slow evening metabolism?

Question
Hi
I am a 56 year old male.Three years ago my doctor said I was in danger of becoming diabetic. Since then I have been able to keep my glucose close to a healthy range with diet and exercise.
I am still having trouble losing any weight however, even though I am consuming no more than 1500 calories, exercising, and keeping carbs to a minimum.
A few days ago I had a bigger than average lunch, so I had already hit 1500 calories. I work evenings, and when I came home  I was so tired I went immediately to bed.
I woke up to discover I was a pound lighter and I even 'felt' a bit lighter.
Next day I stuck to the plan and had a chicken breast and vegetables for an early supper, no food after that. Felt I lost a bit more.
I have heard metabolism slows in the evening, I wonder if skipping supper or having protein only led to the weight loss? My friend, a doctor, says metabolism stays the same-its activity level that slows. Most people work days, but I am more active at night-I sleep during the day-maybe thats why?
I appreciate your thoughts!

Answer
Hi Barry,

Yes, I like your doctor-friend's answer! Activity level slows for most people in the evening because they are home from work, often vegging out sitting in front of the TV, and often snacking on top of that! So it's not really that your body "holds on to calories" when you eat late, or that eating after dinner is "bad" for you--it's just that most people eat far more than they burn off!
Since you have a different schedule, working evenings, your activity level is higher in the evening, and lower early in the day when you are still asleep. The human body has no knowledge of what "time" it is--only what the body is doing.

That said, 1500 calories is quite a low level for a man. Unless you are just about 5'5" and 130 pounds, you will likely need more than that to get the energy you need. Are you keeping a food diary? We often eat more than we realize, or tend to "treat" ourselves to a dessert when we've been so good for several days.

If you can really stick to that diet, and you're getting plenty of nutrient-dense foods, and it's keeping the diabetes at bay, then congratulations are in order!

Laurie

1. Prev:Looking for answers!
2. Next:Miracle noodles