Late Night Eating, Within Your Calories. Good? or Bad?

So, Ive been finding it hard sometimes to eat all my 1200-1400 calories a day before 7-8pm.

I was just wondering if its still okay to eat past those times if its within your calories for the day?

Alot of people (and websites) say to stop eating about 3 hours before bed, I usually go to bed around 1030-11pm (which is why i stop eating around 7-8)

But sometimes I just dont seem to eat all my calories by that time

would it make weightloss harder if i decided I wanted a 9-10pm snack?? or add any additional bellyfat?

Ultimately, I think it is calories eaten versus calories burned.  Eating at night is fine, as long as you eat during the day as well.

Its hard for me to eat my whole calorie amount early in the day as well - I normally have some fresh or freeze dried fruit about 4 hours before bed, and a casein-based protein shake (about 300 cals) 1 hour before bed. I've been losing weight pretty steadily with that. I'd heard that its better to eat protein at night, if you're eating anything, because it slows the breakdown of muscles during the night while still letting your body burn fat.

I should probably invest in some protein powder, I didnt know that. Ive been trying to eat a fruit instead of a cookie (although your not supposed to eat fruit later at night because of the natural sugar) but i figured its better then a cookie with refined sugar!!

thanks for the help guys :)   now I wont feel so guilty when I eat later.

Not eating before bed is a dieting myth.  You will burn the same amount of calories over the long term.

What kisteel said.  And the idea that eating late at night would help add to belly fat specifically is also something you need to throw out the window.  Your body puts on and takes off fat as it wants to, not because of what time of day you eat or anything like that.

I don't usually eat dinner until 8:30 or 9 most nights (I get home at 7:30) and I'm in bed by 10-ish and I'm steadily losing... as long as it's in your calories, then it's in your calories.

Thanks for all the input everyone, I've actually been wondering the same thing!

I think some people have difficulty sleeping if they eat too close to bed time.  I'm definitely not one of those people and like you, sometimes find it easier to get all my calories in if I space them out and end up eating later at night.  It's never had any negative impact  to my weight loss or maintenance so I'm going to keep doing it

It's been great for me! I used to binge at night, so if I save my favourite meal for the evening I'm golden. Eating late has been my saving grace...I'm down 74 lbs this way so it must be working 

Great question! I have been wondering this, too. I work in the car business, and by the time I get home from work and the gym it is 10pm, and I usually eat tuna and cottage cheese...some kind of protein.  But that was because of somethign I heard about no carbs after 6pm, word of mouth.

I agree it's a myth. 

I try to keep my late night snacking light -- meaning not greasy or high in fat.  But that is just because I have foudn that if I eat a "heavy" meal late at night I often have disturbing dreams and don't sleep well. 

I figured it would be okay as long as its within your calories, at least were eating all of them :)

But I did hear eating protein before bed can cause acid reflux, because protein takes more acid in your stomach to digest.

gahh, everything is probably just a myth, im going to keep eating later at night. It saves me from eating cookies :)

thanks for all the replys guys, I love this place everyones so kind