Night shift worker studies
cadency
Posts: 51
Hey all.
Just wanted to see if anyone else has seen these recent (within the last few years) studies with rats and shift eating. They took two groups of rats and increased both of their fat intake by 20% from their normal controlled diets. Rats are naturally nocturnal and so they fed one group of rats during the day and one group of rats during the night. The rats that they fed on their normal schedule gained 20% in weight gain. The rats fed opposite their normal circadian rhythm? They gained 40%.
The first time I met my PCP and he found out what I did and where I worked, the first thing he said to me was that he wanted me off nights and that he KNEW what they eat in the hospital and not to touch any of it. Made me laugh. I haven't worked a single hospital that wasn't surrounded by junk! And God knows people celebrate EVERYTHING...
but night shift makes that extra money....
How do you all combat it? I think I'm driving my coworkers crazy because I find I talk about my "lifestyle changes" a lot. I think it's supposed to be a self reminding thing to refocus during those times of stress....
Just wanted to see if anyone else has seen these recent (within the last few years) studies with rats and shift eating. They took two groups of rats and increased both of their fat intake by 20% from their normal controlled diets. Rats are naturally nocturnal and so they fed one group of rats during the day and one group of rats during the night. The rats that they fed on their normal schedule gained 20% in weight gain. The rats fed opposite their normal circadian rhythm? They gained 40%.
The first time I met my PCP and he found out what I did and where I worked, the first thing he said to me was that he wanted me off nights and that he KNEW what they eat in the hospital and not to touch any of it. Made me laugh. I haven't worked a single hospital that wasn't surrounded by junk! And God knows people celebrate EVERYTHING...
but night shift makes that extra money....
How do you all combat it? I think I'm driving my coworkers crazy because I find I talk about my "lifestyle changes" a lot. I think it's supposed to be a self reminding thing to refocus during those times of stress....
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never heard of that study but it's interesting. I actually have a planned monthly Graveyard pot luck at my work. last weekend of each month. I still track and mostly keep it to maintance calories. as for my weight loss I tackle it a week at a time. to me for weight loss it comes down to sleep. doesn't matter if I exercise or eat right. if I am tired, especially on the night shift I'll over eat to help in staying awake. plus then I'd be too tired to exercise. be in a general foul mood, etc etc
my co-workers are pretty cool with it all. supportive about my goals. I work @ a Naval base and weekends too. it sucks for having a social life but I do like the fact I can take advantage of it. It's rare when it's super busy that I can't get away from my desk. I'll go outside usually @ 2am to jog/walk/whatever on the weekends 45-60 mins. my co-workers are laid back and cover for me if needed. they thought I was crazy at first but now they are so used to it, they ask if I am ok or feeling sick when I don't go out to walk. lol.
also what's PCP?0 -
PCP is primary care provider. Sorry!
I'm encouraged by your weight loss on night shift. I know that can't be easy but I imagine it helps now that they're supportive. I keep trying to find walk buddies that we can take lunch together and go walking... but I work ER and lately, it's been so busy that trying to time your lunches with anyone is impossible and the work load has been so exhausting that it's hard to walk briskly for half an hour!0 -
I've been on night shifts (11pm-9:30am) for a year and a half. I pack my breakfast/snacks and I make sure I bring lots of protein/fiber/water so I stay full. Daily I only do about 1/2 hour of strength exercises/pilates, and I do some cardio 2-3-4 times a week. If I didn't bring my lunch, I'd eat crap and make no progress. But I am doing just fine right now.
I also take advantage of my supervisor position and do all the running and lifting and jack pulling since our gophers don't work at night. My coworkers think I'm nuts, and they might just be right.0
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