Calorie intake on days when you're up longer

I am SO glad to see this post! I am the same way on Saturdays. I work overnights, and I take a break at about midnight or later, and my "lunch" at 3am. Because my normal "day" starts about 4 or 5 pm and ends about 8am, I use this scenario as my day. So by 8am I have had two of my meals and a snack, and I only get one more meal about 5 or 6 pm. On Saturdays I sleep very little because I want to spend the day with my family. I really require a noon meal on Saturdays and another snack. I know this sounds confusing, but because of my schedule it looks like I'm eating a ton of food on Saturday, but it's not a regular 16 hour day, it's more like a 20 or 22 hour day. (Sorry I gave so much info, but it is distressing when no one understands, I'm glad you do!)
I have found that the 'extra' calories that day don't really hurt me. In fact I kind of use it as a cheat day (within reason) and I'll have a special meal like Chipotle. Are you seeing that it hurts on the scale or in the clothes? I think because you're up more, you're burning more calories. Either way, best of luck!

I think for those days you should def be upping your calories. Maybe if you're set to sedentary, for example, most days, the days you do more you could change it to mildly active or whatever they've termed it as. Because let's face it, those days you are burning more so yes, you need more fuel. This kinda goes along the lines of zig zagging your calories which I know some people on here say works for them.

I've got a fitbit and on the days that I am working exceptionally long (or even just the day's I'm up for a very long time) it tells me how many calories I'm burning, and it adjusts my calorie intake allowed accordingly.

Now as a general rule unless I have done specific exercise I don't eat those calories, unless it's a long day when I need to keep fuelled to get through it.

The fitbit is not necessarily the cheapest option of pedometer on the market, but it does do a lot more than just measure how many steps you take and when it is synched with MFP it really comes into it's own.

You might want to do some research into other options, but if you can get a fitbit I would highly recommend it for this days especially if your not in a 'normal' day cycle for shifts etc.

I am a shift worker, we work 12 hour days and nights, by the time I am actually done work and what I have to do at home I am up 15-18 hours. What I have done for those days is just have my day run from 12midnight to 12 midnight - I don't find it so hard then because as long as I consume the correct number of calories before midnight or after midnight then it is ok. For example if I am at my max calories when I am working nights then I will wait till after midnight to have my dinner so that technically the calories are on the next day. Does not matter if I have dinner for breakfast on the next day.

I have been having some success doing this but I have only been doing MFP for a couple of weeks and my losses have been minimal. The other thing that I try to do is make those days heavier on protein because it keeps me satisfied longer so my protein levels will be higher on the days that I am working - try having a fruit smoothie with protein powder and add (organic non genetically modified sugar free)soy milk. The one I make only has 330 calories in and usually I would have as my last meal of the night because otherwise I eat something less desirable or I can not sleep because I have convinced myself that I am hungry.

I don't know if you have enough calories by the end of the day but that is one way around it. The other strategy that I have is to eat half meals. I eat half of my breakfast at the time and take the other half with me for later. I find that works too.

The last option is if it is only one day a week give yourself a rest day - that does not mean eat six bags of chips but rather if you are over by a few calories don't sweat it. Just know that since you are busy longer the number of calories that you are working off by doing all the extra requirements of that day should be close to balancing out! Good Luck!

Hope it helps