Eating at 2am? Before work

Hello

My name is Alex and I'm on a weight loss journey.

For the last 2 years I have worked every other day early shifts and I would get up at 2am.

Then Every other day to that would be a normal 7am wake up.

Example

M. 7AM T. 2AM. W 7AM. T 2AM. F. 7am. Sat 2am. S7 AM

What's people's advice on eating at 2am. As I've heard should eat within the first hour from waking up to kick start your metabolism. Which I can do not a problem. and have done in the past.

Or do I be Consistent and eat breakfast at around 8am/9am everyday day .

I ask this question as with finishing dinner no later then 7pm every night. Would body have enough time recovering/processesing for me to ear again at 2am.

Thanks for any advice.

Alex

[TheTabbyCat Administrator 10 kg SS Supercook]

Hi Hidden it's great to see you back. I'm sure that you can remember your way around but if you can't I suggest that you begin at the pinned posts. Just click on the link below, scroll down until you find a post which interests you, click on the title to open the post. If you want to see another one just start again.

healthunlocked.com/nhsweigh...

As always we find that participation is the key to success. The Daily Diary and the weekly Weigh In are very good places to begin.

If you can manage without eating at 2 am this would keep your "eating window" shorter. I would prefer to keep to more or less the same times for meals and keep my eating window open for no more than 12 hours.

If you go to "Posts" and put "Intermittent Fasting" in the search bar there's quite a lot of info.

Good luck 🍀

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone]

Hello, welcome back

It's a while since we had a query about shift working but there are sure to be other people around juggling shifts. I would say try to keep to a regular eating pattern, as best you can. I don't think there's any foundation to the eating within the first hour theory - or the claim that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

When do you have your first break on your early starts, and how long do you have? You don't have to think in terms of "breakfast": there's no rule on what to eat at any particular time of the day 😊

There are some ideas here that might work: healthunlocked.com/weight-l...

For example, the meatloaf: healthunlocked.com/weight-l... : if you made that on a day off and froze it in portions, you'd have several breakfasts/lunches, ideally with some veg/salad

[Hidden in reply to BridgeGirl]

Hello

I only do morning shifts so I'm back home by 9am

Do you think keep it regular by eating at the same time every day then? To keep it consistent?

[BridgeGirl Administrator 2 stone in reply to Hidden]

I was assuming there would be a big difference in the time of your first meal but, from what you say, that's not the case.

The principles I would go by are a) eating two or three filling meals a day and phasing out "snacks" (i.e. eating between meals) and b) giving your body a decent break rest from food at some point each day, at least 12 hours. On your later starts, you have a 12 hour non-eating slot, 7-7: on your early starts, if you eat at 9, you'd have 14 hours not eating, so that should work fine.

[Clematisa1 1 stone Maintainer]

Interesting question Hidden - I do Time Restricted Eating which is a type of IF . I have 2 meals a day and no snacks. I usually eat "Brunch" around 12 - 1pm and then 2nd meal before 6 - 7pm when the kitchen is closed till next day. I try to limit my white carbs like sugar, white bread, pasta and white rice. It works for me and I guess you just have to find what works best for you.

[Rosyjo123]

Heya Haynes.

I would say it's really a matter of personal choice. I've done fasting. I've recently done noom. I've tried eating little and often, within a time window, etc. Some research says it doesn't matter so long as you eat and burn the right number of calories to lose weight. This could be calculated daily. All over the week (so some days you have more and make up for it by eating fewer calories on other days)

You can find research that supports opposing theories!

I think for a "diet" to work and then ultimately be maintainable it has to fit in with your lifestyle and feel easy for you to do. If you don't eat at 2am what is the next time you can eat? And is it possible to take ready made food with you? It doesn't have to be traditional breakfast food. I love a wrap with a slice of beef, horseradish, onion and lettuce. Its only 156 calories and East to wrap and take.

Also listen to your body if you can? Are you hungry when you wake on the early shifts? Or do you think you can wait until closer to your "normal" time?