I was wondering if any other nurses have advice on how to work these long shifts and still be at a healthy weight. How do you fit in exercise? How do you eat regular, healthy meals? I always read that we must work out at least 5 days a week doing cardiovascular exercise along with 2 days a week of strength-training for weight loss. For me, this seems impossible to do. I am so tired after my 12 hour shifts (which usually turn into 13 to 14 hour shifts) with sore feet that it is very hard to exercise after work. I have to get up so early and have such a long day ahead of me, there is no chance of exercising before work. On my days off I still feel exhausted a lot of the time. Then I have to catch up on errands, housework, shopping, family, etc.
For those of you who do work out, do you fit it in before work? After work? On your days off? How long do you work out? Do you do walk? Do weight-training? Before I was a nurse and started working 12 hours shifts, I worked a job that had 8 hour shifts and I exercised at least 30 minutes a day and was in much better shape, but I am having such a hard time keeping a regular eating and exercise schedule with these shifts. I'm in my 30s and I know I need to strength-train and do cardio exercise as well. I just don't know how to fit enough exercise for weight loss in on my days off. Has working 12 hour shifts affected your weight positively or negatively? For me, it's been negatively.
