I'm still getting the hang of LCE, and I'm wondering if someone can offer me some advice and suggestions:
I get off work at 6pm and with Miami traffic, I don't get home until 7. After feeding and walking the dog, changing out of the "monkey suit", and cooking I am not eating dinner until around 8 or 8:30 at night. I go bed around 11:30pm. Am I eating too late? My typical menu is meat, a salad and a cup of some other low carb veggie with butter and salt. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

Cherub
304/288/160

No, 8:30 should be fine.

Why do you ask?

travellost-51 yrs Young
1/20/03 195/145 first time
1/5/04 second time
150/147/135
"I am allergic to carbs they make me break out in fat"

Travellost, I love your signature!
I'm asking about time because I've seen a few posts that suggest that "eating late" is a no-no. I'm losing fine, I think, but I'm about to transition into OWL and I'm a little nervous that when I start adding carbs the weight will stall, especially by me eating late. I'm just wondering if I should eat a lighter dinner and a heavier lunch, maybe. Though I don't know if I could add anymore to my lunch, it already satisfies nicely. Anyway, and advice or tips are much appreciated!

Cherub
304/288/160
(you guys don't know how liberating it is NOT to lie about my weight!! )

I don't know. If you haven't had any problems so far, you should be OK. You are allowing about 3 hours between mealtime and bedtime, and that should be fine. Do you feel stuffed when you get in bed? Are you having triuble sleeping because your full?

Jen
175/129/120

Jen, no to both questions. The thing is, I'm usually not even that hungry because lunch (and all that friggin' water!) usually lasts me for several hours. I just eat becuase I don't want to "under"-eat. Isn't that funny--I never thought I'd be worried about undereating!!!

Everybody's situation is different. There is no right way or right time because of the fast pace of life and the different shifts people work.
For me I have a cut off time at night because that is a time I like to eat. I know that food in my stomach has to be digested before the fat in my cells receive attention. Food is fuel. I don't want to stoke my furnace before sleeping. I want my fat cells to be furnishing the fuel my body needs at night to dream and breathe, ect.. Not everyone cares how fast they lose their weight; however, I do so I Have a cut off time and I have seen a faster weight loss, I feel better in the morning, I also want to eat breakfast.... THis is just my opinion...

Kerry, what's your cut-off time?

Hmmm... I prefer to eat dinner early, but I'm not that rigid about it. It's 8:14pm here, and I still haven't figured out what I'm going to do for dinner.

I try to avoid late night snacks, just before bed. But if I'm HUNGRY, all bets are off. I don't go to bed hungry.

**************
"Sometimes I think you have to march right in and demand your rights, even if you don't know what your rights are, or who the person is you're talking to. Then on the way out, slam the door."

Me neither Doc!!! If I'm hungry, I eat.

Barb - 30 lbs gone FOREVER!
www.iwsgroupinc.com - website design and development


Atkins-3/14/03
174/144/135 5'2"
"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
Knowledge is POWER

I think this is certainly a YMMV area for most of us. If you don't sleep well after eating too late OR need a snack in order to sleep well then do what is best for you.

Connie

[img]//www.lowcarbeating.com/lcesupporter.gif[/img]

Ditto about not going to bed hungry. I've heard that you should leave at least 3 hours between dinner and bedtime but that doesn't mean you can't grab a small snack. I find something like almonds or fresh coconut or cheese before bed if I'm hungry really helps me sleep.

Rob
310/234.5/180

Me, a skeptic? I trust you have proof.

This, for me, is a complicated issue

I don't (generally) eat after dinner. Having said that I also don't go to bed hungry so on rare occasions I have a small snack of cheese just to take the edge of any hunger I may be feeling.

The problem for me is that this time of day was a huge binge time for me in my previous life! I ate after dinner almost every night and once I started eating I couldn't stop. It used to take a huge effort to noteat in the evening.

As a result I often find it hard to tell if I am actually hungry or if this is a craving/throwback to older habits. I find the best thing I can do for myself is have a cup of tea with Splenda. This satisfies my urge to have something, gives me something sweet (with very little carbs and calories) and defines whether I was actually hungry or not.

Just my 2 cents

Started Atkins 10/27/03
182/155/142

My cut off time is 7pm.

I agree w/GM. I too was/am a binge eater at night. I don't trust myself to keep eating after I've had my evening meal. I have also seen the scale move significantly since I've had a cut off time. So for me this is working.

Everyone has to do what works for them.

Thanks, All. I've decided that if my schedule doesn't permit me to have a full dinner by 8:30, I will have a light snack before bed. Something like cheese or celery and cream cheese. And of course, water and more water!
I'll see how that goes.

I have been doing this WOE since august. I get home from work about 6:15-6:30 sometimes later if I have to run an errand or go to store. Most of the time my DH cooks, dinner is usually ready to eat by 7-7:30. However if I have to cook, I sit and relax for about 1/2 hour before starting dinner and then dinner isn't done till 8-8:30. I have lost 35 lbs eating this way. I think it is your decision. Sometimes I will snack on something low carb before bed (usually 11-12pm) sometimes I don't. I get up early and do my swims (6am) so I have a long day and need to eat my three days.

http://www.youravon.com/cnorulak

carolyn in texas
started 8/11/03
327/292/150