does night shift make you fat?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

I gained 25 pounds over the last year and a half after starting a night shift position. after 3 and a half months of HARD HARD work, (excersizing and dieting like crazy) i finally lost the weight. but i am afraid that i am going to gain it back. it is soooo hard to excersize regularly working 12 hour night shifts. I feel like its easier to gain weight on nights because i am eating at weird times. Has anyone else gained weight from working nights or is this all in my mind?

Specializes in ICU, CVICU, Surgical, LTAC.

"You CAN eat normal meals, if you don't eat while at work. If you do eat at work, you have to skip a meal at another time of day. If you normally eat 3 meals a day and then start working nights and add in another meal, that is when the weight gain happens. If you can't go all night working without eating, I found it helpful to split up a normal meal into two meals. Eating 4 meals a day will make you gain."

To be honest i am not really sure if I was adding on more meals. It probably was a combination of getting older and perhaps eating more junk food. Im really not sure how it got out of control. I thought eating more meals a day was acutally good for weight loss, that is as long as they are smaller portions and healthier. supposedly eating more frequently speeds your metabolism.

the bottom line is that when working 12 hour nights, especially at a job that is far from your home, it rarely leaves time on those days that you work to eat in a normal pattern and excersizing without depriving yourself of sleep. and if you deprive yourself of sleep how can you possibly have enough energy to work out. on the days that im off i try to work out for at least 2 hours and i have taken junk food out of the equation completely. i just don't know if this will be enough to maintain.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

It is hard to do it with 12's working nightshift if you have a commute.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Has anyone else gained weight from working nights or is this all in my mind?

Having gained and lost hundreds of pounds over the years, I am convinced that it is the eating that made me fat.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OR.

my condition is just opposite of this issue.I am not gaining weight even i dont have any work.I am only 100 pounds and my ht is 168cm.Any advice will be appreciable.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Its real simple: eat smaller healthier portions and more frequently and regular exercise. There is nothing magical to it. Eat fast food and sweets will pack on pounds regardless of what shift you work.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I don't know that this is a true statement for everyone. I've read a lot of literature on this topic and chocolate bars would cause you to have massive spikes in your blood sugar because of the huge amount of simple carbs it contains... this in turn PROMOTES storage of fat, as too many carbs turns into excess glycogen, which turns into fat. And perhaps eating 1000 calories a day would cause you to lose weight in the first month or so, but eventually your body would adjust, your metabolism would slow down, and you will still gain weight...at least most people would. This is why low carb diets are so popular. I am not only speaking from experience but also from massive research on the topic. Believe me I have tried everything to lose weight within the past year. Bottom line calorie counting by itself just does not cut it for everyone...believe me I have tried that too. I have eaten whatever i want, carbs and all but just reduced my caloric intake...and that doesn't work for me in the long run.

Yes, very true. What I meant was that the very basics of dieting is to lose more calories than you put into your body in a given day. Obviously this isn't healthy and won't last forever. I vote that 5 small well-balanced diets will be your best bet.. and cutting our refined sugars and limiting carbs to whole grains. Obviously, that is way easier said than done. I also think you should sometimes splurge and have that piece of cake you crave every now and then. Otherwise, the cravings will build up and you will go on a massive binge. Reward yourself sometimes :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in CVICU, Neuro ICU.

you must burn more calories than you put into your body to lose weight. It may be more tempting to eat fast food or unhealty choices at night because it is more convenient. You just have to decide what you want more....to have a donut/pizza/burger...or to not let "night shift" rule your life...eat healty and exercise even when you work those 12 hour shifts. Its not easy but it pays off in the end!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, ER, EP,.

While night shift doesn't make me fat, my body has always functioned better on these off hours, ordering out at work every single night sure has tested my drawstring holding up my pants:yeah:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I am a Female, 26, 110 lbs, 5ft 3" and have been working nocs for over a year, with a combination of both 8 and 12 hr shifts. I have heard from many of my coworkers that they gained weight working nights. Personally, I had lost around 5lbs because I missed meal times during the day. My work schedule is 10 p.m - 6:30 am or from 6pm-6:30am. I noticed that I only sleep 5-6 hours a day now that I work nights, during the days off I get 6 or more hrs of sleep. I eat a small breakfast after I get back home and then rest until I fall asleep. I wake up between 2-5pm, another small meal and eat small dinner close to 9pm, and last meal time is around 2:30am.

Things I do

I pack my meal from home

I only drink tap water or hot tea.

I always take cold fluids (water) before eating, not after because it slows my digestion and makes me Irregular.

I only drink warm fluids with meals, such as green tea (no sugar/salt). I don't drink coffee, the amt of caffeine gives me palpitations, hyperventilation and peristalsis)

I am not a fan of fried foods (fries, burgers, chips, wings) gives me pimples. I eat these only once in few months.

