3-11 shift and eating

bblouin

Hello!  I work 3-11 as an RN.  What I've been doing is eating right before I go to work (around 1), this is my first meal of the day.  I eat a meal at work and then one when I get home.  I have been stalled in weight loss.  Do you think I should eat earlier and eat my third meal at work and just have a light snack when I come home?

MrsF0831

You should have your 3rd meal around 7p while your at work and a light snackw hen you get home like fruit or a salad. Your eating so late at night and then just going to bed which means your not burining those calories. I work a crazy schedule because I waitress at night and have a job during the day . And I used to eat after my shift around 9 and then just go home and get ready for bed which would make me start to pack on the pounds. Plus its said that you really shouldnt eat past 8pm.  Hope this helps and good luck!

maribeth721

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_3-11-shift-and-eating?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:70c7dfd4-d34c-412b-9502-af31107376f2Post:dedf45a3-1857-4552-954c-cd258c96e533">Re: 3-11 shift and eating</a>:
[QUOTE]You should have your 3rd meal around 7p while your at work and a light snackw hen you get home like fruit or a salad. <strong>Your eating so late at night and then just going to bed which means your not burining those calories</strong>. I work a crazy schedule because I waitress at night and have a job during the day . And I used to eat after my shift around 9 and then just go home and get ready for bed which would make me start to pack on the pounds. <strong>Plus its said that you really shouldnt eat past 8pm</strong>.  Hope this helps and good luck!
Posted by keyshkeyshx04x[/QUOTE]


Well this would depend on when you actually go to bed. If you are up for another 3-4 hours after you get out of work I don't see a problem with eating your "dinner" when you get home. Do you snack at all? I try to eat 5-6 times a day to keep my metabolism moving. With that said, I also track my calories to make sure I'm not over eating.

You shouldn't eat past 8pm IF you're going to bed within 1-2 hours of 8pm, I wouldn't think this "rule of thumb" so to speak applies to your schedule.

I think the main thing(s) is to make sure you're eating clean and eating within a reasonable calorie amount.

dogsandfrogs

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_getting-shape_3-11-shift-and-eating?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:238Discussion:70c7dfd4-d34c-412b-9502-af31107376f2Post:dedf45a3-1857-4552-954c-cd258c96e533">Re: 3-11 shift and eating</a>:
[QUOTE]You should have your 3rd meal around 7p while your at work and a light snackw hen you get home like fruit or a salad. Your eating so late at night and then just going to bed which means your not burining those calories. I work a crazy schedule because I waitress at night and have a job during the day . And I used to eat after my shift around 9 and then just go home and get ready for bed which would make me start to pack on the pounds. Plus its said that you really shouldnt eat past 8pm.  Hope this helps and good luck!
Posted by keyshkeyshx04x[/QUOTE]

The normal conventions of when you should/shouldn't eat really only apply to people on a "normal" schedule, which a 3-11 RN isn't going to be.

It doesn't matter when you eat relative to when you go to bed really.  Calories are calories.  Eating them right before bed is not going to have any effect on how they're burned.  The problem with eating right before you go to bed is that it can disrupt your sleep cycle because your body is simultaneously trying to keep working (to digest the food) while trying to shut down.  That usually loops into feeling more tired, which makes you want to eat more, which spirals, which is where the adage of "you'll gain weight if you eat right before bed" came from.  As long as you're eating the same amount of calories, time of day is irrelevant.

Aim to not eat within 2 hours of your bed time.  If you like the schedule of having a snack after dinner, then time the snack accordingly.  I find it easiest to actually work backwards in my meal schedule, back from bed time and setting up meals and snacks to mesh with that schedule.  Also take a closer look at exactly what you're eating.  Weight loss is 80% diet, so really examine everything you eat.  Make sure you're actually taking in <em>enough</em> calories (if you aren't taking in enough your body will actually gain weight as it tries to store energy since it thinks you're starving, even if you don't feel hungry!), usually around 1200 for women.

ktwed1

I agree with dogsandfrogs and if you need to eat before bed take in a protein source only when you get home, such as a low fat, low carb protein shake or low fat cottage cheese. Skip any type of carbs and fruit. Vegeatables are fine.
I often need to eat within an hour before bed but I will do protein only such as a shake.

bblouin

I usually go to bed within a hour of my meal.  I have been trying it the new way and so far uts been working out well!