5 Bad Eating Habits in Men

The first step in breaking bad eating habits is identifying them. Once you know what you’re doing wrong, you can take measures to replace them with good eating habits. Here’s a list of bad eating habits in men that should be avoided if you want to prevent weight gain and stay fit.

1. Eating Heavy Before Bed – Eating a full sized meal directly before bed is one of the most common bad eating habits that men have. Since you won’t be burning many calories while sleeping, all that food will probably become fat. Instead of a three-course meal right before you hit the sack, try something lighter – like a men’s protein shake. A men’s whey protein shake will help you manage hunger and support muscle growth while keeping calories to a minimum. “Best Late-Night Snacks for Men” lists other snacks to consider when hunger strikes at night.

2. Drinking Fruit Juice Instead of Eating Fruit - A lot of people would rather guzzle a glass of fruit juice instead of sitting down and munching on an apple. And it’s no wonder! Fruit juice is delicious, sweet and usually nutrient rich. Unfortunately, the high sugar content found in juices makes them very calorie-dense, which can lead to weight gain; fruit juices also lack fiber, which can keep you full and prevent overeating. Stick to their solid counterparts and use an antioxidant supplement for men to further boost your antioxidant intake. “Antioxidants and Aging” explains the many benefits of these free radical-fighting nutrients.

3. Drinking Alcohol on An Empty Stomach - Alcohol contains a lot of calories: Just a few beers can amount to a good portion of your daily calorie limit. Because drinking can increase your appetite, it’s recommended you eat something before you imbibe; alcohol gets absorbed faster on an empty stomach That way, you won’t feel the need to consume everything in sight (which can make you gain weight); since your inhibitions are lowered, you’re more likely to binge on fatty foods.  Also, stick to low-calorie beers and cocktails to limit the diet damage.

4. Compulsive Snacking - Snacking frequently on chips, crackers, nuts, or fries while you work might help you power through projects at the office, but it will also destroy your waistline. Besides causing you to gain weight, most junk food snacks are high in salt, causing your blood pressure to rise and possibly increase your risk of certain health problems. If you have to snack all day, snack on cold, raw vegetables instead of chips when you need something crunchy. You should also consider making a men’s whey protein shake to satisfy your sweet tooth and increase your intake of muscle-building protein.

5. Neglecting Pre-Workout and Post-Workout Nutrition – What you eat before and after your workouts has a huge impact on your exercise performance and recovery. Before exercising, consume a men’s pre-workout supplement that contains nitric oxide activators to boost your energy and increase the intensity of your workouts. That way, you can push yourself harder and achieve results faster. And after your workout, make sure to consume a men’s post-exercise supplement with carbs, proteins and amino acids – these nutrients help repair muscle damage and reduce soreness associated with exercise