Do you work nights?!?

245

Replies

  • ZenVen
    ZenVen Posts: 8
    > Add me too! I work 12+ hour shifts from (either) ~0300 - 1700 or ~1600 - 0500.
    > I'd love support and ideas from any of you! :)
  • boomrain
    boomrain Posts: 74 Member
    Yes! I work an werid time actually..4:30 pm till 1am..been doing it for 11 years now! Definatly had to stop the the late night eating..but now that I have and changed eating habits in general, Im 50lbs down!! :)

    That's awesome!! Great job!! When I first started my night job, I ate to help me stay awake and I gained 40 in one year!! Ive lost almost 30 if that 40, so I'm learning!!!
  • thisisjl
    thisisjl Posts: 1,074 Member
    I work nights and I finally figured out a way to calculate my food for each "day" I work 11-7am and I've found that since my sleep schedule is completely jacked some days I go to bed right when I get home some days I'm up until 2pm so I log my food on a 7am-7am schedule anything after 7am goes to the next day not matter what. That way my days are always 24 hours no questioning which day to put my food intake or exercise on.

    Oh that's interesting!! I still use the 12-12 schedule, but I do exactly what you do. Anything eaten before 12am goes on the previous day and visa versa.

    I decided on the 7-7 schedule just due to the times when I eat it made more sense makes it easier. I might switch it to 9-9 since now that it's summer seems like I'm staying up more often until 9-10 then my day just ends when I go to bed. IF you look at my diary I've got several meal times listed. 7am-10am (midnight snack lol) breakfast, lunch, dinner 1 and dinner 2, then snacks. depending on the day and whether or not I work I put stuff in where it needs to be helps me.
  • belle94509
    belle94509 Posts: 21
    I used to work nights (11pm - 7am) for about 3 years. I loved it except working weekends :frown:

    It was difficult getting my eating routine down because I would get confused about when to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner.


    I have changed my diary settings....actually several times cuz I TOO was getting really confused. But I found a way that is really helpful to me. It might help you too. I just started reading this thread so I will continue reading and see what other tips and suggestions I can find helpful. I start my new "day" at midnight. (I work at 7pm to 730am at one job and 1130 p to 8am at another with an hour commute each way to this job) So my set up is 12a-8am and then 8-11,11-2,2-5, 5-8, 8-12 and starts again. I track everthing I eat so this way its TRACKED. Who cares EXACTLY when it was eaten as long as it is tracked is my thought. Anyways hope this helps.
  • tlucas69
    tlucas69 Posts: 74 Member
    I work at a hospital. 11p to 7:30a. 5 days a week.
    I also get confused when to log in my meals. But right now i'm on the 12-12 way. Anything I eat right after midnite at work would be my breakfast.
    Feel free to add me!
  • icedesign1
    icedesign1 Posts: 7 Member
    I work twelves too! 8pm to 8 am. My diary always looks like I only eat 800 calories a day but really I eat 1600 most it's just half the calories on one day and half on the next. My biggest stumbling block is that my coworkers have the Food Network on all night long. I do walk for 25 minutes a night on my lunch break which helps a lot. I work in the 911 call center. Add me if youd like. My diary is open.
  • belle94509
    belle94509 Posts: 21
    I used to work nights (11pm - 7am) for about 3 years. I loved it except working weekends :frown:

    It was difficult getting my eating routine down because I would get confused about when to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner.

    I know exactly what you mean!!! That definitely was throwing me off too!! I was so afraid I wouldn't be able to lose weight because my body would be confused! I go back to a normal schedule Thursday-Sunday. And my night life is Monday-Wednesday. It's tricky!!


    Don't we wish "NIGHT LIFE" meant out dancing and partying?!!! lol.
  • boomrain
    boomrain Posts: 74 Member
    I used to work nights (11pm - 7am) for about 3 years. I loved it except working weekends :frown:

    It was difficult getting my eating routine down because I would get confused about when to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner.


    I have changed my diary settings....actually several times cuz I TOO was getting really confused. But I found a way that is really helpful to me. It might help you too. I just started reading this thread so I will continue reading and see what other tips and suggestions I can find helpful. I start my new "day" at midnight. (I work at 7pm to 730am at one job and 1130 p to 8am at another with an hour commute each way to this job) So my set up is 12a-8am and then 8-11,11-2,2-5, 5-8, 8-12 and starts again. I track everthing I eat so this way its TRACKED. Who cares EXACTLY when it was eaten as long as it is tracked is my thought. Anyways hope this helps.


    Yeah, I'm not specific with the times in my diary. Ive kept the normal 12-12 and I just make sure i log everything I eat. I cant change my settings because my routine is different for every night that I work. Is your diary open?
  • boomrain
    boomrain Posts: 74 Member
    I used to work nights (11pm - 7am) for about 3 years. I loved it except working weekends :frown:

    It was difficult getting my eating routine down because I would get confused about when to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner.

