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Scheduled Eating- Does it work?

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Irritable Bowel Syndrome
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Posted 7/2/2010 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
Does anyone find it is helpful not to eat after certain hours, like no food after 7:00 p.m. before bedtime, or does it really matter?
Posted 7/2/2010 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
For at least 2 or 3 years I didn't eat after 7 pm. If hungry after dinner, I'd drink one or two tall glasses of tap water. This tricked my stomach into thinking it was full. Over time I was no longer hungry after dinner and my GI tract got used to eating for 12 hours on, 12 off. I felt better giving my GI tract a break from all the activity. Sometimes I think I should go back to this regimen. I'd probably feel better. If I do eat now after 7, it's a yogurt cup or light snack.

But your topic reminded me of the value of not having solids after a specific time and then giving your body a chance to settle down (the reason I did this was so I could sleep at night).

I was really diligent at first, 11 years ago, to eat much smaller meals. I would use a salad plate for my dinner plate and a soup spoon for my servings. Not a larger serving sized spoon. It worked. My husband would always look over at my plate and say - that's all you're eating? And he's thin, 6' 2", 160 lbs (so it wasn't as if he was encouraging huge portions). I went from a size 12 to 4 by doing this (small meals, not eating after dinner). I'm a size 8 now.

Maybe I should implement this rule again. I'd probably sleep better too!

Thanks for the reminder!
Posted 7/2/2010 6:01 PM (GMT 0)
It puts less stressors on the bowel if you eat small meals throughout the day. It can also help metabolism. If you eat to late before bed the food can sit in the gut longer.

So it is recommended to eat smaller meals which also can help an altered gastro colonic responce in IBS to food intake.
Posted 7/4/2010 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the information.  I am going back to the gastro doc in August because suddenly I have developed the worst acid in memory.  I woke up the other morning and upon swallowing, acid literally burned my throat.  I don't eat anything after 8:00 p.m., although I do have a cup of peppermint tea to settle my stomach before bedtime.  Surprise, it doesn't work.  IBS is a frustrating disease.
Posted 7/4/2010 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
This might be a symnptoms of acid reflux or gerd or functional dyspepsia, but its an upper gi issues, not a lower one like IBS.

Sometimes it can just happen though, but if its on a regular basis I would get checked out.
Posted 7/5/2010 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
peppermint is a GERD trigger...i have borderline gerd.  hope you feel better.  there is a gerd or reflux forum.
Posted 7/5/2010 12:36 PM (GMT 0)
I know someone who struggles with GERD and he cannot eat past 4:30 each afternoon. That is his personal cut off time. He's in his 60s and keeps a strict eating schedule. By doing this he said he can sleep at night and not be awakened with problems. I believe he makes his breakfast and lunch, the two main meals of the day for him (when he's most active) and then has a light snack before he has to stop eating until the next day.

I've always been impressed with how he manages his GERD.

We have our daughters who are 20 and 23 living with us again this summer. They are on a completely different schedule than we are. If I don't serve dinner until after 7, they're fine with it. They tell me how late they've eaten dinner with friends. Sometimes after 9. At that point in the evening I know I'd be better off waiting until the morning to eat again. There's an internal window of opportunity in my gut, when I know I've turned a corner and to eat again is foolish for me.

This is pretty much all trial and error if you ask me too. But I thought I'd mention the friend I know who must stop solids by 4:30.
Posted 7/5/2010 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
it is best to eat during the day to lower weight because you are more active then. i am trying to lose weight for my osteoarthritis and other factors.

when you are younger, you can get away with stuff. i used to eat late, eat often, be thin, be not in pain, etc.....those were the days, lol.
Posted 7/9/2010 4:46 PM (GMT 0)
I would drink Vita Coco after meals for nutritional benefits as well to keep things regular. Coconut water is truly a miracle drink.
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