Calling all night-shift workers....

blytheny
blytheny Posts: 63 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So, a question for all of you who work the night shift along with me... does your weight routinely "spike" when you're on a run of nights?

I'm a nurse & I work 3 12hr shifts/week, with the occasional 8hr overtime shift. If I just work one night, my weight stays the same... but EVERY time I work more than one night, I see my weight go up by 1 or 2 lbs and my loss that week comes to a screeching halt.

I am religious about what I eat... I get my 1280 cal that MFP recommends on days I don't workout, and I eat back about half my workout cals on days that I do. My "days" are 12a-12a, meaning that on days I'm up at 8a and stay up all night working, my calories get counted until midnight for that day, and at midnight I start again for the following day - but I am at work, and I can't go 8 hours without food obviously like I would if I was sleeping. So I do eat...carefully, trying to keep my "morning" calories below 450 so I still have enough calories left when I get up that afternoon to not be starving all evening.

Just curious how other nightshifters handle their food/diet... I'm finding the weight gain just b/c my body's "clock" is off VERY frustrating.

Thanks for any input! :smile:

Replies

  • PennyVonDread
    PennyVonDread Posts: 432 Member
    I worked graves for a year. Your body doesn't care what time you eat, but if you aren't getting adequate sleep in regular intervals, your body may be more inclined to crave junk food as fuel for a quick boost to compensate.

    I'm also a nurse, and I have a second job doing swings/graves as a security officer. If you keep to your weekly calorie goal and exercise sometimes, your weight will go down. Caffeine and salty foods are more common for graveyard menu. I recommend bringing food from home every time. I also counted calories from midnight - midnight, so some days my calories would be "over" my goal (since I ate around midnight) and usually the next it was under, but the weekly goal was consistently on track. I've lost 40 pounds all together since last July, and only these last two weeks switched schedules to a majority of days/swing shifts.

    I think sleep is the most important factor to balance when working nights. I ate/craved less after a full 8 hour rest and had more energy. I lost weight slowly because there were many weeks I didn't get (intentional) "exercise," but the diet factor is more important in most cases.
  • Amerielle
    Amerielle Posts: 153 Member
    I'm a night shift nurse too. I have the same thing happen with my weight. One night, no problem. More than one shift...gain. For me, it's water weight. I feel so bloated after multiple shifts that I can hardly bend my fingers and it takes a couple of days off to even things back out.

    I track my food as awake to asleep time, not any set time. That will cause the occasional "over" day with that first shift on, but I also have the "under" day that comes with the end of nights on where I wake up early afternoon and then am back to bed that evening to try to flip back to normal hours. It all seems to work out in the big picture.

    Good luck!
  • bunnerfly
    bunnerfly Posts: 197 Member
    I work as an aid in a nursing home on 3rds. My rule of thumb is weigh once a week, after I wake up and after I pee. (Every little bit helps lol):blushing:

    I log my calories from midnight to midnight. Anything I eat after midnight is logged on the next days calories.
  • blytheny
    blytheny Posts: 63 Member
    I'm a night shift nurse too. I have the same thing happen with my weight. One night, no problem. More than one shift...gain. For me, it's water weight. I feel so bloated after multiple shifts that I can hardly bend my fingers and it takes a couple of days off to even things back out.

    That is EXACTLY what happens to me! NIce to know it's not just me! :wink:

    Thanks for all the responses so far... I do tend to crave junk, but stay as far away from it as possible, b/c I'm not one of those "eat a bite & walk away" kind of people... once I get a taste of the good stuff, I want MORE. So, I just avoid at all costs. :tongue: I do bring food from home and try to keep it healthy, with the occasional treat just so I don't get bored... but definitely need to probably watch sodium and caffeine more.

    And yes... I do need to not weigh myself on those days, b/c I already know what will happen... a lesson I need to learn... :happy:

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