[all4schwa]

my 'nursing now' book states that nurses often want to count the sprinting they do all day as their exercise for the day, but as this does not keep the heart rate up for a period of time, it is not cardivascular work out and that we still need to make sure we get our aerobic exercise in. okay, i get that...however this book recommends walking of all things to do. yeah, i bet...my feet hurt and i'm tired of being on them. maybe a row machine or even elliptical or something, but not more walking! which leads to my question....

how do you fellow nurses obtain a daily workout? any tips for getting the ole c.v. workout in? do you take advantage of your hospitals wellness programs? does this help you stay sane?

[zenman]

12 minutes a day 2-3 times a week of interval training.
Must be done by sprinting or preferably a stationary bike or elliptical machine. Treadmill won't work as it takes too long to get up to speed.

First 4 minutes warm up.

Then for the next 4 minutes do 20 secs as fast as you can go and 10 secs slow down to a cruise. So it's 20 on, 10 off, 20 on, 10 off for 4 minutes. It's over quickly.

Then cool down for the last 4 minutes. Don't eat for a couple hours.

[mysticalwaters1]

I thought about this too. I am on my feet moving all shift and yet I am still so out of shape. Need cardio. I have such a hard time b/c I'm so tired. I do find I am more relaxed after I exercise but STILL somewhat tired so then I stop it. I try running up 5 flight of stairs to my floor but get out of breath and others look at me strange. Someone asked me if I needed a neb med! Some of my coworkers tried that sport chain CURVES but it's low resistence weights. I guess better than nothing. But good question. I thought of this myself.

[moonshadeau]

After finding our scale that had been packed away for almost 2 years, I made the big mistake of stepping on it. As soon as I did I made an expensive decision that I was going to lose weight. I joined a program and lost about 8 pounds the first week. I also bought Turbo Jam and have been doing that almost every day. Doing the cardio is much easier on the days that I have to work nights than the day shifts and getting up early to do it. I only wish I could count the activity at work, but I know that it was that mentality that got me to the weight I didn't really want to be at in the first place.

[mysticalwaters1]

Originally Posted by moonshadeau

After finding our scale that had been packed away for almost 2 years, I made the big mistake of stepping on it.

I did that on my work scale! I just was curious and was 6 pounds heavier!!! I cut back on food then got stressed and stopped loosing. I better watch it. I must have put on about 50 lbs through college. Then my doctor thought I was diabetic because my glucose was 164 but I told him I did have a chicken sandwhich from burger king 1 hour prior. He didn't say fasting blood work!!! But my hga1c was ok but I need to do something. Exercise is a primary factor I want to incorporate. Turbo Jam seemed fun.

[gdean1]

Something other than walking!!! racquet ball, swimming, softball or whatever. And to think my wife wants me to tae walks with her......

[Tweety]

Our hospital dropped their wellness program - lack of interst. Sad but true.

I go to the gym and use their their aerobics machines and vary what I do, from the ellliptical, stairmaster, treadmill, and bikes. I don't go on days I work 12-hour shifts, but try to make it three times a week on days off. I will also do a yoga class.

Good luck!

[control]

Most gyms will give discounts to nurses that work for certain organizations (hospitals, the state, etc). I used to belong to an all women's gym...it was great and I really toned up but only maintained my weight.

Now I attend the Y. It's close to my apt. and it has the basics. Also, lots of classes, swimming, and tennis. I try to go at least 3 days a week to justify the 40 dollars a month I'm paying for membership.

[ut_utRN]

I believed that whatever form of exercise you are in, it should be the one that you love or at least enjoy doing. For me I enjoy playing basketball, but now a days I am having problem after the play. My calfs are killing, it was so painfull and lasts for a couple of days. So I limit it now a days and just have some exercise at home and walking along the park or beach.

[Cheerfulsong]

Originally Posted by ut_utRN

I believed that whatever form of exercise you are in, it should be the one that you love or at least enjoy doing.

Good for you!, re: "Exercise should be what you *enjoy* doing"

Today, my Figure-skating coach commented in my lesson: "Annie, where is your
usual broad smile? (as I was over-analyzing a skill that I want (with the *same* level of competence/confidence as my coach, lol). She always puts things back into perspective: "it's not like we're gonna be on the Olympic-team, any time soon"

LOL