Research Corner - Q&A Carbs at Night by Scott Pullen | Date Released : 29 Aug 2001 0 comments Print Close Question: Will eating past 7 p.m., especially carbohydrates, result in weight gain? Answer: The body does not have an enzyme with a watch that after 7 p.m. preferentially stores items, especially carbohydrate, as fat. Most people tend to eat improperly during the day, often skipping meals. The lack of food during the day is more than made up for when we are at home; surrounded by the foods we love. Add in a little T.V. food and a late night snack, and it is easy to see why night eating is a problem for most. The problem is not with the time on the clock, but with the entire eating pattern. All of us have a certain number of calories we can consume in a day without gaining weight. The goal is to spread these calories throughout the day, preventing hunger, cravings and lack of energy so that we may feel our best and stick to a proper eating plan. If you require 3000 calories a day to maintain your weight, but you only eat 2000…. set your alarm, get up at 3am in the morning, eat a bowl of cereal (gasp!), and go back to bed. If the calories were not greater than 3000, there is nothing left to store as fat long term (fat storage always occurs temporarily after a meal). Back to top About the author: Scott Pullen Being a natural bodybuilder made Scott Pullen learn and apply nutrition, exercise and supplementation in a way many may never need to, but it also fueled a career in the fitness industry that has spanned over 20 years. Scott left an early career path in clinical/public health nutrition to focus on those seeking health promotion and fitness. He has developed and implemented individual training programs for thousands of clients as a trainer and educated tens of thousands of fitness enthusiasts working as an educator for Apex Fitness, dotFIT LLC and as a Master Instructor for NASM since 1997. Scott brings to the fitness industry a unique blend of academic and practical experience, having worked in virtually every capacity in the health club environment. In addition, Scott was chosen as the team nutrition consultant for the New York Yankees in 2007. Scott’s true passion is presenting and educating, adding humor and real life application to his presentations. Scott has a BS in Human Nutrition & Dietetics and his MS in Exercise Science and Health Promotion, with an emphasis on rehab science. Additionally, he has his NASM CPT, CES and PES. Full Author Details Related content Content from Scott Pullen The Myth of Carbohydrates Scott Pullen | Articles Vegetarian Muscle Building Scott Pullen | Articles Herbs - Inherent Risks and Apparent Benefits Scott Pullen | Articles Weight Loss Physiology Scott Pullen | Articles Tribulus Terrestris and Ginkgo Biloba Scott Pullen | Articles Weight Loss - Overeating or Poor Metabolism? Scott Pullen | Articles Glycemic Index Scott Pullen | Articles Overweight Teens Scott Pullen | Articles Hyponatremia and Fitness Scott Pullen | Articles L-Glutamine Scott Pullen | Articles Diet for Menopause and Hormonal Problems Scott Pullen | Articles Protein Intake for Hypertrophy Scott Pullen | Articles Apple Cider Vinegar Scott Pullen | Articles Endometriosis Scott Pullen | Articles Kynoselen Supplement Scott Pullen | Articles Exercise, Free Radicals and Antioxidants Scott Pullen | Articles Steroid Withdrawal Scott Pullen | Articles Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfate Scott Pullen | Articles Birth Control and Weight Gain Scott Pullen | Articles Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Scott Pullen | Articles Niacin Scott Pullen | Articles Female Training: Toning Issues Scott Pullen | Articles Glucosamine and Arthritis Scott Pullen | Articles Carbs at Night Scott Pullen | Articles The Myth of Carbohydrates Scott Pullen | Articles Why Does My Client Gain Weight on 1000 Calories a Day Scott Pullen | Articles The Truth About Weight Loss Scott Pullen | Articles Insulin Resistance and Obesity: Are Carbs the Culprit? Scott Pullen | Articles Aspartame Scott Pullen | Articles Please login to leave a comment Comments (0) Back to top