Official Nightshift thread!!!

bessie78

I was just wondering the same thing I work 11p to 7a. And sleep from about 8am to 2pm does my day start at midnight or at 2pm? Any thoughts

cutmd

What is galeo's dressing?

I was going to ask the same thing...Maybe we could try it when we work together.....

It is an amazing delicious dressing that is only 20 calories per serving. Someone on mfp turned me onto it. I am not one for low cal dressings but you seriously can't tell! I get it from whole foods. It's about 5 bucks a bottle but totally worth it

http://www.galeoscafe.com/

In terms of timing for meal entry, I try to do breakfast post-shift until the next post shift breakfast, though if I eat too many snacks overnight I will let them spillover into the next day. I think as long as you're logging everything it will all balance out.

leanmass24

I have logged it both ways.... it really doesnt make a difference as long as you log everything stay under your calories.... I like starting over at midnight though cause I work from 6p-6a. I usually dont eat too much between 3am and 2pm when I wake up to go to the gym. And if I am hungry when I get home in the morning and eat a meal I can go work it off at the gym when I wake up and it is on the same day.

allie7383

bessie, i'm on the same schedule! my shift never changes, so start my day's calories at midnight.

ketagirl

hello i just recent started overnights 11-730a and i am finding it hard to fit in my meals. For instance what time i should eat and stop eating and making sure i am counting my calories and not over counting them. I up for any suggestions thanks

tobfit

I am so glad I have found this "night shift thread" because sometimes it's so good to be able to relate to other fellow night shift workers since it's so different than working a day shift. I have been working night shift as a Health Care Coordinator for a Nursing Agency for the last five years. I used to be a stay at home mom until my husband got really sick and was put on disability and this job came up with good pay and good health care benefits so here I am five years later, funny at the time it was just going to be temporary until I found a day job, wow how time flies and I'm still working the same shift, but since I have a teenage daughter and son and a husband who wears prosthetics legs, well it's important that I have benefits and a good paying job since as the kids are getting older they are also costing a lot more money....lol

It's okay though, I don't mind my job, I get a lot of time off BUT I am really struggling right to get back on track. About four months ago, our shift went from 11pm-8am to start time at 9pm until 8am, I used to go and get my work out at the gym before I started work but now, well let's just say I probably showed my face at the gym about 3 x since my shift changed. I am not eating well, not exercising.....just plain fell off the wagon. I feel it in my energy level and just don't feel so good about myself anymore.

In the last couple of years I have lost about 35 lbs and kept it off but I have noticed that I have gained back about 5-6 lbs (I know it's doesn't seem like a lot) but I am SO afraid of gaining it all back. It took so long to lose that much weight and whenever i see an old photo of myself I just cringe at the thought of starting over again.

Anyway, I didn't mean to get into a spill about my life and so forth but what the heck thought I'd give a little history and I am so looking forward to checking this site out while I am at work during the night, maybe this will help me get back on track and jump back on the wagon and feel good like I did not that long ago!

I'm thinking of maybe getting some exercise in after work but I'm a little afraid that I will not be able to sleep. I will have to try it out and see what happens otherwise I may just cancel my gym membership and workout at home before going into work.

leanmass24

Hi Tobfit, and welcome... Sorry to hear that you have been falling off the wagon recently... I work from 6p-6a been on nights for the better part of 8 years... As far as working out after work goes... I find that when I work the long hours like this it is really hard to go after work cause my energy levels and motivation are way down by the time it is time to go home. And if i do muster up enough motivation/energy to go to the gym in the morning after work, I cant sleep, so I just wake up a couple hours early to go to the gym and I have been fine with that.

bessie78

Thanks everyone I think I will start at midnight! We will see how it goes!

MissBarb77

Thanks for all the inputs! I will also be starting at midnight.

tobfit

Hi leanmass24, that is a very good point in regards to working out after work. I am actually really tired once i am done my shift and would not work out as well as I would once waking up, so I am seriously considering cancelling my gym membership and use what I have at home. I'm finding that I am focusing too much on how I can find time for the gym when in fact I could just get my workout done at home.

nicu0227

Hi Everyone...I had a great weekend at work...only a few babies in the Nursery, so I was able to take it easy...I treated my daughter and myself to a Seafood Resturant tonight...I have not had fried food in over 3 months....you know it really didn't taste as good as I thought it would....I had a very busy day, running around and didn't get to the gym at my normal time....so I thought I would just not workout today...but I actually could not handle the thought of not going...so at 7:30pm I got dressed and went to the gym and worked out HARD!!! and I feel GREAT!!!! I guess it's called PROGRESS!!!!! I get my monthly measurements done this week...I am hoping to see more inches lost!!!

lee112780

I was thinking about working ouit after work a cpl days a wk, but only weights. If I get my heart rate up doing cardio, I wont fall asleep, then my sched get out of whack

MegJo

Hi all!
Hope all your nights are going well Mine are, but I'm working a ton lately. The combination of overtime and a bad rotation week has made it hard to find time to work out. Which makes me very proud of you Nicu! Thats awesome that you worked out!!! I always feel better once I get to the gym, but getting off the couch, dressed, and into the car is the tough part. But the fact that you got yourself there is totally progress!!! WAHOO!! Working out after work is one thing I know I won't be able to to Lee, but I hope it works for you!!
Things are a little rocky in my personal life right now, and I'm really hoping that I won't let the stress affect my eating. In a way though, I think focusing on my eating and working out is good. It has given me some stability. I can control it.
Oh well - I just need to keep doing the best I can.

kmc3986

Hang in there, MegJo....you're doing a great job. I find it hard to get my exercise in when I'm working a string of nightsand I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm starting to miss it. That's really hard to believe, for me. Things will straighten out for the ultimate good. You're doing a good thing for yourself. We are all behind you.

allie7383

Meg I hear ya in regards to having some stability in life. I feel like the past several months all i can think about is losing weight, and everything that involves, from both the eating and exercising parts, and saving money lol. I was saving up to buy myself a condo, however this week I firmly decided to go back to school for my master's, and found a program I really want to get into.. So looks like 2010 and the next couple years will be devoted to changing myself and really doing things to better my life for the long haul... here goes!

