Getting rid of carbs after 6 P.M.?

[garance]

My 21 year old son is a certified personal trainer and about as lean as it is possible to be. In his recent month at home from college between semesters, he told me that a low carb diet--not all day, but after 6 in the evening--would help to "lean me out." He says carbs aren't often used in the evening and just turn to fat. I am tempted to try this, because he looks like Adonis and runs like the wind. I only found out what he was doing when I noticed that he would take (at dinner) double helpings of fish, chicken, steak, etc., but diminutive portions of rice, noodles, potatoes.

 

[rcook]

Yes the rice, noodles and potatoes are starchy. He is eating alot of protein. I before the holidays was trying to cut off my eating about 7 or 7:30 pm. I heard from a trainer that the earlier you stopped feeding your body the better, your body would then feed off the fat your body has stored. If you eat later in the night then your body won't feed off of your fat that is stored. I would rather my body feed off stored fat and get rid of it :7 .... Rhonda

 

[JamminX3]

This always works for me and I don't know why I'm not doing it NOW!

It works for me if I eat 3 meals a day ... BF and Lunch with starches and supper without. Last April, I lost 7 pounds just doing this. My exercise was Cathe/Firm and others, but that was not new.

Maybe if I go ahead and sneak in a snack in the a.m. and afternoon, I could stick this out. :7

 

[clareMc]

maybe, but remember that any food source, whether from fats, carbs or protein, if surplus to current requirements, will be stored as fat.

I would suggest that what is at play here also are the vast differences between your son and you in terms of age, sex and activity type and level. It is unfair but male bodies are more genetically programmed than ours to build muscle, not fat. If he is doing a considerable amount of weight training, this double protein ration is indeed feeding his muscle. But would it do the same for you? Who knows. Female bodies heading towards or post menopause are programmed to store more fat, no matter what you do. Regular exercise combats that and keeps it in check probably better than avoiding carbs after 6pm.

If you workout in the mornings, I would suggest keeping your carbs in the evening because they will store as glycogen in your muscles to fuel the next day's workout. The stored glycogen is always used first as energy supply. Without it you will get tired sooner during your workout.

A sensible ratio of 40-30-30 is better than avoiding certain food groups I reckon. Fish with several servings of vegetables would be ideal. And don't forget that there is protein too in rice and noodles. What's wromg with a potato? If you make it sweet potato you get a mega dose of vit A too. Concentrate on balance in all things to cover all food groups for optimal health, that and adding muscle which burns more calories whether from carbs or protein.

Clare

 

[icklemoley]

I have to agree with what Clare said. Men (me) tend to have eaiser times with muscles mass (hence faster metabolism) and age does factor in as well x

 

[rcook]

I am just sticking to what works for me :7 ........ Rhonda

 

[AllisonT]

One factor at play here is that complex carbs need a lot of water in order to be digested - so if you have rice, pasta, potatoes, whatever starchy carbs at night, you'll notice a temporary "gain" on the scale the next morning that's just water weight.

I don't believe that carbs turn to fat any quicker than any other macronutritent - if you eat more than you expend, be it protein OR carbs, your body will store the excess as fat.