Working nights and training for a show?? HELP!

Marna · 10-25-2009, 12:19 PM

Hello all,

I am training for my first show and have a wonderful trainer and team, but no one has been able to help me figure out how to eat/train effectively around my night shift.

I work the same 3 nights for 4 weeks then a different 3 nights for another 4 weeks etc..... I need to figure out how to eat and train on those nights and the days pre and post working nights.

Any and all suggestions would be REALLY appericated!!!

Allll the very best, and thank you!
Marna

steve_0_ · 10-25-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marna

Hello all,

I am training for my first show and have a wonderful trainer and team, but no one has been able to help me figure out how to eat/train effectively around my night shift.

I work the same 3 nights for 4 weeks then a different 3 nights for another 4 weeks etc..... I need to figure out how to eat and train on those nights and the days pre and post working nights.

Any and all suggestions would be REALLY appericated!!!

Allll the very best, and thank you!
Marna

Just curious what your hours are for both of your sets of night shifts. I work nights also actually days, afternoons and nights and I found a way to eat and train so maybe I can help you out. Let me know what the hours are, when you prefer to train, any problems with eating at work etc.

Steve

db2012 · 10-25-2009, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marna

Hello all,

I am training for my first show and have a wonderful trainer and team, but no one has been able to help me figure out how to eat/train effectively around my night shift.

I work the same 3 nights for 4 weeks then a different 3 nights for another 4 weeks etc..... I need to figure out how to eat and train on those nights and the days pre and post working nights.

Any and all suggestions would be REALLY appericated!!!

Allll the very best, and thank you!
Marna

Don't overlook when you work. Windows of time should be these 3 things: Pre work out meal, Post work out meal, and PM (last meal before bed). Keep these 3 consistent regardless of your training schedule, maybe some times you will have to make a hybrid by combining two or an exception based on goals and which meals need to be merged. If you have a good training team they should be able to fill you in on pre, post and PM meals, the rest are all "filler" meals when it comes to competition. This if of course speaking of standing comp diets.

FATHER FLEX · 10-25-2009, 05:15 PM

Everyone sleeps at some point, you just sleep at different hours. Train, and eat when YOU are awake.

I did that for my first run of shows, and during half of my last competitive season, not that big of a deal.

One thing that is cool, is that you don't deal with morning traffic.

Marna · 10-26-2009, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FATHER FLEX

Everyone sleeps at some point, you just sleep at different hours. Train, and eat when YOU are awake.

I did that for my first run of shows, and during half of my last competitive season, not that big of a deal.

One thing that is cool, is that you don't deal with morning traffic.

SO TRUE about traffic!! Thanks for the advice! I work 12 hour shifts and live an hour from work each way... so I am away from home and not able to work out A LOT on the days I work - add in about 5 - 6 hours sleep (if I'm lucky) and thats not much time for anything else (did I mention I also run my own business on top of this job?? lol)

A more specific question is this... at least once a week I am up for over 36 hours... thats a LOT of time to be awake on one days worth of food allowance/calories. Thoughts?

Thanks again,
Marna

Marna · 10-26-2009, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve_0_

Just curious what your hours are for both of your sets of night shifts. I work nights also actually days, afternoons and nights and I found a way to eat and train so maybe I can help you out. Let me know what the hours are, when you prefer to train, any problems with eating at work etc.

Steve

Hi Steve,

I work only nights - 7pm tp 7am... and I am about an hour from where I work.

And yes I can eat at work whenever I need to. Thankfully!!!

Marna

Marna · 10-26-2009, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by db2012

Don't overlook when you work. Windows of time should be these 3 things: Pre work out meal, Post work out meal, and PM (last meal before bed). Keep these 3 consistent regardless of your training schedule, maybe some times you will have to make a hybrid by combining two or an exception based on goals and which meals need to be merged. If you have a good training team they should be able to fill you in on pre, post and PM meals, the rest are all "filler" meals when it comes to competition. This if of course speaking of standing comp diets.

Hi,

Thanks for the comment... the actual food I have figured out (as in what I should be eating, protein/fats/carbs etc etc...) but its for only being awake a certain amount of hours and there are times I am awake for over 36 hours... and the not eating junk at night is hard.... (and yes I get that none of this is easy... but holy goodness 4am is NOT a good time to be standing in front of a vending machine with no carbs in my body! lol) I need some sort of tip or suggestion to get past that early morning food issue. Maybe its a chick thing?

Marna

ryano81 · 10-27-2009, 10:08 PM

I also work nights. I figure that if I get my 6-7 meals in with in a 24 hour period I'm okay. In other words, if I get my 6-7 meals in and 6-8 hours of sleep in from midnight to midnight, I'm good.

mooseusaf · 10-29-2009, 01:21 AM

i work nights too 16 hr shifts 1 on 1 off or 1 on 2 off if im lucky, as long as ur getn ur meals in and makin time for ur workouts and cardio u'll be fine. by fine i mean make the sacrifices to get in stage shape and suffer. im 2 1/2 weeks out and trust its all about suffering the last 5 weeks of ur prep.