MegJo

Thanks for the support KMC - I never knew how much I needed a site like this until I found it. You guys are great.

And Allie - wow, what an intense decision! Going back to school for your masters! Thats awesome, good for you. I can't imagine the work and money that you'll be investing in for that! I thought my BA was hard haha. Congrats on the step of making the decision to do it, I really hope all the pieces fall together for you. It is a long journey and it looks like you're is going to turn out faboulus. :happy:

lee112780

Hey girls and guys! I just joined weight watchers today...it was pretty hard to stay within points! I was hungry! So I guess I was eating too much before.

cutmd

Ahh, supposed to be asleep right now! I hate when I can't sleep after 6 hours or so, I function best on 8 hrs!

leanmass24

Cut- yeah I function best on six.... I usually get about 4 though... When I sleep more then 8 I feel like complete doo doo... hope you have a good night... Allie- Good luck with the masters... I know it wont be easy. Meg- you have been doing great we all need a little support every now and then. Everyone have a great night!

MamaRandall

hey night shift peeps! Sorry I've been MIA for the last bit. It's been pretty crazy here at work. Which is why I need your help ASAP!!! I am in the process of filling out an application for another job at another hospital. I will still be working nights, so don't worry! You'll still be seeing me
Anyway, what do you guys think about letting them contact my current employer?? I wouldn't quit this job unless I got the other job, but I don't want the other job to contact this job and have my employers get mad at me and I lose this job and not get the other... LOL (did that make any sense?)
What do you guys suggest??? I am on really good terms with my employers here at the moment, but they are very fire happy. I would hate to piss them off and they just fire me because of it.

allie7383

I don't think they could fire you just b/c you're applying for another job, they'd have no cause. I feel like that would be a lawsuit right there lol. Since you said you're on good terms with your employers, maybe it would be better to just give them an FYI about what's going on, rather than the other people just contacting them, and they have no clue.. good luck with everything!

TheDash12

Hey NIGHT SHIFT

How is everyone?!?

I'm still super new to the site, but lovin it

<3Dash

allie7383

welcome Dash! glad to hear you're enjoying MFP! hope your night is going well. where are u working?

TheDash12

welcome Dash! glad to hear you're enjoying MFP! hope your night is going well. where are u working?

Im not even working. Im away from the family right now and CANNOT sleep.

Trust me, I know that getting a good nights is important
But being away from loved ones is nerve racking :[

MamaRandall

I don't think they could fire you just b/c you're applying for another job, they'd have no cause. I feel like that would be a lawsuit right there lol. Since you said you're on good terms with your employers, maybe it would be better to just give them an FYI about what's going on, rather than the other people just contacting them, and they have no clue.. good luck with everything!

Thanks. I decided to put that it was okay and I'll call later today and just let them know. Hopefully they are okay with it!!!!

robynrae_1

Hey everyone, anyone else working this Full moon weekend with me?

angdan31

I do the same thing as you jazz, however I have to be awake all shift.

I wish I would work out here with all the spare time I just end of playing video games. Being here bymyself makes it easy to stick to a decent diet.

If you're by yourself...do some sit-ups or jumping jacks!

angdan31

12hour shift are a whole other ball game. If you think it is hard to stay wake for 8 or 10... 12 is bad. I have been working 12s for 4 years now and it is not too bad now, however when I first started it almost killed me..lol. I was soo tired by the time i got home. i didnt want to do anything. I will say that when you have a normal exercise routine it helps tremendously. The days off are nice, but the first day is wasted do to sleep from working the 12 the night before, most of the time, unless you have enough energy to stay awake that day and get things done. Then you run into the problem of getting back on a day schedule on your days off. It is a never ending battle for me.

I've been working night shift for over 20 years...15 of those have been 8 hour shifts. The few years I worked 12 hour shifts were horrible. I basically went to work, came home, slept and got up and went back to work. They were lost days. The several days off were spent catching up on my sleep. I had 2 small kids at the time and never spent any real quality time with them. I was soooo tired. I love my 8 hour shifts. I work 11pm to 7:30am. I sleep while they are at school and am awake by 4pm, ready to make dinner and spend time with them. It's no different than working a day job to me. I've heard a lot of people have problems sleeping during the day but that's never been a problem for me. I've always been a night owl. I don't function well during the daylight hours to tell the truth. 8am to noon are my hardest hours to stay awake. I guess 20 years of night shift will do that to you.

angdan31

haha that's awesome! I'd love to bring my leslie sansone and do it on break since i get an hour, though we don't have showers near us, and no way could i sit around for the rest of the shift all sweaty! :embarassed:

That's my biggest problem with working nights. My unit is pretty slow most nights (oops...hope I didn't jinx myself...I work psych) I'd love to exercise during the long hours but I just can't sit around all sweaty!

angdan31

I've been on this site for over 4 months now and just discovered this thread. I love it! Finally people that understand what night shifters go through. Day shifters can't handle it :happy: