Let’s admit it. We have all gone through this before. You are laying down on the sofa watching your favourite T.V. show, but suddenly, you are craving for snacks. You try to resist, but the food is only steps away from your reach! The next moment, you are seen with a tub of ice cream in your hands.
I admit that I enjoy late night snacking and that I do it all the time. Whenever I watch Korean dramas, I am tempted to cook some spicy ramen and slurp away. However, I have recently been putting in the effort to resist eating past midnight, yet I cannot help but wonder, “Do I need to?”
According to the U.S Department of Agriculture’s Weight Control Information Network, it does not matter what time of the day you eat. Rather, the number of calories you consume and how much physical activity you get are the cause of your weight gain or loss. It depends on the individual so it is important to understand the behaviour as well as the science of fat loss and muscle gain.
The main reason as to why people believe that late night eating causes weight gain is because they are consuming foods out of boredom instead of hunger. Our desire to eat is more so a craving, therefore making us less vigilant of our caloric intake.
So, what are ways to prevent this? It is important to evaluate whether or not we are actually hungry. The next time you are about to snack, H.A.L.T. and ask yourself if you are hungry. It is highly possible you are eating out of Habit, or because you are feeling Anxious, Lonely, or Tired. So, if you recognize that you are eating for non-hunger reasons as such, try reconsidering it!
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