Do you really gain weight faster if you eat after eight o'clock in the evening?

What is currently very hot in the world of losing weight is fasting: for example, you eat nothing for 16 hours. You have breakfast at 11:00 AM and eat nothing after 7:00 PM.

But does that really help?
Do you really gain weight faster if you're a nighttime snacker? To be honest, I'm a nighttime nibbler and I love it. Sorry, but who ever has a cup of tea without a piece of chocolate? That's just... LIFE? On the couch, worked all day, kids in bed, fireplace on, under a blanket with a nice book and a piece of chocolate. If I didn't allow myself that, I think I would be crying over that stupid tea. The tea is secondary. It's about snacking in the evening. But well, do I gain more weight from that than if I were to nibble on chocolate in the morning?

No, or well: it's not proven in science. What has been researched is that people with overweight are more likely to grab something to eat after eight in the evening. But yes, they might be eating more throughout the day anyway. Ultimately, it's about the amount of calories you consume in a day. If you eat an apple during the day and nothing else, you can perfectly sit down for a three-course dinner after eight. A woman needs an average of 2,000 kilocalories per day, for a man that's an average of 2,500 kilocalories per day. Don't drastically reduce those calories, because your body just needs energy to function. So you can think and work, that idea. You can always keep track of what you consume with what kind of food, so you can allow yourself those two pieces of chocolate with tea without guilt.

And about eating in the evening: many people think that everything you eat on the couch is immediately stored as fat because you don't move anymore to burn it off. That's not how it works: fat storage doesn't happen as quickly as people think. You only really gain weight if you consume significantly more calories every day of the week than you burn. Then the timing doesn't matter, it's about consistency. Just like exercising every day for a week and then never again doesn't work for losing weight.

Well, you get it. Feel free to enjoy a nice toast with cheese with your partner at 10:00 PM, just make sure to keep up with that workout. Balance is always key for any healthy weight. Because let's be honest: life should remain fun. With chocolate and cheese, of course.