Nightshift workers

turquoiserain
turquoiserain Posts: 2 Member
edited November 12 in Food and Nutrition
Hi all. I was just wondering if any of you were midnight shift workers? I have been debating since I began counting calories, how to "figure in" switching back and forth. I always work nights, but on my days off, I tend to adopt a more dayshift type schedule. Sometimes, I come home from work on days off and sleep. Sometimes, I stay up and run errands. When I stay up after work, or when I stay up at night to switch back to a night shift schedule when I go back to work, my days can be 20+ hours. For obvious reasons, I'm always blowing my calories simply because I'm awake for an extra half a day compared with the rest of the world.

Does anyone have the same issue or have any suggestions as to when to start counting, how to arrange my meals better, or, anything really?! Thanks in advance for the thoughts!

Replies

  • carolinenorthrup
    carolinenorthrup Posts: 34 Member
    My rules:
    1. In regards to counting calories, my "day" starts at midnight and ends at the following midnight - whether or not I'm working a night shift.
    2. In those 24 hours I can eat 1500 calories (that's my goal, at least).
    3. I eat three meals a day with snacks in between, and I sleep around those meal times.

    Before starting MFP I used to bring a whole meal to my night shift, thinking that I had to or I'd go hungry. Now, I just bring a small snack like wheat thins or almonds. I drink a lot of water and tea throughout the shift as well.

    When I get home, I eat breakfast, sleep, wake up to eat lunch, go about my day, and then eat dinner. If I have to go back to work that night, I sleep after dinner until it's time to get ready for work - and again, just pack a light snack.

    If I don't have to go back to work, then I usually have an evening snack, and go to bed around midnight.

    Following that kind of schedule/eating pattern, my night shifts don't interfere with my caloric intake. If rule #3 gets messed up for whatever reason (ie. running an errand that causes me to sleep through lunch), I make sure to stick to the first two rules. I hope that helps a little!
  • twiztedgrl69
    twiztedgrl69 Posts: 191 Member
    I'm a 911 dispatcher and work 6p-6a...my day starts when I wake up and stops when I go to sleep...I know some people do the midnight to midnight thing but I can't personally do that...I wake up at 4:30pm and have breakfast, have lunch at midnight and dinner when I get home from work and then snacks in between...good luck!
  • EMarvie
    EMarvie Posts: 335 Member
    Im a shift worker too - and I find having my days start and end at midnight works too - my meals are just a little up and down -

    like today - im in between nights - so, I had breakfast at 5am before I left to go home ( i work 7-7) so, when i had dinner with my family that' s my lunch and tonight my dinner will be around 11pm - then I'll have a snacks and breakfast before i go home to sleep

    works for me - but again, im new at watching/counting cal's - I've been doing it for a couple of months.. (im in my 12th year of shift work)

    good luck !!
  • jarrettd
    jarrettd Posts: 872 Member
    I have found that I need extra calories on my first night and my first day off, as I am up and burning calories longer.

    I run my diary about the same as I would on days to avoid confusing myself. My early meal is the one after I wake up, whether that is am or pm.
  • noemike
    noemike Posts: 61
    its been tough I usally I work 10pm till 6 am I count my eating from 6 am till 6am its hard on the weekends when I am off because I eat normal poeple hours but when I work I eat at midnight and one the weeknds I have to fight not wanting to eat at midnight. Good luck I am still trying to figure it out. Before Janurary 1st I would just eat when ever and what ever I wanted I am going to make a change this year!! Good luck to you
  • banditbonnie
    banditbonnie Posts: 18 Member
    3rd shift here. Snacks = midnight 1st break, Lunch = 2:30am lunch, Breakfast = after work (could be any type of food I'm hungry for), Dinner = 6-8pm normal people meal.
  • turquoiserain
    turquoiserain Posts: 2 Member
    Thank you all for your input! I work 12+ hour shifts and I think, despite eating lunch at work (if I have time) I have convinced myself I must be starving when I get home so I eat my biggest meal then (right before heading to bed.) Very bad for me! I might try midnight to midnight to midnight for awhile to see how it goes/ if it makes more sense. I've been on nights since 2001 and I'm hoping by June, I can finally be on days and be a normal, "day walker!"

