I’m a nurse on the PM shift and I work physically hard from 3pm to 11:30pm and go to bed around 3am. I eat my dinner at 6pm and I’m very hungry at the end of the night. So hungry that my stomach is growling and I want to eat a meal by midnight. I find that it makes it harder for me to stay on track, and I keep beating myself up over it because I am failing at this aspect of my program.
So this is my plan. When I have a goal there has to be a plan. We all know these things don’t just happen, though I wish they did. Maybe in another lifetime. The 100 day challenge for exercise is working so well I have decided to accomplish the same task by becoming accountable for my night eating. If there is anyone that wants to join in, please do. Set your own guidelines for what your expectations are. We are all on different schedules. This is not a place that I want to come to admit to eating one too many cookies though I might do that once in a while. It is a place to track progress and give support to each other, maybe even come up with ideas how to accomplish this goal. Sometimes you can’t see the tree for the forest right in front of you. Did I say that right??? I’m lost in the forest right now. Not everyone has a problem with this and bless you if you don’t, you are so lucky, but if anyone finds themselves nibbling their fingers in the evening, feel free to join along whether you count days or just want to exchange information. It will be greatly appreciated. Give us your best survival techniques. The best to all and much success.
Day 1....I started this on November 17, 2006. I made it through my first night and my fingers are intact. I was not at work so I was able to have a breakfast bar around 8:30 that held me till morning. I also drank lots of water. My plan will have to be to somehow eat a substantial snack around 9 or 10pm when I’m working. Something like a small bag of peanuts. l can eat it in the med room. It will have to be flexible at this point till I can figure out what holds me over. I know this sounds crazy but I’m even excited to have one day under my belt. It has been that hard.
Hey - I missed you while I was off the boards! Loved the shot of your road… looks a lot like my neighborhood. And I’m excited to hear about all your changes, emotionally, physically and medically.
I think it is good that you recognize that you do need to eat something at night. After working hard all day you do need to refuel, but it is good that you are being mindful of what you are eating. I’m sure after a long stressful shift when you are exhausted physically and emotionally that it is all too easy to use food as a soother.
Have you thought about almonds? I’ve heard they have a lot more going for them nutritionally than peanuts. Keep experimenting. I’m sure you’ll find what works for you.
Good idea Laura. I go to Trader Joes and there are all sorts of choices there. I’m really going to make this work. I’m going to do 30 days first. As I get a handle on this I would like to go for the 180 days or 6 months that will make it a way of life.
Day 2....It was not as hard as I thought it would be. I think it’s because I felt the click. I had made up my mind. I told all the people that matter the most. There was no pondering, no up and down to stare into the refrigerator. I had clearly stated my path. I have to have a plan for when the cravings start. I’ll think about it so I will be ready. I’m not working for the next week so I can get it under control before I have to test it on my crazy schedule. The benefits are already starting. I don’t feel like a slug and have that awful food hangover when I get up, and I feel like my abdomen is flatter.
Hey Denise, mind if I join you on this one? I also have a problem with night eating - I work in the theatre and finish up about 11.30pm too. I usually eat my last meal around 7.30pm and by 11.30pm am ravenous! Not really surprising if you think that it’s 4 hours since I last ate. I try to stick with a lowfat yogurt but often end up inhaling the refrigerator as soon as I get home
So, 30 days it is. Lots of water is a good idea. The yogurt works too.
It’s 8.30pm here in Paris and it’s my night off. I guess this is the time to start
Let’s go!
gecko
<exits to background noise of running faucet and ‘glug, glug, glug’ of water being swallowed...>
Hey there gecko...great to have a fellow PM shift worker on board. I’ve decided to to do what Scott said on Daily Boost #6 and have my first big meal around noon. My 6pm meal will be my heavy meal for the day since I run it off till 11:30pm. I’ll pack a dinner for 11:30PM that consists of some protein and veggies maybe a little brown rice, or half of a turkey sandwich with some veggies or fruit, something healthy but filling, low in fat and not too many carbs.
