night work

terricol

I am about to start a week of nights, and find that during the night i am cold and tend to nibble. Would anyone else who does shift work including nights like to share how they survive the night. I use to eat everything and anything on nights normally bad stuff but really would like to break this habit. Many thanks in advance

chrisjathompson

Lots of protein and black coffee

mkeller234

Well, in my case, I can only eat what I bring with me. Lately i've been eating a couple pieces of fruit or some berries and drinking coffee... lots of black coffee. My diary is public if you want to compare.

Cait_Sidhe

I bring my food to work and eat my normal meals at work. I work 12 hour overnights. I eat a breakfast, lunch and dinner. I only eat what I bring.

ETA: My diary is also public.

karensdream

Actually, for me, nibbling not so bad. I have worked nights for over 30 yrs. I work in a hospital, and of course we have a cafeteria. The choices are better than they used to be, but going to the cafeteria is expensive, and I would tend to get things I really didn't need to eat, like desserts, etc. Plus, it was eating too heavy at that hour of the day. About 3 yrs ago I began packing my lunch every day, and that's been a big help. I only eat what I pack, and I pack things like a sandwich, raw veggies with either hummus or ranch dressing to dip, fresh fruit, yougurt and granola, string cheese, and hard boiled eggs. The nature of my job doesn't always allow for a formal "sit-down" meal time, so it's eating on the fly. With the type of things I bring, it lets me get in my protein, etc. without getting too hungry in between times. And I always make it a point to eat breakfast when I get home in the morning, before I go to bed, otherwise I wake up ravenous.

axialmeow

I work nights. I treat it exactly the same as if I worked days. I don't snack at work. I eat my "dinner" at about 3am. I eat breakfast when I wake up(between 2pm and 4pm) and lunch is at about 8pm right before I leave.

strawfairy

The first night is the worst, but I tend to try and eat the same as I would during the day. Try and have breakfast before you start your shift, cook something and take it with you. But if you know you're a nibbler try cutting up a few carrots and cucumber, maybe some nuts to snack on. I also found these 'mug shots'. They're like a healthy pot noodle.
I used to just eat rubbish on my nights, part of me thought I deserved to but actually you're just changing your whole routine so you should be eating like you would during the day.

Having said all that I can never tell what I'm going to be like on a night shift. Some nights I don't have an appetite and other nights I could just eat everything, I end up buying crisps and chocolate from vending machines.

I had to break the habit of just eating because I was bored.

Good luck with your nights

ferdenov

Anyone find it hard working out ? I work night and find I have no energy to work out , any tips ? I don't drink any cafeen so makes it harder