Night Shift

[Wonderwoman 7]

Hi all! I work night shift and it seems that since I have gone back to work my weight loss has gone to a very slow crawl! I was wondering if any other night shifters are experiencing the same thing or have any advice? My diet is still the same maybe a little less because I don't always get a chance to eat at work. Thanks

[azquilter92 82]

I am a nite shift worker also.I am a bookkeeper and I work at a grocery store. I go in at 2 am and work till 9am.I usually eat at work first time i eat anything is maybe around 5 am then again at 9am when i get off.I think maybe we are not eating enough? I will talk to my doctor about this. I do try to eat around noon then again about 3.I go to bed about 530-6pm and wake up at midnite-1230am.I dontknow.maybe someone else has some insight

[BlackBerryJuice 349]

I actually read that when a person starts working nights, their metabolism slows down by 10% within 2 or 3 weeks.

I do call, so I occasionally work 24-28 hours in a row, with a few hours of sleep at night if I'm lucky. I definitely find that as the night goes on, my willpower drops and my desire to eat whatever increases drastically. Your body is low on energy and is trying to find some, and since sleep is not an option, the next natural source of energy is food.

[Lissa 2,631]

I worked nights for years and found that staying hydrated helped tremendously with my energy levels. Your body has a natural rhythm that is geared towards working during the daylight hours. Try rescheduling your food intake to fit down times in your work pattern and see if that helps with your energy level as well. Good luck!!

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

Being tired also increases your hunger. Maybe it just that you need to kick up the exercise in your job. Switch it up to keep your body guessing.

[Hip2bfit 3]

I work nights and find that I really retain Water when Im working... I also feel like my weightloss slowed waaaaay down after I went back to work.

[diochick 40]

I work nights as well, 11 pm-9:30 am. I know that for me, this will be the biggest obstacle where weight loss is concerned, especially since the 100+ lbs I'm hoping to lose was put on after I started working this shift.

[azquilter92 82]

Dont most night shiftworkers,after they get off,eat then go to bed?. Which would be very bad,Most of the ones I know do. I stay up all day,then go to bed,very early,like 530 pm at night.

[diochick 40]

Personally I would never eat, then go to bed. My reflux was horrible, so that would have made things worse. I'd eat "lunch" around 5:30 am, maybe snack around 7am, get off work at 9:30 am, get home around 10:30 am, go to bed around 11:30.

[MamaT 47]

I wanted I know how all of my fellow night shifters are doing. Tonite is my first night back and I'm a little nervous about getting my Water in and eating at the right times... My biggest concern is getting lightheaded ( I'm a nurse so I'm on my feet a lot). I wanted to know how you all did when u went back to work.

[Wonderwoman 7]

Hi MamaT I am also a nightshift nurse on a very busy L&D unit and had the same fears as you about going back. I have been back to work for about 3 weeks now and some nights are easier than others. I found I had some occasional light headedness during the first week (usually after emptying a foley or changing a chux) but I just went slow and it did get better. My biggest challenge at first was being able to eat, usually I dont have time at work so now I try to eat before I go in (something I never did preop) and bring lots of high protien Snacks. I found I could usually find the time to eat a cheese stick but not so much an ounce of tuna. Drinking is a little easier I just keep my water bottle with me and constantly sip, some nights I can get in 32oz and others I'm lucky if I can get in 8oz. I try to make up for it on my days off. My best advice for you though is bring a scrub jacket, I have never been so cold as I have since going back!! It's ridiculous how cold I get come 0300! Also you are going to be very tired after your first week, I sleep like the dead most days instead of the usually 4-5 hours I used to. I also found that after the first week back my weight completely stalled for about 2weeks but it seems to be moving again but slower than before, I have an appt with my surgeon on Wed. and am going to ask I this is related to working nights. And above all take care of yourself and don't be afraid to ask for help when it comes to moving people and the such, I guarded my stomach like I was a fresh post op. I just told pts I had a back injury an needed help to move them if they asked, and my coworkers are great. I am about seven weeks post op now and still won't do half the stuff I used to alone, and I don't feel guilty about it ????. I hope your night goes well and I am working tonight also, u can message me if u need some support! Your going to do great though!!

[MamaT 47]

Thank you- you just made my day! Thank u!!! I am preparing my meals now hahaa- I work on a med/surg floor and some of my post ops can be heavy (not just weight wise, task wise lol) but I plan on asking for help where before I would usually not. My coworkers all know my journey ( I was on my own floor postop) so I know they will help me out.

BTW, there is another night shift RN that I've spoken to here.. IrishMama and she is an L&D nite nurse too' lol

Happy Nurses Week!!!

[Wonderwoman 7]

Happy Nurses Week to you MamaT and to IrishMama as well!!

[MamaT 47]

So my first night back was good but shortened... I got cancelled! It hardly ever happens to me, but I'm glad I did because I was very sore after working only the first 4 hours of my usual 12 hr shift. I kept two bottles of Water with my name one it, one at the nurses station and the other at my workstation so I made sure to keep sipping. Tonite I'll be back for the full 12 so today I'm gonna just chill out. Thanks again!

[Wonderwoman 7]

So glad to hear you survived and there is nothing like being cancelled ! Each day will get a little easier. Hope tonight goes well for you!!