Official Nightshift thread!!!

cutmd

Lee, hubby drives me crazy with that crap too! I only got good post-nights sleep today because he's out of town. At least I'm only on real overnights 1/3rd of the time. Don't know how you do it. I love those morningstar products, too, especially the black bean and the breakfast patty, but I have gluten intolerance so I've cut them out :frown:
Keep sticking to the exercise and eating right and it will pay off. I like the idea of leaving 150 or so "catch all" calories but otherwise try to eat my exercise cals...

Allie, when do you exercise? I always work out before my shift, whether it's at 10pm, 4pm, or 7am. I find it energizes me. If I work out before I sleep it usually keeps me up.

chloehippy

i also work mainly nightshifts, 11pm-7am at a residential home for developmentally challenged adults. we have high behavior clients so we need to be awake and alert, until recently though backshift has been very hard for me and trying to watch what i eat, it is just so easy to grab something quick and easy, which most times is high calorie/fat. but i am making better choices now, and I keep yogurt on hand at all times. it seems to help curb my sweet tooth.

allie7383

yeah a few years ago when i first started on nights, i joined curves (again), and would bring clothes with me in the car so i could go straight there after work. after a couple weeks of doing that i got so exhausted, and fell in and out of going. working out before sleep kept me up as well!
now, especially lately i've been really tired, and ready for bed by the end of my shift, so i'll get home and pretty much get right to bed and be asleep before 9 (i get out at 7). now i workout when i get up, or later on in the day, maybe around 5 or so. depending on the workout i either feel great (jogging/walking) or rather tired (turbo jam). i'm usually great when it comes to the first half of the shift, but like i said, by the end..ugh!

lee112780

Allie, I work out when I get up too. I tried working out in the morning after work, but then Im all wired and cant get to sleep till noon.

Chloe and Cute, its tough to get used to, Ive been working this shift for 3 yrs now and Im still not used to it. My off days are the qworst. Any even t like weddings or something, Im always off on my sleep sched!! Hopefully, they will change my schedule soon-ish! I always try to have lots of snacks here too like rice cakes, applea sauce, fruit. Otherwise I go to the vending machine and I have a serious cheese it addiction!! So I try to stay away!

bjpkwiltz

I am one of you !!!!!! A 32 year night shift RN, now in ICU... single mom with kids now in college....the shift diff is hard to give up and at least now with the tracker I have a way to shuffle calories when I am up at night or normal. My schedule changes weekly with those wonderfu l"we are short tonight, do you want to come in for time and a half" at 3 in the afternoon calls....I never know what life will look like. I found MFP through a co-worker, and in 2 weeks having to really admit what I eat when I post it is an eye opener. 5 lbs down, many to go, but going!!!!

kmc3986

Decided to join Jazzercise to speed up the weight loss. Now the "slowness" of the losing is making me mad.... Keeping up on the tracking and got a few friends involved....Misery loves company. Hope you are all doing well.

allie7383

Kmc, I think getting the friends involved is one of the best things you can do, if only just to have someone there to support you through the good and esp. bad days. The first time I started logging into MFP I fell out of it after a couple weeks. The second time I started up, a few months later, I really got into reading the message boards, and when I started actually posting I couldn't stop! I found friends on here, and it's so encouraging just to have someone say, good job! to you when you've completed your food diary for the day, that it makes you want to keep on going.

I've been doing Turbo Jam, and loving it so much that last night I ordered Turbo Fire. Hopefully I'll get it in the coming days so when I have off next week I can start it up, and won't have to have energy for work once I get my butt kicked lol!

lee112780

Tonight is rough, Im off and boyfriend just went to bed. We just went food shopping, and theres tons of snacks in the house! I already had doritos, a butterfinger, and popcorn. I have to keep myself busy till I fall asleep, without eating! what do i do?

allie7383

brush your teeth, or have some tea, which might make you fall asleep.

cutmd

Kmc, I think getting the friends involved is one of the best things you can do, if only just to have someone there to support you through the good and esp. bad days. The first time I started logging into MFP I fell out of it after a couple weeks. The second time I started up, a few months later, I really got into reading the message boards, and when I started actually posting I couldn't stop! I found friends on here, and it's so encouraging just to have someone say, good job! to you when you've completed your food diary for the day, that it makes you want to keep on going.

