Is 'No Carbs After 7 PM' Just A Gym Myth?

By Russ Howe-P.t.i.


If you do not know how to lose weight and have been looking for advice, you may have came across a theory that you cannot eat carbohydrates late at night. Today's post is going to look at this common myth and reveal why it is not strictly true.

Let's face it, there is an overwhelming amount of contradicting information in the fitness industry. Everywhere you turn there are people trying to out-yell each other with their latest tips. More often than not, this leads many regular people to be scared of trying to build a better body.

Despite all of the different approaches and the massive confusion out there, the basic principles of a successful diet are the same as they were two decades ago.

In a business with so many supplements and workout plans on the market, it is easy to see why people get lost so frequently. Everybody claims to have 'the big secret formula', of course.

If you have been trying various dieting techniques you will undoubtedly have encountered quick fix solutions which tell you to cut out carbohydrates and fast from your eating plan. These fads are usually found in celebrity gossip magazine and the birth of this statement about late night carb intake occurred in the same place. Can the human body really tell what time of day or night it is when you eat something?

Of course not. This myth is a generalization which has been taken slightly out of context and, as a net result, has misled a whole generation of dieters into believing they must starve their body after a certain time of day even if they are hungry.

Let's take a look at the actual research in this area.

In a series of tests, scientists allowed two separate groups of people to consume the same amount of carbohydrates throughout a 24 hour period. The only difference being, however, that the group of people who ate their carb intake around physical activity stored considerably less fat.

How does that explain or debunk this myth?

The 'no carbs after 7 pm' fascination was first created by gossip magazines directing readers to the latest quick fix method to lose fat. Their core audience, of course, are secretaries and office workers. The majority of that audience doesn't exercise regularly, hence looking for a quick fix solution to their fitness problems. They also tend to work 9-5 jobs.

The masses who buy these magazines tend to fit their generalization of what an office worker does with their evening. However, most people are not like this. It would be ridiculous to work through a twelve hour day and then refuse to provide your body with some nutrients simply because of what time the clock said.

The actual research doesn't state that it is bad to eat carbohydrates late at night, it states that it is bad to eat carbs while you are in a long period of inactivity. Depending upon your individual lifestyle, that could occur at any point in your day.

So how do you use this to your advantage?

Figure out which point of the day tends to be your busiest period and make sure you fit your biggest intake of carbohydrates around this period. Your body will be able to use the fuel, rather than simply storing it as fat. This can also be applied to those gym members trying to figure out how to build muscle, as it is one of the main factors in muscular hypertrophy.

This myth is very common throughout the world now. Almost everybody who wants to know how to lose weight has encountered somebody giving them instructions on never to eat carbs after a certain time of day. Now you know the facts, you will be able to structure your nutrition far more effectively throughout your day.




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