Stamina, fitness & CRNA stress--how do you manage?

WntrMute2 · Jan 1, 2004

Vitamin C, caffine and catecholamines.

athomas91 · Jan 1, 2004

for those full into their program - i generally work out 30min - 1hr every day - i was planning on doing that as soon as i got home then digging into dinner and studies - am i crazy for thinking i will be able to continue ??

gotosleep · Jan 1, 2004

Originally posted by athomas91
for those full into their program - i generally work out 30min - 1hr every day - i was planning on doing that as soon as i got home then digging into dinner and studies - am i crazy for thinking i will be able to continue ??

yes:)

check back in when your clinicals start. I've gained a bunch of weight and my exercise program is essentially non-existent. Seriously, there are people who do keep physically fit during anesthesia school, I'm just not one of them.

-randy

WntrMute2 · Jan 1, 2004

You can probably workout regularly if you give up the dinner part. Most of my dinners were eaten hunched over Jaffee.

cnmtocrna · Jan 1, 2004

Yes you absolutely can stay in shape, and you will be better for it. I went to midwifery school 13 years ago and watched the other 15 students gain weight. I would swim at the lunch hour for 1/2 hour, then eat my lunch during class. I felt so much more relaxed and happy, I can't imagine how it would have felt without. I have never stopped exercising regularly, only a cold or a minor surgery has set me back a week or maybe two. My goal is to get at LEAST 3 days of exercise in, preferably 4 or 5, but if you only do 3 days in anesthesia school, you won't lose your level of fitness. I read while on my elliptical trainer. Having home equipment helps tremendously. I'm 35 and still weigh what I did when I was 13 years old. DON"T STOP!!

athomas91 · Jan 1, 2004

i have an entire gym at home that we have built over the past year in anticipation for no money for a gym membership while i am in school - so it is all in my basement (convenient!!!)

i think a 1/2 hr per day will do me fine.....thanks for the input - i don't know how people gain weight in school - all the running around, stress and non-existant down time to eat - you think everyone would shrink up.....

athomas91 · Jan 1, 2004

oh, by the way - my husband got cookbooks for christmas - so dinner won't be my problem......:) it is now his.,.,....

London88 · Jan 2, 2004

You can still stay in shape but you have to allow yourself some flexibility. I use to work out 4-5 x's a week for 1hr. Now I am happy to fit in 3 40 min sessions a week, and sometimes if school only allows me two sessions so be it. Do not try to be superman or woman or you will burn out real fast. I was very burnt out by the end of last semester, but I had a chance to recover over the holiday and I am looking forward to round two.

athomas91 · Jan 2, 2004

london88 -- school will definately come first..... even now - if there is no time - there is just no time....i don't sweat it....

3 days left...... the anxiety is killing me....:)

sandman · Jan 2, 2004

You can do it. I try to get to the gym early in the AM about 3-4 times a week for 30-45 min of cardio. Then in the evenings after class I do about an hour and 15 min of weight training, 4 times a week. If I don't keep up with my exercise routine, I go CRAZY.

Athlein · Jan 9, 2004

Where the heck do you go to school where you can get to the gym before and after school?

The only thing I can figure is that you are still in your didactic phase, because now that clinicals have begun, I am up by 5 to get to the hospital on time, and when I get home, I have anesthesia plans to write, studying for classes to accomplish, and, oh, sleep in there somewhere. You may be in clinical for only 8 to 10 hours, but I swear, when you come home, you are just exhausted.

Seriously, at least in my case - and the case of classmates and the other SRNAs I know, once clinicals started, all bets were off regarding any semblance of schedule and routine.

Exercise and fitness are crucial to maintaining your health and sanity during anesthesia school, but understand that you can't get something for nothing. I'm getting up at 0400 a few times per week to stick to my fitness goals. The tradeoff? Caffeine is now a physiologic necessity for cerebral function!