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Night meds and Fasting

Hey, trying to get back in the habit but I had a question. I've been doing the 18:6 and I usually stop eating no later than 8:30. The problem is I have to take some meds around bedtime and after about an hour my stomach hurts like crazy unless I eat something kind of carby. Has anyone else had this problem and what did you do to solve it? Thanks!

Answer

What does “bedtime” mean for you? Are we talking like, 10pm? Or 1am?

If it’s on the earlier side, and its not specifically for something related to a sleep disorder (I know some sleep aids you practically have to take in bed because the window between taking and feeling the effects is laughably small) then is there any particular reason you can’t just take it with your last meal/at the end of your eating window when you’re still mostly full?

If your bedtime is on the later side (in which case I’d recommend doing what you can to work towards changing that, but understand it might not be an option because of work schedules or whatever) or the type of medication really does necessitate taking it at bedtime, then although it’s not ideal, you might think about moving your eating window so the end of it is close to your bedtime, and eating the majority of your calories in the early part of the window, and then taking the med with a light (like, 100 - 200 calories) snack with good fiber content - a small avocado, some edamame, or maybe some chia “pudding.” The idea being that your body will feel like you’re getting the carbs it’s craving but the high fiber content of foods like these mean the actual net carbs are pretty low. I personally don’t like the idea of eating so close to bed because it can mean your body is focused on digestion instead of actual sleep, including REM, which often first happens within 90 minutes of falling asleep (and anecdotally, I always wake up intensely hungry when I eat right before bed.)

I would really do what I could to either take the meds with your last meal, and/or adjust your sleep schedule if those are viable options (and not just because you don’t wanna.) But the third option is a distant third, if it will keep you from binging out on a carb-heavy snack and really impacting progress.