The FastDay Forum

Hi all,
Can anyone shed some light on fitting fast days in round shift patterns. Particularly the night shift. My husband (who I encouraged to join me on the 5;2 plan) works 12 hr shifts (7-7am or 7-7pm). He's managing fine on the day shift and his first fast day went really well. His second fast day will be when he's on the night shift and he can't get his head around when he should eat and what time to start fasting. He's thinking of "breakfast" at 6pm and then a meal at 1am - but hes unsure of when to end his fast. Are there any shift workers out there who could let us know how they cope especially on the night shift. Thanks

might help to say when he would normally eat, and how many nights he does on the trot.

Sorry PhilT, I didn't go into his shift pattern because it varies as he works for an agency. I was only curious to see what other shift workers do when on the night shift.

Are the lengths of his shifts the same? If they are, it might be worth trying "breakfast" when he'd normally have it before his shift, then "dinner" when he gets off his shift?

If he is a manual worker when 600 cals may not sustain him, maybe he should consider doing the diet after work and then at least he is asleep for most of it. Its just a thought.

I'm going to be on night shift in a couple of weeks and have the same dilemma! I do four shifts and think I'll only fast on one work night. I've worked out that I could try from 8am on the morning of my first shift, then have my 500 cals during my shift and see if I can manage till the evening before my second shift (does that make sense?). I've no idea how I will do as being tired makes me more hungry and the need for carbs is huge!

[carorees]

The thing about shift work is that your body's rhythms are all in a mess so it's hard to predict when you would feel hungry.

Interestingly, research on jet lag shows that fasting during the flight and then eating at the "normal" time at your destination can reduce jet lag enormously. It occurs to me that shift workers might be able to use fasting and the timing of their meals to help keep the body on an even keel. I would guess that should mean eating dinner, fasting overnight in the same way as you would do if you were at home asleep and then eating breakfast as near to a proper breakfast as you can, then go to sleep and have a meal when you wake up in the evening.

I've never done shift work so I have no idea if this would work, but the jet lag stuff is interesting.

Also fasting makes you more alert so I guess not eating during the night shift might be a good idea?

As with everything in the 5:2 lifestyle each person has to figure out what works best for them.

My hubby works in a quality lab in a factory with fork lift duties so luckily it's not too manual. He has survived his "fast day" on the night shift, with not to much discomfort. He thought he would find it more difficult than it was. He had his first meal before he left for work at 6:30pm and while he was at work he had a slim a soup and lots of water/tea. He then came home to breakfast. He said his night was fairly quiet so he had a lot of time to contemplate food but he said he kept telling himself he'll be eating soon and he kept running through the benefits of fasting to spur him on. He's also no longer fazed by a 12 hr night shift - thanks for all your comments they've helped my hubby stay on track which has also helped me to steam along on the 5:2 xx