odd hours and new

Strandedjoel

just joined a day ago but i work in shifts. i did not want to wait so i started yesterday. the thing is i am working 11pm to 7am. i also worked friday but started 7am to 3pm then came back and worked friday11pm to sat.7am. started counting calories from sat. 8am. i ate close to midnight friday. not sure weather to count them for saterday. if anybody works a schedule like mine plz friend me. maybe you can give me pointers or we can figure it out. my worst times will be when i work this shift and am on call. slept for 2hrs since friday 6am. looking to sleep at least four more hours sunday.

Wez317

One of the cool things MFP lets you do is, change the names of traditional meal times. I changed breakfast to 11pm - 7am, lunch to 7am - 3pm, dinner to 3pm - 11pm. This played with my mind at first. It quickly became very helpful identifying what foods I should be eating. Like not eating left over dinner at work as "breakfast" , 3am isn't a good time to eat a heavy meal(very sleepy). I stopped bring heavy left over meals. Finding a satisfying meal to eat between 11-7am hasn't happened yet! Coffee and donut is convenient and easy. The calories suck. What do you have with coffee, that isn't high in calories?

allie7383

I also work 11p-7a and changed the headings in my diary as well.. granted I haven't been logging (Oops!) but when I do get back into it, I have my day going from midnight-midnight, so "breakfast" is from 12am-8am, midday is 8am-4pm, and then 4pm-12am is dinner. I find that helps me the best in organizing things. I usually don't eat leftover dinners at work either, but instead bring things that are on the lighter side, enough to be satisfied, and (hopefully) get me through the shift.

Wez317

45 lbs. lost . Wow, Working these hours. If you don't mind, How long has it taken? Do you sleep well? More then 4 to 6 hours a day.

allie7383

i started on here seriously last May/June at 193 and by this time last year I was down to 158.. This year hasn't been as good in the weight loss dept, for multiple reasons, but right now i've been holding at about 148-149 for several months now.. ready to finally get the rest off!
oh boy, sleep... when i get home, i can usually get to sleep within an hour, however if i get 6 hours in then it's a good day. i usually get up around 2:30 and then try to nap before work. i'm dealing with a sinus infection right now and only got 5 this morning. argh!

Wez317

Thanks!! It's encouraging to see your taking a long term goal. Not seeing the holding as failure. I'm holding my present weight after a small dip. I keep refining, I'm sure the hours and lack of sleep are slowing by progress.

allie7383

Yeah I def think the lack of proper sleep affects not only the weight loss game, but my whole self. Just before I did my first half marathon in Oct, I could feel some sickness just hanging around, and then the day after.. bam! I was rather sick the whole time I was on vacay from work. Since then I feel like I have like zero immunity. Trying to work on actually taking a multivitamin and believe me when I'm off I get all the sleep I can!

pinkladywalking

I noticed most of what is posted is older . i s this group still active? I could use so input on diet and excercise and sleep ( that precious commodity!!!)

Fnarkk

Its sorta active. Most of us are so damn tired that it is hard to come up with anything brilliant. I worked nights for 20+ years (Hosp.) and have been tracking my food for about 3-4 years now and I must say that sleep is really, really important. Every time I sleep less that 5 hrs a night for a couple weeks I tend to start packing on the pounds even with a stable diet/ exercise regime. (I do not mean lately; I have been hitting the chocolates really really bad the last few days.) HOWEVER, what are your questions/ concerns? We may be able to help or at least fake it and sound knowledgeable while doing so.