We are pleased to announce that on March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor will be introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the upcoming changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Midnight Shift

GypsyQueen
GypsyQueen Posts: 19 Member
edited September 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I would like to hear suggestions on how other night workers manage meal schedules. I seem to eat 24 hours...being up all night and napping during the day leaves me wanting to snack continually. I think I am starving when I get home (but we know that is not true). Lunch time at work is 4am or is that breakfast? Do others spread out meals throughout the day or stick to a regular meal time? I have been doing this for many years is this where my constant grazing habits have come from? I am a night owl on the weekends also, just want to snack, snack, snack all day & night. Any suggestions are appreciated .. Thank you!

Replies

  • GypsyQueen
    GypsyQueen Posts: 19 Member
    I would like to hear suggestions on how other night workers manage meal schedules. I seem to eat 24 hours...being up all night and napping during the day leaves me wanting to snack continually. I think I am starving when I get home (but we know that is not true). Lunch time at work is 4am or is that breakfast? Do others spread out meals throughout the day or stick to a regular meal time? I have been doing this for many years is this where my constant grazing habits have come from? I am a night owl on the weekends also, just want to snack, snack, snack all day & night. Any suggestions are appreciated .. Thank you!
  • WillPillageYourVillageForFood
    WillPillageYourVillageForFood Posts: 777 Member
    I worked midnights for many years and was at my skinniest then, probably due to the lack of restaurants being open and I was forced to pack my lunch. I ate when I got up to go to work, again usually around 3 or 4 in the morning and then again at 9 or so in the morning before going to bed. I liked to snack a lot while at work because it was boring at times but I made myself limit my portions and I did okay. It was harder when I got off of work because the food was unlimited in my house.
  • smadag1
    smadag1 Posts: 1,368
    DIDO:smile:
  • dolce33
    dolce33 Posts: 4 Member
    Hey fellow night owl! I had to first adjust my sleeping schedule. In order to lose weight your body must have sufficient rest. Therefore I make sure I get 6 to 8 hours of consecutive sleep. This in turn allowed my eating schedule to fall into place. The following is my schedule.
    Midnight...wakeup
    12:30 Cardio
    1:00 shower
    1:15 dress
    2:00 arrive @ work / eat breakfast
    4:00 snack
    6:00 lunch
    8:00 snack
    10:00 dinner
    Noon pre workout snack
    12:30 gym
    2:30 home
    3:00 post workout snack

    Make dinner for kids, pack my lunch for the next day, shower.

    4pm - 6pm go to bed!

    I still struggle with this schedule. I hate working midnights. But this schedule works best for me. Now, I do alter it for my boys football games or dinner date. But I feel so much better when my sleep is not interrupted.
  • GypsyQueen
    GypsyQueen Posts: 19 Member
    I will take your suggestions & work into my schedule as best I can.. I see you do eat your meals at work where I have something like a yogurt or popcorn during lunch, must be why I come home feeling so hungry. I like that you pack your lunch, thinking ahead instead of grabbing something at the last minute as I do. My problem will be getting enough sleep I have just never been able to sleep longer than three hours then up and later back down for a short nap before starting out to work again. But I will try, I know it would help me feel better and not driving to work blurry eyed will be great to! Thank you for your help.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories