Does anyone on night shifts have this problem?

LenaNicole15

I work as a careaide and perform shift work as 5 nights on, followed by either 2 or 3 days off. I was wondering if anyone else who works nights has the problem of not being able to successfully reach their caloric intake goal? Because I sleep during the day I miss quite a few hours that I could be eating lol, and by the time I head out for work again I am sometimes 600-700 calories away from my suggested calorie goal. I know the importance of getting close to your goal in order to lose weight, so if anyone has any suggestions as to how I can successfully reach my caloric intake, I would be very appreciative!

lausa22

My dad lost 4lbs working nights the past week haha.
I suggest snacking on nuts throughout the night or having a meal before you leave for a night shift.

Yooperm35

I work afternoons ( in a restaurant of all places! ) and I usually
Don't eat because I am too busy. By the time I get a chance, it is near closing time 11:00) and I am either not hungry, or my lunch i brought is just too heavy for that time of the night. I have just started eating a bigger breakfast and lunch to compensate for the skipped meals on the days I work. I will then eat a granola bar, or some other small, quick type if snack.

W0zzie

Not personally as I'm a day walker but my wife is a Baker and finds it hard & at least 1 of my pals works shifts and yeh it can be a real challenge. My wife is now using a service that basically plans a 1800 cal day for you - it takes a lot of the hassle out of it. You could do the same though just be planning ahead - enter all your food for the day on MFP as a plan. It might be a bit of extra hassle but - whatever works...

Good luck

xraychick77

you'll lose weight being that low on calories.thats just the way the body works..

i dont have that problem. though..i eat around 1800 cals a day..some more..i'm building muscle.

its about planning your meals..i'm sure you eat at night...eat breakfast when you get home and eat dinner when you get up..its as simple as that.

jgover

Do you sleep at your night job? I have my schedule where I get up at 4, I have a little snack then have "breakfast" with the family at dinnertime, have snack at work at 10:30, "lunch" at 2am, and "dinner" at 6. I sleep from 8:30 till 4 p.m.

swaymyway

I don't count my 'day' from midnight to midnight so this isn't a problem for me, I eat my meals at unusual hours but I count my day from when I get up (11am) until when I go to bed (2am) - so makes no difference.

TriedEverything

Hi,
That's interesting, because if I understand you correctly, you're saying that you eat a lot LESS than your suggested calories - whereas I work nights, and seem to have the opposite problem! But I think the difference is that I only work a couple of nights each week, so I don't get into the same kind of routine as you (when you work 5 nights in row).

I just find that I am awake for about 20 to 21 hours out of 24, and I am constantly eating! I eat my usual meals at home, and then go to work and eat sandwiches & snacks through the night too! I wouldn't mind having your problem! :laugh: Seriously though, if you are eating too little when you're at work, could you maybe allow yourself a bit more on your days off? Then it might even out over time...perhaps..! :ohwell:

jasmineconley

I'm up at the wee hours of the morning and I dont close out the day until I am actually done with it versus splitting it up. Just hit the back tab on your day and youre good to go

ViolaBoop

I think swaymyway makes a good point.... Perhaps the problem is that the beginning and end of your day is dramatically different when you are working and when you are not. I work overnights and find that if I am counting my days as midnight to midnight, I am short on calories on the first night of my weekend (because I'm sleeping), but I figure it all works out by the beginning of my next work week.