Shift Work - please help!

[poultryprincess]

Hi everyone... this is my first post, but you all seem so friendly so I have no problems in asking..

I have just sent off my forms and payment for the program, but in a few weeks I will start rather intensive shift work - our farm harvests are coming up.
It requires me to work (and concentrate, operating large machinery) for around 14-16 hours a day, 6 days a week and 10 on the other day, my week schedule will change week to week with times and length of work, but the majority of my work will be during the night.

Has anyone had any experience with shift work/long hours and the diet? I am just starting so I am worried about the lack of energy/detox symptoms affecting my long hours.... last harvest I survived on lots of redbull, coffee and carbs... which I cant do this year!

Please Help!!!!

Much love
Poultry Princess
xxoo

[MissNat]

Hi PP!

Welcome to the forum
I wish I had some helpful advice for you, but I've not had to deal with this myself, so I'm lacking in experience on this one. But I'm sure that someone here may have some insight for you.

The only thing I can offer is that you should definitely speak to/email your clinic about this one. I'm sure they will have some good advice.

Also, depending on when your program arrives, if you are able to start it quite soon, you may already be through detox which would make it somewhat easier for you. You'll be surprised what you can achieve once you are in the zone!
Alternatively, you might decide to delay your start until after this extra busy time (but who wants to wait once you've got that plan in your hot little hands!?) but be aware, if you're using extra caffeine and carbs to get you through harvest time, your detox will probably be a little more intense.

Is it just chickens on your farm, or are there other things you breed/grow?

[poultryprincess]

We have many crops, as well as the chickens and sheep and cattle.. I have the two harvests coming up, grape harvest and rice harvest... Lots of tractor work!! So I guess I'm lucky the plan doesn't rely on exercise!! The harvests should take around 4 months and they pretty much run into each other! It's an exciting time of year, just very full on. I think I will just 'suck it up' in terms of the detox - I I put it off now, it'll be the end of harvest and I will have even more weight to lose! I'm not on the extreme carbs and caffeine at the moment so I will look forward to doing without them

I will definitely have a chat to my clinic about how I can manage it! Thanks for your support MissNat!!

xxoo PP

[Mich]

Hey.. and welcome to the program.

As with MissNat, I can't really offer advise. Other than plan as much as you can. While I don't do shift work, I did bucket loads of travel while on Cohens (I've back on to get rid of those xmas kilos! ), and I had to be super organised which is hard for me as its not in my nature! I even tool my own food on flights!

Good Luck, again just try and be as super organised as you can and once you are in the zone, you won't even think about food!

[carrieanne_c]

Take your food on the tractor with you and just follow the schedule during the night when you are working make the finger food type recipes it will probably be easier to eat while driving. meals every 5 hours.

[bogie1]

Hi ya, my parents are rice farmers too, so I get where you're coming from.

I've only just started the program, but because I've got this week off, I've been cooking up a storm so that I'm prepared when I go back to work. Prior preparation prevents poor performance as they say.

Browse the recipe section and see what takes your fancy and then make multiple ones that are freezable - e.g., hamburger patties, made out of beef, chicken, fish, etc. I made a heap and wrote on them Meal 3 + 10g onion, Meal 2 + 10g onion, etc. I also made some egg & veggie muffins (recipe on the forum somewhere) and froze them for a quick emergency breakkie. At least if you've got the meat portion under control all you have to do is add some veg/salad and you're meal is complete.

If you don't drink much with caffeine in it at present then detox may not be too bad and you may not have any side effects. Make sure you take your water in the tractor with you, and your fruit and crackers.

You'll be right, it's all down to organisation really. Do as much as you can as soon as you get your program.

[Odette79]

Hi PP,

I'm a shift worker, and haven't found doing the program hard at all.

I just to it one day at a time, even if i eat at different times each day due to the shifts, I still follow the rules (5 hours between meals) and take all the food i'm going to need for the day with meal, main meals, snacks, drinks.

You might struggle the first week, but I promise you it will get easier. Just one day at a time and you'll be fine.

Let us know how you go.

Od.