need help counting calories! =]
margaretweber
Posts: 2
Ok guys I need some serious help! I'm a nurse working night shift from 7pm to 7am 3 to 4 days a week. Im having issues trying to find a way to count my calories. Do I count them from midnight to midnight or my "day" when i wake up? I find this really hard to do my first shift back when I'm up most of the day before I nap and then go to work and how to switch back and forth on my days off. Ive put on at least 20lbs working nights. Especially because I drink a lot of soda =/.
any suggestions would be great!!
any suggestions would be great!!
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Replies
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I really struggled with this. I work Tuesday night to Saturday night, off Sunday & Monday night. I start my counting on Tuesday night for Wednesday's calories when I wake up to start my week and end my day when I go to bed on Wednesday. Saturday/Sunday/Monday are a little different. I go to work at 11:30pm Saturday night but I don't go to bed until about 5pm Sunday night - this is usually my "cheat" day because I KNOW I'm going to be over and there's really no way to avoid it. Monday is from morning to night and then Tuesday is from morning until I go lay down for a nap to prepare for the new week. Now that I've found my rhythm, this really works for me. Also, try to quit the soda. I was drinking Pepsi by the bucket on my shifts and had started gaining again. I have switched my Pepsi out for coffee and water. I not only started losing again, but I feel much more alert.0
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I work 12 hour nights, i log midnight to midnight. but if i plan a supper to have before midnight one night but am too busy to eat it i still log it on the evening even if i eat it at 3am.
plan your night shift meals and snacks out in the morning before, then you can eat accordingly during the day and you will still be satisfied through the night and not going over your calories tremendously. i eat light during the daytime before my 1st shift back to get back in rhythm
i have found oatmeal and tons of water to be a savior on this shift. oatmeal holds me over for a long time, i buy the bulk package plain oatmeal and add stevia and cinnamon (or kettle corn popcorn flavoring). then whenever i get a craving (or trying to avoid the buffet of candy the co-workers brought) drink a big glass of ice water. i have found chugging water also helps with avoiding mindless eating when i am tired at work.
try switching to diet soda or coffee - there are just so many empty calories in regular pop, but i go through about 4 cans of diet mountain dew a shift.0 -
I work 9pm to 7am. Saturday to Tuesday/Wednesday AM.
Saturday is my 'long day' it starts as early as 8am and goes until Sunday Morning at 8am (when I go to bed). I am either at or over on my counts that day. (I also at times nap in the afternoon but count everything as part of the same day).
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday I log from the time I get up, to the time I go to bed (generally 3:30pm/4pm until 8amish).
Wednesday is my 'short' day, I tend to be under 1200 calories that day, sometimes only 600 to 800 calories. - this day generally makes up for my Saturdays. I basically go to bed for a short nap, wake up for the afternoon/evening and then go to bed for the night around 11pmish.
Thursday and Friday start when I wake up and go until bedtime, which again, is generally 11pm to 1amish. (or later).
For me I subscribe to the philosophy that being over for one day (Saturday) or way under another (Wednesday) doesn't matter, what matters is your overall calorie deficiency (3,500 calories is a pound.. no matter what.)0 -
Thanks! Im going to try the midnight to midnight and see how that works out. Its nice to know there are other people who work nights having the same issues! Ive been planning my meals and snacks. I try to eat at least every few hours. Thanks for all the help! ill def keep yall posted! =]0
