RealNurseMom Posted January 26, 2016 Report Share Posted January 26, 2016 I apologize in advance if this is a bit long. I've been a nurse for 20 years, I have taken care of hundreds of patients. I know all about the importance of fitness and a healthy diet, as I teach my patients daily about what is right from wrong. Unfortunately like many caregivers, I do a poor job of taking care of myself. I have had 3 pregnancies where I gained 100lbs each and I have never been able to lose the weight. I'm 5'11" and went from 140 lbs to 265 lbs in the course of 16 years. I work night shift, where my eating habits are poor and my body rhythm is thrown off. When I get home, all I want is a plate of carbs and sleep! I am always too tired to exercise. I sleep during the day and work during the night, and somehow manage to chase my 16, 12, and 3 year old children. I attempted c25k last summer and I have to admit I failed! I completed w1d3 but I didn't realize that I was supposed to have a rest day in between. The knee pain was excruciating!! I couldn't walk, I couldn't bend my knees. I sat in the park and cried and even contemplated giving a stranger my car keys to bring my car to me. I don't know how I made it home. I still have the crunching crackle noise in my knees months later. I haven't done a stitch of exercise since. Now it's taken its toll! I have chest pains and went to see my cardiologist. My stress test had some abnormalities, (mind you he never even sped up the treadmill...that's how out of shape is am) and I'm scheduled to have a nuclear stress test and ECHO done tomorrow. The sad thing is I KNOW BETTER! I teach this every day and now I have fallen to my lowest. If there are any Nurses out here or night shift workers who have learned how to incorporate a daily routine into a hectic stressful lifestyle, I would more than appreciate your advice! I am slowly learning how to take time for myself, but it isn't easy and I'm learning from the ground up. Thanks❤ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kam1908 Posted January 29, 2016 Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 I am an RN that works night shift as well. The biggest difference between us is that I don't have kids. I have been working really hard to lose weight and eat healthy as well. I have limited eating out to once a week and drinking more water. You're going to have to cook before your shift and bring a lunch. If you work 2 in a row then you have to cook enough for 2 days. Or wake up early on day 2 to prepare food. I've also been working out AT LEAST 3 days a week. I workout on my off days (you can while the kids are at school) and if it's not a back to back shift I'll workout in the morning before my shift. Sometimes if I'm feeling good on day 2 or 3 in a row, I'll wake up early (about 3) and throw on a workout DVD before work. I also joined a 24 hour gym so on nights where I'm restless I can go to the gym at anytime. It's really hard with our schedule but like with others, it's a mind thing. You have to really want it. I used the excuse of time before but when I started making time for it I realized that I couldn't use the excuses again. Because there is time. It's hard but it's doable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealNurseMom Posted January 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2016 Thanks Kam1908! ❤ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat15 Posted February 1, 2016 Report Share Posted February 1, 2016 I am also an RN work night shift and have three kids aged 16, 13, and 10. I work on a cardiac floor and see every day what bad health does to the body. I too know better but was so tired and had little motivation. I would sleep until the kids came home from school and then was so busy with them I barely had time to get ready for work. I am 5'10 and weight 232 and finally said enough is enough. I had a lady pee on my shoe at work last week and was so apologetic bc she couldn't even get out of bed to make it to the commode her CHF was so bad. She told me to take care of myself and not end up like her. I imagine my patients when I am too tired to run and hat motivates me. Plus I am tired of being fat. I hate it. I pack my lunch at work and refuse to go to he cafeteria. I make sure to get up by 4 and go jog while he kids do their homework if it's a work day. If it not a work day I go ru. Once I get up and get motivated. Don't run every day and so slow. My mile right now is at 16 minutes I'm that slow but at least I'm moving and it's a start. Chat with me anytime I could use a motivation buddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealNurseMom Posted February 1, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2016 Thanks Kat15! As soon as I get started I will definitely chat for motivation! Quick question, you said you go jog at about 4 when your kids are doing homework? My kids have after school activities that have me chauffeuring until about 6. Then I get dinner and get ready to go to work. Do you find that you work out more during the morning or is it usually in the afternoon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kat15 Posted February 2, 2016 Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 I don't do the chauffeur thing right now. We have that in the fall with football. I don't have my kids full time as I split time with the ex so during the fall I intend to work out on the days I don't have the kids at my house. I can't run before I go to bed because it wakes me up. To avoid the hustle all the time maybe car pool or alternate days with someone. I have one son that has practice after school right now so I pick him up at 530. Getting up at 4 still allows me to get a workout in and then pick him up. Granted I am still very new at this. But I lost a lot of weight a few years ago and gained 30 of it back. (Have 60 total to go now) so I am relying on what worked last time. I may need to change that as I get further into it. I will keep you posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marthac Posted February 6, 2016 Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 Wow ladies. I applaud you for all of your dedication and hard work! I am an RN also. I have two kids but they are in college now. I agree with you that life is busy and it is hard to fit in any self-care. I think working 12 hours shifts is enough exercise on the body! I am teaching now and not in the floor anymore except for clinicals. I am taking time now for self-care but realize now how much I needed it years ago. I was always good at taking care of others and not having any time or energy for myself. I wish I would have realized the importance of this earlier. So do your best. Do what you can because any exercise is good. Be kind to yourself as well when you are busy and can't do as Much as you want. Good luck in your efforts for self-care!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonya Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 Hi everyone! @RealNurseMom I am a new runner too. I didn't start with running though,I started with calisthenics and worked my way up to running and it is still hard. Start slow with exercises that you think are fun. I found workouts on Youtube. Now I can do week one, no problem, but it took a while to get there. Week 2 is a killer for me, so I do it at my own pace. I stop when I absolutely feel I can't continue running, but continue to walk, then resume running when I think I can after a short breather while walking. You have to cut back on food, athletes go on a vegan diet while training. Endurance increases on a vegan diet. Go at your own pace, but you do have to push yourself. I use too be a nurse too, but I have always managed to eat a healthy diet and keep a proper perspective on health with prayer and reading the book Ministry of Healing available for free online or as a free app at Google play store. I am routing for you. Increase your water intake if you are not already getting at least 8 glasses of water a day. That helps. Decrease sugar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonya Posted February 9, 2016 Report Share Posted February 9, 2016 Hi everyone! @RealNurseMom I am a new runner too. I didn't start with running though,I started with calisthenics and worked my way up to running and it is still hard. Start slow with exercises that you think are fun. I found workouts on Youtube. Now I can do week one, no problem, but it took a while to get there. Week 2 is a killer for me, so I do it at my own pace. I stop when I absolutely feel I can't continue running, but continue to walk, then resume running when I think I can after a short breather while walking. You have to cut back on food, athletes go on a vegan diet while training. Endurance increases on a vegan diet. Go at your own pace, but you do have to push yourself. I use too be a nurse too, but I have always managed to eat a healthy diet and keep a proper perspective on health with prayer and reading the book Ministry of Healing available for free online or as a free app at Google play store. I am routing for you. Increase your water intake if you are not already getting at least 8 glasses of water a day. That helps. Decrease sugar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KellyAnn Posted March 7, 2016 Report Share Posted March 7, 2016 Hey, how is everyone doing?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marthac Posted March 9, 2016 Report Share Posted March 9, 2016 I am surprised I am still training! Week 5! It is difficult to find time for this but find myself looking for a time that I can squeeze running into my week. I still don't like running but I look forward to the training time. I am surprised. RealNurseMom, I hope you are able to find time to continue! Good luck to you all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KellyAnn Posted March 10, 2016 Report Share Posted March 10, 2016 Way to go Martha. So proud of you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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