If you do not know how to lose weight and have been looking for advice, you may have came across a theory that you cannot eat carbohydrates late at night. Today's post is going to look at this common myth and reveal why it is not strictly true.
Let's face it, there is an overwhelming amount of contradicting information in the fitness industry. Everywhere you turn there are people trying to out-yell each other with their latest tips. More often than not, this leads many regular people to be scared of trying to build a better body.
However, despite the big strides we have made in scientific research over the last two decades, the basic five principles of losing weight remain largely the same.
The problem for many people is that there is so much hype out there from companies trying to get you to purchase their products and diet plans, they find it hard to discover the basic, proven facts.
Over the last five years it has become a popular belief that eating carbohydrates late at night will cause your body to store more fat. Is this true? Does your body actually know what time it is when you eat your meals?
Of course not. This myth is a generalization which has been taken slightly out of context and, as a net result, has misled a whole generation of dieters into believing they must starve their body after a certain time of day even if they are hungry.
Let's take a look at the actual research in this area.
In a series of tests, scientists allowed two separate groups of people to consume the same amount of carbohydrates throughout a 24 hour period. The only difference being, however, that the group of people who ate their carb intake around physical activity stored considerably less fat.
So why does this myth exist?
Usually this is the type of headline you would see written on a celebrity gossip magazine, promising quick results for minimal effort. The reason they use such a general term is because their publication is mainly aimed at individuals who work 9-5 jobs and don't exercise regularly.
They use a generalization to appeal to the majority of their readers. The fact is, however, not everybody fits that stereotype. Your body does not care what time of day it is. If you work a 12 hour shift at your job you cannot be expected to go home and skip a meal because you missed your bus and didn't get in the house until after 9 o' clock...
The actual research doesn't state that it is bad to eat carbohydrates late at night, it states that it is bad to eat carbs while you are in a long period of inactivity. Depending upon your individual lifestyle, that could occur at any point in your day.
So how do you use this to your advantage?
Figure out which point of the day tends to be your busiest period and make sure you fit your biggest intake of carbohydrates around this period. Your body will be able to use the fuel, rather than simply storing it as fat. This can also be applied to those gym members trying to figure out how to build muscle, as it is one of the main factors in muscular hypertrophy.
Ultimately, your muscles cannot see the clock and don't recognize the theme tune to your favorite soap opera. They cannot tell what time of day it is and they do not care. If you are trying to figure out how to lose weight and were feeling a little confused about this myth, you now know the scientific facts behind it and why it doesn't apply to everybody.
Let's face it, there is an overwhelming amount of contradicting information in the fitness industry. Everywhere you turn there are people trying to out-yell each other with their latest tips. More often than not, this leads many regular people to be scared of trying to build a better body.
However, despite the big strides we have made in scientific research over the last two decades, the basic five principles of losing weight remain largely the same.
The problem for many people is that there is so much hype out there from companies trying to get you to purchase their products and diet plans, they find it hard to discover the basic, proven facts.
Over the last five years it has become a popular belief that eating carbohydrates late at night will cause your body to store more fat. Is this true? Does your body actually know what time it is when you eat your meals?
Of course not. This myth is a generalization which has been taken slightly out of context and, as a net result, has misled a whole generation of dieters into believing they must starve their body after a certain time of day even if they are hungry.
Let's take a look at the actual research in this area.
In a series of tests, scientists allowed two separate groups of people to consume the same amount of carbohydrates throughout a 24 hour period. The only difference being, however, that the group of people who ate their carb intake around physical activity stored considerably less fat.
So why does this myth exist?
Usually this is the type of headline you would see written on a celebrity gossip magazine, promising quick results for minimal effort. The reason they use such a general term is because their publication is mainly aimed at individuals who work 9-5 jobs and don't exercise regularly.
They use a generalization to appeal to the majority of their readers. The fact is, however, not everybody fits that stereotype. Your body does not care what time of day it is. If you work a 12 hour shift at your job you cannot be expected to go home and skip a meal because you missed your bus and didn't get in the house until after 9 o' clock...
The actual research doesn't state that it is bad to eat carbohydrates late at night, it states that it is bad to eat carbs while you are in a long period of inactivity. Depending upon your individual lifestyle, that could occur at any point in your day.
So how do you use this to your advantage?
Figure out which point of the day tends to be your busiest period and make sure you fit your biggest intake of carbohydrates around this period. Your body will be able to use the fuel, rather than simply storing it as fat. This can also be applied to those gym members trying to figure out how to build muscle, as it is one of the main factors in muscular hypertrophy.
Ultimately, your muscles cannot see the clock and don't recognize the theme tune to your favorite soap opera. They cannot tell what time of day it is and they do not care. If you are trying to figure out how to lose weight and were feeling a little confused about this myth, you now know the scientific facts behind it and why it doesn't apply to everybody.
About the Author:
About today's writer: Russ Howe PTI is the UK's premier personal trainer. If you need to learn how to build muscle or how to lose weight our easy video guides will help you achieve more from your training.
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