Do you ever work a full day without eating lunch?

[isthisallnormal]

I'm struggling with vicious anxiety and ended up doing this last week. I couldn't make myself get up, go to buy food, it just all seemed too much and i literally was frozen at my desk. I didn't drink any water or coffee and also couldn't make myself get up and go to pee despite needing too.

Normally I'm a big fan of eating regularly throughout the day so this is very unusual for me. I felt like utter shit, very weird and faint until I came home and grabbed some bread and cheese. I do have quite low blood pressure and wonder if a lack of drinks made that drop.

But it got me wondering - I'm sure I've read about how it's quite common for people to skip lunch or not take any time to eat because they are so busy? And nurses for example often don't get time to eat or pee throughout their shift?

Is it common at your workplace to not have lunch or regular tea or coffee breaks?

I do this all the time. I will realise it's 3 or 4pm and I haven't eaten since the night before. Then I will not bother and just wait until my dinner at 8 or 9.

I don't even feel hungry as it's become a habit.

You poor thing. I think it was probably the lack of drinking that made you feel so awful.

I do 12+ hrs and don’t usually eat or get a bathroom break. I try really hard to have a glass of water before something difficult (like a breaking bad news conversation or a tricky procedure) because I find being dehydrated affects my mood, behaviour and clarity. It was terrible during the worst of Covid with all the PPE for so long, we were all permanently dehydrated.

I send all junior staff for at least one break so that they can function. Everyone should aim to eat, drink and wee at least once per shift.

I hope the therapy is helpful for you.

This regularly happens to me in busy clinical role, meetings run over, I don't want to start afternoon clinic late, need lunch to catch up on paperwork.

Even if I bring lunch in I don't always have time to grab it.

But it's really bad practice and not good for people I see in the afternoon especially now I am perimenopausal and get tired quicker. They shouldn't get inferior care because they get seen at 3pm.

And if I saw a junior colleague regularly missing meals I would make sure they prioritised themselves. So I am a manager who doesn't practice what she preaches. It is v widespread in healthcare but a lot of it is to do with struggling to prioritize a workload that will always be too high against the real demands of treating every I see that day effectively. I don't get stressed or burnt out now because I have done it so long and know to ignore a lot of shit. But self care often gets compromised by healthcare professionals. It's incredibly hard to balance in a system under strain.

"So can’t you hurry the pupils out? They can’t take 45 minutes to leave the classroom.. Then you are prioritising marking so you don’t have to do it at home - but over eating lunch? Can’t you eat a sandwich whilst you’re marking?

I understand it for medics/doctors/surgeons and I know teachers are very busy but many have said they have time for several cups of tea. Surely you just can bring some lunch in from home? What about breakfast? Are people just not eating until 4pm?

It’s being portrayed like some badge of honour - oh I’m so busy I can’t possible eat a sandwich (whilst making copious cups of tea).

If that’s what you want to prioritise then fine but I don’t think it’s normal or good for you."

I was asked a question and answered it.

I didn't ask whether you thought it was normal or good for me.

Not a badge of honour as it's an anonymous forum so why would I give a fuck what anyone on here thinks about me?

I never mention it in rl.

My choice to mark, yes, never suggested otherwise.

Usually have kids in for first 15 mins, then set up for the afternoon. Would have 20 mins to eat but choose to mark. Takes ages to walk to staffroom and back.

Yes could bring something.

I'm a nurse and I often went without any proper breaks or meals in my previous job. I was so busy I didn't feel I could take time away as work just piled up and it was too hard to catch up. I was so stressed I didn't really feel hungry anyway. However I did always take bottles of water which I would chug when I got thirsty and would have a few biscuits when I got the chance.

The shifts were long so I was always too tired to cook when I got home and just ate toast or something. I would then binge eat on my days off to catch up. It was not a good way to live and I got burned out eventually.

I have a different job now thank god!

Work in a school, usually have an apple at my desk. Then try to avoid the biscuit tin during the afternoon, do have coffee/tea though.

I tend to have a massive salad and that's me til Sunday, when I will make a chicken and feed 23 people for a month.

I always eat breakfast and lunch but sometimes don't bother with dinner if I'm not hungry.

often go without formal breaks as would rather finish early (we’re allowed) but will eat at desk. Prefer snacks to lunch anyway

I always eat breakfast and lunch but never have an evening meal.

