Lucy,
I’ve questioned this as well.  Often my last meal is around 6:00 p.m. so it is not uncommon to go 12-13 hours without food.  I typically wake up 2-3 times during the night to go to the bathroom.  When I wake up, my tummy is hungry, but it is not enough that it causes me to stay awake. But you can bet I am hungry 1/2 hour after I get up and have a big breakfast.

As I understand what Jean is saying, I think it’s okay.  Sometimes I have an orange before I go to bed if I’m more than a little hungry.

Vicki

I was actually asking more along the lines of hours for digestion so that my tummy is empty for bed, but I suppose I could have looked that information up on the web.

But I’m glad Jean started out how she did.  If I may be honest, I actually felt a bit rebuked.  Now that I’ve thought about what she wrote, I think without realizing it, I have been trying to “box” the principles of NT. In fact, I know I have. I just received my Breaking Out of Food Jail. Amazing.

Thanks for your words on the night eating. I do get afraid of eating too late. I’ll definitely read the first book over and look VERY forward to reading the second!

I think the temptation is to try to find the information about what to do “out there”, i.e. on the internet, when the information you are needing is in the books and right there in your body signals.  We are so programmed to try to follow external rules to feed our bodies, that it is hard to adjust to the idea that our bodies can be trusted when we are doing our part.  Pay attention!  Pay attention!  Use the NT principles, the books and use your head. The NT principles are not particularly complicated but applying them to an individual human being IS very complicated at times.  This is where questions on the forum can be very helpful. But please check the books first to see if your question is answered there. I am glad to address questions and confusions that the books do not explain adequately.

Sincerely,
Jean

I’ve always found the answer to my question in the books and continue to be amazed at how they seem to cover all of my questions.  The hard part about being a newbie is quickly finding in the book where the information was when I need to be reminded.  (Which is usually when I am in a panic mode.)  That’s where it is helpful when someone who’s been around awhile can direct me to a certain page number in the book.  I’m on my 6th read through Jean’s first book.  There are lots of good nuggets, but I’m still not saavy enough to know where to find certain topics when I have a specific question.  That’s why the forum helps when I post a question. 

Continue to encourage us to keep using the books.  I find it’s a great bed-side read.  I get sleepy quickly.  The book is well designed in short sections to I can read a page or two and then put it down.  I do appreciate the support I receive on the forum that directs me to specific page numbers to reference.

Munch

There is an extensive index in Breaking Out of Food Jail which can be helpful in finding answers to your questions.  The chapter titles in HTBNTBEM also offer a general guide to specific information.  Naturally Thin Kids also has an extensive index of terms for quick reference.

Sincerely,
Jean