To Eat or Not to Eat, Before Bed?

IPO Greatness

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After having a discussion with a biochemist and two doctors, I have personally decided to quit eating a protein meal before bed. Instead I am just taking glutamine to help keep the nitrogen levels up, and glycine, lysine and gaba. This way I do not have an insulin response. Eating before bed can also affect sleep, and be problems later in life with eating, I guess. Anybody have any educated comments? I do have a protein meal about 2 hours before this though.
 
ticco

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2 hours before is pretty close to being before bed. i consider the meal i have an hour before my "eating before bed" meal.
 

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Yeah, if I eat something like chicken, 2 to 3 hours before bed, it should be digested, then I take the BCAA's right beofre bed.
 
Wilderbeast

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Have a protein shake with a mixture of proteins. Eating before bed is not going to hurt you in any way. Your body digests your food, specifically protein, so slowly that you will not be able to avoid a catabolic state later the next day without having eaten before bed and upon waking. Think of it this way... when you eat your body is constantly breaking your protein down into amino acids. Those aminos are available for your body to use whenever it needs them. Your body won't let you know it needs them. If they are there... it uses them... if not it will break down some of your muscle tissue into amino acids for its current needs. This alone is reason enough to eat consistently and frequently throughout the entire day, including before bedtime. I hope this helps.

BEAST
 
Wilderbeast

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Yeah, if I eat something like chicken, 2 to 3 hours before bed, it should be digested, then I take the BCAA's right beofre bed.
The only problem with consuming aminos right before bed instead of a meal is that scientific studies have shown that direct intake of aminos will spike your blood levels of aminos, specifically leucine very rapidly. This rapid increase causes a spike in protein synthesis, BUT the protein synthesis will decline much more rapidly than if solid protein was ingested. Consuming any protein will cause this same process, BUT in a much slower rising and lowering manner with regards to your body's concentration of amino acids and protein synthesis. In short, take your BCAAs and then 1 hour later (after protein synthesis increases and has declined) take in your solid protein meal right before bed. This will ensure that levels of aminos in the bloodstream and protein synthesis will increase and decrease at a slower rate, making this approach much more valuable before bed than direct consumption of BCAAs alone.

BEAST
 

IPO Greatness

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Thanks Wilder, for the reply. Sounds like you are informed. Do you have a link to any of those studies? I want to get my diet dialed in for the best gain possible, naturally. Thanks.
 
Wilderbeast

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I don't have the specific links, but I think you can find the references and exact studies on MD's website or possibly Dr. Scott Connelly's site.

BEAST
 

The Myth

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As long as you don't eat after 9pm, you won't get fat, so you have nothing to worry about:)
 
cmc

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The only problem with consuming aminos right before bed instead of a meal is that scientific studies have shown that direct intake of aminos will spike your blood levels of aminos, specifically leucine very rapidly. This rapid increase causes a spike in protein synthesis, BUT the protein synthesis will decline much more rapidly than if solid protein was ingested. Consuming any protein will cause this same process, BUT in a much slower rising and lowering manner with regards to your body's concentration of amino acids and protein synthesis. In short, take your BCAAs and then 1 hour later (after protein synthesis increases and has declined) take in your solid protein meal right before bed. This will ensure that levels of aminos in the bloodstream and protein synthesis will increase and decrease at a slower rate, making this approach much more valuable before bed than direct consumption of BCAAs alone.

BEAST
Very interesting. I also have a study in a book of mine that is a little different. Damn studies are always conflicting each other..seems to never end. The Dr was in favor of keeping the growth hormone relase going 24 hours a day with aminos taken before exercise and sleep. He spoke of keeping the insulin drive going to combine with growth hormone by eating the usual small means many times a day. I guess the jist of it was a sleep diet regimen to maximize growth hormone levels and insulin drive. It went something like this:
6am - meal 1
8am - aminos -Gym
10am post gym meal 2, then 30-60 minute nap
12 noon meal 3
2pm-aminos gym round 2
4pm-post gym meal 4, 30-60 minute nap
7pm -meal 5
9pm-aminos, then sleep
1am- meal 6, sleep
4am- aminos

There were a myriad of other factors that came into play with retrospect to IGF, insulin acts directly on the muscle to drive amino acids into the muscle cells for protein synthesis. Your thoughts Beast?
 

dedlifter1

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I eat cottage cheese before bed, about 1 hr. I noticed results. I have no fancy studies to back it up tho.
 