((((I am reading it as jokey ….)))) …. But you’re not a delicate little flower

I can’t last a day without eating something, or at least drinking something beneficial

I could get lightheaded, but would also be likely to get hangry

As routine I don’t eat breakfast, and would start the day in the office with a coffee or tea.
For WFH I will start my laptop up then grab a cup of tea
For lunch I prefer something cooked, and when in office I go to the mess or diner (I work with the Army), and for WFH I’ll make something
If not convenient then I’ll have something like a pasty, and perhaps emergency chocolate
If heading out somewhere I may start with a cooked breakfast

………

Last weekend I was at a show, and on the setup day I had a cafe breakfast then would not have any food available until after 7:00
On the way I did grab a wrap at a garage during a coffee shop
I alerted the others that I hadn’t packed any snacks etc on the assumption that we will be going to a supermarket between leaving the setup and the hotel.

However they were also extra prepared to avoid a hangry emergency …..: My hangry stress from last year at the same venue seems to have been particularly memorable
I kept getting asked “do you want a doughnut, do you want a biscuit, do you want a sausage roll? Etc

……..
Back to you & non eaters - some of this will be down to routine, grazing etc
Some people can last very well without eating, others will get grumpy and if prolonged or sufficiently different than routine can get light headed

I regularly go a 10 hour shift without a break. I do make sure I take sandwiches & fruit with me so I get to eat but I do well to get for a pee once a shift

All the time ive worked 12hour shifts without breaks no guessing we what profession I'm in

Food is my number one priority haha! Anyone with an office job could choose to eat lunch (while they are working not a break) if they want to prioritise it. Make cous cous or pasta the night before and just eat while you work. I often have my lunch during internal meetings or while reading a document. Obviously different for medics as you can't eat as you go. With breakfast I have an apple and a cereal bar, just eat it at my desk when I start as I'm short on time in the morning. When I worked in hospitality the vast majority of places are quiet between 3-5pm (unless it's sunday) so even say on a 12-12 I'd eat a big breakfast at 10ish then eat again at 4.30pm. Then grab a chocolate bar or something at 10 when it started to slow down a bit.

Outside of a few key professions eg hospital staff. I just don't believe people who say they are too busy to eat. I think they just aren't bothered about food (which is obviously fine), im jealous of people like this! My teacher friends can eat a sandwich while doing their lunch work for example. Anyone with any travel as part of the day can eat in the car.

I do all the time because I’m a self employed dog walker so unless I’m organised enough to bring something from home that I can eat while I’m driving then I don’t eat as I don’t stop all day. Most days i don’t even remember to grab a drink when i’m leaving, today i did 5 walks and a run with nothing but a cold travel mug of coffee because I was in a rush this morning. I appreciate that it’s different for me as it’s purely my own disorganisation that causes me to go hungry/thirsty all day!

Common for teachers.

Usually yes, unless I'm making good time on my rounds and theirs a nice cafe to try, then I may but usually I prefer to skip and eat later.

A lot of teachers are sorting out behaviour incidents over lunch.

This is one of those hilarious Mumsnet competitive under eating over working threads.
Yes of course I eat and drink at work and even gasp take a lunch break frequently.

OP you need help for your anxiety not a thread telling you this is normal. It's not. But you know that. Doubt this thread is helping your thinking though.

.

Sometimes I have lunch c 4pm, but not usually not at all. I know a few people who don’t.

But obviously in your case OP this is anxiety. I would go see your GP.

Burning calories isn’t the only “point” of exercising, though.

Surely it’s just fasting with all the known health benefits

Same. Except I fit in a gym session on the way home and breastfeed my attachment toddler all night.

Fasting is beneficial for men. Most studies have been done on men. Less so for women and even less so for peri-menopausal woman. There’s lots of new research finally coming out about this. If women want to fast it needs to be done on very specific days of their cycle. Not every day.

Everyone is different - I need to eat small amounts regularly to keep my blood sugar levels ok (have been known to nearly faint in the past). So I always make sure I at least have a sandwich or something I can eat even if I don't get an actual 'break' per se and wolf it down between calls at my desk. I have been known to multitask by scoffing a sarnie on the way to the toilet for a pee on very busy days! My husband on the other hand can easily have one (large) evening meal and that's it all day.

Hope you get your anxiety sorted OP, or at least try and bring yourself a muesli bar or banana or something in - stating the obvious but not eating really isn't going to help!