What's the deal with eating after 7pm?

So today I was really low on my calories, so when I got home at 10pm, i ate about 400 calories to get up to about 1200.

-shrug-

I was hungry and my mom was bugging me about not getting enough protein (i get plenty, no worries, but I ate more to make her happy).

Anyway, a lot of people were talking about not eating after 7pm.

Why? And what happens if I do?

it doesn't matter what time you eat, what matters is total calories at the end of the day.  The only reason people say not to eat, or think eating at night is bad is because it usually leads to people eating unhealthy junk food.  If you're eating the foods you would normally eat, and they fit into your calorie goals, then it doesn't matter what time you eat.

ooook! Thanks a bunch glorydefined!!!

Also, it depends on your schedule. "not after 7pm", whether merited or not, generally assumes a 9 to 5 job. If you work from noon to 9pm, or, like me, 11pm to 8am, then you can pretty much throw it out the window.

Genereally it's just a prevention for people getting snacky late at night, often out of boredom. Too often we sit down in front of the tv and feel like we "need" something to eat even after we've just had dinner!>

the only reason I don't eat at night is, it keeps me awake.  Other than that it doesn't seem to make any difference what time I eat.

Pfft. They say "Don't eat carbs after 7". Don't believe them, have whatever ya like. :P

I eat when I'm hungry, not when the clock tells me to.  There was an old diet myth that said eating after 7 was bad, but it's a myth.  Some folks do that to help cut calories, but there's no magic time when one has to stop eating or risk everything being immediately turned to fat.  The only thing that I would suggest is to not eat a big meal right before sleeping.