Help.. A damsel in distress

[Sophie Elise]

Hello to all

I would like to know, how do you maintain a healthy body if your work requires you to render service in the night shift? I hope you could reply back to me.

Thanks.

 

[msblonde]

hi sohpie,

I used to do nights and no how hard it can be on the body, I used to treat the night shift as a day shift to be honest, and eat what I usally would during day shifts, i.e. chicken tikka at 4am, my colleagues thought I was gross, but i stayed the same weight at the time (was before I found dieting and got fat).

also, try to regulate your sleep and eating pattens when you are home.

as for exercise, depending on your free time and when you sleep, maybe structured exercise at a gym maybe better for you, so you can go early morning (after work) or late evening (before work), maybe chose one with long opening hours.

also your local leisure centre will have early bird pool times, from about 7am.

and also the good old home work out video!

good luck.

H

 

[cazj]

I am with msblonde try to keep regilate your routine as much as you can. When I used to do nightshift I would try and eat normally as much as I could. I used to eat my main meal at about 11pm and then had a sandwich about 2am and then just fruit until about 5am when I would eat cereal. It was hard at times as I found I ate more due to having small children I would snack through the day to keep energy levels going.

 

[Sophie Elise]

Thanks so much for all the wonderful tips.

 

[RavenMoon]

yup some gud advice there ! x

 

[Sophie Elise]

I really appreciate all your tips. It's a good thing I'm not gaining weight. But I can already feel the exhaustion from working in the night shift. During restday, I'd rather sleep than go to a gym. What motivations can you advise?

 

[Iris]

I don't want to be demotivating, Sophie, but if you need sleep, you need sleep. I think it's more important than exercise. Get the shut eye in first and foremost!

I'm a full time carer at the moment and can be up at all kinds of strange hours, sometimes the whole night. Like you, I find it hard to keep body and soul together sometimes. Sleep is really difficult for me because I tend to drink a lot of water and tea when I'm up, then when I finally crash and try to get a nap, I'll be running to the loo on the hour. Don't think I've managed more than 2 consecutive, uninterrupted hours of sleep in almost a year. I try to embrace the poncily titled 'power nap'! If I can grab 15 minutes on the sofa and drift off, I do. Your whole perception of reality and your outlook can be so dramatically altered by sleep deprivation. It's scary how low you can get when exhausted, so I'd always put sleep ahead of the gym.

I don't do any formal exercise these days, but I've used dvds in the past and I found them rather fun... certainly better than having to head to the gym. Dan Karaty's hotpants workout is a good one. I tried Davina's but it drove me nuts. The Ministry of Sound one was okay-ish. My favourite exercise was always dancing, though. Just put the earphones in and scare the postman with your boogilicious stylings!

For food... it's a minefield. The more tired you get, the more attractive the nibbles become. Another good excuse for regular napping! All I can say is just try to keep ahead of your cravings and weak times and have plenty of healthy snacks ready to be demolished.

Hope things start to fall into place for you.

 

[siggy79]

I don't want to be demotivating, Sophie, but if you need sleep, you need sleep. I think it's more important than exercise. Get the shut eye in first and foremost!

I'm a full time carer at the moment and can be up at all kinds of strange hours, sometimes the whole night. Like you, I find it hard to keep body and soul together sometimes. Sleep is really difficult for me because I tend to drink a lot of water and tea when I'm up, then when I finally crash and try to get a nap, I'll be running to the loo on the hour. Don't think I've managed more than 2 consecutive, uninterrupted hours of sleep in almost a year. I try to embrace the poncily titled 'power nap'! If I can grab 15 minutes on the sofa and drift off, I do. Your whole perception of reality and your outlook can be so dramatically altered by sleep deprivation. It's scary how low you can get when exhausted, so I'd always put sleep ahead of the gym.

I don't do any formal exercise these days, but I've used dvds in the past and I found them rather fun... certainly better than having to head to the gym. Dan Karaty's hotpants workout is a good one. I tried Davina's but it drove me nuts. The Ministry of Sound one was okay-ish. My favourite exercise was always dancing, though. Just put the earphones in and scare the postman with your boogilicious stylings!

For food... it's a minefield. The more tired you get, the more attractive the nibbles become. Another good excuse for regular napping! All I can say is just try to keep ahead of your cravings and weak times and have plenty of healthy snacks ready to be demolished.

Hope things start to fall into place for you.

That sounds like good advice! I don't envy you, I was glad enough when the little ones started to sleep through!

 

[Iris]

That sounds like good advice! I don't envy you, I was glad enough when the little ones started to sleep through!

I don't know how I'd handle kids - I have the utmost respect for mothers everywhere. Think I'd probably crack up!