Exercising on Night Shifts!
steviex_xo
Posts: 19
First time poster here, so hi 
I have 7 nights shifts in a row coming up, which I have never done before all at once, and really worried about the lack of exercise I'll do and that it will throw me off track! The only ways I really work out are on the Kinect (I know) and running! And the other staff always bring lots of chocolate, crisps and cakes! Any tips anyone?
I have 7 nights shifts in a row coming up, which I have never done before all at once, and really worried about the lack of exercise I'll do and that it will throw me off track! The only ways I really work out are on the Kinect (I know) and running! And the other staff always bring lots of chocolate, crisps and cakes! Any tips anyone? 0
Replies
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make sure that you get your runs in and don't eat the extra treats unless you have room for them in your daily calorie count0
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I work nights and its hard!!!! Bring in your own healthy treats, and workout as soon as your up and about when u wake up.0
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I'm working nights and I personally don't find it difficult. You don't have to snack on the foods brought in. My shop does food runs in the middle of the night.....McDonalds is about all that is open. I make my own food before work. I also workout before work. I sleep right when I get off, that way I have several hours before work to accomplish all these things. I find it easier this way vs the staying up after work and sleeping through until right before. Try it both ways and see what works better for you.0
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I do it first thing when I wake up. As far as food, make sure you create a fail proof environment by bringing your own food and snacks.0
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I work nights regularly. I stop at the gym on my way home. My husband works days so there is nothing at home I'm dying to get home to see. I go workout, shower, then sleep. I either pack my lunch, or drive home and have dinner with my husband.
Decline the snacks. Be strong. I bring in fruit for snacks and big salads for lunches. Keeps me full enough where I don't feel like snacking.
I've tried to workout right as I get up, but it's more difficult for me to workout, go home to shower, then back out to work. I find it fits easier at the end of my night, since I don't have to worry about a time crunch and possibly go to work stinky/hair wet/late. I also don't have to worry about sleeping too late and missing my workout time.
I miss running outside, but it's too hot in the Louisiana heat during the day, and it's too dangerous at night.0 -
I am awful at working out because of the night shift. It's really an unnatural time to be awake and working. Even if I get 8 hours of sleep, I don't feel like doing ANYTHING during the day. :sick:0
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Why would working nights prevent you from working out?0
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Well, see my reason above your post. Not saying it's a good reason, but it's a reason.0
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Not feeling like doing anything isn't an excuse to not do anything. But hey, skipping one week of exercise never killed anybody so if you want to sleep for 16 hours a day for the next week go right ahead0
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I work nights. I find hitting the gym after work in the mornings is the best for me. Also where I work I have10-20 mins of down time which I take advantage of and go outside and walk/jog, sometimes even longer on the weekends. Does your job have a strict dress code? Mine doesn't so I'll just come into work wearing workout clothes and soon as I get off work, I head straight to the gym. Also I get up and walk around a lot. My job is a desk type job, so every little helps. I think the biggest factor is sleep though. For me, if I have a crappy sleep, I suffer. Too tired to exercise and I over eat at work to help me stay awake. Night shift does suck at times and it makes some things a little more difficult, but it's not impossible.0
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Not feeling like doing anything isn't an excuse to not do anything. But hey, skipping one week of exercise never killed anybody so if you want to sleep for 16 hours a day for the next week go right ahead
Maybe our definitions of "excuse" are different.0 -
I usually try and get some exercise in when I get off work in the morning.0
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Maybe our definitions of "excuse" are different.
Truer words have never been spoken.0 -
This. I've been working overnights for over a year. It hasn't affected my exercise routine at all. It's pretty simple. Just do it.Why would working nights prevent you from working out?0 -
All of the above. Working night shifts has no bearing on my being able to exercise or not. However, long shifts do. There are 2 days a week that I only have time to get 4 hours of sleep between my shifts so there is no way to squeeze in exercise. I just try and get home as quick as I can. But when working a regular overnight shift? No excuse.
This. I've been working overnights for over a year. It hasn't affected my exercise routine at all. It's pretty simple. Just do it.Why would working nights prevent you from working out?0 -
Wow thanks for all the positive replies! As for the negative replies - I'm actually a critical care nurse so sometimes I'm super rushed off my feet especially when trying to save someone's life. And sometimes, just sometimes, I don't feel like working out after that! I must try and put my feelings to one side next time!
On a less sarcastic note, I am going to be trying to work out more often after a night shift but find I am really tired already and wouldn't be able to do my usual workout, but every little helps I suppose! I'm also going to take some of my own snacks and try to resist 0 -
There's not a single negative reply in this thread.0
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There's not a single negative reply in this thread.
Then maybe some people should realise how others may take their words. And maybe some others could be a little more encouraging, maybe it's not as simple to me just do to exercises after a busy night shift. I was after some encouragement, that's all.0 -
I am awful at working out because of the night shift. It's really an unnatural time to be awake and working. Even if I get 8 hours of sleep, I don't feel like doing ANYTHING during the day. :sick:
IKR! And when you have finished your nights and trying to recover, it's the worst haha!0 -
Actually, it IS that simple. I've done it and so have others. You can work out immediately after work or get some sleep and then work out when you wake. 168 hours in a week leaves plenty of time to use your xbox to work out or to go run.
