For those on Shift work...

krystle_swope
krystle_swope Posts: 47
edited September 30 in Motivation and Support
My boyfriend and I are on a workout/diet plan together but he's having a little bit of a hard time losing weight. He's a bigger guy so he's got a lot to lose but I think it has to do with the fact that he is on shift work. He has a rotating schedule 5 on, 3 off rotating days one week, nights the next and I have a feeling that his eating schedule because of this is messing him up.

Does anyone have a similar problem? Or could suggest a solution to help him out?

Replies

  • robinaddison
    robinaddison Posts: 232 Member
    I worked nights for years. The first thing I did was rename my meals. Instead of breakfast etc, I named them meal 1, meal 2 etc. This gets me out of the "breakfast in the morning' mentality as I always switched back to sleeping at night on my days off. I then decided that my 'day' was the period of time from when I woke up til when I went back to sleep. This means that frequently my day crosses over the calendar date but that's not a big deal. I hit the gym after work.
    In terms of what to eat,I've always found it hard to love salad at 3 am...but oatmeal is filling, comforting and low cal at that time! Drink lots of water - it's really easy to get dehydrated on 3rd shift. I find that drinking non caffeinated herbal tea (mint is my fave) throughout the night helped a lot - something warm without the coffee jitters.
    Hope that helps
  • Teresa652
    Teresa652 Posts: 217 Member
    My suggestion is to much sure that he plans his food out in advance. I work shift work. I work 2 days and then 1 1/2 off and then 3 nights and so on. Its hard but I find it helps to plan my meals out before I leave for work and don't run to the vending machines.
  • robinaddison
    robinaddison Posts: 232 Member
    Oh my gosh yes! Plan your meals in advance! I even log them in advance which mentally forces me to eat what I brought with me instead of hitting the vending machines!
    ps - feel free to add me if y'all want.
  • fuhrmeister
    fuhrmeister Posts: 1,796 Member
    my hubby works 3rd shift. i agree with the posters above. plan ahaed and eat whats in your luch box. I also renames hubby's meals as suggested. fruits and veggies. have him find healthy snacks he love and keep them with him at all times. My hubby love plums, cottage cheese and popcorn.
  • krystle_swope
    krystle_swope Posts: 47
    That's a really good idea. He also has a hard time because he gets busy at work and sometimes doesn't have time to eat a full meal so I have to pack him small things like granola, fruit and small sandwiches. He is under his calories suggested by MFP every day and it's even worse when he works because instead of coming home and eating, he goes straight to bed!

    We are going to try and plan meals ahead of time. I have a 9-5 job and unless I do it the day before, he won't pack his lunch so he lives off the cop diet. FAST FOOD! :(
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