Home / Weight Watchers

Night Shift and WW

#1

healthyme05 , 06-11-2008 06:28 AM

Just a quick question...
For those of you who work nights how does losing weight work for you?

Does anything differ when it comes to using your points as opposed to using them during the days?

Reply
#2

luvmyfam , 06-11-2008 10:44 AM

I can't speak from any experience of my own. My MiL works about 3 12-hour night shifts a week as an RN. She is a lifetime WW member, though I think she's over goal right now. She has always spoken highly of WW. I could ask how it works out for her. I know she doesn't eat a lot on shift, though. I imagine the points would work out the same, with following your points within your 24 hours.

My BiL also works the night shift most of the time. It's hard for him to stay OP when he's working, but not because of the hours. It's because at the facility where he works (an ARC residential home), they're always bringing in the wrong kinds of snack foods. I'm not sure why he couldn't just pack all his own food, including snacks, but he has a hard time.

So I guess it would all depend upon your ability and willingness to eat lower-point foods while on shift...or your ability and willingness to eat the right foods if you're on Core. Good luck!

Reply
#3

kimpo101 , 06-14-2008 11:41 PM

I just recently started night shift and I am finding it hard to stay on track. I work alone and I seem to eat to stay awake. I have stopped counting my points AGAIN and have to get back on track soon. I try to take snacks like popcorn and jello BUT when I sleep all day and dont eat I tend to stop by someplace to get food and EVERYTHING looks good. I am especially addicted to the new freezes at Taco Bell- the mango is out of this world-probably so are the points. I like the fresco steak tacos. If I find a solution ill sure let you know--good luck.

Reply
#4

ohiomom0503 , 06-15-2008 03:29 PM

I've been counting my points from when I wake up to when I go to bed. Others have said to count midnight to midnight.

Reply
#5

healthyme05 , 06-16-2008 12:08 AM

Thanks guys for the great responses.

Luvmyfam: I'm in the same boat as your MiL...I also work as an RN doing 3 to 4 12 hour shifts a week. The weird thing is that when I'm done with those shifts I can't help but to convert back to waking during the day and sleeping at night....aack! It's terrible...

Kimpo: When I get off work in the morning the one thing that helps me to stay on track is to head to the gym. We have one at my work place. I usually get a cup of coffee and a granola bar before I hit the gym. As the day goes on I'm less tempted to eat everything. I remember getting off of work and walking past the cafeteria in the morning....oh the smells of bacon, sausage, french toast, eggs......*drools* Then if I managed to make it past the cafeteria the lure of McDonald's or the local doughnut shop would tempt me.
But I completely understand what you mean about everything looking good...it's awful...

Ohiomom: The Midnight to Midnight solution sounds smart. It's basically the same 24 hour day, just at an unusual time...I will consider taking that route.

Reply
#6

luvmyfam , 06-16-2008 02:24 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by healthyme05
Thanks guys for the great responses.

Luvmyfam: I'm in the same boat as your MiL...I also work as an RN doing 3 to 4 12 hour shifts a week. The weird thing is that when I'm done with those shifts I can't help but to convert back to waking during the day and sleeping at night....aack! It's terrible...

Kimpo: When I get off work in the morning the one thing that helps me to stay on track is to head to the gym. We have one at my work place. I usually get a cup of coffee and a granola bar before I hit the gym. As the day goes on I'm less tempted to eat everything. I remember getting off of work and walking past the cafeteria in the morning....oh the smells of bacon, sausage, french toast, eggs......*drools* Then if I managed to make it past the cafeteria the lure of McDonald's or the local doughnut shop would tempt me.
But I completely understand what you mean about everything looking good...it's awful...

Ohiomom: The Midnight to Midnight solution sounds smart. It's basically the same 24 hour day, just at an unusual time...I will consider taking that route.
healthyme,

I can see how you convert back to a regular shift when you are not working. My MiL does the same. She's always amazed me. There are 9 "kids" in the family. 6 still live at home for various reasons, although the youngest is already 18.

I've seen my MiL work a shift Fri. 7 PM - Sat. 7 AM, come home not sleep, get the kids packed up and in to school, grocery shop, then come home and visit us for a little while before finally getting a nap in the late afternoon.

I think it's probably harder when you have long, late shifts a few times a week, rather than 8-hour, daily shifts.

The boyfriend (and good friend to us) of one of dh's sisters works 3 months on full-time night shift and then 3 months of full-time day shift. Because they are daily shifts, rather then a couple times a week, he does a good job of trying to stay consistent with his sleep and eating schedule. I think what he has is easier than an RN shift. I can totally see how it's confusing.

I did like the idea of altering your eating schedule to better match your work schedule...the midnight to midnight thing. Good luck!!

Reply
#7

ohiomom0503 , 06-17-2008 10:33 AM

I do 3 12 hours shifts as an RN as well. The hardest part is when your nights are split up. I'd much rather work my 3 nights in a row and get them over with. That way, I can go back to "normal" sleep times. When I work nights, which I do tonight, I wake up in the morning and do a few things on my first night on. Then I lay down at about 11am. Wake up at 3. Work 7p-7a. Sleep from 9am-3pm and so on and on. So, today, I started my points when I woke up this morning and will end them when I go to bed tomorrow morning etc. The one day that throws me off is that last night shift...so for me my last shift this week is Thursday night. So I'm off friday, but will be sleeping. I'm off until monday. So friday, I'll come home and sleep until 3pm. Have dinner and a few snacks. I come no where near all my points on that last day/night.

Reply