Who breaks it: Ann G. Kulze, M.D., author of Dr. Ann's 10-step Diet: A Simple Plan for Permanent Weight Loss and Lifelong Vitality. She sits down to dinner every night at 9 pm or later.
Why you can, too: "A calorie consumed at 9 pm isn't handled any differently by your body that one consumed at 9 am," Kulze says. It's less about when you eat than how much you eat. A study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that obese women were more likely than svelte women to eat meals late at night, but they were also more likely to eat more, period. And a study by the USDA showed that your metabolism hums along at the same rate no matter how you time your meals. And delaying dinner does have one undisputed advantage: it helps eliminate late-night snacking, one of the worst diet busters.
Do it right: One reason you're likely to stuff yourself late at night is that you're ravenous from not having eaten since lunchtime. A healthy snack in the late afternoon (around 4 pm if you're planning to eat at 9 pm) can help you avoid this pitfall. Studies have found that the fat in nuts is particularly satisfying, so grab a 100-calorie pack of almonds when you're on the go. When you finally find the time for dinner, actually sit at the table and nix the distractions. Scarfing down a meal in the car or in front of the TV means you usually aren't paying attention to what - or how much - you are eating.
What time do you usually eat dinner? Do you find that eating later is better for resisting those late night snacks?
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