    I know exactly what you mean!!! That definitely was throwing me off too!! I was so afraid I wouldn't be able to lose weight because my body would be confused! I go back to a normal schedule Thursday-Sunday. And my night life is Monday-Wednesday. It's tricky!!


    Don't we wish "NIGHT LIFE" meant out dancing and partying?!!! lol.

    Haha, yeah really!!
  • Pip_squeak
    Pip_squeak Posts: 132 Member
    I'm a 12'er too. Just making my mark here.
  • XmanMike
    XmanMike Posts: 183 Member
    There is a lyric in a song I think by Ray Charles that goes "night time is the right time". I'm sure he wasn't talking about work. I work midnight to 8am 3 days a week and then midnight to noon on the weekend. It's just terrible. I usually cook up some chicken, chop it up and add some spice and I'm pretty much set. I'll also snack on some salty nuts, too. Wait, that didn't come out right. Lol! Planters peanuts! Every now and then when I'm feeling lazy, I'll just get a twelve inch turkey sub from Subway.
  • itsmindovermatter
    itsmindovermatter Posts: 51
    Hi there!

    I work nights also and have struggled for a long time to figure out a consistent schedule for eating.... My sleeping varies by the day and I tend to skip meals because either I'm too tired or I have just gotten up and will be eating dinner with my husband in a couple hours so it turns into a one-meal day.. I must say though that since I started keeping track with this program it has kind of forced me to eat when I probably would have skipped. Plus I have found that it stops me from grabbing an unhealthy snack "just to get something into my stomach" (the thought of entering it into the diary stops me from eating it)
    I'm hoping to gain a few tips and tricks by following the comments of others on this program:smile:
  • BR3ANDA
    BR3ANDA Posts: 622 Member
    I dont work nights, but I do work late (we work late), we own a business, open at noon, close at 10pm on weekdays and midnight on weekends, we come home, eat dinner, in bed by 3 or 4 am, ( thats normal for us, we dont wake up until 10:30am) sometimes we get to take 2 days off in a week though. I know how you feel, especially trying to keep up with a new lifestyle change. It seems like we come home, cook dinner, prepare food for the next day, try to get in a bike ride at 1am in our subdivision (kinda nice actually), watch little TV while cooling down, then hit the sack. Add me if you like! ~Bre
  • Pimpmonkey
    Pimpmonkey Posts: 566
    Hey guys,

    I've been using MFP since late Aprilish and everyone has been quite amazing and supportive!! I work two 12 hour night shifts 9pm-9am and one 15 hour night shift 9pm-12pm....and that's if I'm not doing overtime!! This lifestyle can we wicked hard!! I'm looking for friends who are in the same ballpark as me, so that we can help support each other and give each other advice about what to eat and such. Of course if you don't work nights, I love making new friends regardless. Just seeing if people are dealing with the same things that I have to deal/struggle with. :)

    Search for the official nightshift thread. There's a whole bunch of us!!!
  • JoeD1968
    JoeD1968 Posts: 167
    Sugar and caffeine !
    Add me 8)
  • boomrain
    boomrain Posts: 74 Member
    Sugar and caffeine !
    Add me 8)

    Haha those are two of the things I avoid. I know it's strange but...I don't consume any caffeine. Except for my one piece of dark chocolate.
  • pinkprincess1952
    pinkprincess1952 Posts: 194 Member
    I work nights... Some nights are better than others...
  • boomrain
    boomrain Posts: 74 Member
    Hi there!

    I work nights also and have struggled for a long time to figure out a consistent schedule for eating.... My sleeping varies by the day and I tend to skip meals because either I'm too tired or I have just gotten up and will be eating dinner with my husband in a couple hours so it turns into a one-meal day.. I must say though that since I started keeping track with this program it has kind of forced me to eat when I probably would have skipped. Plus I have found that it stops me from grabbing an unhealthy snack "just to get something into my stomach" (the thought of entering it into the diary stops me from eating it)
    I'm hoping to gain a few tips and tricks by following the comments of others on this program:smile:

    MFP definitely holds you accountable for sure!! I definitely think about what I'm putting in my body knowing I'm totally going to be judged haha. I hear you! When I first started working nights I was skipping meals and then stuffing my face all night!! Bad news!! This app has definitely helped me!! I'll add you!
  • TamAD48
    TamAD48 Posts: 387
    I work midnight to 8am 5 days a week......feel free to add me
  • Jeckersaw
    Jeckersaw Posts: 10 Member
    I work Thursday-Monday 4 PM-Midnight, but don't usually get to bed until 3 or 4 AM (unwinding). I'm usually hungry when I get off work. If I go to the gym after work I sometimes get to bed when the sun is coming up. Challenging to have a social life, and when I feel lonely is when I tend to eat more, and especially junky food.