I've been doing Turbo Jam, and loving it so much that last night I ordered Turbo Fire. Hopefully I'll get it in the coming days so when I have off next week I can start it up, and won't have to have energy for work once I get my butt kicked lol!

Turbo fire rocks! You are gonna love it! I'm halfway through myself :happy:

allie7383

awesome, thanks cutmd!! i can't wait to get it!! i was getting so excited just watching the advertisements for it lol

_SpeshK_

AH I AM SO GLAD you created this. I work 9pm-7am at a hotel, and there is A TON of downtime and a TON of snacks. It's really,really frustrating because I get bored, restless, and hungry and I end up binging at work A LOT. Sometimes I exercise at work but on the occasions that I binge it is really overwhelming and I feel out of control. Anyone else in this same boat? A few months ago at the hotel I was working the evening (3-9pm) and I worked as a stocker at a sports and outdoors store, so I was climbing ladders, stocking shelves, walking/jogging all night and of course I was dropping weight fast because I slept all day, and went to work at the hotel on a very busy shift, so less down time for eating, then went straight to a 10-7 shift of the ladder-climbing, etc... now I'm in school on my butt all day, then working overnight on my butt, and caving into cravings. Any suggestions or anyone else have this problem?

nicu0227

Hi my name is drea...my friend karen got me hooked up with my fitness pal...we both work as nurses at the same hospital on the "night shift"..We have been talking about weight lost and how we are finally going to start our journey..Well We Have Started and We Will Do This!!!!!

Teresa652

I agree that this is a good thread to have. I work rotating shifts so I usually have a day and a half off before going from days to nights. I find the first night is the hardest. I have an hour drive to and from work and a 12.5 hour shift. I find that I get less sleep on nights but have more energy when I wake up. When I go to bed I'm instantly asleep not like when I'm on days and wait to fall asleep. The place that I work at actually had this website as a link in our wellness section and there's enough to do on here to keep me going and learning new things. I even got my boyfriend to do it and he likes it.


Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Nutrition Facts For Foods

Teresa652

AH I AM SO GLAD you created this. I work 9pm-7am at a hotel, and there is A TON of downtime and a TON of snacks. It's really,really frustrating because I get bored, restless, and hungry and I end up binging at work A LOT. Sometimes I exercise at work but on the occasions that I binge it is really overwhelming and I feel out of control. Anyone else in this same boat? A few months ago at the hotel I was working the evening (3-9pm) and I worked as a stocker at a sports and outdoors store, so I was climbing ladders, stocking shelves, walking/jogging all night and of course I was dropping weight fast because I slept all day, and went to work at the hotel on a very busy shift, so less down time for eating, then went straight to a 10-7 shift of the ladder-climbing, etc... now I'm in school on my butt all day, then working overnight on my butt, and caving into cravings. Any suggestions or anyone else have this problem?

When I come to work I pack enough food to get me though my shift, using the calories I'm trying to keep. I don't bring money with me. If I"m feeling hungry I try to walk or climb stairs. There are water foutains everywhere and the water is nice and cold.

leanmass24

Allie- Hey, I just wanted to say that you are not the only one that has been getting super tired at the end of the shift after exercising that day. I have been having soo much trouble staying awake lately. I have tons of enegy for the first 6 hours of my shift then between 2am-4am. I am dead. I have really long days though. I wake up at 2pm to go exercise so I have time to do everything before work (6pm), and I have an hour drive to work and a 12hr shift. So my days are usually 18+ hours. The only thing that helps other than taking some sort of stimulant(coffee, 5 hour energy, tea) is just to keep moving. Go walk around if you have to.

