Shift worker with 90 lbs to lose

ozncj1976

I work a midnight shift as a 911 dispatcher which can be stressful and sometimes difficult to get proper sleep. I have the hours I work, the hours I sleep, the stress of the job, stress of 4 kids and a husband, and I'm in school for my bachelors. I hear stress leads to cortisol release and at this rate I'll never get all the weight off. My first week I gained, but this week I was very diligent about calories and did hit the gym and lost 4 pounds (total loss of 1 pound since I gained the first week). That is encouranging and I plan to repeat it, but today I'm soooo tired even after eating well and sleeping 7 hours today. When will I start feeling energized like the skinny people at the gym? Any tricks to keeping a schedule when you work nights? Also I don't know if I should count calories starting at midnight everyday or start counting when i get up. I actually think i have been over estimating my calorie intake so I won't eat as much. An example would be eating a 1/8 piece of banana dream cake from Toojays but not eating the chocolate frosting but I still counted all the calories Any suggestions are welcome. This site seems awesome I am going to lose the weight this time:)

gogospice

First of all I want to thank you! As a paramedic you make my job that much easier! Secondly, I'd start your food intake from when you wake up until you go to bed. But thats just my opinion. As for the underestimating calories, I do the same thing! I'd rather be under than over I think! Good luck with your journey!

poodlepaws

I would also start the counting when you get up. Exercise is going to be more difficult since you work the overnight shift and are sleeping during the daytime. Maybe try to get up a little earlier to get an hours worth of exercise in a day? I work 9 hours a day and in order to get my hours worth of exercise in I'm doing some of it in the dark but it's SOOOOO worth it. I'm determined to lose this weight!

leakewh

I'm a shift worker...rotating 12s (6-6)...I find it works better to keep a Midnight to Midnight schedule as far as tracking both food and exercise...Ive lost 60 lbs so far...

Jenbonn

I work 11-7am shift. When I get home I want to drop, we homeschool and my Dh works days. I get very little sleep and I find it hard to workout too. My DH loves to workout, we have decided to workout right when he gets home at 5pm. Then have dinner with the kids, he will put them to bed so I can nap before going in.

My "day" starts at 11:00 so I start my daily count then.