Night shift RN's :Do you eat in the morning after your shift?

[DesertSky]

I eat pretty healthy and have a consistent workout routine, however I feel it's an uphill battle staying fit while working nights. I work 3 12 hour night shifts per week from 7pm-7am. My question to all the night shift RN's out there is do you eat after getting off your shift before bed?

I normally eat "breakfast" before my shift at 6pm, have a snack around 11 pm, a second snack around 3-4 am, and then I eat "dinner" before going to bed at 8 am. I have found if I do not eat something before going to sleep after my shift, I do not sleep well and wake up hungry around 12 p.m. I usually eat something light like egg whites and a piece of fruit.

Since starting nights about 18 months ago, I have gained about 7-8 pounds. I am trying to drop that weight and I'm wondering if eating before bed is stalling my efforts. I am currently 5'8 and 130 pounds, but was about 122-123 before starting nights. I have to work nights for at least another 6 months or so until a dayshift position open up, so I would appreciate any advice and insight my fellow night shift nurses can offer about ways to drop weight working nights!

Thanks in advance :)

[simonsez_922]

This isn't my first night shift job, but it is my first as a nurse. My 'dinner', which consists of soup, salad or a turkey sandwich is usually eaten between 2330-midnight, and I snack on fruit and nuts around the 0430-0500 mark. When I get off, I then eat breakfast (usually egg whites and turkey sausage) before heading to the gym. After that I sleep until 1500 and eat 'lunch', which is probably my biggest meal and just relax or take a nap before heading back in.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I was usually ravenous about 0500, so needed food after getting off work at 0700. Didn't go to bed til 1200 or 1300.

It was kind of interesting - all of us needed to use the bathroom at 0500. No matter how long we were on Nights, our bodies were cleansing at the normal wake up start the day time. And we would all be hungry around 2400 and again at 0500. Go figure.

Commuter, I can relate to the insulin thing you describe.

OP, it sounds like you will do well with the info from all the folks here.

[Kooky Korky, BSN, RN]

I find this discussion fascinating. I have worked night for 30+ years, and find that if I eat before bed, I wake up ravenous (as in 'Give me food- ANY food! Get out of my way- I NEED FOOD RIGHT NOW!'). But if I go to bed straight away (even if I'm hungry) I sleep well and do not wake up hungry at all.

This is also true of my night time sleep. Odd, isn't it?

Are you making too much insulin?

[joanna73, BSN, RN]

Everyone is different, but I find that if I don't eat before bed, I don't sleep well. I can't sleep when I'm hungry.

However.....I need oatmeal, or protein with veggies. I won't sleep with fried or processed foods.

[imintrouble, BSN, RN]

I eat when I get home, before I go to bed. I don't want to, and it's better if I don't. I just can't help myself.

I'm weak and have no self control.

[CamillusRN, BSN]

Yeah, nightshift makes weight loss very difficult. I used to think I'd never go to day shift, but my body's begging me to switch - I must be getting old. :)

I know this may generate some heat from the dieticians among us, but I've been doing what's called the Warrior Diet: one actual meal during the day. I usually do mine right before "battle" (aka my shift) - the majority of my carbs and protein go here - with light snaking exclusively on fruits and veggies throughout the shift. I have a small bowl of fruit and yogurt or kefir after the shift. I've lost about 2-3 pounds q week since I started.

Best of luck to you!

[Ndy-RN]

I eat pretty healthy and have a consistent workout routine, however I feel it's an uphill battle staying fit while working nights. I work 3 12 hour night shifts per week from 7pm-7am. My question to all the night shift RN's out there is do you eat after getting off your shift before bed?

I normally eat "breakfast" before my shift at 6pm, have a snack around 11 pm, a second snack around 3-4 am, and then I eat "dinner" before going to bed at 8 am. I have found if I do not eat something before going to sleep after my shift, I do not sleep well and wake up hungry around 12 p.m. I usually eat something light like egg whites and a piece of fruit.

Since starting nights about 18 months ago, I have gained about 7-8 pounds. I am trying to drop that weight and I'm wondering if eating before bed is stalling my efforts. I am currently 5'8 and 130 pounds, but was about 122-123 before starting nights. I have to work nights for at least another 6 months or so until a dayshift position open up, so I would appreciate any advice and insight my fellow night shift nurses can offer about ways to drop weight working nights!

Thanks in advance :)

Tell me about it (referring to the weight gain)! Where I work our shifts are scheduled different. Some people choose to work two days and two nights in a week; while some people like me have the continental shifts 7 nights and 7 days (of course two days off or so in between..I hope I explained this ok). I have gained more than 30 pounds in a year because of my lack of sleep and stuff. I love my job and my shift is not that bad ...but I did not know that will affect my body the way it did ...seriously. Anyways, here I am trying to be fit again (well I am tall and curvy but between borderline of getting fat). Hoping to get tips here as well.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

Are you making too much insulin?

Doubtful- I'm just wired differently. I've worked nights for 30+ years and it's always been this way.

[kalycat, BSN, RN]

Really interesting thread. I'm a natural "owl" but have been trying to figure out the best time to exercise. I think I will try The Commuter's suggestion of right after shift.

As to the topic, I am more of a snacker. I love good quality instant oatmeal when I'm on shift - or even homemade and reheated. It fills me up without causing a food coma. I also eat a lot of nuts, fruit, cheese, Italian olives, veggie wraps and crackers. I'm pretty sensitive to a ton of processed carbs so the cafeteria's carb-heavy midnight meal service makes me feel like crap.

I'm also a vegetarian so the temptation to eat too many carbs while searching for something fast and filling is an issue.

I usually eat something very small on the way home from work in the car. If I eat too much I can't sleep. I'm with meanmaryjean - if I eat before bed I wake up ready to eat the house down around noon.

I've been slowly losing weight for the last two years following a good sized loss during nursing school - then I hit a plateau. I would love to get kick started again by revving up the time and intensity on my workouts. Thanks for all the tips!

[NursesRmofun, ASN, RN]

At my latest employment, I work 12 hrs. I eat dinner early before leaving but a light dinner and breakfast when I come home. I have a light lunch at work about mid-shift. It works in that my weight has stayed the same or a little lower than usual.

I also believe I'd probably sleep better if I didn't eat breakfast...but I do.

[Pearl83]

I try not to eat before bed otherwise I wake up earlier than planned due to acid reflux. If am too hungry then I just eat something really light i.e small bowl of oatmeal or banana.

[KMRN81]

Since starting nights about 18 months ago, I have gained about 7-8 pounds. I am trying to drop that weight and I'm wondering if eating before bed is stalling my efforts. I am currently 5'8 and 130 pounds, but was about 122-123 before starting nights. I have to work nights for at least another 6 months or so until a dayshift position open up, so I would appreciate any advice and insight my fellow night shift nurses can offer about ways to drop weight working nights!

Thanks in advance :)

The same thing happened to me. Despite my workout routine & healthy eating, I gained weight. You may not have much luck dropping the pounds until you switch to days. Just an unfortunate byproduct of being awake at night and how it messes with your body. Good luck!