How healthy and fit are you?

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Especially the experienced nurses. Do you have time to exercise? Do you eat right? Do you think being a nurse makes you more health conscience? Do you work with many unfit or overweight nurses?

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Specializes in NICU Level III.

I am moderately fit but I am no marathon runner (although I'm training for a 1/2!). I eat healthy and work out usually 3x a week. I was health concious way before I thought about being a nurse and I do work with some larger people.

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Specializes in Midwifery, women's health.

I am a student, and very committed to staying healthy, and I have been wondering if it is going to be possible to continue my routine when I start working! Good question!

I run 5-6 days a week and lift 2-3 days a week, so I would say I am above average right now, as far as health goes (although my eating habits do leave something to be desired...).

I think that as nurses, we have a responsibility to model healthy behaviors for our patients and families.

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Specializes in ICU.

Another student here. I would say I am pretty average healthwise, but I have been actively trying to change that for the past few months. I've been concentrating on avoiding fast food, eating more whole grains, fruits and veggies, portion control and exercising at least 3x per week for an hour. I don't belive in calorie counting or dieting per say and while having the perfect size 2 bikini body would be most excellent, I'm more concerned with just feeling better and knowing I'm doing a better job of taking care of my body than before. I would like to think that my schooling in nursing thus far has inspired at least some of this change in lifestyle. Hope it continues when i enter the workforce.

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Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

I quit smoking because of nursing school, but I will say trying to get pregnant has done more for my eating habits and weight than nursing had to this point. However I find myself becoming very conscious as I see more and more people in poor health and often think "I never want to be where they are".

Tait

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I would think being on your feet for 12 hour shifts helps lead to a good level of fitness!

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Well I think I'm pretty fit and skinny but I dont regularly exercise...my only exercise is taking my pups my for a 20 to 30 minutes daily walks and shoveling the snow once in a while...but I'm thinking about signing up in for the gym since my hopsital offers their nurses 50% discount rate:heartbeat...As far as eating,I try to cook at home and also I eat a lot of quick fix meals purchased at the local store.

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I am pretty fit. I can do a full assignment and lift with the best. But I am overweight and have been since I quite smoking over 20 years ago. Lately I've gained a few more pounds with the stress of school, work and family. Now that school is done I hope to get back to a healthy weight. It is possible to eat right and exercise while working as a nurse...but it does take planning due to the weird schedules. ;)

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Standing 8-16 hours will not keep you in shape. Your heart rate is slighltly raised compared to sitting but not anything to write home about. Maybe whilst you are standing you can do calf raises or something like that to help the calories burn.

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Specializes in pediatrics, public health.

I honestly don't understand how I stay as chubby as I am (5'6" and 195 lbs) with all of the jogging up and down hospital corridors that I do at work! But the fact that nursing is a very stressful profession and that I long ago (long before becoming a nurse) developed the bad habit of using food to de-stress goes a long way in explaining it.

I was already pretty health conscious before becoming a nurse, and am probably even more so now. However, being "conscious" of what constitutes healthy eating does not, unfortunately, automatically translate into actually eating more healthily. Old habits die hard.......

Now excuse me while I raid the fridge :)

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Specializes in CV/CTICU.

i have been working night shift for 5yrs. 3days/week. but i try to run at least 3days/week and do yoga here and there. my resting HR is 52 as i m a long distance runner. i promise myself that i will run at least 15miles per week and trying to keep up with it. i feel fortunate that i dun like fast foods and sweet stuff. u will be surprise if i say i dun like chocolate and cheese :p i know pls dun roll ur eyes and call me silly.. i eat as much as my husband does. i never need to worry about my weight. i do work with a lot of large nurses and doctors. one doesnt need to be a nurse or health care worker to be health conscious. but mostly it is a personal control and discipline i guess.. :D

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Specializes in ICU, CVICU, Surgical, LTAC.

just recently lost 30 pounds (now 5'3, 115 pounds and size 2!) :yeah:sorry i have to toot my own horn sometimes to stay motivated because it was very hard work! Anyway i am working 12 hr nights so my fitness routine varies from week to week depending on my schedule. When i was actively trying to lose weight i ran about 4 miles every day and lifted weights about 4 days a week. Now since i am just trying to maintain (and I am also training for a half marathon) I try to run 5-8 miles at least 4 days a week and lift weights 3 days a week. Some weeks i do it and other weeks i fall short. none-the-less i am in better shape NOW than before i became a nurse.

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