Stallion83

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Well cottage cheese is good bc its more cassein than whey. If it was just whey then maybe 1 or 2 hours give or take it will be gone. Maybe something like a cassein shake or something like Syntha-6 or Mucsle milk would be great too before bed. Sometimes at night if I feel the need to eat again I would just do a shake really. Just so I can avoid carbs and feed what my body really wants...protein.
 

dedlifter1

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Well cottage cheese is good bc its more cassein than whey. If it was just whey then maybe 1 or 2 hours give or take it will be gone. Maybe something like a cassein shake or something like Syntha-6 or Mucsle milk would be great too before bed. Sometimes at night if I feel the need to eat again I would just do a shake really. Just so I can avoid carbs and feed what my body really wants...protein.
Yeah i love eating before bed. sometimes ice cream.lol. Im a pb cup JUNKIE.
 

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Dedlifter, I used to eat cottage cheese before bed too. I would go through over a big tub of it in a day. Still love the stuff, but was just worried about my sodium intake being too high, so I eat it only once a day now. I still wonder if taking the aminos before bed is better than the cottage cheese. I might not ever know. I miss my cottage cheese though. So quick and convenient. Very expensive though.
 
Wilderbeast

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CMC,

Were you taking exogenous insulin, GH, of IGF-1, because that would make some degree of difference? However, immediately pre and post workout I agree that BCAAs are better than a meal. As a doctor he should also be aware that it is impossible to keep GH high 24hours a day, especially if you are increasing insulin levels, whether it be through natural or chemical means. Typically, when GH is high, insulin will be low and vice versa. My personal opinion is that it is optimal to maintain 6-8 protein meals per day and taking BCAAs between each meal and pre/post workout if you have the wherewithall to do so. Pre bed I still believe eating a protein meal vs. BCAA will keep your GH as high as possible, your protein synthesis and nitrogen balance optimal, and flow of aminos to the muscles throughout the entire night steadier.

BEAST
 

dedlifter1

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Dedlifter, I used to eat cottage cheese before bed too. I would go through over a big tub of it in a day. Still love the stuff, but was just worried about my sodium intake being too high, so I eat it only once a day now. I still wonder if taking the aminos before bed is better than the cottage cheese. I might not ever know. I miss my cottage cheese though. So quick and convenient. Very expensive though.
Yeah it can get expensive, i eat the cabot brand as well, pricey. i eat it with bacon bits when im bulking. DElicious!
 

IPO Greatness

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Not sure what the Cabot brand is. I just eat the 1%. Fat free tastes too bad, IMO.
 
buster0371

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I ALWAYS eat before bed, even if its just cereal. and im at like 8% bodyfat. I do it because im a hard gainer and the more calories i eat the better. also my body can still get nutrients while i sleep. if i dont eat before bed i wake up starving and i feel like im anorexic.
 

Irish Cannon

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I eat about 2.5hrs before bed, then about 30mins pre-bed I take Somnidren GH, ZMK, Purple Wrath, ALCAR, and VitC.
 

MassBuilda123

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2 hours before bed and if im still hungry.. top it off with a protein shake with an extra scoop jus to fill me up
 
WhatsaRoid?

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I will deadlift you while you are deadlifting your max.
Bitch slapping mother nature, one pound at a time.
If the bars not bending, your only pretending. .
I love this guy hahahaha...Anyway I often eat beef jerky and a 50 gram pro, 60 carb, bcaa, creatine and fiber shake before bed. Even if I eat a late dinner I force this stuff down and so far I'm liking the results.
 

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