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While working an over night shift for nearly a year,I lost a lot of weight. It happened slowly, I didn't notice it right away. Our 'supper' was at 3 in the morning, we had half an hour, to eat. Often what I brought had to be heated so that took too much time. i got into the habit of bringing sandwiches and fruit and water. After a while I noticed that I wasn't eating the whole sandwich, and skipping the fruit a lot of the time too. By the time I left that job I had lost nearly 25 lbs.

Now I'm trying to get it back, I still get hungry about 3 AM, and have been having an Ensure at that time. I'm trying to get some weight back, trying to rebuild muscles, it's not very easy though. Does anyone have any tips I could use?

I do try to eat some meals more regularly now, during the daytime, it's not too easy, I have to make them small and easy to digest.


Mara

You are doing the right thing with eating little and often..It does take a while for your digestive system to get back into a regular pattern, when you have eaten at 'odd' times...

Go to the doctors and he/she will put you in touch with a dietitian, who may suggest build up drinks.

Try eating at 2am first night..then time reverse every other night..so you can break the cycle gradually without upsetting your digestive tract too much..
Because if you go on a sudden diet change, you can cause constipation, indigestion and other IBS problems..

Good luck

Thank you Storm, that all makes sense, in fact, it's pretty much what my Doctor suggests as well. She was afraid that I was getting into a bad habit intentionally! Nope, not me, I never had a weight problem, rather liked being a bit on the heavy side. You know, a few extra pounds made for a more roundish figure, better boobs, the whole lot looks better in clothes, that sort of thing.

It's raining men in my city! I met one who seemed nice, and turned out to be not so nice, met another who seemed not so nice, who may turn out to be OK. At least this one can cook! He's the salesman who sold me my last 3 appliances(sp?) LOL, probably thinks I have money!

hi,i understand where your coming from on the weight loss thing.I've just come off working night shifts for six months,and i've lost a stone in weight! it took me near on three years at the gym to slowly build that weight up safely and by trying to increase my muscle and physique instead of just body fat.
I had a half hour break for food as well at about 3,but i was never that hungry and was lucky if i managed a whole sandwich!,i wouldn't be that hungry when i got up for work either,so would regularly go 8 hours without food.That and the 8hours + that i would spend in bed trying to sleep only left 8 hours in which to try and get a days worth of calories in.Basically i couldn't do it.I also lost the will to go to the gym regularly as well,so lost size and strength.
I only broke the cycle by going onto days,and i had more chance to eat at normal times by sleeping at normal times as well,sleeping for no more than 7-8 hours and cutting out lazy lie ins that just made me lethargic.
I'm glad to say i don't get hunger pangs at 3am as i'm asleep.So i'm not having the same problem as you.I do from time to time use weight gain drinks to help keep my calories up and ensure that weight loss no longer continues.
I'm back at the gym more regularly now as well which helps as it builds up a hunger within you and your body tells you that you need to eat.
Regular eating should help you and just eating slightly more bit by bit to get you used to eating adequate amounts again.try and keep it healthy,and try not to use meals or snacks that will make you feel full or bloated for hours as you will end up skipping meals as you don't really feel like it.
Basically its the opposite of losing weight tips,apart from the regular meals bit,because reg meals are the key to controlling your diet and your weight.portion control is the controlling factor in weight gain or loss.

You're quite right, the trick is to trick your body into letting you sleep at night, work during the day and eat regularly. I found that going to the gym has increased my appetite and enabled me to eat more normally. It also helps me to sleep ore soundly, I no longer wake up at 3 and want to eat then. Now that I've discovered Ensure I'm more confident that I'm getting my daily requirement of nutrients and protein. Being underweight really messes a woman up.

Mara

Weight gain is an increase in body weight. This can be either an increase in muscle mass, fat deposits, or excess fluids such as water.
Protein is essential for body function to build and repair muscle tissue.
Nuts are a very convenient and a healthy snack