Q: Do you think having a meal high in complex carbs and some protein (about 40g) 3-5 hours before you sleep can make one fat?

A: There's absolutely nothing wrong with such a meal, assuming that the complex carbs are not processed junk foods. Whole grains, legumes, and vegetables are the best carb choices. But you should never think in terms of one meal or one food making you fat -- it's your whole diet that determines whether you gain new weight. If this meal is part of a diet full or poor food choices or simply too many calories then it's entirely possible that you will gain weight. On the other hand, if this meal is part of a healthy balanced diet then you might well lose weight, especially if you follow a good exercise program.

Again, treat everything you eat with equal attention; focusing on healthiness on one food while ignoring all others is counterproductive. If the rest of your meals are healthy and not too big, then this meal should be perfectly fine.