Third Shift Weight Gain

Hi I am new to this also and am trying to find time to exercise and eat healthy as well. I work 3rd shift and our facility has equipment available to residence and staff but I have yet to utilize them. I walk at work all night and when I get home all I want to do is sleep or get other things done. I would like support too please

I work third shift too and not only is there basically a grocer store inside my work... there are four 24 hr fast food place in the parking lot and 3 more within miles... so eating healthy isn't exactly what everyone tends to do... Third shift is the absolutle WORSE... For everyone who doesn't understand many of you go to bed hungry and many of you eat every lets say 3-4 hours while you're awake... there is no while you're awake.... there is no break from hunger from 7pm to 7 am we are up fully aware we are starving, so beside the 3 square many of us get 1-4 more meals/snacks... its horrible!!!!!! I hope to go to days soon!!!

I Understand I worked 3rd shift for 3 years and gained about 40lbs sitting all night snacking all night and eat fast food almost every night. I found that if I worked out right when I got off work 6 days a week I was able to loose the weight but once I stopped doing that I gained it all right back. Once I stopped working 3rd shift and was able to eat and sleep normally again I dropped 15lbs right away. I am still struggling to work of the rest of the poundage I gained but I'm working on it.
So advice from a previous 3rd shifter work out 6 days a week right after work you may be super tired but it's worth it

Yeah I work at a convenience store so I get junk food staring me in the face all day! For me it isn't practical to hit the gym after work, and in August I get the double whammy and start school. It's hard to motivate myself to go to the gym when I get up though, so I have to figure something else out! Also, on nights that I have off work, instead of just sitting around I'm trying to go to the gym, hula hoop, really anything I can do without waking up my roommates!

I find myself craving things and really have to work hard not to eat them. I have used the machines since I signed up. The first day I used the bike and only lasted 12 minutes and I was done. yesterday I tried the elliptical machine and that lasted 15 and I really liked that one so I did it again today and made it to 25 minutes. I tried that last 5 minutes but couldn't make it. I am also finding myself waiting for my shift to end so I can start my work out.

I do have a question when I first weighted myself I was off from work for a few days so I did it in the morning when I woke up. Now the last time I weighted in I did it the same in the morning but after I can home from work. When is the right time to weigh in or is their a good time?

I work 3rd shift and it is hard with figuring out eating patterns. I crave lots of sweets when I get tired. I guess its mind over matter.

When is the right time to weigh in or is their a good time?

i would say from personal experience, right after you wake up. whatever time of day that is.

I've been working third shift at a hospital for about 5 years now. i def agree that having a schedule for yourself is very important. I've been bad in regards to logging, but when I do, I start my day at midnight, and break it into 8 hour time frames. I work in a lab so I don't have the opportunity to be snacking through the shift, but our cafeteria is full of friend wonderfulness which is very easy to fall victim to, even though there is also usually some good salad.
I pack my lunch every day and stopped going up there to just avoid temptation. i go home and go right to bed (trying to avoid having a snack before bedtime), and then workout once I get up. i'll have dinner at some point then around 8 i try to get a nap in, or at least some quiet time in bed to chill out before going back. I'll be starting my second year of grad school in the fall which will include doing research after work a few days, so I'll be adjusting, which I have to say totally drives me nuts, but it'll be worth it in the end. Everyone has their own responsibilities, but believe me you can lose weight working nights. good luck!

I have watched the studies on this over the years because my husband has both worked third shift and I have been a serious night owl all my life.

what I've come to learn is that you need to stay on the same schedule or close to it, even on your days off (I know easier said than done! ) also eat your meals based on when you are awake. not based on when everyone else eats their breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Pack lunches/meals/snacks just like others trying to lose weight have to do. doesn't matter what shift you are fast food is an overindulged habitual convenience and you have to change that.

Good advice here.

