New in town...

chriskswenson7

Hi there. This world of losing weight is completely new to me. My wife turned me onto MyFitnessPal last week. I've been following the calorie guidelines for the most part based on my height and weight and it I'm already down in weight. So far, I'm enjoying this new venture in my life to lose forty pounds or more. I do have some concerns with my work schedule; I work 5-4-9's on the grave shift and am afraid of the toll this could take on my body. I maintain a normal day life on my days off as I have a wife and kids by eating breakfast, lunch and dinner with them and trying to sleep through the night. I'm uncertain of how to keep the progress I'm seeing when I maintain normal life hours and then switch to graveshift for four or five days in a row. What advice do you all have in regards to losing weight with a work schedule that is opposite of my family's? Again, this is foreign to me and I'm hoping with your help and support I, too, can turnaround and help others.

matt090385

Hi

For every suggestion I make their will be someone with an opposite opinion, but here's my take.

Working the grave shift is tough. One day your bodies in (night mode) asleep and the next your feeding it cake... "well hopefully not cake exactly" What's important to remember is you eat 3 balanced meals during "YOUR" day. By balanced I mean equal in calories and nutrients. Skipping meals is a no no. Do you eat your families dinner as breakfast before you goto work? Those who follow the (eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a poorper) would argue that the family dinner for breakfast is a good thing, Better to eat those calories at the beginning of "YOUR" day than just before going to bed.

I've never managed to stomach meatballs or lasagne for breakfast but you maybe the exception :-)

Your metabolism is likely to get slightly out a whack during the day/night change over period however its important to keep your body fuelled eating ALL you allotted MFP allowance where possible. If your staying awake more that you should to get your sleeping pattern back in sync then you will need to adjust (increase) your intake by maybe introducing another small meal. Similarly if you catch up by spending longer in bed then you should be adjusting your intake (less) to compensate.

There is no such thing as right and wrong answers to this weight loss malarkey, just don't give up and use common sense.

Live your life like you do in the day just without the sunshine.
Breakfast lunch and dinner are meals not indicators of the time on the clock :-)

Hope that helps (ish)
Matt

chriskswenson7

Matt,
I really appreciate your input! I have noticed my weight loss/metabolism plateaus as I start my night shifts, but picks back up within a a day or two on my days off. I will surely use your tips to my advantage. Thanks again! Do you do shift work as well?