    Anyone else have these issues working odd hours?
  • BHRussell
    BHRussell Posts: 83 Member
    I work strange hours and generally go to bed anywhere from 3 am- 6am and I wake in the afternoon. I would love a friend with maybe the similar hours. I love my MFP's but I have noticed they are all on a different schedule than me. Love to be your friend, add me if you like.:happy:
  • boomrain
    boomrain Posts: 74 Member
    I work Thursday-Monday 4 PM-Midnight, but don't usually get to bed until 3 or 4 AM (unwinding). I'm usually hungry when I get off work. If I go to the gym after work I sometimes get to bed when the sun is coming up. Challenging to have a social life, and when I feel lonely is when I tend to eat more, and especially junky food.

    Anyone else have these issues working odd hours?

    Oh yeah, that's tough!! When I worked weekends, I did nothing but sleep and work...and then eat like crap. Then while all my friends worked Monday-Friday, I was stuck hanging out by myself. It's hard and definitely lonely, so I feel you. I had to keep myself busy by getting out if the house, going to the gym or to the park. It's a rough lifestyle for sure!
  • BHRussell
    BHRussell Posts: 83 Member
    Always up late would you like to be friends?
  • tomedic
    tomedic Posts: 1
    i'm a shift worker as well and found any program hard to stick to. I did the p90x for 6wks but was getting up at 3am to do the workouts before working a 12hr day not counting my hour commute time. that was 3yrs ago and have since bought insanity and 10 minute trainer without opening them up yet. great intentions but no motivation. i feel like i can't start it if i know i can't finish it. i need some inspiration and a workout buddy!
  • kaylovluvz
    kaylovluvz Posts: 32
    My hire on shift is 130p-930p but I work a little of all. I do work nights quite often. But mainly as a split shift or a double! I have found that nights can be rather difficult especially when it comes to exercise!
  • belle94509
    belle94509 Posts: 21
    I used to work nights (11pm - 7am) for about 3 years. I loved it except working weekends :frown:

    It was difficult getting my eating routine down because I would get confused about when to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner.


    I have changed my diary settings....actually several times cuz I TOO was getting really confused. But I found a way that is really helpful to me. It might help you too. I just started reading this thread so I will continue reading and see what other tips and suggestions I can find helpful. I start my new "day" at midnight. (I work at 7pm to 730am at one job and 1130 p to 8am at another with an hour commute each way to this job) So my set up is 12a-8am and then 8-11,11-2,2-5, 5-8, 8-12 and starts again. I track everthing I eat so this way its TRACKED. Who cares EXACTLY when it was eaten as long as it is tracked is my thought. Anyways hope this helps.


    Yeah, I'm not specific with the times in my diary. Ive kept the normal 12-12 and I just make sure i log everything I eat. I cant change my settings because my routine is different for every night that I work. Is your diary open?


    I just changed the setting.
  • belle94509
    belle94509 Posts: 21
    There is a lyric in a song I think by Ray Charles that goes "night time is the right time". I'm sure he wasn't talking about work. I work midnight to 8am 3 days a week and then midnight to noon on the weekend. It's just terrible. I usually cook up some chicken, chop it up and add some spice and I'm pretty much set. I'll also snack on some salty nuts, too. Wait, that didn't come out right. Lol! Planters peanuts! Every now and then when I'm feeling lazy, I'll just get a twelve inch turkey sub from Subway.




    HA HA HA!!!!
  • lescooper123
    lescooper123 Posts: 4
    yes ... night shift is hard to keep on track. I can go days with very lilttle sleep and then days where i just want to sleep all day. Hard for me to get a schedule because i work some daylights and nights in the same wk. Some days not sure what day it is!! lol. Hard to get your exercise in too.
  • Treece68
    Treece68 Posts: 780 Member
    I used to work nights and I would wake up to eat dinner with my honey, had lunch about 2am and then breakfast before I went to bed about 8:30. Also i would snack in between. It was hard and I gained like 30lbs
  • bkbakersgirl
    bkbakersgirl Posts: 7
    I love working nights. But they are hard for me food-wise. Although being at work is better than the alternative... I'm afraid that if I were home at night, I'd eat the whole fridge!! When I'm at work, I can only eat what I brought! I'm glad most of the restaurants around my place close early so that I can't swing by before work. :) My willpower leaves a bit to be desired at this point, although the more weight I lose and feel my body changing, the less I want foods that are going to slow the progress.
    I am not good at getting up in the afternoon to exercise (or clean house or anything else for that matter), but I'm pretty good to go in the mornings after work. I usually get a little exercise in then. And when I get a few minutes alone at work, I keep weights in my work area and I do some strength training in between calls (fortunately it's not usually busy).

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