Any shift workers out there?

I work entirely random 12 hour shifts and I actually find the opposite - during the day shifts I struggle to find easy to pack things that will keep me fuelled enough for the long haul and generally turn to carbs which not only make me feel like crap but I also gain. During the night shifts I actually struggle to eat enough calories and then feel awful that way!

What I am currently doing is planning the meals that I take before - for example I have a 'night shift meal plan' and a 'day shift meal plan'. Since I struggle to eat during the night shifts I take something light like salads to encourage me to eat enough calories. During the day I take sandwiches (with the amazing Hovis wheatgerm!) so I feel fuller for longer.

Also try eating at regular intervals - I try to eat something every 3-4 hours. By the time you've eaten your lunch and begin to feel hungry again, you know you've only got 1-2 hours to wait so don't feel the urge to snack

I know this probably hasn't helped much because I'm struggling with the same thing but sometimes it's just helpful to hear what others are attempting!

I work the night shift. I have found the best thing for me is to be consistent with food. I plan my meals and I bring my lunch and snacks with me. I eat every few hours, and I drink mostly water, with a cup of coffee or two. I've noticed that most people eat junk and fastfood. I see my coworkers eating one huge fastfood meal and vending machine food. I think that is a very easy way to gain weight. I'm moving and I just started a new job, so I haven't really been losing any weight, but I've been easily maintaining. And getting plenty of sleep helps as well.

eta: I don't rotate shifts, I probably would not be able to function that way! Try your best to be consistent either way.

Hey there when I saw your post I had to stop because Im dealing with the same thing. I work 10pm to 6am with 12 hour shifts atleast 1-2x a week. What I have found helpful was when I wrote out my day and ate accordingly. I stop trying to fit my eating schedule in exactly with my familes becasue we were on 2 different schedules and I paid attention to my body and how it reacted to my eating habits and schedule. This may take some time but its better to put the work in to find out what works so you can adust as your schedule changes than to try and wing it. When I didnt plan out my schedule I would eat out the vending machines, stop and get fast foods, eat what ever I had on hand. When I started tracking how my body reacted to my schedule I would adjust and plan, I kept good foods at work, plenty of water at work and in my car, I would keep things with me so I never had an excuse to stop or order something for a quick fix...long post but I hope it helps. I will be keeping an out for some tip on this post.

I work 11p-7a 5 days a week.

I work nights 5x a week 11pm-7am. For me the thing I found is most important of all is sleep. On the nights I work, I'll sleep in the afternoon and get about 6 to 7 hrs. If I get crappy sleep, then everything else just goes downhill from there. I over eat to help me stay awake going over my calories and don't bother excercising since I am too tired. I usually eat 2x in a 24 hr period. Once while at work between 4-6am and again around Noon-2pm. I typically avoid eating at minimum 2 hrs before working out because otherwise I get sick when I do any form of exercise and I also avoid eating 2hr before going to sleep. I find I have to get up and go to the bathroom if I don't, interrupting my sleep.