Hey, you just gotta keep your goal in your mind.. anything possible even on third shift.
I worked graveyard 5 nights a week and I went to the gym 6 days a week after work.
It's hard because you never really "sleep" you just nap. But I worked out a pretty
Good diet and exercise plan. Add me if ya still need advice

Hey, you just gotta keep your goal in your mind.. anything possible even on third shift.
I worked graveyard 5 nights a week and I went to the gym 6 days a week after work.
It's hard because you never really "sleep" you just nap. But I worked out a pretty
Good diet and exercise plan. Add me if ya still need advice

yep same here. all of my weight loss has come while working 3rd shift 5 nights a week. I go to the gym after work 4x a week. I work weekends and where I work it's usually not that busy that I am able to get away from my desk and go walk outside for 20-30 mins. Above all else sleep is key. For me it's minimum 6 straight hours. Tried the broken up sleep, it just doesn't work for me. When I am well rested, I have energy during my shift, I don't over eat to stay awake and can hit the gym after work. If my sleep suffers, I graze on food non-stop to stay awake which adds up and I go over my calorie intake, I don't even bother with the gym since I'll be too tired.

I switch every three months from day shift to night shift. I work 12 hour days and I have an hour and half drive each day for work. SLEEP is one of the most important things and one of the hardest things on night shift. I manage pretty well, very rarely do I not get the sleep I need on night shift. It was not always this way, I used to be miserable on night shift. I have done this for over 6 years now and finally I got it right.

Few things that work for me:

1. Keeping the same schedule and routine. If you work nights, stay up at night even when you are off and sleep during the day. It helps your body to have the same schedule everyday.

2. Exercise. I sleep much better when I exercise and I try to do it when I wake up in the evening.

3. Alteril. It works great for me. Its not addicting and I have had side effects with it. I do not take it everyday but if I am restless when I get home I take it. I usually take it a lot the first month to help my body adjust to the new schedule.

Of course to get good sleep during the day I have my room completely blacked out and even though I have central air I use a window unit in my room because the noise helps to drown out any day time noises and I like it cold when I sleep. I live in Florida though, an AC may not work for everyone, try a fan that is not too quiet but not too loud that you can't fall asleep.

I have watched the studies on this over the years because my husband has both worked third shift and I have been a serious night owl all my life.

what I've come to learn is that you need to stay on the same schedule or close to it, even on your days off (I know easier said than done! ) also eat your meals based on when you are awake. not based on when everyone else eats their breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Pack lunches/meals/snacks just like others trying to lose weight have to do. doesn't matter what shift you are fast food is an overindulged habitual convenience and you have to change that.

THIS^ My meals are not even called breakfast, lunch, and dinner anymore. Now it is 12am-4am, 4am-8am....etc.

I've been working 11-7 for over a year now. I find that if I can squeeze in 30 min of exercise on my breaks it helps a lot. Even if it's just a walk. Lately I've been doing the 30 day shred, it's quiet wherei work at night so I just find a quiet area and take my break and workout. I also plan my meals a day in advance, that ways know where my calories are going, and I can plan accordingly.

I know it's hard, but the best thing to do is get a routine while at work, and then kind of play it by ear at home. Sleep is the one challenge we really go through, because it's never constant. I'll let you know what I TRY (sometimes it doesn't work) to do.

I work four 10-hour shifts, Sunday through Thursday nights. While at work, I try to eat a "lunch" about 2 hours in, then a snack 3 hours after that, and my dinner, 3 hours after that. I generally know what I'll be having, so I budget that while at work I'll be eating around 1100 calories over the course of the 10 hours.

That leaves me about 500-600 calories to play around with in the time that I am at home. I usually break that up into little segments. I'll have a breakfast bar (140 calories) when I first wake up. Then half an hour later, I'll eat a banana. Then later, I'll have a granola bar. It's all about managing the random time you're up and about at home. Good luck! You can do it!

I've lost 14 pounds in about 30 days doing it this way. If you stick with a plan and watch what you eat, you'll be fine!