It is 10:17 p.m. and I just had a light snack, well light in my book. I drank two scoops of casein protein with 1 Tbsp. of peanut butter all mixed in low-fat milk. This might seem odd to some of you, eating before bed but I am here to tell you that eating a small snack before bedtime is very important.
Our bodies burn up a lot of muscle mass as energy while we are counting sheep at night. When we are asleep we aren't consuming or putting protein or calories into our systems which means that we are running out of fuel as we sleep. Putting quality calories into our bodies before we hit the pillow helps to cut down on muscle catabolsim, or the break down of muscles during prolonged periods of exertion. So the question is simple; What SHOULD I eat before bedtime?
Mass-Gain= Before going to bed, eat a snack that equals about 350-400 calories that is high in proteins and slow-digesting fibers and fats. Examples are cottage cheese, casein powder, deli meats, peanut butter, nuts, seeds and the almighty EGG.
Getting Lean= Before going to bed, eat a snack that equals around 100-150 calories. I know you just worked those calories off but trust me when I tell you that your body needs to keep fuel inside its tank to continue to cut calories while you sleep. Examples are cottage cheese, peanut butter, slow-burning carbs or sugar-free yogurts.
Good Luck tonight and Never, I mean Never underestimate the power of a good nights rest.
