Staying in Shape

Alisonisayoshi, LVN · Aug 18, 2013

I swear by TRX, battle ropes, and Kettle Bells, all quick workouts that can kick your butt in 30 minutes!

crossfitnurse · Aug 18, 2013

^listen to this person!! :)

ambitiousBSN · Aug 18, 2013

I need to get myself back on a strict routine. When I was actually on track, I would do cardio, strength, and yoga- mainly TurboFire, a bit of ChaLEAN Extreme (yea, I'm a Chalene Johnson junkie), and some random yoga DVD. Yoga is my biggest interest for school because I know I'll need something to relax my mind during my first semester!

Now that I'll be working part time, I think the grocery shopping, meal planning, and exercising will come easier again. I think what did me in was working full time on night shift. :-(

Mewsin · Aug 18, 2013

It is so true. If you don't by the time you hit clinicals you can feel it. We (our class) exercise during lunch hour. Eat in class a little before lunch, the rest after lunch and in the middle we sweat, a lot.

smoup · Aug 18, 2013

Now that I'll be working part time I think the grocery shopping, meal planning, and exercising will come easier again. [b']I think what did me in was working full time on night shift[/b]. :-(

SO MUCH THIS!!!! Working full times nights killed my consistency in the gym. I too think it will be easier working part time (every other Saturday night) and going to school. I won't be sleeping my days away trying to stay on a night schedule and I won't procrastinate because there won't be any other time to do it.

pmabraham, BSN, RN · Aug 18, 2013

Good day:

Watch portion sizes. Take in plenty of water and fiber as they help curb your appetite.

Try to get up early for a 30 minute walk at least five times a week.

Whenever possible, walk. Park the furthest from where you need to go to walk more, take stairs over elevators, etc.

Thank you.

rubato, ASN, RN · Aug 18, 2013

Thanks for the topic, OP. I have managed to stay in shape through my first year by eating natural foods, exercising daily (yes, even before a 12 hour clinical) and parking far away as well as taking the stairs. It can be done. You have to plan ahead, have the food in the house, and make it a priority to exercise, but it's totally possible. I'm about to start my 2nd year (tomorrow) and just got back from the store. I have a week's worth of healthy snacks, healthy lunches, and crockpot dinners.

As far as exercise, yoga is great, but you also need aerobic activity (biking should fit that bill) and some kind of muscle building exercises (weights, pilates, etc...).

NICUnurse21 · Aug 18, 2013

I start my first day of nursing school Tuesday (Aug 20th). I know this will be a tough semester for me, but I am going to be doing a half marathon training program. My runs will only take anywhere from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours out of my day. I know nursing students do not half a lot of time, but it is important to have "me" time. I also plan on eating a big, nutritious breakfast in the mornings, and to pack a healthy lunch on my clinical days!

kelzfuturenurse · Aug 19, 2013

I need to get myself back on a strict routine. When I was actually on track, I would do cardio, strength, and yoga- mainly TurboFire, a bit of ChaLEAN Extreme (yea, I'm a Chalene Johnson junkie), and some random yoga DVD. Yoga is my biggest interest for school because I know I'll need something to relax my mind during my first semester!
Now that I'll be working part time, I think the grocery shopping, meal planning, and exercising will come easier again. I think what did me in was working full time on night shift. :-(

You, I still swear by my TurboJam! I fell off the wagon for a bit but once I get back in the swing of things (with the help of TurboJam and TurboFire), I plan on trying out Insanity w/ Shaun T.

springchick1, ADN, RN · Aug 19, 2013

I quit drinking Diet Mt Dew an drinking nothing but water on Aug 1st, the day after summer semester ended. It was all I ever drank. I also started cutting back on portions and entering everything I eat into my Firness Pal. As of yesterday I'm down 10 lbs.

twigszoo · Aug 19, 2013

I've planned out my meal schedule for the entire month, and I hope I can do that every month. I think it will eliminate that frantic urge to find out what to eat, and help curb any desire to just be lazy and order in a pizza. All my planned dinners are relatively inexpensive, and its all homemade. Most of the dinners are going to be made in my crock pot, so I can just let it sit all day until I get home, and voila, done! I just planned out two dinners per week, I can eat the leftovers on the "off cooking" days and if those run out before the next cooking day I can just make some rice and eggs/beans. I've also planned out my lunches. Most of them revolve around buying a whole chicken and slow cooking it, then shredding the white meat. I'm using the shredded chicken to fill in wraps and pitas for the week for lunch and I'm using the wings/thighs for dinner that night. I'm also alternating so that I dont get bored of my food and just order out anyway.

Heres an example for two of the weeks in September:

Week 1: Lunch: Shredded chicken in pita, with cucumber + cherry tomatoes, tzatziki sauce. Dinner: Slow cooker fajitas, slow cooker peppersteak

Week 2: Lunch: Shredded chicken in wrap with shredded cheese, lettuce, caesar dressing. Dinner: slow cooker farmhouse chicken soup, slow cooker cheesy chicken.