Any other 911 dispatchers?

Hi !! I am also a 911 dispatcher in Canada!

We work 12 hour shifts -- nights and days -- I have just recently got into the routine of going to the gym on my lunch -- but it is not easy!

Sitting at a desk for 12 hours and taking calls nonstop puts on a lot of stress and exhaustion.

My platoon orders in food every night shift and it is so tempting to not get anything !

I have been doing this job for 3 years and gained 70 lbs! It's crazy. So I am trying to get back in shape - MFP has been keeping me in shape. But I find that the Apple Watch has been doing wonders with keeping me motivated.

I am currently on day 9 of being on track -- hoping to lose a lot before my 30th birthday in October.

Oh awesome! That gives you lots of time! How many days per week do you typically work ?

I am also a 911 dispatcher here in York, PA ! I can honestly say I am was so glad to see that there was a group on here for this! So we have 8-hr shifts, and obviously the country wide overtime issue. We have on the spot mandations and scheduled manadtions. On top of the voluntary overtime we bid on every week for 1 month out on the schedule. Currently I am a calltaker and luckily there is not as much overtime as there is for dispatchers. We also have raising desks and are not allowed to have any exercise equipment on the communication floor. I have always been over weight my entire life and have made the decision to make a life style change and get the gastric weight loss surgery done this year. I am in the process of getting all of my pre-requisits done. When I started this job a little less than a year ago, I thought it would be the same as everywhere else I have worked. I thought that due to me being the 'fat girl' no one was going to accept me and have open arms into their friends group that has already started. I was told in the beginning that when you work you, you very quickly become a family. I didn't believe them. I was wrong. My very first day, we observed on the dispatch floor with no training. We sat and had a packet of things we needed to learn before we went into the classroom and did training. While I was observing that first week, everyone was so nice. They accepted me and was very willing to help out with teaching me things right off the bat. Once I had completed my 3 month classroom training we came out to the floor. Since then, I have noticed how many people are suportive of everyone losing weight around me. With me being 25 yoa, 5'10" and 425 pounds I clearly have been the largest person in the comm center. When I told everyone that I was getting the surgery and that I needed to lose weight, many decided to diet with me. I had mentioned about doing a biggest loser challenge amongst everyone on the dispatch floor. We are in the middle of that. It was 10 dollars to entry the contest, weekly weigh-ins and measurments. The person with the most weight and inches lost gets the grand money total at the end of the challenge. Every one jumped on board! If someone sees someone else who is making unhealthy food choices we hold them accountable and ask them. Some people in the center have android or apple watches and they do fitness challenges among themselves. We are very fortunate enought to have a health care benefit that allows us to pay $30 a month and we get a gym membership car. This card will allow us to walk into any gym facility and use it with out any fees. there is no monthly limit to how many times we can use a gym, and no exlusions to the benefits we get at the gym. As far as the 'quite' moments we will make sure that we have fruit or vegetables or protein bars. If you forget yours there is a very good chance someone else has an extra. The only limitations that we have for food on the floor is that it has to be finger food. So as long as you do not need a utensil to eat it you are good. I have a dehydrator at home and tend to make my own beef jerky, and dehydrated fruits and vegetables. I will make them back them in portions in snack bags and leave them in my locker. When my 'stash' gets low I make some more. That way I always make sure that I have a healthy alternative.
I hope this helps with some ideas, I know it is long...

I am a 911 call taker/dispatcher in Canada (RCMP) with 10 years under my belt. I've worked in 2 different Provinces (Alberta and now Nova Scotia) We also work mostly 3 x 12 hour shifts and 1 x 10 hour shift per block. (2 days, 2 nights then off for 4 days) The juggling act certainly isn't easy but I think I've found a groove. My last day off is "scheduled" for grocery shopping and meal prep for my upcoming week. Believe me, once you've started doing this you'll see how much of a time/stress saver it truly is. I'm also fortunate to have an adequate gym in my building which I use during my lunch break. (we are allowed to eat at our desks) I have 2 dogs who keep me "moving" on days off. My Team also like to do activities together when possible. (example: 5 of us are running a 10k memorial run for the 3 RCMP Members who were killed on duty in 2014)
As far as keeping busy during down times, we do online courses, knit/crochet, talk about recipes/meal prep on paper, crossword puzzles, journal, workout planning.... we can't have our cell phones or other electronics on the operational floor either.

I'm not a dispatcher, but a corrections officer
We are currently short staffed, and as I'm low on the totem pole as far as hiring date goes... I usually get stuck working overtime. We are on 12 hour shifts, though, so if we get forced it becomes a 16. That, and I live almost an hour away, so it can be hard to find time to be active. I usually bring enough food with me so that if I DO get forced, I don't have to order out.
Part of the job is super active, if I happen to be on the floor and interacting with inmates that day, but sometimes I get stuck running controls which is pretty much just sitting at a computer all day. So I totally get that.
Something you could do for snacks during your shift is raw vegetables. They take awhile to eat because of the chewing factor, and there's a lot of volume for little calories. Helps with boredom if you're having a slow shift.
If you meal prep and bring your own healthy food it is easier not to order. If your coworkers order out, though, it can be tempting. I've gotten good at saying no but I know this is not always so easy for others.