Hello! So while I was in nursing school, I noticed a lot of nurses were unhealthy and overweight. Yes, we have little or no time to take breaks and eat, yes, we are constantly on our feet and get too tired to go to the gym, and, yes, we neglect our own health to take care of others. But, we need to be healthy and fit in order to take care of those in need. There are no excuses. That is why I think ALL nurses should practice what they preach!
I am a new RN. I have experienced the nurse life throughout nursing school, and will continue the nurse life for many more years to come. Before I decided to become a nurse, I worked in a gym since I was 15 (I am 23, almost 24 now). I started off as unhealthy, overweight, and unmotivated. When my father was diagnosed with prostate cancer and DM2 back in 2010, our whole lives changed. Our diets and exercise habits completely did a 180. I realized that this unhealthy lifestyle we were living, was doing damage to us. From that moment on, I decided to get motivated, become healthy, and put my father on the right track to becoming healthy as well (which, now, he is free of cancer and maintaining his DM2 via diet and no meds). I asked for help from a trainer at my gym (who has now been my boyfriend for over 2 years), who got me into shape, have a clean diet, and not only lose weight, but also maintain the weight loss. Diet and exercise is a lifestyle.
I am currently the healthiest I have ever been in my life. I workout everyday for at least 1 hour, including cardio and weights. On my 12 hour clinical days, I skipped the gym because that is already a workout in itself….and let's face it, by the time we get home, we get ready for bed and sleep. I made sure to have a healthy, consistent diet on my shifts. I currently still work part-time at my gym, while applying for hospital positions. The manger and owner of the gym offered me positions as a personal trainer. I am working on getting my personal training certificate. I don't want to just be that typical†nurse. I want to be that FIT nurse, who works hard, trains hard, and is a positive example to patients.
I think that ALL nurses and those in the healthcare field should practice what they preach. How can we tell patients to take their BP meds and Cholesterol meds, if we don't? How can we tell them to exercise every day, if we don't? What type of example are we to them?
The stress involved with working bedside alone can (let's face it, WILL) drive up cortisol levels thereby increasing hunger and body fat. Wait till you work bedside for a few years then come back and tell us how you maintain your ideal weight.
I think you should mind your own business about other people's health and realize that not every person has the same physical capabilities that you do.
P.S. I vacillate between "thin" and "very thin," but am not capable of traditional "working out" for health reasons.
I have definitely upset many on here. I should have been more careful, as I know this is a touchy subject. Therefore, I will have this post deleted by admin. I am a kind person, and by no means do I judge anyone. Yes, I realize this post appears very judgmental. And it is my bad. Like I said, I am new to this and I am also a new RN. I do not have experience like other who have been on the job longer. I apologize. Thanks for listening.
Why have it deleted? It's a conversation; people sharing knowledge and opinions. Maybe someone will read this later and their mind could be changed about some things. We can all stand to learn a thing or two.
I am not "skinny mini" and I am not pointing fingers. Like I said, I apologize for hurting people. I am not pointing fingers at anyone. Thanks for understanding.
It seems as you have stepped into 'it' unintentionally.
Sometimes enthusiasm can be misconstrued as judgmental.
Heaven knows it is easy enough to have messages/intent lost in translation on the internet.
I believe as you gain experience through the years to come that your perspective will evolve from things being so black and white to there being a whole slew of shades in between.
Nurses are humans first, fraught with all the weaknesses and shortcomings that come with it.
Getting your LPN or RN does not magically change you from humanity.
You seem excited about promoting health and wellness.
Maybe setting up an exercise group/activity for a nursing home or shelter or church/community group would be a good outreach.
You'd be supporting your cause in the community and in the process may get a perspective on the public in general that clinicals may not have afforded you.
I think you are going to infuriate a lot of defensive nurses.
IME nurses as a group do not prioritize fitness and many not even diet. There was a thread a short while back asking for breakfast and lunch ideas to bring to work. One idea was a PopTart in the car. I can't remember the other ones but they were along the same absurdity. My suggestion of almonds and string cheese with a piece of fruit that I usually carry was overlooked.
I said that *I* eat a poptart in the car, but guess what? I'm a 20-year old who lifts weights 6 days a week, along with doing cardio 3 days a week. I can afford that poptart. People need to take their own physical activity levels into consideration when accepting dietary advice from strangers on the Internet. However, do not think that because of what I say I eat for breakfast on the morning of a 12-hour shift determines if I am healthy or not.
It's funny you call it an "absurdity". Everything is okay in moderation. It's not like I told the person to douse a cupcake in chocolate syrup and wash it down with a can of Pepsi. As for your suggestion, almonds are a good source of fat as are most nuts, but even those can be bad for you if consumed in excess.
Also, yes, I took your post personally because I know I'm the one you were talking about. So consider that that person might be reading what you say before you indirectly call someone out. I would say as someone who goes to the gym 6 days a week: yes, I prioritize fitness.
Holy canoli people are sensitive. Don't be down on yourself for this; nothing you said was malicious.