MegJo

Hi all -
Just joined this website tonight. I started seeing a nutriontist 2 weeks ago and she set me up on this site. I've kept a food journal before, but never online. I've worked the night shift for the past year in a emergency communications center. It's definitly been a rollercoaster. First just getting use to a different sleep schedule, and second adjusting to a food schedule. I was overweight when I started and I've gained about 20lbs since I started on nights and its time to change. I think I was using nights as an excuse to eat poorly. The job is very stressful and crazy at times. Also scary: most of the dispatchers that have been on the job for years are significantly overweight. They even have special chairs. That totally freaked me out. I don't want to keep packing on the pounds. I do like to excersize but I live in Vermont and winter is fast approaching. I normally wake up around 4pm and pretty soon I'm going to be loosing my daylight hours to go walking/jogging outside. I guess thats my biggest worry right now. I'm glad this forum is here though. I moved to VT for this job and working nightshift has not been condusive to meeting people. So, thanks for being here! I'll try to post often. I really want to do this right this time.
-Meg

Teresa652

I hope you find this site useful as I do. I wish you all the best in your goals. There is lots of interesting things on here to read when the nights are slow.


Created by MyFitnessPal.com - Free Calorie Counter

leanmass24

Welcome Meg,
There is alot of useful info on this site and helpful people. I totally understand about the nightshift and the communications center worked 911 for 3 years gained about 60lbs during that time. I wish I would have had MFP then. Just bring your healthy food and stay away from the fast food, vending machines, and the ever increasing breakroom pastries and snacks, and you should do fine. Yeah those extra big chairs are scary... lol. I dont know what kind of phone you have, but there is a nice app for the IPhone and Andriod phones for this site so you can log anywhere.

MegJo

Thanks guys! I can totally see where youre coming from - there is a TON of stuff to read on here. It's incredibly encouraging to know there are other nightshifters out that have the same struggles that I do. With all the blogs and message boards, I'm really hoping to stay out of those big chairs! haha

Jessifer123

Hey Guys!
Would love to join the "nightshift" thread. I am a nurse and have been working nightshift for almost 4 years. I personally like the nightshift but do find it hard to keep a schedule and easy to grab junk food. I joined this website a few months ago and did really well for about a month then slacked off...now i'm back and want to stick with it!! Its nice to know there are others in the same situation...I know I need all the support I can get!!

leanmass24

Thanks guys! I can totally see where youre coming from - there is a TON of stuff to read on here. It's incredibly encouraging to know there are other nightshifters out that have the same struggles that I do. With all the blogs and message boards, I'm really hoping to stay out of those big chairs! haha

Thats why we are here ;-)............. Stick around here long enough and you will learn how to stay outta the big chairs and be the healthiest person you can be. You will make some like-minded friends and making friends is always fun. They will help encourage you to do the right thing when no one else will.

Jessifer- Welcome to the nighshift thread. Read through the previous posts and you will find some good tips on how to stay away from the the junk food and to manage schedules better. With better diet and exercise you will find it easier to cope with the nightshift and do what you need to do to stay healthy. I wish you all the luck in sticking with it this time.

egbkid

I will be working night shift next weekend, 11 P until 7 A Friday night, and 7 P - 7 A Saturday night. It has been a LONG time since i have worked this shift, but with my new job it is in the rotation, so i will be doing it every 6 or 7 weeks.

I plan on eating a big breakfast / dinner before work and only taking snacks with me. Nothing but Subway will be open after 10. When i get home in the morning, i plan on having something light, like butter toast, and crashing. Then when i wake up having another medium to large breakfast. I will only eat 2 meals Saturday (I hope). Saturday night i will have a 1 hour lunch at 2 AM...what am i to do with that?? I live close enough to walk home, but all i could do when i get there is check my emails and read...which is what i will be doing all night.

I work at a call center, 90% of our customers are 9 to 5 people, so i will be lucky to get 3 calls during my shift. Thankfully, i will be able to play online games and take movies, books and needlepoint to keep myself entertained. The queues have to be manned, whether we get calls or not!

