Switching to Nights. . Need some advice! !

caseyshelton911

I am a 911 dispatcher and at the end of this month I will be moving to the night shift.. with 100lbs down and about 58 to go, I don't want to get off course. I'm wondering if there are other people who work nights that may have some advice? How do you log yo

jemhh

When my husband worked nights he kept to the same logging schedule--12a-11:59p. However, here are two other ideas I've seen mentioned on MFP:

-change the time zone on your account so it thinks it's morning around the time when you get up for the day.

-rename your meals so they are listed in the order you eat them (e.g., dinner/breakfast/lunch.)


Btw, way to go on the weight loss! That's fantastic.

UseYourIllusionRS

I've been on nights about 6 months and prefer it.. I basically just moved my meals around so my typical breakfast style meal is usually about 11pm before I start work at 12 then "dinner" at 9am after work, then "tea" at around 2pm and sleep in the afternoon... as for logging food I usually do it all in the morning but as I usually eat the same set meals each day I know without logging how many calories etc I will consume so I've become a little lazy with inputting them.. just play around with meals and times until you find what suits you best as long as your calories fit into your allowance.

caseyshelton911

Thanks guys!! I was just worried I've been on days forever .. so I just didn't want to mess up being on nights. . When the girls come in for night shift they always carry bags of food.. I asked them why and they said since it's slower they boredom eat!! Yikes!! Makes me nervous!! I will defiantly be staying away from the vending machine!! My biggest concern was logging! ! So thanks for the input!!

HIITMe

I've worked nights for the better part of 20 years. I eat my meals at normal times. Only snacks, protein drinks and water during the night.

Jburlen2007

I work nights for 4 years. Log my breakfast (3/4 pm), lunch (9 pm) on current day, and dinner on next.

Don't boredom snack! Very hard to resist though

dixedreg

Preplan and prepack your food. I cannot stress enough the importance of this. I will plan/pack for my work rotation on the morning of my first day on duty. (We are on a 2/2/3 schedule 12 hr shifts.) I pack "lunch", "dinner" and snack. I do breakfast at home always. Without being prepared in advance that vending machine or take-out menu will be screaming your name. Good Luck!

caseyshelton911

Thanks so much!! I feel better knowing it can be done!!

kar328

I changed the diary settings to 12midnight-6AM, 6AM-noon, noon-6PM and 6PM-midnight and log according to the times eaten. I keep the midnight to midnight schedule that MFP uses so it's less confusing. My 3 12 hour shifts vary each week. I eat a real dinner before work (busy hospital unit, no meal breaks are more the norm), then bring foods to eat, mostly protein. If I am working again that night, I get up at 4P and eat dinner etc. If I'm off that night, I get up at 1P and try to be like normal people and eat lunch, dinner etc at "normal" times. 16 years of nights, down 111 lbs on MFP

linsey0689

I found that I was over snacking at work. So now I bring 2 yogurts and one meal type food (healthy frozen dinner, leftovers or something similar). At least I tried to do that every night so I will have plenty of food. Some nights I don't eat it all and some nights I do. Frequently I will save a yogurt for my way home because I pass 10 fast food places on my way home and I don't want to be super hungry during my 35 minute drive home.


I also changed my meals to
11P-7A
7A-11P
11P-3P
3P-7P
7P-11p

I made one my total work time just to see what all I was eating at work because I kept overeating during this time. But now I'm okay. Best wishes to you

sallymason88

i have worked nightsfor years, I too prefer it I agree with what everyone else has mentioned. I count my calories midnight to midnight. My biggest tip,do not "reward" yourself for working nights. It is just work

kdblpn

I work nights as well. I start my calories at 3pm everyday. I get up and cook dinner fir my famiky and eat with them. I bring apples, yogurt, some graham crackers, celery and carrots, and popcorn with me to work as well as ny lunch...tonight I had a grilled chicken breast with a cup of rice, and green beans. Other nights i bring mason jar salads. I have plenty of food to eat if i get hungry but usually i will have my yogurt about 9:30pm, lunch at 1am, and if i am hungry another snack at 4am. I go home in the morning and eat breakfast. Then its off to bed.

amethyst1973

I do some nights. I stick to logging it as if it were a normal day. I just change the times I eat a bit. I don't take heavy meals into work. So on my first night I will not eat much, try to sleep during the day and then have a meal before work. I will take a sandwich and snacks into work. I go for low calorie snacks so I am not going over my calories. The second night is easier as I get up late. Have a meal before work then snacks again for overnight. The third night I do the same but try to stay up when I get home as going into rest days so I will have a light lunch as evening meal as if a new day. It works for me.