Need friends and MAJOR Motivation:)

We sound similar here. I know what it's like too, working the night shift. I was an aide and we in the nursing profession do love our food, especially on nights! The girls and I used to do a pot luck type thing once a week, oyyy.. but that was a few years ago for me. I'm at 212 lbs right now after having my 3rd baby and I have similar goals as you for the long term.

When I was working though, if I got spare time, I'd just walk up and down the halls or on "break" I'd walk around the building downstairs near the lunch room.

I've been on this site for a while too, but never got serious about it. I'm a cna and I work nights and I know exactly what you're talking about with wanting to eat at night. I am really wanting to stay motivated and stick with it this time and I would love to have people to keep me motivated.

Hello I feel what you are saying. What we have to learn is that when we mess up and go on a eating binge all we have to do is start fresh the next day, as long as that binge is not an every week binge then just remember that it happens ......even to the best of us. If we fall off just get back on..... dont allow yourself to stay down. Also I love to hang out and eat with family and friends as well so I try to choose places that have meals under a certain calorie amount......and if they dont......I have learned to just eat half of the meal and save the other half for another day. You may even want to drink a full glass of water and/or eat a small salad befor the meal comes out. If you know you are going out try to eat super light up til that point. It's hard but it is not impossible. You can do it. I also keep low cal snacks in my purse as well as prepare some of my food on Sunday for the week which helps out alot .

i am here for you i sent a request and I know exactly how you feel Im 16 and in high school and gained 20 lbs ever since and I think that the fact that we realize the lack of time we put on our health and tackling it heads on will make us successful. Best wishes

Oh I know exactly how horrid night shifts are! Good luck! X

I hear you - I am also a nurse and when I was your age, I worked almost exclusively nights. Fifteen years on, I have a couple of kids and can luckily go per diem so I can pick my shifts. I am convinced that this has helped me tremendously with my fitness. I know how hard it is to try to exercise when you're working so much. These days, we have 24 hour gyms near us - I could have used those back then! I think that working nights does a number on your mental health.

…and God knows, I know what those back room snacks look like…when we have to work ****ty shifts, like holidays, nights, weekends, the SuperBowl (any excuse, really), we all bring in yummy food to make it more fun. Maybe you could bring in fruit and veggie trays that look so awesome you won't be able to resist them! Also, check out some of the recipes over on Cookinglight.com or eatingwell.com - they have things like chocolate muffins and cupcakes to help satisfy those cravings (and reward yourself for the hard work you do!) without racking up too many calories!

Good luck! The fitter you are, the easier the job will be (at least physically!) and you will have more longevity in the profession!

Hi there,

Don't get depressed. I completely understand the frustration and anger with yourself. Let me first say, your goal is completely realistic. When I first started years ago I was 220 pounds and size 22. It took me awhile, but I got down to 127 and a size 4-6. The most meaningful thing someone told me was "Have patience, the rate you lose is typically the rate you will gain back. So if you lose slowly, you will be able to catch yourself before you gain too much back." Anyhow, it's true. I stayed that weight for quite awhile before I met my now husband. He's gorgeous, runs marathons and drinks beer. Okay, well, I can drink beer with him, but the other thing.... Anyhow, it's taken me a couple years but I've slowly gained about 40 lbs back just from that. Now I've decided, if I want to do the Pub thing with him, I also have to do the running thing. So now I'm training for my half marathon. I started training at the beginning of the year and just yesterday I ran a little over 5 miles.

Anyhow, I'm living proof you CAN do it. Patience. With yourself, and with your friends. The hardest thing to losing weight: food pushers who tell you to eat something and lose later (mom, heavy girlfriend, boyfriend). Make a plan to deal with them. The hardest thing to learning to run: Walking out the door. (I still and always will struggle with this, just keep going).

Good luck!!! Be one of the ones who stick with it and WINS!
Gwen

I am in the same boat, I loose a bit and then get so busy and down that I put it all back on again!!
Add me

I am in the same boat, I loose a bit and then get so busy and down that I put it all back on again!!
Add me