Night Shift Weightloss Struggles

Journey of my weight loss challenges while working nights

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Begin Again

My first night at work and I am already struggling! My eyes are barely open.  Last week, I ventured out after the snow and walked.  I dared not run due to fear I would land on my buttocks.  I am looking forward to this week as the weather is supposed to be Unbelievable....60 degree weather in January (reminds me of home).  I am excited that I have logged 31.7 miles for the month of January on Nike Run (compared to 10.5 miles in December).  Now, that’s progress...I’m going to do more in February.

My eating has been good.  I tried something different...I actually brought in real food to eat (salmon, yellow rice, green beans) instead of snacks for my time at work.  I am wondering if this will curb my appetite for snacks.  My belief is that I eat because I’m bored at work.  Now I still have snacks to eat, but I’m hoping not to eat as much as usual. So far so good.

So, I am a chocoholic...and have challenged myself to not have any chocolate this week.  This is going to really challenge my willpower.  Wish me luck...

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Sitting at home chilling with the fam....glad to be off tonight.

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The last couple of days have been crazier than normal with getting a new puppy and being stuck in the house due to the blizzard of 2016. I'd like to say that I've been still getting it in as far as exercise is concerned but that is NOT true. I ate pretty well though. There was no chocolate in the house so that meant I couldn't overindulge in that. The only exercise I got was shoveling snow to let Chance do his thing outside. Before this past weekend, I have never handled a shovel before. I was winded for sure...trying to hold on to a leash that puppy did not like and shovel. Well, it felt like I had mini workouts each time. LOL I'm back at work tonight. I'm going to use my resistant bands and do a plank or two. If I do this, I'll feel better about the inactivity that I participated in this weekend.

[nightshiftstruggles-blog]

The last couple of days have been crazier than normal with getting a new puppy and being stuck in the house due to the blizzard of 2016. I'd like to say that I've been still getting it in as far as exercise is concerned but that is NOT true. I ate pretty well though. There was no chocolate in the house so that meant I couldn't overindulge in that. The only exercise I got was shoveling snow to let Chance do his thing outside. Before this past weekend, I have never handled a shovel before. I was winded for sure...trying to hold on to a leash that puppy did not like and shovel. Well, it felt like I had mini workouts each time. LOL I'm back at work tonight. I'm going to use my resistant bands and do a plank or two. If I do this, I'll feel better about the inactivity that I participated in this weekend.

[astrologyexplained]

Mars in Aries advice to Mars in Pisces

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Motivation

Today has been a very long day for me. I got off work early @ 0700, but still did not get in bed until 0900...that's not usually bad. But today I had a doctor's appointment @ 1pm, so that meant I had to interrupt my sleep. I got up at 11:30 and haven't been back to bed since. Yeah, I'm tired! My doctor's appointment went well. Thankfully, I am healthy but unfortunately my weight is up 6lbs from last June. Can I say that this made me very upset? My doctor and I had a great conversation. She is very supportive that I should exercise and eat right. I tried to plead my case about being a night shift worker and how difficult it was to fit working out into my schedule. But I realize that I have the same complaints that DayWalkers have... After the appointment I change clothes and went for a walk/run for a little over 2 miles. All I could think about during that walk run was how much weight I've put on since becoming a night shift worker. I'm motivated to get this weight off.... First things first I've got to start sleeping longer, better. I have to keep up with the exercise and definitely make better choices when eating.

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I tried to do better tonight. I was very conscious about what I was eating. I tried NOT to eat just because I needed to keep my eyes open.

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Change is NOT easy

So, this is my last night of work for this week.  It has been quite the struggle this week.  I have struggled with my snacking choices.  And I did not meet my self-imposed step quota.  Tonight, I did not have as many snacks but I am definitely feeling some guilt over the Pepsi I consumed at work. But my snack choices overall were much better and much less.  Thank God for brand new days, brand new mercy. 

I have to be creative with my cardio exercise with the threat of severe winter weather here in VA. I will be able to walk/run today and Thursday, but Friday and Saturday are not looking good for outdoor exercise.  I am NOT a snow bunny! Well, maybe I’ll try those YouTube channels my daughter told me about. 

I have a doctor’s appointment later today.  I am excited and nervous about it.  I haven’t seen this particular doctor in a year.  I am interested to see what the scale says....and what the doc says. 

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My grazing was a little better tonight. Apparently, I'm addicted to sugar and having a hard time going cold turkey.

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The Grazer is at it again...

Grazing again! I wonder how other nightshifters are making it during their shifts.  I am sedentary at my job and between 4-5am I am struggling to keep my eyes open.  I’m just wondering how other people are getting thru their shifts.  I am a sleep tech so my patients (on a good night) are sleeping.  And I wish I could join them. 

I don’t want to move.  I am doing everything I can to keep my eyes open which includes putting food in my mouth, scoring my studies, chatting up my co-worker and putting more food in my mouth.

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Grazing

It's been a very long night. I've been grazing all night and it has not been good. Because I'm tired and can barely keep my eyes open. I can't believe how many calories I have eaten. And I wasn't planning to exercise. I can definitely see how this can lead to weight gain. I can definitely see how changes need to be made ASAP...

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Sunday Funday

Yesterday was just a total waste of time. I worked Friday night and slept most of the day (til 4:30pm). I had absolutely NO energy. And it sucked that I woke up with a headache. How does that happen? I had a Hook & Ladder sub for dinner but ended up eating more and more because I couldn't fall back asleep....because I slept ALL DAY! So, I binge watched The Following until 3am....during that binge watching session, I had a peanut butter & jelly sandwich, yogurt and crunchy Cheetos. Well, thank goodness today is a new day....Sunday Funday...my first work night of this week. Im just waking up and of course, Im famished. I'm only taking good snacks to work...yogurt, green apple, applesauce, chocolate pudding (maybe that's not so good) & Funyuns (OK, I may need to rethink those). But I find at night that I need sweet and salty snacks. Maybe I'll cut up some strawberries and pick up some cashews. I will not be eating any bread this week. And my goal is to take at least 8000 steps on my work nights. Wish me luck...

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Happy Saturday

My yesterday was a different day for me due to coming into work for an extra shift. I did get up and walk for 3.22 miles....it took me 50mins.  I am proud of the fact that I got up and moved this body 3 times this week. My scale broke so I have not been able to weigh myself.  I think I am going to wait until my doctor’s appointment next week.  I am interested in seeing if there are any changes from last year. 

This week was better than last week. I’m proud of that.