Does eating at night make you gain weight?

Are big dinners and night snacks getting in the way of getting the body you want?  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Hey there, Many people believe their metabolism slows down as twilight approaches and thus calories eaten at night are inherently more fattening. This isn’t true. Your metabolism works at more or less the same rate at all times of the day, including in the evening before bed and even while you're sleeping. What's more, even if your metabolic rate did decline after the sun sets, eating food at night wouldn't magically make you fatter—you'd still have to maintain a calorie surplus to gain weight. This means that so long as your calorie intake more or less matched your expenditure over time, you'd see no appreciable change in your weight regardless of metabolic activity and meal timing. So, eating at night doesn't directly cause weight gain. Full stop. But can it lead to fat gain indirectly by increasing the chances of overeating? Yes and no. Studies show that some people experience less hunger and more satiety (fullness) when they start their day with a big breakfast (and end with a small dinner), and this helps with dietary compliance. Other people, however, experience the opposite—more satisfaction and less hunger and cravings with a small or no breakfast and larger meals later in the day (intermittent fasting is often popular with these types). Others still notice no appreciable difference either way (me). The lesson here is simple, then: experiment with meal volume, composition, and timing and find a formula that works best for you. For me, it’s a few smaller (high-protein) meals throughout the day and a bigger dinner followed by a 9 PM snack. Remember: So long as you hit your calories and macros every day and eat plenty of nutritious foods, you're doing the most important things for improving your body composition and health right. Think of meal timing as a tool to help you better accomplish those targets (as opposed to a non-negotiable element of dieting). Happy dining. :-) Mike P.S. Want some help building your best body ever? Here are 4 ways I can assist whenever you’re ready: ⇒ 1) Want to be your own coach? Read one of my bestselling books for [men]( and [women](. ⇒ 2) Want personalized help? Check out my [custom meal plan]( and [VIP one-on-one coaching]( services. ⇒ 3) Want an easy boost? Add a couple of my [science-based supplements]( to your regimen, like a [protein powder]( [pre-workout]( or [fat burner]( (and save 20% on your first order with code LEGION20). (Looking for something else? [Fish oil]( [Multivitamin]( [Post-workout]( We’ve got it all, frando. Check out everything [here]( ⇒ 4) Want a free workout app? Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced weightlifter, [Stacked]( can help you gain muscle and strength faster. And if none of that tickles your neurons, you might like all the simple, practical, and evidence-based teachings over at my [blog]( [podcast]( [YouTube channel]( and [Instagram](. 🏆 Want to earn cash back on every purchase you make? [Click here to learn how!]( Your Legion rewards points balance: [Click here to redeem your points for discounts]( Thank you for supporting Legion! We founded Legion to create healthy, high-quality sports supplements based on sound science, and to sell them honestly and at a fair price. That’s why we're committed to creating supplement formulations that are 100% backed by peer-reviewed scientific research, to using education and not hoopla to promote them, and to providing a fantastic value and customer experience. Emails are a great way for us to connect with our fans and customers, offer discounts, and share educational articles, podcasts, and videos, as well as what's new and exciting here at Legion. If you want to update your preferences, click here: [Manage Preferences]( If you would like to unsubscribe, click here: [Unsubscribe](. From everyone here at Legion, thanks for your support! Legion Athletics 1255 Cleveland St. Floor 4 Clearwater, FL 33755 ‌