motd Sunday Aug 14, 2011

[Guest guest]

THE NIGHT

SHIFT

Sunday, 14 August 2011

You

all know what the night shift is, don't you? It's also

called the graveyard shift. It's the third shift of the

day on a job and typically runs from 11PM 'til 7AM the

following morning. It's a regular 8-hour shift. The

big difference is that while people are working this

shift, everyone else in the country is sleeping.

Why

do people choose to work this shift? Well, more often

than not, they don't choose to. It's just

that the night shift might be the only position

available. And with a national unemployment rate of 9%

right now, it's a blessing to just have a job,

no matter what the shift is.

Now one drawback to working the night shift is that it

turns your entire day...upside down. Over the

years, thousands of people have written me who work this

shift. They're writing because the unusual work hours

present a challenge to their efforts to eat healthy and

exercise regularly.

Now you know how much food is available on your job when

you work during the daylight hours. Seems it's always

someone's birthday, anniversary, some other work-related

celebration or maybe just a holiday. And look out...here

comes the food! One of your co-workers brings in

a cake or some cupcakes she made herself. Don't they

look good?

Many people who work at night bring in pot luck foods

and everyone shares a taste of their dishes brought in

from home. Or maybe a coworker is always bringing in a

snack for everyone to enjoy. And for a lot of people,

for some reason, their hunger is more intense at night.

(Maybe eating makes the night shift seem to be over

sooner?)

At

one time, I was a huge night time eater. But one of

the reasons I'm so successful at keeping off the weight

I've lost is that I simply don't eat after a certain

time at night. I've told you before, I close down the

"restaurant" inside my mouth, long before I turn in for

bed.

All of you who work the night shift have to plan your

days to include your work and sleep schedules. But

you've got to plan your meal and workout schedules,

too. I'll admit, it may be a little more difficult for

you. But no matter what your work hours are, it's all

about the planning. When some of you get home

from working the night shift, you go straight to bed and

may sleep until 2:00 or 3:00 in the afternoon. Well,

when you get up, you should "begin your day" with a

healthy meal and try to do your workouts then, too.

One lady told me she exercised before she left

to work the night shift. She said that hour of exercise

actually gave her more energy to get through her long

overnight shift.

So

you see, it's not impossible to eat healthy and get your

workouts in---even though you work the night shift. In

fact, I know lots of people who were able to lose

weight in spite of working the third shift.

And

by the way, be sure to bring something healthy

to eat when you're working overnight. Something like a

nice salad with lots of veggies. Or to give yourself a

needed boost of protein, how's about some chicken slices

to liven up that salad?

Maybe you have some co-workers in the same boat as you

who want to lose weight while working overnight. If you

do, why not form a little club at work, bring

in healthy potluck meals, eat together, talk together

and support each other? Wouldn't that be great? You

can make it like a little weight-loss club...at

work! Hey, that way, you can help each other

stay motivated while you're all working...the night

shift.

Love,