So I made this big plan to help me reach my goals and stay focused this week, and part of it was to try and eat dinner earlier. This wasn't based on any research I've done, just what I've "heard" around the net. I have a late schedule, generally sleeping from 1 or 2am, and waking around 9 or 9:30. Dinner usually happens anywhere from 8-10pm. So, I've been feeling a little guilty, and wondering what affect this may actually be having on my weight.
In my research, most articles actually said that the time of eating didn't matter, a calorie is a calorie. I did find one article that was really interesting though! Here's the highlight:
"During the day, your brain and muscles use some of the calories you eat for fuel, and the rest gets stored in the liver in the form of glycogen. At night, your body converts that glycogen into glucose and releases it into your bloodstream to keep your blood-sugar levels steady while you sleep. Once the stored glycogen is gone, your liver starts burning fat cells for energy. Yes, you read that right, you burn fat while you sleep."
So, if you eat a late meal, at midnight, and then wake up to eat breakfast at 7, you're missing out on a chance to burn fat reserves while you sleep. I think this is also why you lose weight more efficiently if you get ENOUGH sleep, and this probably also helps to explain why you weigh less in the morning!
Here's the link:
http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20602924,00.html
I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences with this!
4/22 UPDATE: Just as an add on, this morning I was woken up after 6 hours of sleep, and my weight was the same as when I went to bed. Somehow, I was able to get back to sleep, and overslept! I slept 3 more hours! When I woke up the second time, I weighed 1lb less! Perhaps there's something to this sleep/fat burning thing?