Work Nights?

I'm pretty good all the time about counting my calories and limiting my intake all week except for the 2 nights i work graveyard.  Does anyone else have a similar issue, how do you handle it?  Should I count my calories till I get home and go to bed or mid night to mid night?  I've been doing mid night to mid night but than I end up with only a small amount of calories for the next day because I end up snacking all night.  I bring healthy snacks but I usually end up wanting to eat something starchy and heavy.  I work in a hospital so there is a steady stream of junk food from patients families, co workers and the kitchen.  Suggestions, tips?  

That must be tough to resist! I'd build up some more willpower and stick to your snacks. Maybe bring a "naughty" snack with you in case you feel you cannot resist these treats at work then log it in. You will know how much calories you have had. As for the food log, I've never been able to figure it out yet either, I work overnights as well (midnight to 8am) and my calorie intake is never right.. Either too much or too little so I just stick with writing it down manually in a notebook. Sorry if I have not helped much. 

I've worked nights for a long time.  I've been on CC sense August.  Lost 50 lb.  You have to treat Your nights like days.  When you wake up start counting for the date you will go to bed.  Like I wake up at 6pm on the 7th I start CC for the 8th because that's went I go to sleep.  You can log cal for the next day just change the date.  Don't worry about have breakfast at 8:30pm  that's your morning.  I tried starting over at midnight, but eating half of my Cals on one day then like magic I have all of these cals I can eat right after midnight.  I would eat when I got up and push my cals to high for the day before.  And then midnight would come and I would have WAY to many cals so I felt like I could eat, and I did.  I would eat till I hit my number but forget To leave some for the next morning.  So everyday I would over eat.  I did that for a month before I realized that I had to start my day when I woke up when ever that was. 

Thanks, part of the problem is that i'm in school all day so my day is not a normal wake up go to work and go home and sleep.  I wake up go to school monday and wednesday and friday 8am-5pm work out than take a 2-3 hour nap and work from 11pm-8am. 

I'd log your night calories as the next day then, beccause you are really just switching your sleep with your morning from that 11 pm to 8 am. Im sure you still go home and sleep the next day, from 8 am to... 4 pm? something like that?

sort of, i go home on tuesday and thursday and sleep till about 11 than get up and head to back to school, work out at from 4-5 and stay up for the rest of the day and sleep at night.  I only am up all night monday and wednesday.  the lack sleep i think and irregular schedule is adding to my lack of will power. 

I work nights, and i work at parties. Whenever i get a break, if were allowed to eat we get 10 minutes to stuff whatever we can down our throat. 10 minutes isnt enough time to tell if youve eaten past full, and who knows how many calories youve eaten in a catoring hall... Ive started eating right before leaving for work (or leaving early and eating in a restaurant i know i can eat) and ill bring a granola bar or a piece of fruit. I try to stay as far away from the tables of food as possible, otherwise ill leave the party ravinous.

i work 2 to 3 nights a month. i count from midnight to midnight as the burn meter works that way too

I currently work 4 nights a week (5:30 - 2am, sometimes til 4am).  I go from Midnight to MIdnight.  You have to be concious of waht you are doing.  Luckily, I have internet access the whole time I am working so I can keep track of what I eat.  Right now I am close to my calorie limit so I have stashed a chocolate covered macadamia candy that a co-worker brought in and I'll eat it after midnight so I won't go over my calories for the day.  However, when I wake up I have to keep in mind that I ate that treat and choose more healthy food to even it out.  YOU CAN DO IT!!!

  When you walk by the desk and someone brought cupcakes, cookies, etc.  trun around or walk REALLY FAST past it :O)  Right now, we have the chocolates, cheese flavored popcorn, orange & cream candy and some asian candy on the community snack table. I am pretending I don't know it's there...WILL POWER!!  Give yourself a cheat day so that you can still have the sweets and treats (don't go overboard).  That might make it easier to avoid them the other 6 days of the week.

Good luck!!!

oops

I just logged in and found this post! I work nights 5-6 X's a week. I don't sleep a straight eight hours or six. My sleep comes in spurts, because I have 3 children. There's homework and the little one naps and wakes, naps and wakes. So I get about 2hrs of sleep with a 3hr stretch, then 1 1/2 hr of sleep and then a 2 hr stretch. I am all screwed up. I think I will start the midnight to midnight. The way I was doing it was throwing me off. Some days I would have 1000, then 1800, then 700! Thanks!

Some of your suggestions were pretty good and will definitely try them. Glad Lja1108 posted this question! :) Thanks all.

I was a night nurse for 7 years!  I know how tempting food can be.  I counted my food from midnight to midnight as well.  I would try to pack a  healthy sandwich nd healthy soup.  Vegetable soup and a turkey bacon blt were always a favorite.  I always wanted something warm.  I drink my coffee black, so that wasn't a problem, but I know coffee with cream and sugar can be a problem for other creatures of the night.  Pack a treat sometimes, too.  I would give myself one or two cookies.  I am so happy to be off of nights!!! What are you studying in school?

nursing.  i work as a tech at a psych ER/inpatient hospital. no more nights for me come end of this semester, i cant wait!

Yeah!  Nursing!  I love being a nurse!  What I love most is the endless possibilities.