Working Out and Working?

whichone'spink, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2016

Personally, I find it easier to go early in the morning. I go to a 24 hour gym and get up at 4:00 to work out. Gives me an energy boost, which I can sustain after eating breakfast. I've never gone after work because like you, I just don't want to do anything after working 12 hours.

RatherBHiking, BSN, RN · Jun 30, 2016

I've never figured out how to stick with it. Let me know if you do...I heard that diet is 80% and exercise 20% of keeping in shape so I really try to eat healthy 80% of the time. When I do work out I have more energy and sleep better. I've found to get started (again and again) I just have to force myself to move even though I don't feel like it (because I never feel like it). Once I force myself I feel so much better that becomes motivation to do it (until I become lazy again). The most successful I've been is when I've had a friend to exercise with. I went to 8 hr shifts and I'm still tired

SimpleNewGrad · Jun 30, 2016

I usually workout before my shifts. After the workout, I feel I have lots of energy for the shift.

Usually when I miss my pre-work workouts, I usually have no energy at work.

I believe working out before the shift is the best. It gets my blood flowing and feel awake during my shift.

NurseGirl525, ASN, RN · Jun 30, 2016

It's hard to get back into that rhythm. I'm finally finding my groove after 6 weeks. I've added a little bit of stamina to my body so I'm not so exhausted when I get home. I can't get up at 4am. It physically makes me ill. I get really nauseous. So, I do it when I get home. But, I hate eating so late. It's almost 8:00 now and I haven't eaten dinner yet because I spent over an hour working out. But I will say, I feel really good after working out so I'm not as hungry if that makes sense. I'm going to try to pop a healthy quick dinner down then relax for an hour and off to bed to do it all over tomorrow. I alternate weight and cardio days. Hopefully all that nursing school extra weight will melt off soon!!

Browneyes80 · Jun 30, 2016

I work overnight. Any suggestions on eating and working out?

Been there,done that, ASN, RN · Jun 30, 2016

There are alternatives to a full run or workout. A ten minute cardio blast can be fit in.

SimpleNewGrad · Jul 1, 2016

I work overnight. Any suggestions on eating and working out?

I work night shifts. 1900-0730 and that's PEDS ER.

This is my usual routine

1500 or 1530 wake up and drink a preworkout and head straight to the gym

1730 get home from the gym and eat dinner

1830 leave home for work

0750-0800 get home from work; quick protein shake and knockout

TRY TO SLEEP before 0830 and repeat

I usually sleep 6.5 - 7hours or sometimes 7.5

I try not to binge eat after work so I usually pop a protein shake right away.

Browneyes80 · Jul 1, 2016

Do you eat anything at work? I usually eat at 2:00 am

SimpleNewGrad · Jul 1, 2016

Do you eat anything at work? I usually eat at 2:00 am

Yeah. Luckily at the hospital I work for, we get 3 x 15min breaks and 1 x 30min lunch.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2016

When I worked 12-hour nights, I'd work out at a 24-hour gym in the morning after my shift would end.

I now work from home, and these days I work out in the afternoon or late nights. I do not like to work out at 5:00pm or 6:00pm when the gym is crowded and the streets are filled with too many cars to jog comfortably.

joanna73, BSN, RN · Jul 1, 2016

When I worked nights, I'd do cardio and weights for 20 minutes before work.

However, as someone mentioned, diet is about 80 percent. If you aren't eating healthy food, working out is almost pointless.

Now I walk every day and fit in 20 minute workouts 3 times a week. I'm bored of the hour long gym routines.