    Good luck to all of you!
  • lad323
    lad323 Posts: 82 Member
    I work 12.5 hour rotating shift work. When I'm on nights I usually eat when I wake up (3pm) then I cook dinner for my family when I get up and eat with them (5:30-6:00), then I eat lunch at work (12am or so). I usually don't eat when I get home. Just eat when your hungry, if your not hungry don't eat. Since I do work other shifts, I just log per calader day (if it's Monday, log it on Monday).

    Good Luck!
  • Redapplecandie
    Redapplecandie Posts: 171 Member
    I occasionally work overnights... Like this week and next week I am working nights.

    For me, it's from when I wake up to when I go to sleep. Same as when I work days.

    So I wake up at 9pm, then I do mostly all of my eating at work ('breakfast', snack, lunch, snack) between 10p-7a. Once I get home, I fart around for a little bit, then have 'dinner' when my fiancee has his breakfast. Then I either read a book, do a quick exercise session, or run errands.
    I make sure that I am laying down in bed by noon, so I can pretend to get 8ish hours of sleep. Even though I really don't sleep, I just lay there....

    But back on topic, for me, new day starts when I wake up and ends when I pretend to fall asleep.

    Good luck, overnights suck!
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
    I work for 10pm-8am. No problems. Then again, I fast most of my shift so....
  • lisa28115
    lisa28115 Posts: 17,271 Member
    i work 10pm to 6am

    you can look at my diary

    but i maintain a midnight to midnight schedule

    look a peachnpunkins diary
    she uses military time to setup her diary


    you can set up your diary how every want

    hope this helps...:bigsmile:
  • itsanot
    itsanot Posts: 89 Member
    I work 12 hour shifts days and nights 6 to 6! I have my Diary set up into first meal, second meal, last meal, snacks, drinks, suppliments. When working nights I have a strange pattern but hey it works for me, when I get up the morning of my first night shift I have a light breakfast, lunch 300-400 calories, then off to bed. I pack my dinner and eat it as soon as I get to work, I make sure to keep a snack for before midnight. I start my new day at midnight. When I get home at about 6:30 it is off to bed, I will wake up somewhere around 11 to 1, I eat a light lunch, exercise, and head back to bed till 4:45 then I start it all again!! lol I don't think there is any right way to do it, you just have to figure out what works for you! Your welcome to dig thru my diarys, I'm on night shift now till Thurday morning!
  • ajt917
    ajt917 Posts: 54
    I work 7p-7a and also follow the midnight to midnight schedule for my daily calorie count. It just seems to work best for me!
  • tami101
    tami101 Posts: 617 Member
    My rules:
    1. In regards to counting calories, my "day" starts at midnight and ends at the following midnight - whether or not I'm working a night shift.
    2. In those 24 hours I can eat 1500 calories (that's my goal, at least).
    3. I eat three meals a day with snacks in between, and I sleep around those meal times.

    Before starting MFP I used to bring a whole meal to my night shift, thinking that I had to or I'd go hungry. Now, I just bring a small snack like wheat thins or almonds. I drink a lot of water and tea throughout the shift as well.

    When I get home, I eat breakfast, sleep, wake up to eat lunch, go about my day, and then eat dinner. If I have to go back to work that night, I sleep after dinner until it's time to get ready for work - and again, just pack a light snack.

    If I don't have to go back to work, then I usually have an evening snack, and go to bed around midnight.

    Following that kind of schedule/eating pattern, my night shifts don't interfere with my caloric intake. If rule #3 gets messed up for whatever reason (ie. running an errand that causes me to sleep through lunch), I make sure to stick to the first two rules. I hope that helps a little!
    This is very close to what I do. Midnight to Midnight is my day. I have times listed for meals instead of breakfast lunch and dinner.
  • bkbabe99
    bkbabe99 Posts: 96 Member
    I also work night shift. I actually just got home this morning and just finished working out :) My food diary is pretty much standard.Some ppl switch around their meals but to me, it's morning so I will eat my breakfast now. Sometimes I'm asleep during "lunch" but I try to get something in and then at work I eat my dinner. I try to eat before midnight. If I'm off from work that night, I try to eat my dinner before 11pm.

    Here's a night shift group I belong to: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/508-night-crawlers
  • yesthistime
    yesthistime Posts: 2,051 Member
    Here's a night shift group I belong to: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/508-night-crawlers

    Awesome group!
  • lisa28115
    lisa28115 Posts: 17,271 Member
    any vampires out tonight???
This discussion has been closed.

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