Healthier Living Thread Part IV

You're right. I have seen a lot of obese nurses, but I have seen most of them not quite so active and the way they eat at work is pathetic! I am overweight myself; however, I do try to eat nutritious meals at work and I even pack my own lunches and snacks. I think stair climbing is the best too.

hi everyone!

one little chocolate bar slip up suddenly becomes the reason i can't possibly eat fruit and veggies the rest of the day, or go for a walk, or anything. all or nothing shouldn't be part of healthy living or no one would get started!

i forgot if i mentioned this, i also work at weight watchers part time as well as follow there plan. one of my coworkers there said this: if you break one egg do you throw away the other 11? no! same thing with eating that chocolate bar right? one stray or slip doesn't mean you toss the whole day.

hello.

i went to the gym today and am being good. :)

good for you tweety, i am on my way to the gym too. i had a smoothie and light/whole grain toast with no sugar jam.

question. how to exercise when at work and how to exercise when you get home from work when you're already exhausted.

i agree with the others, when doing long 12 hr shifts, save the exercise for your days off. unless you are able to do it before you go in don't kill yourself! i work 8's at a non physical job.

Interesting thread. I'm a Senior in NS, and I have always been interested in acupuncture and massage therapy for enhancing wellness. I ventured into more traditional territory last year though, when I began a self-directed fitness program at a local gym.

How to get oneself to the gym after that 12 hour clinical and 1.5 commute? Well, I tend to arrange to go before the clinical/work session, because it's not happening after. When I was still in the first months of my big behavior change, I would force myself to lock all of my shower stuff (soap, shampoo, blow dryer, straightener, lotion) in my gym locker. That way, no go to gym, no shower. This reflected my attempt to inculcate myself with the concept that the gym IS NOT OPTIONAL. That it is just something I do most days.... Like showering! I read in some self-help book that it was a good strategy... and it certainly WAS effective. No excuses with that one.

Now it's a year later, and I can't imagine a week without running! One year ago, I was all, "I can't run. I don't have the physique, and my knees hurt too much when I try." Now, I'm all, "I ran 20 miles this week. I still can't believe it, but I'm a runner now, and my knees stopped hurting when I did strength training for my leg muscles!"

I certainly didn't believe it possible a year ago. Yippee!

To anyone considering exercise programs in their busy lives, I can recommend keeping a "diary" of some sort. Mine was a piece of printer paper with a homemade calendar grid. I literally "gave myself a gold star" for every 30 min. I worked out. I don't do the gold stars anymore, but that calendar is still being kept current up there, keeping me honest and motivated about putting in the time.

Best wishes all.

When I was still in the first months of my big behavior change, I would force myself to lock all of my shower stuff (soap, shampoo, blow dryer, straightener, lotion) in my gym locker. ... Now it's a year later, and I can't imagine a week without running! One year ago, I was all, "I can't run. I don't have the physique, and my knees hurt too much when I try." Now, I'm all, "I ran 20 miles this week. I still can't believe it, but I'm a runner now, and my knees stopped hurting when I did strength training for my leg muscles!".

Cool, I never heard of that (locking the shower stuff up) - and altho I can visualize myself running and working out - I lose my momentum so fast.

Sounds like you were more determined than most of us, congratulations!

:) Speaking of which, how is hikernurse? Are you hiking lately?

Zoe, we've got a foot of snow here It's been a rough winter (weather, family issues, a couple of deaths) and I can't wait for spring. I think if I can hold on that long, I'll be OK, but if I stopped too long to think about it, I probably couldn't do it. Whoa, you definitely got more of an answer than you wanted, didn't you

So, I'm counting the days until it's warm enough to hit the trails again :) During summer school I'll take my books up the mountains and study. That might be one way to make studying for the NCLEX pleasant

Maybe during spring break we can go somewhere warm and camp. The kid's spring break isn't the same as mine, but I'm willing to pull people out of school if necessary--including me Here's looking for the sun, kid . . .

Tweety, great job on the gym! I'm proud of you.

MRM, good idea. I go to the gym before school sometimes. We've got a great gym on campus and the showers are nice and warm, but I've never thought of holding my "cleaning supplies" hostage. And you're absolutely right about the knees; strengthening exercises make a huge difference. I read somewhere that some osteoarthritis was actually caused by lack of exercise rather than overdoing it. It kind of makes sense, lack of exercise would lead to less muscle mass and greater weight gain.

