11 night-time habits that lead to weight gain

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Extract from the article: A healthy weight is good for the body. Even if we're not always aware of it, we make mistakes and adopt bad habits at night that lead to weight gain.

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A healthy weight is good for the body. Even if we're not always aware of it, we make mistakes and adopt bad habits at night that lead to weight gain.

Getting little sleep

Getting little sleep can lead to weight gain. This is one of the night-time habits that affects the metabolism and slows it down considerably. If you don't get enough rest, you'll feel hungrier and produce more cortisol than usual. If you're tired, you'll also do less physical exercise. Try to get between 7 and 8 hours' sleep a day or, at worst, at least 6 hours a night.

Eat a hearty dinner

Eating large meals in the evening is a very bad habit. If you eat a lot or opt for fatty foods, digestion will be very slow and you won't be able to assimilate the nutrients from the food you eat properly. What's more, if you eat in front of the television, you'll take in more food than you need. So be careful with your evening meals.

Going to bed just after dinner

If you go to bed just after dinner, you'll also put on weight. This habit leads to fat accumulation and indigestion. It is recommended that you eat dinner between one and a half and two hours before going to bed.

Eating fried food for dinner

Eating fried foods is a bad habit in itself, as they provide calories that the body will be unable to burn because they are full of saturated fats that will prevent you from sleeping properly. Opt for healthier dinners if you want to maintain your weight and health.

Eat spicy foods for dinner

Including chilli in the last meal of the day is not a good idea. Similarly, if you overdo the spices, whatever they may be, your digestion is likely to be complicated and you won't be able to rest properly. These spices can cause heartburn. If you like spicy food, you should eat it at breakfast.

Eating carbohydrates

The main function of carbohydrates is to provide a large amount of energy. So it doesn't really make sense to eat them in the evening. What's more, foods containing them are generally full of refined sugars, which need to be burnt off immediately or they will turn to fat. The best thing to do if you have a sweet tooth in the evening is to opt for fruit, which provides vitamins, not fat.

Nibbling

If you've had an early dinner, don't make the mistake of snacking before going to bed. People often consume superfluous calories, which can lead to weight gain. This extra energy will keep you alert and you'll find it hard to fall asleep.

Skipping dinner

Skipping dinner won't help you lose weight. Skipping dinner, like any other meal of the day, greatly slows down your metabolism. The next morning, you'll be as hungry as a wolf and you'll binge on the fattiest and sweetest foods throughout the day. What's more, not eating dinner will lead to anxiety and loss of muscle mass.

Drinking alcohol

Avoid alcohol at dinner because it contains calories and can prevent you from getting a good night's sleep. It disrupts your biological rhythm and can lead to weight gain.

Using a mobile phone or computer

The blue light and radiofrequency waves emitted by these devices disrupt sleep and, over the long term, can lead to weight gain. Turn off all electronic devices at least one hour before going to bed. Read a book or listen to relaxing music instead.

Staying up late

Going to bed very late makes you put on weight, because it's not your body's natural rhythm. What's more, this habit is likely to make you snack more, because if you eat dinner early, you'll be hungry before you go to bed.