Just a piece of fruit or a cup of yogurt isn’t doing it. All the way home I’m already planning what I’m going to eat, then I feel like it’s out of control. I scope out that refrigerator and I have a bit of everything, then go to bed feeling like a stuffed goose, ruining all my hard work and exercise from the day. As well as my mind set. I know I do this because my blood sugar is low and I’m really hungry. The growling stomach gives it away.
I have this week off, and start back to work on Saturday 11/25. Great to have you on board. Let me know how you are doing.
Don’t forget to send me that food log I asked for - It may help to shed some light on what’s going on.
And by the way - thanks for all your supportive and kind words that you’ve been sending. I share them with Sheryl and we both appreciate you for taking the time.
Hey Scott.... I’m keeping track and will send you the info you requested. I’m tightening up my program and this is day 4 of no eating at night. Yee-Hah!! Thanks for your help and my prayers are with you all. My mom is still praying her novenas for Sheryl too. She was just asking about you all the other day. Take care.
We’re making the best of every minute of everyday and can really feel your energy here. In fact, Sheryl credits feeling “so good” in spite of her condition to all the good energy being sent her way.
I’m going in to spend some time with her right now - I’ll pass along your well wishes.
Day 5....this is a miracle. I think I’m so determined to eat right and beat this plateau I don’t even let the movie of food choices in the house start to roll in my brain. I did have a few cravings for the almonds I bought but I only ate what I allotted myself and it was this afternoon before dinner. This is a milestone behavior for me. I have all kinds of goodies in the house for the holidays and I’m not even going to step out of line.
Ryan and I have already committed to walking the beach with the dogs tomorrow morning, and Thursday morning, before we eat. We are starting a tradition that will leave us feeling better about the goodies we eat. Another great idea from the tool box you gave me Scott.
I had a lifecoach a while back that told me sugar demands sugar. The more you eat the more you crave. Nothing could be more true.
Yeah Gecko..take it anyway you can get it is right. Give it a few more days. I swear you will wake up feeling thinner.
Good night folks and Happy thanksgiving!
Hey Denise you’re doing fantastically well there! And how great is it to be able to walk on the beach each day. I have friends who live by a beach and each time I go to visit I spend as much time there as possible.
Day 2:- I’m doing pretty well too. I tried your trick of having a little protein and veg last night about 10pm and it seemed to help. Thought about having the yogurt too but didn’t need it in the end.
Day 3:- Tonight though, I forgot to pack the extra food.... and consequently am ravenous! It’ll take a few days to get into the mindset of packing a THIRD meal before I go to work! But, judging by last night, it’ll be worth the effort. I’m off now to find something healthy from the fridge - no more nasties at this time of night
Excellent job Gecko. I just know we are going to accomplish this challenge and make some permanent changes. We both sound serious...I’m finding that since I have this week off and I’m doing my food journal it’s easier. I got on the scale this morning and I’ve lost 2 pounds already in the past 6 days.
I’ve decided when I go back to work at the hospital on Saturday I’ll sit down at the table in our lounge and have a light lunch at 11:30pm. There are usually people there to eat with since they have nurses that do 7pm to 7am shifts. So I will have friends to talk to and watch TV with. A small meal will keep my blood sugar from dipping and diving and after my 45 minute drive home I won’t be rushing to the refrigerator.
This night isn’t over for me yet we just had our Thanksgiving feast and I’m going to have a small slice of pie with a small scoop of Ice cream I alotted 700 calories for the meal, and I did an hour of cardio today so it won’t be too much damage and I’ll just keep on going. I’ve started doing 150 sit-ups every night befoere I go to bed. It really makes me feel good when I feel thinner in the morning. Things are tightening up and I’m walking taller.
Day 6 of no night eating (I almost ate the almonds again.....but alas it was a no go in the end and I didn’t eat them.) ...I was careful about my calories and ate my feast didn’t go back for seconds and instead of the pie I had diet root beer with a few tablespoons of vanilla Ice cream so I bet I stayed under the 700 alotted calories and was totally satisfied with my treat. Simply amazing. I didn’t drink all my water today. I’ll work on that tomorrow.