My sister used to do the same job i have now, she said when she pulled the night shift, she would go to Subway on her break and sit in the TV room and watch 'dirty' TV (is there really anything else on at that time of day?). Of course, she was pregnant at the time...I don't really need Subway. We are connected to a mall, if i knew i would not have the security guards after me, i would run around there for the hour!

leanmass24

EGBKID- I would make my first meal the biggest something like grilled chicken with a cup of brown rice and a few servings green beans or whatever veggie you like... then snack the rest if the night apples, oranges, bananas, maybe a protein bar to help keep you full(I like the crunchy peanut butter clif bars or the chocolate chip), for your 2am lunch you can eat a healthy choice meal they are about 300 calories and light if you get the good ones. I like the fire roasted tomato chicken, subway is ok, but the deli meats have alot of sodium in them. I usually go over the sodium when I eat subway. If you are hungry in the morning when you get off of work egg beaters and multigrain toast is a good meal. low calories, low fat and not too many carbs. It is better to eat protien before you go to bed an limit carbs since they turn into instant energy and straight to fat if not used(at least that is what I hear). Hope this helps.

allie7383

Lean- thanks for the post before, glad i'm not the only one feeling exhausted like that! funny you mention just trying to move around, b/c that's exactly what i was trying to do haha. i was at my bench, all wasunder control, the machines were doing the work, and i swear if i had rested my head against the bench for more than 10 seconds i'd have completely passed out, so i practically started walking in circles lol. i had red bull twice this week, but i try to keep away from it b/c i def get tight in the chest if i have it too many days in a row. i also check the MFP message boards like crazy, esp if it's a slow night haha.
i remember reading some random tidbit that said people who fidgit tend to lose a tad bit more weight, just b/c of the constant moving they do... So as i'm sitting here, with no work to do, i'm moving my legs up and down like i'm walking/running in place hahaha. i have to say that it's kinda hard sometimes b/c i'm not one who has a habit like that lol.

welcome to all the people just joining us! this thread has been awesome for tips about sleeping, meal planning, diary keeping, exercising, you name it! tonight i just had a coffee on break b/c i made a bit of a mistake here, and have been dwelling on it, and just thinking of how i'm gonna get yelled at come monday morning since our boss freaks out about the smallest of things.. i have absolutely no appetite, and actually feel about nauseated lol. ugh!

MegJo

Hey Allie - sorry to hear about all the stress you have! EEK! But I know what you mean. It's amazing how our jobs affects weight gain and loss. And the fear of getting yelled at really sucks. Sorry! But keep it up, you're doing something right to have the weight loss that you have already! As for "running" while sitting down - I do the same thing!! I work in a room with 3 other dispatchers and sometimes they see me doing silly things under my desk like bouncing my legs up and down. But it works! I have a bodymedia "bug" - one of those things you wear on your arm that keeps track of the amount of calories you burn. I even tracked it to see if you burn more calories standing up instead of sitting, and you do! Just standing in place. I do that at work a lot too. We're lucky because our terminals can be moved up to standing height just by hitting a button. So in my 10 hour shift I try to stand for a total of 4 hours. I'm hoping doing all those little things will add up to weight loss.

allie7383

oh that's good! i recently bought a HRM off ebay, just a watch-type one, which only about $10, just to try it out and see if i actually use it before i go and invest more into a better one that may just sit on my table... the funny thing is that after bouncing my legs up and down for a while, i go to stand up, and my legs get kinda wobbly lol.
i work in the lab/blood bank in a hospital, so depending on what bench i'm at and how busy it is, one night i can be sitting on my butt watching a movie, and the next night be lucky to sit for more than 30 seconds lol. fortunately i'm on vacation come monday, so i just have tonight and tomorrow to get through, then a week of relief!

lee112780

Im at work tonight sooo sick with a cold :sad: just wanna go home!!! But they dont give me sick days yet because Im a contractor...terrible!

cutmd

Hope you feel better soon Lee :flowerforyou:

I just got home from swing shift. A patient coded just as I was leaving so I stayed back a bit to help out. Going to days after tomorrow and frankly looking forward to it. I love swing shift and nights but they are socially difficult. I should sleep right now, esp since hubby is in bed waiting but not tired

allie7383

Enjoy the days cutmd! next week i'll be on vacation, so i'll be outta wack for a bit, but will have tons of time to get workouts in.. maybe even start TurboFire! :glasses: