working nights

aschultz9
aschultz9 Posts: 89 Member
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I am just looking for other's tips or experiences with trying to manage calories and working night shifts. I just started nights a few months ago. I work part time and 12 hours shifts 7pm to 7am. It is impossible to go those 12 hours without eating. Your up and functioning and you get hungry, not to mention I crave terrible foods due to being tired. The day of my first night is mostly a normal day, so I eat breakfast lunch and dinner. The day following a night shift I sleep some, not enough (about 3 hours) and then end up trying to skip eating all day until dinner because I was eating the night before. Just curious what others do in a similar situation.

Replies

  • IamEric
    IamEric Posts: 67 Member
    I started my radio career doing 11p-6a and I totally understand what you mean when you say you can't work nights without eating. Most of the weight I gained was during those two years. I have only added to them since.

    No more, however! We can lose this and break those bad habits.

    p.s. Sorry I wasn't any help in how to change bad eating habits in the overnight. I find that the more water I drink, the more energy I have and the more full I feel. It sounds odd, but it works for me.
  • mrmarius
    mrmarius Posts: 1,802 Member
    i work nights and its hard to adjust, the best thing for me though was lowering my carbs, when i did that i found that i wasnt as hungry all the time, and what i do is i have 'breakfast" when i wake up which is usually between 1 and 3 pm and by 3 am i'm having "dinner" and dont eat after that and it seems to work for me
  • tmiqueen
    tmiqueen Posts: 254 Member
    Maybe change up what you consider Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner?

    Breakfast could be whatever you eat when you wake up.
    Lunch right before you leave for your shift.
    Dinner while you're on shift when you take your longest break.
    If you're up during those hours, you're active anyway.
  • Missevanston
    Missevanston Posts: 361 Member
    Hi...I don't really work 'nights' but I do have an odd schedule that does not to conform to most 9-5 jobs. I start my day around 3 am and finish my work day around 9:30a.m.

    I drink a protein shake for breakfast or a yogurt and a low carb, low sodium english muffin. I bring with me at least 50 oz of water and I eat a fiber bar which fills me up.

    I don't snack on the large amounts of pizza, cafeteria crap, donuts, and other tempting stuff.. I chew Extra gum for any real cravings of need to put something in my mouth..

    I eat a regular lunch which is almost always a salad with some protein, followed by generally more protein for dinner...you can look over my diary..it is open...

    Good luck!
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