best time to eat

[scorpio17]

i want to start going to the gym after work so should get there about 6.30 but dont want to eat to late in the evening, i intend to spend about hour and half at the gym, so by time i have got home and cooked will be pretty late, any ideas folks.

[4getmenot]

You do know that its a myth that you shouldnt eat late at night.

[spaced]

try and have a banana before going to the gym. This will give you some energy and something to keep you mind off food while you train. When you get in late have some fresh veg, no pasta, bread as these are heavy foods. Have some veg which is healthly, light and easily digested. The last thing you want is for food to rest on your stomach whilst you in bed.

Whatever you do do make the mistake i did once before kung fu, and have a full blown dinner. I was puking for the whole night after class!

[4getmenot]

Your body doesn't really recognise what time of day it is. It is a little bit of a myth.
I think it dates back to when people started taking an interest in diets. People are more likely to eat fatty snacks at night when they are watching television. In order to try to avoid that, they put restrictions on when they should eat.
Certainly, if you need to eat after 6pm or 8pm it is probably healthier to sit down and have a meal. Otherwise, you risk grazing on fatty foods.

[wilsarnie]

Actually, the real reason why people tell you not to eat late at night is because when you sleep your body and its functions slow down.

If you've eaten a full meal before you go to bed the stomach cannot properly digest what you've eaten and may actually result in a restless night sleep-wise.

This escalated into not eating at night for fear of not processing foods properly, thinking that spare carbohydrate then gets turned into fat and hey presto, love handles!

As spaced says try and eat easily digestable foods, not ones that'll have your stomach gurgling!

4getmenot is referring to a study and results found out a couple of years ago;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3263249.stm

Good luck anyway, the benefits at the gym far outweight the worries of eating late!!

[eash]

Have a big lunch like jacket potato or something and then as spaced said a banana before going to the gym and a snack when you get home.

[guinnessman]

Do a big bowl of spag bol or chilli at the weekend and freeze it in 1 serving containers, then when you get in from the gym you can just nuke it.