Body & Mind

You really shouldn't do this before bedtime

By
bridget jones scene of her eating ice cream with a duvet around her body

You think: I'm going to lose weight and the best thing I can do is go to bed hungry. Girl, you’re all wrong. For a healthy lifestyle, it’s actually important that you don’t dive into bed with a growling stomach. It may sound contradictory if you want to lose pounds, but believe me: sleeping hungry is more of a saboteur than a weight loss secret. Here’s why:

Sleeping with hunger = sleeping with chaos in your head

Hunger before bed activates your stress hormones (yes hello, cortisol) and that causes you to sleep restlessly or have a ceiling shift. And let’s be honest, sleep is precisely the moment when your body recovers, your skin renews itself, and your brain has a big cleanup session. It may sound too good to be true, but it’s science: if you sleep well, you burn fat naturally.

An empty stomach = waking up in a binge

Yup: You probably know it well: you’ve been strict with yourself in the evening, but wake up in the morning with the eating behavior of a rampaging cookie monster. By going to bed hungry, your blood sugar level drops. The result? Your body screams for quick energy, in other words: candy, chips, chocolate, and a lot more unhealthy food. Bye-bye healthy start to the day.

Ghrelin is the so-called ‘hunger hormone’ that is produced when you are hungry. When you go to bed hungry, that ghrelin level shoots up. It’s like an inner cheerleader shouting: “Eat! NOW!” Result? You wake up hungrier than ever, and your healthy breakfast plan goes straight into the trash.

Your muscles won’t be happy either, bye gym!

Did you know that your muscles recover and grow at night? But they need something to work with (spoiler: rest and nutrients). If you go to bed hungry, your muscles have no fuel and can forget that beauty boost. The result? You don’t lose fat, but muscle mass. And muscles are your calorie burners. What a waste, right?

Poor sleep = worse choices

Not well-rested = bad mood and worse choices. Your brain is simply less sharp after a night full of growling stomach sounds. So yes, that croissant with coffee and that chocolate bar during the afternoon slump suddenly become very tempting. And no, that’s not your fault. That’s your sleep deprivation.

But… eating right before bedtime isn’t good either?

That’s right! It’s all about balance. Try to have a light meal or snack two hours before you go to sleep. Think of a whole grain cracker with peanut butter, a banana, or some yogurt with nuts. No pizza quattro formaggi at eleven o'clock at night, but also don’t crawl under the covers with a rumbling stomach.

What can you eat before sleeping then?

Here’s some snack inspiration that you can have before bed:

  • A handful of almonds (full of magnesium, hello relaxation)
  • A banana with some peanut butter (a combo of fiber, fats, and potassium)
  • Greek yogurt with honey (proteins and sleep-promoting tryptophan)
  • Whole grain toast with cottage cheese
  • Warm oat milk with cinnamon (you’ll feel 97 immediately, but it works)

Sleep well with a light snack

So, no. Going to bed hungry is not the way to go. You won’t lose weight (on the contrary), you’ll sleep worse, your muscles will suffer, and you’ll get snacky. Preferably choose a light, nutritious snack, give your body some fuel, and wake up as the well-rested queen that you are. And if you want some extra backing (for that friend who still thinks starving works).

You really shouldn’t do any of this when you just go to bed (really not)

Okay, you finally have your pajamas on, washed your face, brushed your teeth—and then you suddenly do all these things that sabotage your sleep as if you have an inner sleep-hooligan. So, here it is: you shouldn’t do this when you just go to bed. Girl, stop it.

  1. Scrolling until your eyes are square. TikTok, Insta, cat reels on surfboards—it’s addictive, we know. But all that blue light disrupts the production of melatonin (your sleep hormone) and your head is still full of stimuli afterwards. Phone away, really
  2. Starting discussions. Pointing out that one embarrassing thing your partner said six hours ago? Not now. Your brain kicks in and so does your cortisol. Not an ideal mix for sweet dreams.
  3. Exercising like you’re Beyoncé (guilty). A round of yoga = fine. But a 45-minute HIIT at 10:00 PM? You might as well down an espresso. Your body is too alert to sleep then.
  4. Making your to-do list for tomorrow. Sounds productive, but it’s not. Before you know it, you’re 20 tasks further, stressing about that one email, and mentally back at the office.

Image: Bridget Jones “Edge Of Reason.”