Can Intermittent Fasting Be Done At Night?

Intermittent fasting can and should be done at night. This is exactly when you should start and stop your fast for best results.

Can Intermittent Fasting Be Done At Night?

Absolutely! That is, as long as you’re not eating in your sleep! The fact that sleeping counts toward your intermittent fast is part of the reason why incorporating a 12-16 hour daily fast can be so simple. For example, if you chose to start off with a 14 hour fast and you typically eat dinner at 7pm (and finish by around 7:30pm), then your fast would run from 7:30pm to 9:30am the next morning for a total of a 14 hour fast.

Related: [QUIZ] Find Out The PERFECT Intermittent Fasting Schedule For Your Goals!

Does It Matter What Time Of Day You Do Intermittent Fasting?

Ideally, it’s best to aim for your last meal of the day to be a few hours before you hit the hay. When you sleep, digestion tends to slow down. Eating too late in the evening and not allowing some time for digestion before bed can cause disturbances in sleep or make you feel more bloated the next day.

Not to mention, insulin resistance tends to go up the later we get into the evening. Insulin is our storing hormone, and when we’re more resistant to it, it can result in even more insulin that needs to be secreted in response to the same amount of food. When insulin is high, fat burning is shut off. So having your fast begin in the late evening and eating late at night may make achieving a weight loss goal a bit more difficult.

However, the amount of insulin secreted is also highly dependent on the meals eaten during the eating window. This is why the Complete Intermittent Fasting Bundle focuses on ingredients that don’t greatly spike insulin, such as high quality proteins, fats and fiber rich foods.