Hard to diet as a Nurse

tjlisa

Hello!
I am a registered nurse working 3-4 , 12 hours shifts a week on a surgical/trauma floor. Many days, actually most days, the floor is to busy to take a lunch break and if I do it is a 10 minute break and i eat fast or grab a candy bar or something. It seems impossible to me to stick with any kind of diet. On my days off I am able to eat normal but have no motivation to work out. It is so unhealthy, my eating routine. I need to come up with a way to be more consistant with my eating schedule..how? Protien drinks at work? slimfast?

tjlisa

Hello!
I am a registered nurse working 3-4 , 12 hours shifts a week on a surgical/trauma floor. Many days, actually most days, the floor is to busy to take a lunch break and if I do it is a 10 minute break and i eat fast or grab a candy bar or something. It seems impossible to me to stick with any kind of diet. On my days off I am able to eat normal but have no motivation to work out. It is so unhealthy, my eating routine. I need to come up with a way to be more consistant with my eating schedule..how? Protien drinks at work? slimfast?

wriglucy

I think that is a good start..it's always hard to have to eat and run...especially healthy foods. Or, maybe instead of a candy bar, try a healthy bar. I'm a fan of the Pria bars, and also of the South Beach Diet high protien bars...the Pria has more nutrients, and is probably healthier, but it's also more expensive. Hope this helps...at least some:)

sculley

I would look into the syntha6 protein powders it seems to be alot of people's favorite I have the chocolate milkshake.

AJCM

You might be able to see your proffession as condusive to dieting... in a 12 hour shift, you could drink a protein shake every 3 hours, or alternate with a handful of almonds. They are quick, keep blood sugar stablized, and if you drink lots of water, you could stay hunger free and not worry about food while at work!

Good luck!
:flowerforyou:

kasch

i am a nurse also.................stock your bag with healthy stuff..............i like the cliff bars and make sure you take in enough calories during the day. i have had trouble the last few weeks with too few calories. you know as a nurse you are active so don't let the body think it is starving (and make up for it on your off days).
good luck.

tracypaprocki

I also am a nurse on an ortho-surgical unit. I no matter what take a lunch. I need it to recharge and rethink my day. I also work 12hour shifts and find if I don't take lunch I tend to make poor decisions when I eat later. If no matter what you can't eat then when you are off work have a light snack of crackers or fruit on your way home so you don't over eat once you get food in front of you at home. It is hard to motivate yourself to the gym after those long 12 to 14 hour days. I take my gym bag with me to work so I will feel more inclined to work out.

tjlisa

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I love almonds and the protien bars I will give a try. It will be good to take a few different short breaks to drink some water and eat a little something. It is hard to do when its busy I don't even think about it sometimes, but that would explain why I burn myself out so much. The good days are when I get my 30 minute lunch break and eat a meal. I def. need some motivation to exercise more. That is a good idea to bring your gym bag to work as motivation. You will be very diappointed in me when I tell you my husband and I live in an apt on the fourth floor with a fitness center on the 1st in our building. Its right there for me, I just don't do it I'm blaming the snow and winter weather. I'm an outside person. When nice weather comes I'll be outside everyday! Where can I find these energy and protien bars? Do I need to go to a Nutrition store?

AJCM

Nutrition House or GNC are good, and once your acquainted with the brands that suit you, you can find them cheaper at the grocery store.

I bet you will be surprised with how quickly the weight drops once you are eating protein rich foods frequently - you'll fire up the metabolism which is used to not having food for such long periods of time! Good luck with this, and let us know how you do!
:flowerforyou:

souchie

hi,

I am a nurse too, and I really find it helps me if I plan my food, and bring a sack lunch. Hard boiled eggs, slimfast shakes and the bars, fresh fruit, bottle of water. You just have to organize yourself.

Good luck
souchie