6 Worst Post-Dinner Habits That Make You Gain Weight
Worst post-dinner habits
Having late dinners
This is not a post-dinner habit, but something that can make or break your weight loss journey. If you’re a late eater, I’ve got some bad news for you. According to most health specialists, if you consume food late at night, like 9 p.m. or after, you’re more likely to pack on the pounds.
In fact, according to a study published in Appetite, late-night eaters tend to overeat and make poorer food choices as well, opting for foods that are high in sugar and fat. If this binging habit happens every night, then, expect some unwanted extra pounds. If your goal is to lose weight, having dinner earlier and consuming nutrient-dense foods will give your body more time to burn the extra calories.
Mindlessly snacking
It’s not something unusual to snack after eating dinner. However, if your goal is to lose weight, repeatedly going to the kitchen for snacks after dinner is not going to help your cause that much. “When we are grazing every hour or so, the body doesn’t quite get the chance to settle down in between eating occasions, which can be a lot for your blood sugars and other hormone levels,” Casey Seiden, MS, RD, CDN, DCES. “Constant snacking also leads me to suspect that your meals are lacking in some fiber, protein, or fat to keep you feeling fuller for longer.”
