Reply
 
Thread Tools
Old 12-25-2010, 05:20 PM   #1  
Living and Learning
Thread Starter
 
gumboot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 935

S/C/G: 304/see ticker/140

Height: 5' 3"

Default Some advice on starting shift work and healthy eating

Okay my fellow chickies....I need some advice.

In mid January, I will be starting a new shift at work. 11pm - 9am four nights a week. Gasp, sigh. Blerch. I will have to sleep during the day while the kids are at school. I am not impressed but it is what it is.
I have never worked shifts like this before. How do I eat? Breakfast, lunch and dinner? My whole life will be backwards!
I work in a group home so I will have access to a kitchen to prepare anything I bring in.
Do any of you have advice for me? Personal experience you can share?
gumboot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-25-2010, 05:23 PM   #2  
Senior Member
 
The Last Noel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 181

S/C/G: 242/ticker/140

Height: 5'7

Default

When you learn, let me know! I work 12 hour night shifts 3 nights a week and I'm having a hard time counting calories for a whole 24 hour awake period during that time. O_O
The Last Noel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-26-2010, 10:01 AM   #3  
Senior Member
 
DixC Chix's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Just moved out of denial
Posts: 881

S/C/G: 298/238...285.5/217/150

Height: 5'5"

Default

My sympathies but you could end up liking it! When I worked an overnight shift I didn't know it would only last 4 months so I tried to embrace it. I like breakfast foods for dinner and dinner foods for breakfast. I had dinner when I got up and had lunch at work and breakfast when I got home again. This may also help things seem normal for the kids, too. Also, I needed some refreshing snacks so I chose cold items like fruit and yogurt

The hardest part is changing your sleep cycle so you might want to get some melatonin and valerian root (safe herbal supplements) to help you sleep when your new schedule needs you to sleep.

On a side note, thank you for taking care of folks that have a hard time taking care of themselves. Its a difficult job but rewarding too.
DixC Chix is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-27-2010, 11:16 AM   #4  
Living and Learning
Thread Starter
 
gumboot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 935

S/C/G: 304/see ticker/140

Height: 5' 3"

Default

Thank you DixC Chix. That makes sense! I've just been overwhelmed by the whole thing.
I think it will be okay. I just have to get used to it. Keeping everything normal for the kids is the main thing.
And thanks! I really like my job. I have been doing it for a long time now and enjoy it's challenges. With government cutbacks, some of our group homes have had to close and I have been bumped out of my position. This is why I have a new position that isn't the greatest for me but much better than a regular evening shift. At least I will be home after school for the kiddos.
gumboot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-28-2010, 09:10 PM   #5  
Member
 
Tinky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: The Mitten
Posts: 39

S/C/G: 290 / 225 /170?

Height: 5'9"

Default

There is a thread in another part of the support forums about this subject too...since I don't have enough posts, I will just bump the thread for you since it is almost 2 months old! There is some good advice in there too.

There are so many sub-forums you might just have to search my posts....if you're a newb like me. )

Last edited by Tinky; 12-28-2010 at 09:12 PM.
Tinky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2010, 02:01 AM   #6  
Shifty Werewolf
 
Vladadog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vermont, USA
Posts: 1,168

S/C/G: 285/209/165

Height: 5'5"

Default

Here's the thread Tinky mentioned.

Welcome to my world! I'm currently working 11pm to 9am 4 nights a week in a group home also. I've been working some variationof this for the last 11 years (recently it was 9pm to 9am three nights a week and one 4 hour day - I like 4 ten hour nights better!).

I gained about 40 pounds over the last decade and have lost 90 this year.

Getting enough sleep is essential (and also hard). When you are awake at night your body naturally craves carbs and when you are sleep deprived this is even worse. Getting enough sleep makes controling those cravings much easier. And planning ahead to have healthy options also helps.

I'm terrible at getting sleep - often I only get three or four hours (in hour or two chunks) on the days I'm working and then I sleep 12 hours straight my first night off and revert to a "normal" schedule till it's time to go back to work. It's the only way I've found that works for me and my life.

To lose weight I've been calorie counting (1550 a day) and mostly aiming for whole foods. No "lite" or "diet" foods. An, of course, no "junk" food. I tend to eat a bunch of 300 calorie meals spaced through out the day because there's no good time to have a regular meal. I'm usually not hungry when I first get in to work and in the morning once the kids get up it's too hectic to eat much and then it's my bed time and I don't want to go to bed on a too full stomach and when I get up around 5pm to feed the dogs I don't want to eat too much because I'm always hoping to go back to sleep for a bit before work. Sometimes on my work days I'm lucky to hit 1000 calories because if I have to choose between food and sleep I'll almost always choose sleep.

Here's an article that talks about leptin and ghrelin and how lack of sleep effects your weight:
http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders...while-sleeping

good luck!
Vladadog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2010, 02:09 AM   #7  
Shifty Werewolf
 
Vladadog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Vermont, USA
Posts: 1,168

S/C/G: 285/209/165

Height: 5'5"

Default

Oh, and back in 2008 we had a support group thread going for a while ( http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/supp...erwhelmed.html) but I think I'm the only one left from then.

Back in October I tried to get something going again but this Fall I was just too busy to be online much. But I just bumped that thread back up to the first page. Maybe we can all band together to support each other.

Shift Workers Unite!
Vladadog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-29-2010, 08:01 PM   #8  
Living and Learning
Thread Starter
 
gumboot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Posts: 935

S/C/G: 304/see ticker/140

Height: 5' 3"

Default

Thank you for the link to the post!
gumboot is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Related Topics
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Articles worth reading! MrsJim Weight and Resistance Training 18 03-26-2021 05:03 AM
Hot & Healthy Challenge Chicks!!! (Everyone is welcome!) Jasmine31 Support Groups 255 12-13-2006 05:12 PM
300+ And Ready To Try Again...#814 thinthinker 300+ Club 36 01-26-2006 06:38 PM
* ~ * ~ * Memorial Day Challenge * ~ * ~ * **Jennifer** Chicks up for a Challenge 213 06-03-2004 08:59 AM


Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:36 PM.


We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.