A common fitness industry recommendation is not to eat after 7pm. This is based on the theory that most people are more active during the day than at night. For many this is a safe assumption, but for others is simply not the case.

Here’s a good example of why this dietary standard falls short. Every Monday night I run with the Oak Park Runners Club. We run 8 miles at a fairly good clip and finish up around 8.30pm. If I were one to follow the guideline in question I would be thinking “It’s late. I’m starved, but I shouldn’t eat too much or it will all be stored as fat.” This couldn’t be further from the truth.

After the run, my body has completed depleted its glycogen stores (the bodies energy reserves) and needs to be recharged with a good, nutrient rich meal. Eating will allow my body to replace energy stores and begin rebuilding damaged muscle fibers more quickly, dramatically decreasing recovery time.

So when asked for advice, I prefer this more individualized recommendation: Eat more during the time of day that you are most active, less when you are sedentary, or less active. This keeps the body fueled with the energy it needs to keep up with a varying level of demand.

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