Especially if you’re a figure-conscious individual and you are perpetually checking out weight loss tips and tricks on the internet, it’s very much likely that you have time and again came across the 6 PM rule — you know, that notion that eating anything after 6 PM is going to cause excess pounds to show up.
This article will answer that pressing question you probably have in your mind right now: will you gain unwanted weight if you eat after 6 PM?
First things first: who is home to have dinner before 6 PM?
Especially if your everyday schedule is a hectic one, you may have a hard time sticking to the 6 PM rule. There’s no need for you to say bye-bye to your dream of having a nicer figure because eating past 6 PM won’t really make you gain excess pounds. Well, it all depends on the food you go for.
Fitness experts confirm that calories obtained beyond 6 PM won’t instantly turn into fat cells — calories that you consume before and after 6 PM will be treated equally by your body, which means that it will use them as fuel for your cells.
The real enemy is excess calories and not the time you consume calories.
It’s no secret that unused calories will simply be converted into fatty deposits, serving as fuel reserves that you may use in the future should you fail to provide your body with all the fuel it needs in order to carry out various processes and also to allow you to perform all kinds of everyday mental and physical tasks.
Late-night snacking is something that clearly defies the 6 PM rule. Does this mean that you will wind up obese if you cannot avoid late-night snacking? Well, it depends.
If you are fond of consuming a couple of donuts, a massive slice of leftover pizza or a big bag of chips before taking a trip to dreamland, it’s very much likely for you to gain excess weight. However, there is probably no need for you to worry about your figure if you prefer to snack on a medium-sized banana, a small piece of cheese or a few carrot sticks.
Aside from unnecessary gaining of weight, eating the wrong kinds of food late at night, which clearly does not follow the 6 PM rule, can trigger acid reflux. It’s completely normal for acid reflux sufferers to have an increased attack risk at bedtime, and consuming trigger foods before hopping into bed can certainly make matters worse in the form of a terrible heartburn which is a very common acid reflux symptom.
Having a nasty case of heartburn can certainly keep you from getting a good night’s sleep, and it’s no secret that failure to enjoy 7 to 9 hours of restorative sleep can have all kinds of unfavorable effects on the mind and body.
And did you know that being sleep deprived can lead to unwanted gaining of weight?
There is really no need to steer clear of food after 6 PM, but it’s definitely a good idea to monitor what you eat at night in order to fend off excess pounds. Certainly, you should turn your back on unhealthy foods and excessive eating late at night if you want to dodge not only a massive waistline but also acid reflux.