And for those who literally can not reach a level of health that is better than your current one through absolutely anything, you're obviously exempt from this topic. But if you could, even in the smallest way, improve your overall health by changing something then it is not okay to get butthurt over this topic. Do people really have to look at the most negative aspects of everything? I read her post and instantly thought of areas in my life that I can realistically change and improve to facilitate a healthier being.
World-forbid a person actually attempt to express opinion or lend encouragement. *Huff*
Although the OP was a bit harsh... there is some truth to the topic. Studies have shown nurses have higher rates of obesity compared to the general population (60% of nurses in 1 study). Studies have also linked the stress of unfavorable work schedules with increase in obesity in nurses (i.e., night shift, rotating shifts). One study even showed that nurses who worked unfavorable shifts had higher rates of obesity despite eating healthier and exercising more than their counterparts in the favorable shifts.
We are definitely at higher risk of obesity by the very nature of our jobs because of the stress it puts on our bodies. I find it very hard to stay on a healthy diet when working 12 hour shifts, even though I know it can be done and there are those who do it. For me, it's just more stress added to what I already deal with.
I don't know what the answer is exactly. We can't eliminate night shifts because healthcare is a 24/7 business. However, I do think our workplaces could be more supportive of healthy habits by providing healthy food in the cafeteria or snack machines and maybe having nice, quiet nap rooms for the night shifters (or day) to take a restorative 25 minute nap (there was a study a few years back about the benefits of this). Or, how about offering a yoga class right after shift ending for those who want to put in a little time stretching, relaxing, and winding down? I don't know, just throwing ideas out, but I do think our work environment could be better within the limitations we have.
I just received a report about a study done at Geico recently. 100 employees at 5 Geico locations adopted a vegan, high fiber diet for 4 months. The control group was employees at 5 other locations with no diet changes. The company provided plant-based foods in their cafeterias and a nutritionist who gave employees 3 classes over the 4 months. In the end, the vegan group lost an average of 10 lbs and lowered their LDL by 13 points. The control group had no changes. The most surprising finding was that employees on the vegan group reported diminished anxiety, depression, and increased feelings of well-being. How is that for amazing?
It is hard to lose weight. I've been trying to lose the 35 lbs I gained in nursing school way back when and always get stuck after losing 10 or so and putting it right back on. It's very frustrating to change your diet and still not lose the weight. And, as the years go on, I can tell my metabolism is getting slower and slower and it is just going to get harder. I keep trying and have a pretty healthy diet and my health is good -- all the numbers look great.
I know. Exercise, right? Well, I hate it so much it will be the absolute last thing I do. But I will get there one day. Soon probably.
Anyway, the point to this is that we could definitely do better but we need to acknowledge that our jobs make it harder. We also need to realize that obesity is not the only health problem our jobs put us at risk for and for many, those health issues lead to weight gain and then it's a circle that is very difficult to jump out of.
References (you'll need subscriptions to see the full articles, but the abstracts are there if you're interested):
Even though I seem to have hurt many on here, my feelings are hurt as well. I had no intentions of making people upset. Some are judging me the same way they think I am judging them (I am not). If you feel I am wrong, then why say some hurtful things to me? I understand everyone has an opinion. I was not pointing my fingers at anyone specific. In general, I was just talking about being healthy. So again, I apologize, and should have NOT posted this. Hopefully, you all will understand.
Specializes in Med nurse in med-surg., float, HH, and PDN.
I'd like to add my two cents.
I was naturally slender, without any effort or special diet, UNTIL I got into my mid-40's.
At that time I started on a 12 year journey through the menopause from hell. Five years into it I had a sort of nervous breakdown. I ate LESS than I ever did before because my nerves affected my digestive tract. I did yoga every day and was very flexible and physically strong. I had to go on a combination of medicines to be able to hold it together in normal daily life.
My metabolism, formerly of sterling character, turned ugly, gave me the total kiss-off, and left me in the lurch.
Twenty years after the onset of all this life-crap I am constantly trying to beat back some of the 60 pounds I've gained during that time. It is humiliating and humbling and depressing and frustrating.
But you don't have to apologize to me, because I do understand where you are coming from. You see, I used to be you.
I used to think that "it will never happen to me". But beware. You never know when you are young what life will bring your way.
Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.
Everything in moderation, folks. I'm sitting here drinking a beer and eating some popcorn. Does anyone want me
to pop some more for this thread?
FWIW, I exercise a bunch, and I still need to come home after my last shift of the week and hide from the world the day after. Let me know how you feel after working 3 12s on the floor with a full patient load. And, once you hit your late 20s, you'll probably gain a little weight. It's cool. You'll have more responsibilities to worry about at that time, so it won't be the focus it may have been.
Nola009
940 Posts
The stress involved with working bedside alone can (let's face it, WILL) drive up cortisol levels thereby increasing hunger and body fat. Wait till you work bedside for a few years then come back and tell us how you maintain your ideal weight.