Any nurses here to give some advice?

Hello! I’m looking to cut some weight with IF and I’m excited to try it. My big obstacle is that I am a nurse working 3pm-1130pm most days of the week. The reason that this is an issue is that my body typically wants its big meal toward the end of the day (8pm-ish), and I’m quite confident that I won’t have enough time to stuff my face in my 30min break. Keep in mind, my work is busy enough that I often don’t get a break at all. I, very rarely, am hungry enough to eat big meals during the day time before my shift. Are there any nurses, or anyone with a similar work life, that has any advice to navigate this issue? Maybe my bodies’ natural hunger will shift to early afternoon time? Please let me know if you have any insight, I’d love to hear anything you have to say!

Answer

I would time the eating window to when you have time or towards the end of your shift so you could enjoy that meal like you do around that time or just have your eating window half half.

Half your shift fasting, back half of your shift eating window.

I timed my eating/fasting around my work lunchbreak too so I fast from 8pm but trying to fast from 7pm to 2pm the next day and I break my fast with my lunchbreak at work.

You could do something like that, again time it so that your eating window is towards the end of your shift if you like having a meal or break and then once you’re off the clock continue to eat till the end of your eating window.

Also I like to do one day a week 20 plus hours fasting and then four hours eating window, fast from 8pm Friday into Saturday till 4pm then eat but that’s just a me thing perhaps

Day 15 for me tomorrow doing 18:6 and someday it becomes close to 20 hours fasting if work gets busy.

Hope you find your way.

Answer

Fellow nurse here!

I work bedside, 3x12hr shifts a week. Based on your schedule are you keeping a mostly day person schedule? Or are you more like Night Shift schedule? The days you don’t work are likely going to look different than the days you are working.

Personally for me I have found myself more recently eating 2 smaller meals on my days at work (lunch and dinner). On my days off I usually will have a larger meal, either very late lunch or dinner at a normal time.

However it may be easier for you to eat a light meal or snack before your shift and eat a heartier meal during your break. Just my 2 cents, hope you find something that works for you!

Answer

Not sure if it’s the proper way to intermittent fast, but I do the exact same shift as you and what has been working for me is eating right before my shift (2pm) and then as soon as I get home (midnight). I make sure to eat as few carbs as possible before bed and not too large of a meal. I also drink lots of water during my shift. My shift was actually the reason I began intermittent fasting. I noticed I had higher energy levels at work when I wouldn’t eat and also saw quick weight loss in my abdominal area. I hope you find what works best for you! Good luck!