I only eat whole wheat/grain bread, white bread gives me flatulence

I stay away from processed foods all together, too mch salt which makes me feel dehydrated and leaves my head spinning.

I never liked dressings of any sorts (ranch, mayonnaise, sour cream)

Things I DON'T do

Buying from vending machines

Eating sweet or any desserts, I substitute sweet deserts for sweet fruits such as bananas, kiwi, grapes, cantaloupes

Drink soda or any cold drinks esp. after meals.

things I can't help

I get cravings for chocolate before I get my periods (My nose becomes sore after I consume sweets, and that's when I put a break)

No one in my family is over weight

I skip my break and settle for quick stops at the fountain if it gets really busy.

Things that I have been trying for my sleep (Hot milk, Chamomile tea, reading, dimming room, drinking less fluids before bedtime)

Oh and one more thing, I don't exercise other than occasional stretching here and there. Even though I think I do enough running around at work, I would like to exercise regularly in future.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, CVICU, Surgical, LTAC.
I am a Female, 26, 110 lbs, 5ft 3" and have been working nocs for over a year, with a combination of both 8 and 12 hr shifts. I have heard from many of my coworkers that they gained weight working nights. Personally, I had lost around 5lbs because I missed meal times during the day. My work schedule is 10 p.m - 6:30 am or from 6pm-6:30am. I noticed that I only sleep 5-6 hours a day now that I work nights, during the days off I get 6 or more hrs of sleep. I eat a small breakfast after I get back home and then rest until I fall asleep. I wake up between 2-5pm, another small meal and eat small dinner close to 9pm, and last meal time is around 2:30am.

Things I do

I pack my meal from home

I only drink tap water or hot tea.

I always take cold fluids (water) before eating, not after because it slows my digestion and makes me Irregular.

I only drink warm fluids with meals, such as green tea (no sugar/salt). I don't drink coffee, the amt of caffeine gives me palpitations, hyperventilation and peristalsis)

I am not a fan of fried foods (fries, burgers, chips, wings) gives me pimples. I eat these only once in few months.

I only eat whole wheat/grain bread, white bread gives me flatulence

I stay away from processed foods all together, too mch salt which makes me feel dehydrated and leaves my head spinning.

I never liked dressings of any sorts (ranch, mayonnaise, sour cream)

Things I DON'T do

Buying from vending machines

Eating sweet or any desserts, I substitute sweet deserts for sweet fruits such as bananas, kiwi, grapes, cantaloupes

Drink soda or any cold drinks esp. after meals.

things I can't help

I get cravings for chocolate before I get my periods (My nose becomes sore after I consume sweets, and that's when I put a break)

No one in my family is over weight

I skip my break and settle for quick stops at the fountain if it gets really busy.

Things that I have been trying for my sleep (Hot milk, Chamomile tea, reading, dimming room, drinking less fluids before bedtime)

Oh and one more thing, I don't exercise other than occasional stretching here and there. Even though I think I do enough running around at work, I would like to exercise regularly in future.

If all of those things happened to me when i ate food that was bad for me, I could stay 110 without exercising too. LOL. but seriously thank you for the tips. Can I ask what is the reason for drinking the warm fluids with meals and the colds before? Is that a personal preference or do you believe that actually aids in weight management? I also cut soda completely out my diet as well because i have read that salt and soda, even diet soda causes you to retain water and bloats you as well as increases cravings for carbs. As far as the tea, are you drinking green tea? I have also read that green tea increases your metabolism but i am not sure how true this is.

Again thank you very much for giving me acutal tips on how to incorporate different options into my eating routine which is what i was looking for. People keep posting things like eat less calories and don't eat fast food which i am already aware of. My original post stated that I am looking for tips on how to maintain the weight i have already lost. I am not a 300 pound person looking for people to tell me to stop eating cheeseburgers all night while i'm at work. I was simply looking for people who currently maintain their weight in a healthy manner and are able to do so despite working a tough night shift schedule.:bugeyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I know that this is not from a scientific journal but it explains best exactly why I drink only hot after meals. I saw the difference myself, I remember one night I had tried a butter pop corn and soda during during a movie and I puked and felt sick till next evening. I said no more eating unhealthy.

http://www.knowledgebase-script.com/demo/article-179.html

"Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about heart attacks. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot green tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating. For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and may lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal."

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, CVICU, Surgical, LTAC.

"

I know that this is not from a scientific journal but it explains best exactly why I drink only hot after meals. I saw the difference myself, I remember one night I had tried a butter pop corn and soda during during a movie and I puked and felt sick till next evening. I said no more eating unhealthy.

http://www.knowledgebase-script.com/demo/article-179.html

"Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about heart attacks. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot green tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating. For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this "sludge" reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and may lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal."

"

wow that acutally makes a lot of since. thank you so much for the info. I think i am actually going to start doing this. Finally a tip that I can actually use.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment