Just curious if there are nurses also eat strange/unusual/potentially unhealthy diets on a regular basis?
For example, here is me:
On days off of work, my diet primarily consists of popcorn, candy, ice cream and pop. Pop consumption typically consists of 1-2 Diet Sunkist, 1-2 Diet Root Beer and 1-2 Diet Pepsi. Sometimes I'll eat three bowls of popcorn or one large bag in one day. Every once in a while, I'll include some grape tomatoes, canteloupe or slices of cheddar cheese on the side, but as a whole, my diet mainly consists of treats.
At work, I typically don't have access to loads of popcorn, but my diet is still unusual. My pop consumption alone is enough to shock anyone: I've been known to drink as many as 15 (yes...fifteen) Diet Pepsis in one day, along with a Diet Sunkist or 2. I typically don't take lunch breaks but have a tendency to snack on Lay's Potato Chips, Fritos, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I usually have nothing of nutritious value at all, and end up leaving work with my resting heart rate ranging from 130s-150s and presumably (I haven't actually checked) high blood sugars.
Anyone else engage in strange, unusual diet habits, either at home or at work?
Specializes in Psych (25 years), Medical (15 years).
My second wife, Akie, was a vegetarian and she got me heavily into the habit of eating vegetables. She would regularly make meat and fish dishes for me but would send me off to work with a bag of veggies.
I consulted with a nutritionist in the early '90's and he made some suggestions, one being to eat more kale. Hell, I didn't even know what kale was.
Pardon the cursing , but it sounded so poetic.
So I went out and bought me some kale and have become a daily eater of it.
I grow it in my garden, make some dishes with it, or just snack on it. I love kale! It gives me a lift that no sweet food ever did. In fact, one time I ate a whole little snack bag of M&M's and felt like crap.
I would never really try to tell someone how to eat, most of my friends and my wife have diets where they don't watch what they eat, however my diet is on the opposite end of the spectrum as yours, maybe or maybe not to an extreme, IDK.
I have always tried to eat as healthy as possible day in and day out, I exercise 5 times a week, I am 34 and the last time I drank a soda of any kind was probably when I was 20. The only desserts or sweet snacks I consume is dark chocolate, and those Halo Top Ice Creams every now and then. My daily diet consists of lean proteins and healthy carbs, I also stick to low-carb diet on days that I do not exercise.
That being said a great diet doesn't guarantee you perfect health either...I began having SVT at 27 randomly (usually when running or consuming any caffeine). I still exercise, but very slowly, and only lift weights, zero cardio ever as it would throw me into SVT. My cardiologist referred me to a specialist (Electrophysiology) and their recommendation was an ablation. However, I can prevent the episodes from occurring as long as I don't do cardio, don't push myself or get my heart rate up and don't consume caffeine. Due to that I don't know that it is worth the risk of the ablation.
I know people who have eaten bad all of their lives and as long as they are healthy, what am I supposed to say when I eat great and still have health issues.
I agree that you sound oddly proud of your diet, which is puzzling to me. What do you consider "tolerating very well?" What's your BMI? Hemoglobin A1C? Unusual not the word I'd use to describe it, at any rate.
Just curious if there are nurses also eat strange/unusual/potentially unhealthy diets on a regular basis?
For example, here is me:
On days off of work, my diet primarily consists of popcorn, candy, ice cream and pop. Pop consumption typically consists of 1-2 Diet Sunkist, 1-2 Diet Root Beer and 1-2 Diet Pepsi. Sometimes I'll eat three bowls of popcorn or one large bag in one day. Every once in a while, I'll include some grape tomatoes, canteloupe or slices of cheddar cheese on the side, but as a whole, my diet mainly consists of treats.
At work, I typically don't have access to loads of popcorn, but my diet is still unusual. My pop consumption alone is enough to shock anyone: I've been known to drink as many as 15 (yes...fifteen) Diet Pepsis in one day, along with a Diet Sunkist or 2. I typically don't take lunch breaks but have a tendency to snack on Lay's Potato Chips, Fritos, and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. I usually have nothing of nutritious value at all, and end up leaving work with my resting heart rate ranging from 130s-150s and presumably (I haven't actually checked) high blood sugars.
Anyone else engage in strange, unusual diet habits, either at home or at work?
Why are you abusing your body this way? Is this a recent thing or have you has the same extremely unhealthy diet for an extended period of time? You deserve better than this.
I’ve only met a handful of people with a diet anywhere near as terrible as yours, and they were all suffering from depression and/or burnout or an eating disorder. You sound almost proud but your post made me sad.
This past year has been extremely hard for most people. The pandemic and its effects has taken a toll on many of us. Are you doing okay?
I recently had a patient in her ~twenties/thirties with cardiac hypertrophy. Crap diet—> chronic anemia—> tachycardia—>hypertrophy.
I hope you find a way to start taking better care of yourself!
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.
2 hours ago, LibraSunCNM said:
I agree that you sound oddly proud of your diet, which is puzzling to me. What do you consider "tolerating very well?" What's your BMI? Hemoglobin A1C? Unusual not the word I'd use to describe it, at any rate.
Yeah, when I read the title and "unusual diet" I was thinking fruititarian or Keto or vegan, or raw or something. I wouldn't call this an "unusual" diet - I would just call it a crappy junk food diet.
OP, you are eating your feelings and I see this as a cry for help. I urge you to explore any and all services offered by your employer (like an employee assistance plan (EAP), maybe?) to get to the root of this. Sustained tachycardia while at rest is NOT good. All the best to you.
Specializes in Oncology, ID, Hepatology, Occy Health.
4 hours ago, Davey Do said:
Go with kale. You can't fail!
I'm a kale fan too.
I tend not to believe in wonder foods however my two exceptions are kale and piment d'Espelette (a red pepper from the French Basque country). Fry kale and onions in butter and add piment d'Espelette - perfect!
I am really bad with food. I get take out essentially every day, my food choices are horrible, I go long periods without food 24-48 hours and then eat like crazy for a day or two. I've been like this for a long time, just never have found a rhythm for eating on night schedule after all the years I've done it.
I admit my healthy diet habits when downhill when I was on nights. And unfortunately I did notice a difference because I felt absolutely terrible. But I do understand the hardship on doing nights, getting enough sleep, and meal prep.
Davey Do
10,666 Posts
My second wife, Akie, was a vegetarian and she got me heavily into the habit of eating vegetables. She would regularly make meat and fish dishes for me but would send me off to work with a bag of veggies.
I consulted with a nutritionist in the early '90's and he made some suggestions, one being to eat more kale. Hell, I didn't even know what kale was.
Pardon the cursing , but it sounded so poetic.
So I went out and bought me some kale and have become a daily eater of it.
I grow it in my garden, make some dishes with it, or just snack on it. I love kale! It gives me a lift that no sweet food ever did. In fact, one time I ate a whole little snack bag of M&M's and felt like crap.
Go with kale. You can't fail!
(I just now made that up.)