Night shift nurses...help!!!

[jayb1zzl3]

Ok my night shifters, I have a question for all of you, how do you stay healthy while working the night shift? I gained 13 lbs since I started working the night shift as a new grad in April. Before I started working the night shift, I would go to the gym 3-4 times a week, meal prep my meals but since I started working nights I have no time for either cause A) I'm too tired or B) Catching up on my sleep. PLEASE HELP WITH IDEAS!!

[Davey Do]

For munchies at work, I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. I do a weight lifting workout before leaving for work. If there's time, I'll do some aerobic on the elliptical.

After every shift, I do a bicycle ride, or if the weather's bad, I'll do the elliptical. I spend at least one hour outside when I can. There's always something to do.

I've made at least a 40 minute work, rarely missing a day, into my schedule; I've made my eating and activity habits my lifestyle.

BTW: I weighed 225lbs in 1999, the most I've ever weighed. I now hold between 200 and 205 lbs.

[CCU BSN RN]

Meal prep healthy food a week in advance. Don't bring cash to work so you can't order crap food.

Work out AT WORK. Walking lunges to your rooms, offer extra boosts, 20 squats every time you go pee before you come out of the bathroom. If you're serious bout it, you can make anything happen.

[loriangel14, RN]

I ins it helps if I pack healthy foods like fruit, veggies, yogurt etc. when I shop I stock up on these and then just throw them in my lunch bag. I try to hit the gym on my day off. Drink water instead of juice or soda.

[chacha82, ADN, BSN]

I agree with others about working out on days off. Sometimes on the first day back I will sleep in until 11:00, then workout in the afternoon before going in. At work drink water or a little Crystal Light if water is boring for you. I also try not to order too much or go downstairs for naughty foods. Pack a lunch of food you really like that is also healthy. This will make you feel satisfied!! :)

[violetlauren]

I don't like nights much but I agree. I always pack a lunch and try to have lots of healthy snack options because I like to eat when I get bored and when I need to stay awake. I do a lot of laps, walk up and down stairs... and I also don't eat when I get home and just go straight to bed. I try to work out before going in to work. But I agree that I do spend a lot of time sleeping or trying to sleep and it's easy to say no to working out...

[TheCommuter, BSN, RN]

I worked 12-hour nights for six years. I worked out at a 24-hour gym after my shifts would end, then drove home to shower and get some sleep.

You can pack healthy lunches without spending any time on meal prep as long as you are not opposed to 'processed' foods such as deli sliced turkey, bagged salad mix, and so forth. These food items are generally of the grab-&-go variety.