Night Shift Problems

stacyemmynik · February 2015

I work night shift from 7pm to 7am. This makes following this app hard because I don't know weather to keep putting in food on the previous day or start adding to the new day after midnight. It also makes dieting in general harder because I constantly want to snack. So any tips from fellow night shifters would be helpful

awesomejdad · February 2015

It is up to you how you want to log. I prefer to go midnight to midnight. It is easier for me and works just the same in the long run.

Another little tip about snacking is to not bring to much food to work. I found, for me, that I was bringing in to much food or certain types of unhealthy food just because I wanted something yummy to help me have something to do at work or look forward to. So for me I had to make sure I only brought in a certain amount of healthy food for my shift.
P.S. if you are logging everything you put in your mouth, ABSOLUTLY EVERYTHING, you will snack less. Just stay the course long term and keep working hard.

RodaRose · February 2015

Some people log from midnight to midnight.
Pick any time. And be consistent.
I log from when I wake up.

britishbeau · February 2015

i used to add it as a day, because to me it was, you still have breakfast before work, lunch then dinner

fatjon73 · February 2015

I work 4 nights a week every week and I have set my diary up to show certain times of a night / day I mainly eat, I turn myself back normal on a weekend, so my eating pattern is all over the place....tracking accurately really does help....

For snacking, I work in a chocolate factory, so I know about snacking....lol one way I stop myself eating the spogs is to suck a polo mint, I don't like the taste with Choc, and it lasts a while if your a good sucker.....try something like that you like (can get sugar free polo's) but log them so they fit your goal......a pack of polo's is better than a bag of crisps and the mars etc.......

Also I drink a big glass of water if hungry, sometimes that helps keep my mind off it long enough for the pang to go.....

Hope this helps....

Smallc10 · February 2015

It makes it easier for me to log each time that I'm awake as a day - that means that when I'm awake from 5pm until 8 am is a full day that I log. That way I actually remember to eat as well because I tend to go on fasts when I'm no third shift because my whole body is so confused (I work a rotating shift schedule). It just makes it simpler for me.

Smallc10 · February 2015

Also to deal with snacking I pack my snacks ahead of time and don't bring any money with me so I can't go to the vending machine and literally have to eat what I brought and only that. It works for me. I just make sure I bring lots of healthy options that are snack worthy because I can't eat a full meal on nights.

Bugdude54 · February 2015

Been pulling graveyard 12' 6 to 6 here. I prep weigh and pack all my food for the night. I log a regular day so if I eat after midnight it goes on the next day.

As for snacks I pack a lot of pre weighed portions of carrots, broccoli. I also bring extra chicken. Low cal no carbs. Its hard though because the other guys have this place packed with treats. I've been eyeing a chocolate granola bar and bag of popcorn all week. Haha

kramrn77 · February 2015

I logged midnight to midnight because when I was off I went back to normal schedule. In the long run, it's whatever works for you so you can remain consistent.
I pack a bento box with a premeasured and logged lunch then a separate snack (depending on the size of the box as one box was roomy enough to pack both).

playmadcats · February 2015

I log waking time to bedtime (though does throw things out on shift change days). Find that having meals and snacks prepared are the big plus, as I'm less likely to be tempted by the confectionary machine. Usual stuff includes veg sticks or small salad with dip, yoghurt, fruit or nuts. Having Somme small pots where I can put 10-15 nuts in helps too as I'm not like likely to hog the whole bag have also found a lot of supermarkets do a tinned mixed bean salad which is handy for store cupboard as I'm not in position to shop daily for fresh fruit and veg. .

mamadon · February 2015

I also work 7-7. I've been logging for over two years. Whether it's my work days or my days off, I just log all my meals no matter when I eat them.
In other words, on work days I eat breakfast at 5 am, lunch at 1am and dinner at 4am with snacks too. I prelog right before I leave for work. Even though it technically spills over into the next day it all evens out.
On my days off, I eat at regular times, except my first day back to work, I have to wait until five to eat anything.

fiftyandfit · February 2015

Got 'voluntold' to work graves for 2 weeks to cover for another gal - 6pm to 6am....haven't had to work the 'yard' since '98. Doing ok with the sleep, having trouble figuring out where to log my food, but decided when I wake up, that's breakfast no matter what time the ol' clock says! I tend to graze when I'm bored, and on this shift I'm B O R E D!! Brought some dill pickles and pepperoncinis..helped with the sugar craving! Also made some air popped popcorn at home and brought a sack. Dinner (at 10pm) is consisting of lean protein and veggies. I know I'm not eating enough (MFP diary tells me so!!) I prepack my lunch box with nuts, fruit, string cheese besides the above mentioned. Most days I'm taking a good portion home uneaten. Best of luck on your journey!

kar328 · February 2015

I work the same 7-7 shifts. I log midnight to midnight. I also changed my food diary to read 12-6A, 6A-12P, 12-6P, 6-12A. Makes it easier for me rather than trying to decide if what I'm eating at 2AM is breakfast or what. At midnight MFP resets, I complete the diary - refill my water bottle and start fresh.

I eat a real dinner before I go to work, it's a busy delivery room, so breaks are never guaranteed, or sometimes even the ability to get your food out of the fridge. I pack lots of snacks for the shift, apples/PB, yogurt, cheese, protein bars and even what I call "stress chocolate" (if you knew my coworkers you'd understand).

fatfish59 · February 2015

I work 2 x 12 hour day shifts, 7am - 7pm; then 2 x 12 night shifts 7pm - 7am.

For day shifts, I just follow the normal pattern - Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner. For nights, I always eat a dinner at about 5.30pm before I go to work, then take a few healthy snack items for around 2am, which I log the as snacks on the day that I eat them. Next meal is usually a breakfast type meal - Granola, yoghurt & black coffee at about 1pm when I wake, which I record as lunch. Most important thing, I think, is being prepared in advance for your shifts with regard to your meals, rather than when you record them.

cincysweetheart · February 2015

I have worked graves for a little over 7 years now. I log midnight to midnight. It just makes sense for me. Plus it makes it easier because that's the way MFP is set up. You just input your food and let them figure out what day it goes on! No toggling back and forth between days. And it all works out by the end of the week anyway.

Personally… I don't snack at work. But then I only work an 8 hour shift too. As long as I eat a good meal (with adequate protein) before I go into work and make sure I keep drinking water, I don't get hungry until my lunch time. But with a longer shift like that I can see maybe needing a little bit of a snack. Fresh fruit and veggies are great options for snacks since they don't have a ton of calories. Add a little PB or cheese to some apples or hummus or cottage cheese to your veggies, it will add a little more substance to make it more satiating. Greek yogurt has good protein. Meal replacement bars/protein bars are great options. But I cannot stress enough to make sure you get plenty of water. It helps so much!

lacroyx · February 2015

Midnight to midnight. Regardless if I am working that night or I am off.

Night Shift Problems

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