I don't usually go to the gym on 12 hour work days. I'm too old to have that much energy, LOL.

Cas, loved your analogy about the eggs. I'll remember that next time I'm tempted to throw in the towel.

Blue, you poor thing. Do you want me to melt some of this here snow and send it to you? You probably feel like a pioneer woman with all this roughing it. Your plumber sounds an awful like ours . . . never go for the EASY solution, LOL.

Maybe during spring break we can go somewhere warm and camp. The kid's spring break isn't the same as mine, but I'm willing to pull people out of school if necessary--including me Here's looking for the sun, kid . . .

Sounds like a very rough winter hiker I'm sorry ...

I remember when my family used to go spring skiing... sometimes it was nice enough to wear shorts! So we'd bring along a small picnic lunch and sit down looking at the view from the top.

My point being - I doubt that STUDYING would be on your mind with THAT kind of environment! but ... the increased 02 would make it easier to study once you came DOWN! Maybe...

Sounds glorious - will have to find me a mountain too, come spring...

Baby Bear Hugs - Is that a dating club? lol

ROFL! I forget that these programs aren't nationwide - although they should be! Baby bear hugs is a NPO that is set up for expectant moms and moms of children through at least age 4. Parent's can be on a list to get information mailed to them about their child's development and other cool stuff or parent's can opt to get monthly visits from our Paraprofessional who helps them with child development questions and gives them a chance to talk to another adult. It's an awesome program and I love it - I've been on board with them for about 2 years now and I'm excited that we are able to help so many families. We are also a prevention program in that it has been proven that people who are involved with the program are less likely to be victims of domestic violence and are less like to be abusive toward their children.

Ok, enough of that for now. :)

Hello everybody!

Welcome to you new ones!!!

Hi to everyone I already know. :)

Sorry guys, in a hurry (as usual - you know me) and Blue, so sorry to read about the house troubles!

Anyway, I was really good yesterday - I had a grapefruit for breakfast, turkey for lunch & dinner, and another grapefruit for dessert (very proud of myself because there was a stupid snickers bar looking me straight in the eye). So yeay!

I have had my morning caffiene (diet mtn. dew), so now I am headed to get a huge glass of water.

Have a great day y'all!

It's an awesome program and I love it - I've been on board with them for about 2 years now and I'm excited that we are able to help so many families. We are also a prevention program in that it has been proven that people who are involved with the program are less likely to be victims of domestic violence and are less like to be abusive toward their children.

... I was really good yesterday - I had a grapefruit for breakfast, turkey for lunch & dinner, and another grapefruit for dessert (very proud of myself because there was a stupid snickers bar looking me straight in the eye). So yeay!

I have had my morning caffiene (diet mtn. dew), so now I am headed to get a huge glass of water.

Have a great day y'all!

Sarah, you are such a great resource and a good "teacher" - I have found so many times that you know where to look for the info - which is the secret of a great learner and teacher. Often you are INVOLVED too!

Any inclinations in that direction for the future? (teaching, support groups, etc...)

I was good yesterday too, I bought a bunch of good foods for my cupboards so I am not "forced" to eat something out, or quick... (Usually both). Can't say I am 100% but I am doing better than I was.

Made my counselor laugh this morning. One of the things I've learned over the years of therapy, DBT, groups, etc., is "creative visualization". You picture yourself in a peaceful spot (one for me is next to the ocean... or under a tree next to a river...) Or you can picture yourself strong, or slim, or whatever ...

So I told my therapist that lately I was visualizing myself exercising - and boy do I feel fit LOL

Aww, thanks Zoe! I am really hoping to work in a level III NICU when I graduate, so I know I would have to implement a lot of teaching skills there. I want to do bedside care, but that would be a great way to integrate teaching skills as well. :) Thanks for that - I like to be involved, it keeps me up to date and keeps my mind fresh.

I agree about visualization - I think it is a great tool! It's one I frequently use to fall asleep. I can lay in bed tossing and turning for hours, but if I just stop, relax from my toes up and picture myself sitting on a sandy beach next to the ocean - bam, I'm out like a light!

Glad you are working on the food. Our office decided to stay together for lunch, so I went to the local pizza place (we have one now - yeay . . . or not), but instead of buying an entire pizza, we each just got one slice. That worked out well - can't over-indulge when you don't have it. So, I had that and a glass of water.

Now I'm going to work on another glass of water. I'm starting to feel like a camel - LOL!