Encouragement doesn't mean what you think it means. And how you take my words is a you problem0 -
Fine,
Maybe you're right and my tone could be better. You should order this book about things that people use as excuses and perhaps you'll find the author's tone more pleasant than mine0 -
You know what? I get this. I really do. I'm an overnight ER vet tech. I spend my nights saving lives. After watching a cat asphyxiate in it's own lung fluid and suffer horribly with each breath until it dies because it's owner doesn't believe in euthanasia, I throw all that emotion into my workout. After pulling a 200 lb mastiff out of a car and performing CPR, that gets taken out in my workout. After placing an iv catheter in a pit bull in the midst of a grand mal seizure (moving target!), that emotion goes into my workout. After saving a blocked cat's life, that goes into my workout. All the horrible and wonderful things that happen on my shift are my fuel. When I get home, I sleep better having gotten it out of my system.Wow thanks for all the positive replies! As for the negative replies - I'm actually a critical care nurse so sometimes I'm super rushed off my feet especially when trying to save someone's life. And sometimes, just sometimes, I don't feel like working out after that!0 -
Fine,
Maybe you're right and my tone could be better. You should order this book about things that people use as excuses and perhaps you'll find the author's tone more pleasant than mine
No need to be a **** though is there! And just for the record I'm no where need fat, so joke's on you! And my post was about exercising on my one week of nights a month. On my days off I run 10 miles a day, plus my strength exercises, plus whatever else I do and in fact, why am I explaining myself to some loser over the internet (probably not in my country) who's probably way fatter than I'll ever be and who I'll never meet! So bye!0 -
Does anyone know if I can close this topic? I don't need this **** lol0
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Also, last night was my fourth 12 hour overnight in a row. I'm on my way to the gym right now.0
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Fine,
Maybe you're right and my tone could be better. You should order this book about things that people use as excuses and perhaps you'll find the author's tone more pleasant than mine
No need to be a **** though is there! And just for the record I'm no where need fat, so joke's on you! And my post was about exercising on my one week of nights a month. On my days off I run 10 miles a day, plus my strength exercises, plus whatever else I do and in fact, why am I explaining myself to some loser over the internet (probably not in my country) who's probably way fatter than I'll ever be and who I'll never meet! So bye!
Came in to help.
Saw the attitude.
Turning around and leaving.
Good luck.
Ps - many of us who work shift work also deal with high stress/life or death situation on the regular.0 -
Fine,
Maybe you're right and my tone could be better. You should order this book about things that people use as excuses and perhaps you'll find the author's tone more pleasant than mine
No need to be a **** though is there! And just for the record I'm no where need fat, so joke's on you! And my post was about exercising on my one week of nights a month. On my days off I run 10 miles a day, plus my strength exercises, plus whatever else I do and in fact, why am I explaining myself to some loser over the internet (probably not in my country) who's probably way fatter than I'll ever be and who I'll never meet! So bye!
Came in to help.
Saw the attitude.
Turning around and leaving.
Good luck.
Ps - many of us who work shift work also deal with high stress/life or death situation on the regular.
Maybe some people can deal with things better than I can then! Like a lot of normal people can't run 10miles plus every day, I can, I wouldn't be mean to them!
Like I said, I just want to close the topic now. Thanks for the reply.0 -
Wow thanks for all the positive replies! As for the negative replies - I'm actually a critical care nurse so sometimes I'm super rushed off my feet especially when trying to save someone's life. And sometimes, just sometimes, I don't feel like working out after that! I must try and put my feelings to one side next time!
On a less sarcastic note, I am going to be trying to work out more often after a night shift but find I am really tired already and wouldn't be able to do my usual workout, but every little helps I suppose! I'm also going to take some of my own snacks and try to resist
I realize you're being sarcastic here but you have hit on the answer.
I've got chronic fatigue syndrome, among other things. There are times when I don't feel like working out. Best thing I ever did fitness-wise was to stop letting my feelings be the deciding factor in whether or not I do what needs to be done. Make a commitment to work out, and then don't let it be a question of whether you're going to go. Don't even have that conversation in your head. Just go because you committed to go.0 -
Wow thanks for all the positive replies! As for the negative replies - I'm actually a critical care nurse so sometimes I'm super rushed off my feet especially when trying to save someone's life. And sometimes, just sometimes, I don't feel like working out after that! I must try and put my feelings to one side next time!
On a less sarcastic note, I am going to be trying to work out more often after a night shift but find I am really tired already and wouldn't be able to do my usual workout, but every little helps I suppose! I'm also going to take some of my own snacks and try to resist
I realize you're being sarcastic here but you have hit on the answer.
I've got chronic fatigue syndrome, among other things. There are times when I don't feel like working out. Best thing I ever did fitness-wise was to stop letting my feelings be the deciding factor in whether or not I do what needs to be done. Make a commitment to work out, and then don't let it be a question of whether you're going to go. Don't even have that conversation in your head. Just go because you committed to go.
Thank You! This is just what I needed! This sounds like great advice. I start them in two weeks so really going to try this and make sure I go for at least an hour run every morning when I finish. Thanks again 0 -
Wow thanks for all the positive replies! As for the negative replies - I'm actually a critical care nurse so sometimes I'm super rushed off my feet especially when trying to save someone's life. And sometimes, just sometimes, I don't feel like working out after that! I must try and put my feelings to one side next time!
On a less sarcastic note, I am going to be trying to work out more often after a night shift but find I am really tired already and wouldn't be able to do my usual workout, but every little helps I suppose! I'm also going to take some of my own snacks and try to resist
I'm also a critical care nurse who works 12's. I find it much easier to work out before my shift than after. I usually set my alarm for 4:30 and work out before work, that way I still get a good sleep. I used to work out after nights but I fell asleep on a treadmill once, not cool. On days that I'm just too tired to get up and work out, I skip the workout and do stairs on my breaks.0
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