Nurses, do you exercise?

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I'm wondering if other nurses exercise on their days off. I started going to the gym at least 2 x week and feel it has made a tremendous difference in my overall mood and energy levels. I think it might be the endorphins but I was feeling a bit depressed between shifts at a time and exercise and healthy eating has literally reversed that.

Anyone else have any experiences with how exercise has helped or not so much in improving the quality of your life and inadvertently the quality of your work?

How do you go about exercise when you work nights??

Umm during the day? I sleep from 0800-1330 then gym and misc tasks

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I was a couch potato for most of my career, and deeply regret it. About 7 years ago I was obese, hypertensive, and diagnosed with Type II diabetes. I was 52 years old and resolved to get fit. Now at age 59, I am in the best shape of my adult life and feel so better in so many ways!

I am no saint -- and would still like to lose another 20 pounds -- but my diabetes diagnosis has been changed to "insulin resistance" and I take only half as much BP medication as I used to. I feel strong and healthy. And my immune system seems to be stronger than those of the people I work with -- most of whom are younger.

Most of my exercise has been with DVD's in my living room. But I have adding some outdoor walking in the past few months and have come to really like that. I have even jogged a few minutes here and there -- something I thought I would never do!

Yes, I have sore knees and ankles, some minor back problems, and occasional bumps and bruises -- but I had those when I was obese and out of shape, too!

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
Umm during the day? I sleep from 0800-1330 then gym and misc tasks

Do you take another nap before you go back to work? Or is 5.5 hrs enough for you?

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I've been a nurse for 3 weeks now and I have somehow managed to lose 10 lbs since I started my first job, despite completely dropping my exercise routine. I'm going back to yoga tomorrow night and am hoping to get back into going to the gym 2-3 times a week once i get settled into a routine at the new job. Anyone else feel like they are just too busy/exhausted at the end of the day to work out??

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Specializes in Critical Care, Med-Surg, Psych, Geri, LTC, Tele,.
Anyone else feel like they are just too busy/exhausted at the end of the day to work out??

I have to drink a 5 hr energy or a different energy drink after work or else I'm too tired to go to the gym and be effective after work.

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Specializes in Emergency.

Does jumping through hoops count? Get plenty of that on the job.

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In the past I have set up too high of expectations of myself and my planned workouts were too time-consuming or too intense. I would feel intimated or too tired before I even started them. There have been numerous studies that show walking for 30 minutes several times a week at a brisk pace is nearly as beneficial to long-term health than more intense exercise. Plus it's probably gentler on your joints (and we all need our joints for our whole lives, right?). So based on that I try to walk most evenings after dinner. I enjoy putting on my music or an audiobook. It's been a lot more successful to stick with this current walking goal. For variety I sometimes ride my bike, but it's all very simple and enjoyable.

I have also been psyched out by too ambitious expectations. What I do now is decide what my minimum effort is going to be. If I do more than that, great, if not at least I did the minimum (weights/cardio) for the week. This does not impress any fitness trainer or doctor I have ever met, but for me it works to keep me reasonably fit. If I gave up every time I heard a doctor state "Unless you do X hours of cardio per week, you might as well not exercise." I'd venture I'd be in pretty bad shape.

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Specializes in cardiac/education.

How old are you?

I am still managing to lift heavy on my days off but man, it's killing me! All I do is run, run, run between floor nursing, little ones, and harcore workouts.....:arghh:

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So I've been working as a nurse for a month now, haven't been to the gym at all since I started, and have lost 12 lbs. I think it's fair to say that nurses work their asses off. In my case, literally.

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How old am I or the OP? I'm older than dirt.

I recall that "little ones" below a certain age are a hardcore workout. Better you than me :up:

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Yes, I lift 3-6 days a week, even after a 12 hr shift and get cardio here and there. What I really need to do is incorporate yoga once a week.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Wow! I admire you a lot. You must have a ton of energy! I'm heading out to the gym and a yoga class soon. I was just thinking how I want to get more yoga in as well. :)

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