Any shift workers?

whitbynurse
whitbynurse Posts: 5
in Introduce Yourself
Hello I'm new here and looking for some motivating friends hopefully with some similarities to myself. I'm 37 from Ontario, busy mom of 4 kids and a FT job as an RN in the ER which means 12 hour shifts (days and nights) I really struggle with eating well on workdays, either too busy to get a proper break so I end up munching on whatever I can grab on the go, sometimes too busy to eat at all the entire shift so I binge when I get home on crap or just craving junk and crap on night shifts even if I pack good healthy options. Doesn't help that the docs buy us pizza all the time! Would love to hear from other shift workers for tips and tricks to eating well at work! I also never get to the gym on work days as I'm just beat by the time I'm done and have the kids waiting for me at home needing my attention.

Over the years since having kids I can't seem to get back to where I want to be (goal around 115-120, I'm only 5 ft 1). Got a ways to go I'm at 141 now but the number is not really important I just want to feel better about my body, have some tone and definition, more energy and feel stronger. If that happens I don't care what the scale says! I had a shock to push me to make changes when I started up at the gym in January and the body fat scale showed 46%. Before kids I was around 20% and I was happy with the way I looked. I have a friend that is doing MFP and has done really well so I thought I'd give it a try. Hope to hear from others in similar situations and good luck to all!

Replies

  • FemmeFire
    FemmeFire Posts: 49
    Hello my fellow shift worker! Please add me and I suggest you also "like" my FB page: facebook.com/femmefire where I post motivational and nutritional ideas every day.
    I am an RCMP dispatcher in Alberta (originally from Ontario)
    Renée
  • ericanom
    ericanom Posts: 27 Member
    I'm a student nurse working shifts, finding it quite hard to fit in healthy meals and tend to go for quick easy options!
  • BettyandVeronica
    BettyandVeronica Posts: 333 Member
    I am a hospital shift worker too. Had the craziest night shift last week. I'm always terrified `i won't be able to resist the 'vending machine" diet. It's harder being healthy with Lates,Earlies,Days and Night shift combinations....or the dreaded Long Day. Thankfully I don't do 36hour shifts anymore.

    Anyone can add me.
  • lostlove8169
    lostlove8169 Posts: 2
    Please feel free to add me as well. I am always looking for new "friends". :)
    I am on OB RN in the US. I work 12 hr night shifts. 2 nights a week. My hubby is an ER nurse and works 12 hr evening shifts. I totally get how hard it is when busy not to snack. I have 4 kids as well youngest just turned two, 5, 7, and 11. so lots of similarities to you. :). I have just lost 50 pounds and am now 5 pounds from my prepregnancy weight of 137 (I'm 5'6"). At that point I may reevaluate and try to drop to 130ish but I grew up heavy my whole life. I was only 137 pounds for a year before getting pregnant with baby number 4. I had dropped 98 pounds from 235 to 137 just prior so 137 seemed like a healthy weight for me I am not sure if 130 would be or not. As far as advice for staying away from the munching I find that grabbing a hard candy helps me a lot. I either keep butterscotch or mints nearby (helps with bad breth at night too! : D ).
  • wearynurse
    wearynurse Posts: 31 Member
    My name is Jade. I'm also an ER nurse and have just stopped doing nights but I work 11 x 8 hours shifts a fortnight. I'm a single mum and I teach nursing students on the nights I don't have my kid with me so I totally understand being busy and tired.

    For me,I've started using one afternoon of my days off cooking, preparing and freezing portions for the week ahead. It means I might eat the same thing several days in a row but I'm trying to teach myself that "food is fuel" so maybe that's not such a bad thing!

    I feel that I get adequate exercise - I walk everywhere and am sometimes able to get to the gym before work but food is my downfall, particularly at night.

    I would love to hear your strategies and stories. Feel free to add me as a friend.

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