Should I Add a Meal During Sleeping Hours?
Posted June 6th, 2008 at 11:53 AM by Anthony Ellis
For those that don't know, this question is about waking up in the middle of the night and drinking a quick MRP or eating a quick meal, then going back to bed.
People who advocate this claim that it helps to prevent muscle loss during your sleep hours.
People who advocate this claim that it helps to prevent muscle loss during your sleep hours.
Now, I have never done this, however it may be able to help some very hardgainer individuals or someone who is eating a huge amount of protein per day and they need another meal to keep the "per meal" amount of protein at a reasonable level.
Regardless, for the average person, I believe it to be unnecessary. Yes, your body can use the extra protein during the night, but remember that your metabolism is much slower and you are burning very few calories at that time.
Also if you eat a good amount of slow digesting protein and a bit of glutamine (which helps prevent muscle loss) at your last meal of the day (which my program requires), then that will be more than enough to get you safely through a normal 8 hour sleeping period without any muscle loss.
Really what's important is that after 8 hours, you eat your first meal immediately upon waking. Wait any longer and you risk having your body drift into a catabolic state where it begins to breakdown muscle tissue (amino acids).
Anyone who has difficulty getting a good night's sleep, or has problems falling asleep, should NOT try something like this. Once you wake up, you may not be able to get to sleep again --especially with a full stomach.
In this situation, I believe a good night's sleep to be far superior for your progress and overall results.
Regardless, for the average person, I believe it to be unnecessary. Yes, your body can use the extra protein during the night, but remember that your metabolism is much slower and you are burning very few calories at that time.
Also if you eat a good amount of slow digesting protein and a bit of glutamine (which helps prevent muscle loss) at your last meal of the day (which my program requires), then that will be more than enough to get you safely through a normal 8 hour sleeping period without any muscle loss.
Really what's important is that after 8 hours, you eat your first meal immediately upon waking. Wait any longer and you risk having your body drift into a catabolic state where it begins to breakdown muscle tissue (amino acids).
Anyone who has difficulty getting a good night's sleep, or has problems falling asleep, should NOT try something like this. Once you wake up, you may not be able to get to sleep again --especially with a full stomach.
In this situation, I believe a good night's sleep to be far superior for your progress and overall results.
Total Comments 1
Comments
 |  Anthony. I tried this back in 2003 and it seemed to have worked. However--you hit it right on the head--if it will affect your sleeping (the time in which your body repairs itself), it is best to prepare before going to bed (consume a slow-digesting protein and even adding a 1/2 cup of oatmeal or 2 tbspns of flaxoil) and eating a high-cal meal asap upon waking up. I think making sure you get enough cals by your 6th meals, is what it comes down to it. I used to get up and do it, because my I would get up to use the bathroom around that time anyway. Sometimes it was hard to eat soo much before going to bed, because my stomach felt full and i couldnt fall asleep as fast--so I also got up and ate for this reason as well. However, it comes to keeping more cals than you burn. If your already doing this AE, you should be cool IMO. Try it out and let us know how it works  |
Posted June 7th, 2008 at 04:52 PM by linkraiders24  |
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