losing weight, working 3rd shift, odd sleep schedule & stay

When I logged my food, I logged it from the time I woke up to the time I went to bed. I work second shift - so I tend to work late, stay up late and sleep late. I am NEVER in bed before midnight (which is when the food diary rolls to the next day), so I just disregard what the site does and do it the way that works for me.

MFP is set up to log all of your calories for one calendar day.

That said, I don't think it matters, as long as you are consistent.

I agree - just be consistent and you'll be fine .... on this account....

I work in a company that has lots of odd shifts (luckily, I usually work a straight M-F day job --- but sometimes have the kind of odd schedule you are talking about - but only once or twice a year). Anyway, tons of research has been done on how switching up your schedule has a huge negative effect on your body --- your ability to lose weight, keep a healthy heart and general overall health. I know you want to spend time with your wife and family which is sometimes hard to do working that stinkin' 3rd shift schedule, but is there anyway you can make your sleep patterns even a little more consistent? it would do wonders for your overall health (and as an added bonus, your weight). If it is financially possible, is it a possibility to put your baby daughter in day care for the first few hours of the day?? Even if you were to "nap" with your wife when she goes to bed, then get up, then go back to sleep at 3:30 or 4:00 am or so and stay there until 10:00 or so and then go pick up your daughter it would be better for your body.......and better for your daughter in the long run to have a healthy daddy!

I too work third shift from 7p-7a Friday Saturday and Sunday nights. I have mine set up for a 24hr period like this: 12a-4a, 4a-8a, 8a-noon, noon-4p, 4p-8p, 8p-midnight. This works for me and I count my calories for that 24hr period.

When I logged my food, I logged it from the time I woke up to the time I went to bed. I work second shift - so I tend to work late, stay up late and sleep late. I am NEVER in bed before midnight (which is when the food diary rolls to the next day), so I just disregard what the site does and do it the way that works for me.

This is what I do. I consider the it the same day until I go to sleep. I haven't had an issue, but like others said, as long as you are consistant. If you choose to do the calendar day way, you will have few calories on one, and be over the next day, but it evens out.

My husband works 7p-7a. I think consistancy is the key. Before he leaves work he eats around 6am.....logs this as breakfast. He comes home and sleeps. When he gets up and eats he logs it as lunch (but for the kids and me, it's dinner). In the middle of the night, that meal is dinner. All the extras are logged as snacks. It was tough when he first joined MFP, but now he's got it figured out and is doing great.