Working night shift while trying to loose

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alessandra_matthews
alessandra_matthews Posts: 13 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Does anyone find it harder to lose weight while working the night shift? I work nights three days a week 12 hour shift and it messes the rest of my week sleep schedule totally up. I've been losing about 2 pounds a week for the last monthbut I noticed that the weight drops on my days off and not on the days that I work. I eat the same thing at home that I do at work so nutrition isn't the reason. Any advice from any other night shift workers out there I really got to keep the ball rolling I'm getting married in a year.

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  • hhazzouri
    hhazzouri Posts: 103 Member
    edited May 2016
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    Im gonna assume that you measure your weight everyday, but because of your schedule you cant always do it under the same conditions so the readings will not be accurate.
  • alessandra_matthews
    alessandra_matthews Posts: 13 Member
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    I get off at 7 am I always weigh myself at that time
  • nurselinds
    nurselinds Posts: 1 Member
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    I'm having the same issue. Losing weight is much slower on night shift. We sleep more than most I feel. I try to make sure I eat nothing else after "lunch"... I used to come home and have breakfast but I stopped that.
  • Ama093
    Ama093 Posts: 7 Member
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    I always weigh more after night shifts. I tend to have a bit of swelling in my feet, especially if it's a busy night. Weigh yourself after you sleep post nights
  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
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    Nope. I've worked nights for 6+ years and have no issue.
  • hhazzouri
    hhazzouri Posts: 103 Member
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    alessandra_matthews wrote: »
    I get off at 7 am I always weigh myself at that time

    Im not sure how your sleeping schedule is but weighing yourself at 7 after hours of sleep (dehydration) will not be the same as right after work. You might also be drinking more liquids during your work shift (coffee?). Anyway a 1% increase/decrease between days is a normal variation as long as its a downward trend.
  • edoll61
    edoll61 Posts: 22 Member
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    I'm a night shifter as well and I've had my share of issues, but I'm trying to make some adjustments. The hardest part for me is adjusting my food schedule. Basically, when I get home I have a good, healthy breakfast, sleep for about 6-7 hours and have a small snack when I wake up. I consider dinner my lunch and my "lunch" at about 3 a.m. my dinner. I know it seems weird, but it makes sense to me, lol. I don't have a scale at home, so I use the one at work and weigh myself about 2 times a week. I would prefer to not even eat when I get home, but I don't always go to bed immediately as there's stuff to do around the house, so basically I skip my normal lunch in the afternoon. Keep with it. You'll see results if you keep it up.
  • alessandra_matthews
    alessandra_matthews Posts: 13 Member
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    I still eat my meal during they day i wake up about 230-3 pm and have lunch then at 9pm I eat dinner at work and won't eat again until I'm off at 7am
  • JustBreathSB
    JustBreathSB Posts: 103 Member
    edited May 2016
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    I have trouble losing on nights too. I work the same schedule as you 3 nights 12 hour shifts. I just try to eat healthy during my shift (which can be hard when your co workers are having potlucks and ordering pizza). If it's a weigh in day I go home and sleep then weigh myself first thing when I wake up. It's hard for me to eat at night so I usually just take snacks like a banana, yogurt, Lara bar and eat them throughout the night. I'm down 13.8lbs but it's taken me 3 months.
  • kar328
    kar328 Posts: 4,157 Member
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    I've been on nights for a hundred years. I do not weigh myself after working, I'll wait until I've had a night off, slept and then check it in the morning. I know my ankles get puffy at work, I'm drinking water all night long and eating every few hours, so I feel it's more accurate when I've been on a "normal" schedule for a day. So, I don't have a specific weigh-in day of the week but this works for me. Down 111 lbs despite the never ending night shift potlucks.
  • lifeskittles
    lifeskittles Posts: 438 Member
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    I always retain a lot of water after working a night shift. It would be the most accurate to weigh yourself after a couple of days off after waking up when your sleep is more normalized and you havent been on your feet all day.
  • cgower36
    cgower36 Posts: 1 Member
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    I'm glad I'm not the only one that struggles with the night shift. I generally weigh myself when i first wake up, so if weigh in day once a week falls on nights then it 5pm if it's on a day off it's about 8am. Always find it stays on track that way. My trouble is meal planning. I try to have breakfast when I wake up at 5pm and then dinner about 11pm. I'll always skip lunch on work days and tend to snack more between the meals. On off days I go to the gym and have Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner with a couple of snacks throughout the day. So far I've lost 42lbs in 3months so it must be working in some way.
  • medic03431
    medic03431 Posts: 1 Member
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    One of the reasons it is difficult to lose weight working night shift is we generally have an issue with cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone which helps regulate sugar and fat metabolism. Increased cortisol levels result in increased appetite, poor blood sugar control and increased fat storage. Unfortunately switching from night shifts to a "normal" schedule to deal with family and other things, then back to nights again makes our bodies stressed and increases our cortisol level. A good, consistent, sleep schedule is key in maintaining normal levels and easier weight management.

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