Quality or quantity?

PrincessMorticia

I work on the weekends. Three 12hr shifts, Friday through Sunday from 9pm-9am. So Saturday through Monday I'm like a zombie. I basically get no sleep for those three days (because when I get home from work I have to take care of my three children) and I definitely don't have the energy to exercise during the weekends, and I've come to terms with that. My diet during the weekends is becoming problematic for me now too, though.

Here's my weekend: Friday night I go into work and I've already eaten dinner. I bring a snack with me like trail mix or pretzels and try to have a little at a time during the night. Saturday morning I leave work....by this time I'm exhausted, and usually don't want breakfast. I come home, have a few cups of coffee, and wait until my kids' nap time at 11am. By then I've been dying for a nap and I sleep until 1pm too. After I get up and get the kids up, I let them play and get their lunch, but I'm pretty much in "zombie mode" at this point.

I get through the day with very little energy, and so what I eat is usually based on convenience instead of taking the time to make a healthy meal (although lately I've been doing pretty good about finding convenient healthier options). I work Saturday night and go through the same cycle as the night before, and the same goes for Sunday during the day and Sunday night. Then Monday morning I'm finally free of the bondage that is the weekend, lol.

So here's my question:

Basically the first 2/3's of my day Sat-Mon I don't eat much because I'm so tired. So at the end of the day I've been thinking "I've only had like 300-400 calories today, should I eat something full of calories that's mega unhealthy for dinner to get my calories in, or skip all of my calories and get something healthy for dinner?" Because by 8pm, I don't want to eat a huge ton of food. So if I want to meet my calorie goal I'd need to get something high-cal. Getting something healthier and low-cal would probably be too much to eat that late....like 1,000 cals.

Sidesteal

Because by 8pm, I don't want to eat a huge ton of food.

Can you tell me why on the above first?

bear_nakey

Well for starters, you really need some sleep on the weekends! Do you have a partner or relative that can watch the kids from the time you get home until maybe 3? I think that will help you out tremendously!!! Your body needs to recharge, and since it can't do it over the weekend, it's probably acting funky!!
During the week days, pre package your dinners, lunches, etc. for the weekend. Make a plan of attack, so your not sitting there with 1000 calories, and wondering what to do. I think if you plan in advance for your weekends, things will go much more smoothly, and you will feel a ton better!

mirenner

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_Sally_

You can still eat a lot of calories with healthy foods (avocado, nut butters, whole grain pasta, beans).

I recommend eating healthy - don't use needing to hit your calorie target as an excuse to eaty unhealthy. The quality of your diet will also help with your energy levels as well.

Good luck!

PrincessMorticia

I'm ready to eat a meal by that time....evening is basically the only time during those days that my appetite resurfaces. But I have a bit of a phobia about eating large quantities of food at a time. Maybe it's not really an issue...but I feel like if I eat a lot at once, that my body's going to be more likely to crave large quantities of food, and send me into overeating again. So in the evenings I think to myself whether I want to get a healthy 300-400 calorie dinner or get a 800-1000 calorie (random estimates) drive-thru option just to get the "1200" magic number minimum.

As far as the sleep goes...nah I'm pretty much on my own. The kids' nap time is my only break during the weekends, sadly.

PrincessMorticia

You can still eat a lot of calories with healthy foods (avocado, nut butters, whole grain pasta, beans).

I recommend eating healthy - don't use needing to hit your calorie target as an excuse to eaty unhealthy. The quality of your diet will also help with your energy levels as well.

Good luck!

That's true....I could probably research some higher-calorie natural and healthy foods that would make easy meals.

Sidesteal

I feel like if I eat a lot at once, that my body's going to be more likely to crave large quantities of food, and send me into overeating again. So in the evenings I think to myself whether I want to get a healthy 300-400 calorie dinner or get a 800-1000 calorie (random estimates) drive-thru option just to get the "1200" magic number minimum.

Thanks for answering my question. I would recommend that you eat what you determine to be a healthy dinner, but add calorie dense foods to help you get closer to your calorie goal. Foods that are high in fat would be a great place to start, and additionally you should snack on almonds/cashews/nuts/nut butters as they are calorie dense. Perhaps this would allow you some sort of compromise in that you'd get closer to your calorie intake without having to utilize Wendy's™.

Susay2942

The best advice I have to meet your nutritional needs is to have an Ensure drink every four or so hours during your "marathon work schedule". Sleeping on a schedule with small children is almost impossible. I used to take power naps on my lunch hour and in between classes when I was doing the "work two jobs / go to school / raise the kids schedule". Its amazing how refreshing a 15 minute nap is. I used an little kitchen timer to keep from falling into a deep dead sleep and getting fired! LOL

You can survive this and be healthy... recognizing you are missing something, asking for help and taking steps to help yourself is definately going to make a difference. Good Luck.

hikeout470

you suffer from shift work syndrome like me... I recommend eating what and when you are in the mood for. So if you crave dinner foods for breakfast, or then go for it. bacon and eggs last in the day, etc. That is what I do and it seems to work for me. Also agreed maybe you can get a sitter for your nap when you get home in the morning.

PrincessMorticia

Thanks, all. Good advice. I think I may have been subconsciously been looking for an excuse to eat junk food on second thought. :P

I'll look into smarter meal choices with a higher calorie content since I might only find myself eating 1 or 2 meals a day during my weekends.