Any one else work 12hrs +

TMacKtwenty4

Find it difficult to eat right throughout the day. I am a paramedic and most of the time I'm in the truck. Hard to eat right on the go, and to eat healthy. Can only cart around so much food with me.
I also find it hard to exercise on the days that I work. I commute about an hour to and from so it doesn't leave me much time to work out. Sure I walk lots, and my days off I am quite active but still hard to get good quality fitness in.....
Thoughts????

Cheers

Zedeff

I'm a physician and my call shifts can keep me in hospital for up to 30 hours straight. Intermittent fasting was the solution to my problems. Maybe look into that as an option.

RMCottonRPh

Yes, I am a pharmacist who works 12 hour shifts. I have to graze all day and eat a big breakfast before work to meet my minimum calories for the day. I also do not do extra exercise on workdays...I wear my fitbit and the 6 miles it tells me I manage to walk back here in this tiny pharmacy feels like exercise enough. I only work out on days off. I feel you though. It is hard to take care of yourself when your entire day is consumed by working and sleeping!

kathy0224

I am at work at 50-60 hrs per week & commute an hour each way. Yes I'm crazy because 3-5x a week I'm at the gym at 4:30a. Weekends I don't exercise but sleep & try to maintain some sort of family time. I eat steel cut oatmeal made the night before or an egg wrap from Dunkin Donuts for breakfast. Lunch is a 3oz turkey sandwich with an apple. Snack is anything from 3 cups of grapes to 1 oz of buffalo jerky & dried fruit. Dinner is at home or away from home. This is all supplemented with 3 cups of coffee & 5+ bottles of water. I have a standard meal I get at every restaurant that fits into my health regime. Find that & it will make your life easier.

TMacKtwenty4

@kathy0224
@RMCottonRPh
@Zedeff
Thanks for all the input.... I will definitely try some of the suggestions posted.

Have a fantastic evening

happywife0921

I'm in the same boat as a registered nurse. After leaving outpatient setting and going inside the hospital I actually gained 45 pounds. I couldn't eat on the schedule I used to because my unit is so chaotic (if I ate at all some days) and when I finally did eat I was just cramming everything I could find because I was so hungry.

So far what has helped me is taking time to just take care of myself basically. I am now trying to make a healthy breakfast and lunch to take with me so I'm not tempted to grab unhealthy snacks during the day. My hubby is also helping to make sure I have something healthy prepared for when I get off late instead of my usual stops for fast food because I don't feel like cooking.

kshama2001

tashastar24 wrote: »

Find it difficult to eat right throughout the day. I am a paramedic and most of the time I'm in the truck. Hard to eat right on the go, and to eat healthy. Can only cart around so much food with me.
I also find it hard to exercise on the days that I work. I commute about an hour to and from so it doesn't leave me much time to work out. Sure I walk lots, and my days off I am quite active but still hard to get good quality fitness in.....
Thoughts????

Cheers

How many days a week do you work? 14 hour days sound dreadful.

There's room in the truck for a small cooler, yes?

emcgaghey

I work in a nursing clinic, typically 12 hr+ shifts depending on how chaotic it gets. I generally try to meal prep as much as possible and bring it with me. On the days where I don't have time to eat as much as I'd like I keep Vega one in my locker and quest bars to tide me over and I push those fluids! Lol

TMacKtwenty4

@kshama2001 unfortunately no there is no room for a small cooler. I work 4 days on and 4 days off.

The work is rewarding and I wouldn't change it for the world.

Lots of great feedback, keep it coming y'all

elphie754

tashastar24 wrote: »

@kshama2001 unfortunately no there is no room for a small cooler. I work 4 days on and 4 days off.

The work is rewarding and I wouldn't change it for the world.

Lots of great feedback, keep it coming y'all

Yes there is.

I am also a paramedic. There is always room in the truck for another small bag. I bring a small cooler with me everyday since I absolutely can not eat out at all (allergies). Think portable, lunch size bag, not actual hard side cooler.

The other option is to bring some sort of bar with you. Someone had suggested larabars to me months ago and I love them! I always have a bunch in my bag in case I get mandated.

Yes-our job can be demanding, stressful, and to be honest, we kind of suck at the whole staying healthy thing (around here many medic smoke, drink, don't exercise etc). Ive just made it a priority to get in a walk/run when I get home before bed (I work nights).

PinkPixiexox

I'd say you have a pretty active job as it is so I wouldnt focus too much on your exercise at this point - You must be burning a good amount of calories per day anyway!

I'm not sure what is allowed out with you as a paramedic but if you CAN prepare packed lunches for the week and take along with you in plastic containers, then try that. You don't have to prepare fancy gourmet 'clean lunches' - even a sandwich bag with a healthy sandwich, fruit and snack will be absolutely fine!

cmtigger

I am a teacher and don't get enough time to eat many days, I bring a lunchbox sized cooler with items that balance out but can be eaten in spurts. Cheese sticks, baby carrots, hard boiled eggs, crackers, celery and peanut butter, fruit pouches, etc.

BrianaDuBois

I work long shifts in ER. Either evening through the overnight or just an overnight. I can't have food in our treatment room (head criticalist will have my head) so I have things that I can eat in <2mins. Cheese sticks, cut up fruit and veggies, small salad, small portion of my dinner, etc. I can have drinks, so I'll bring my protein shake and drink it slowly when I'm getting hungry which does wonders.

For exercise, I suppose it depends. After a 12 hour shift, I can get a workout in afterwards (assuming the gym is open that early). Once the shift ticks up to 15-17 hours, I'm pretty much at my max and won't workout. Like someone else said, a shift that long where you're on your feet the entire time is active, so while I don't enjoy missing the gym, I'm not as concerned as far as extra workout calories go.

kr2196

I work 12 hour days throughout the week, and what's saved me is prepping meals in advance. I do all my shopping and cooking on Sundays (sub whichever day you have off) and make sure I have enough meals and snacks to get me through the week. I keep tupperwares of pre-cut and pre-portioned fruits and vegetables in the fridge that I can just grab and go in the morning and I always have a baggie of almonds in my backpack for emergencies (a few makes a good small snack, or a bigger handful can serve as a meal if you're in a tight spot). Clif/Luna bars are a LIFESAVER when you need a little punch of protein/sugar to get through a low point until you can get to a real meal.

The exercise is the hard part - I try to make sure I can fit it in on my days off, but after working that much it's hard to want to put on your gym shoes. If you're working on your feet, you're going to be getting enough activity in though.

urloved33

my body builder friends always carry a small cooler with them w healthy food in it.

TMacKtwenty4

Thanks everyone, gonna try the suggestions..... here's hoping.
Thanks ya'll