wrote: »

is there much truth to the advice that you shouldnt eat carbs before bedtime?
I often walk (1/2 hour+) home late in the evenings and need a carb/sugar blast to recover, and to avoid getting too hungry during the night, but does it really get stored as fat because you burn less calories while you sleep?

The eating before bedtime thing is a myth, however, by not eating before bedtime you could be compressing your eating window, therefore fasting longer than usual. Intermittant fasting can have many benefits like weight loss, increased insulin sensitivity etc...

El_Dangeroso

Yep myth, in fact the opposite may be true!

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21475137

The difference is minor, but I eat my carbs with dinner, makes it easier to fall asleep too. Protein wakes me up and carbs make me sleepy.

huskerdu

Its a myth, but for a lot of people, who are finding it hard to loss weight, eating late at night can be a habit that is hard to break, so can contribute to over-eating.

I agree with the poster who suggested making sure that you drink loads of water before eating anything.

If you are genuinely hungry after your walk, have something nutricious and filling like an apple or oatcakes. Your body will readjust to this routine.

Mellor

Carbs before bed becoming fat is a myth.

But so is the idea that you need carbs to "recover".
You are walking for 30 minutes not running a marathon. Its prob in your head.
Depending on what your post walk snack is, you'd probably be better off not walking and not eating.