Time to exercise in residency??

[fpdoc06]

Hey guys,
wondering how you find the time to work out and exercise during residency. with all that cafe food, drug rep. lunches, and the stress, there's gotta be time to physically "vent". just wanted to get some input especially from current residents. (i'm worried all that cortisol build up will have negative consequences down the road!!)
sorry, if this thread have been talked before....thanks in advance for your time.

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[Wrigleyville]

I have no idea about your question, but I'd like to see a list of programs with great on-site workout facilities for residents. Between 3rd year rotations and an infant daughter my workout routine has fallen apart -- I just can't find the time to drive to the gym, change clothes, workout, and change again. There aren't enough hours in the day.

I'd have to give stronger consideration to a program that has facilities that would allow me to cut out some of the hassle factor to working out.

 

[8744]

Hey guys,
wondering how you find the time to work out and exercise during residency. with all that cafe food, drug rep. lunches, and the stress, there's gotta be time to physically "vent". just wanted to get some input especially from current residents. (i'm worried all that cortisol build up will have negative consequences down the road!!)
sorry, if this thread have been talked before....thanks in advance for your time.

I don't have time. But then this only because I have a family and PT cuts into my already scarce family time. I haven't run in nne months. I do fifteen minutes of push ups and pull ups on the back deck four or five times a week but that's the extent of it. I don't think I've gained any weight (because my clothes still fit) but I definitely don't feel as fit as when I started intern year.

 

[Orange Julius]

I don't have time. But then this only because I have a family and PT cuts into my already scarce family time. I haven't run in nne months. I do fifteen minutes of push ups and pull ups on the back deck four or five times a week but that's the extent of it. I don't think I've gained any weight (because my clothes still fit) but I definitely don't feel as fit as when I started intern year.

Quit blogging and cut back on SDN. That would free up enough time to work out for a half hour three times a week. While I find your blog and your contribution here interesting and amusing, I'd have to say that excersize is more important.

Not only are you shortening your life, you're also giving your kids a very bad example (fittness wise).

 

[8744]

Quit blogging and cut back on SDN. That would free up enough time to work out for a half hour three times a week. While I find your blog and your contribution here interesting and amusing, I'd have to say that excersize is more important.

Not only are you shortening your life, you're also giving your kids a very bad example (fittness wise).

Yeah. You're right. I'm ashamed to say I've become one of those people who "takes the stairs" as a form of exercise. Still, devoting the hour a day for PT is problematic during residency and especially during intern year. I've had a few rotations with relatively decent hours but I always say to myself, "Sure, you can run now but in a month you will be doing q4 call for the next three months so why bother?"

Take the rotation I'm on right now (OB). I get up at about 0430 to get in by five. Then I work until about 6:30 PM or so and don't get home until about seven. I can't just run off for 45 minutes. I like spending time with my family and maybe I'm getting old but the only way I survive on rotations like this is to get bed by around around 9:30 PM. Not too much surplus time. I'm also on call every Saturday (But today is my last call day of intern year at Duke, baby!) so the weekend is pretty much shot. I come home Sunday morning and sleep.

Basically I'm a *****. I should suck it up and get up at 0400 to run on the treadmill in the student exercise room. (because most rotations I've been on don't require me to be in quite as early as OB.) I'm going to try to do this in Lansing when I get up there in June but unfortunately I'm repeating intern year.

 

[8744]

Quit blogging and cut back on SDN. That would free up enough time to work out for a half hour three times a week. While I find your blog and your contribution here interesting and amusing, I'd have to say that excersize is more important.

Not only are you shortening your life, you're also giving your kids a very bad example (fittness wise).

I'm glad you like my blog. I actually work on it mostly when I am on call and I have some dead time. Same with posting on SDN.

 

[Orange Julius]

I'm glad you like my blog. I actually work on it mostly when I am on call and I have some dead time. Same with posting on SDN.

Yeah, I relate to the "blue collar medical student" perspective. I feel like I've been in upper-middle class boot camp for four years. Definately a fish out of water experience.


BTW I find that plucking up the will to exersise even when I have the time is a monumental feat. Not easy by any stretch. But always worth it.

 

[8744]

I'm glad you like my blog. I actually work on it mostly when I am on call and I have some dead time. Same with posting on SDN.

And speaking of call, I just delivered another baby making my total 3 for the day.

 

[DOtobe]

You'll have time to work out in residency. The energy and/or motivation to do it, however, is another issue! I see your SN is "fpdoc" - FP residencies don't have the bad hours that surgery/OB residencies do. Most days I am out of the hospital by 4:30-5:00. Leaves plenty of time to go to my gym that closes at 9:30. I usually make it 3-4 times/week.

 

[L8DYV]

Hey guys,
wondering how you find the time to work out and exercise during residency. with all that cafe food, drug rep. lunches, and the stress, there's gotta be time to physically "vent". just wanted to get some input especially from current residents. (i'm worried all that cortisol build up will have negative consequences down the road!!)
sorry, if this thread have been talked before....thanks in advance for your time.

yeah wassup i need to know about this?

 

[fpdoc06]

You'll have time to work out in residency. The energy and/or motivation to do it, however, is another issue! I see your SN is "fpdoc" - FP residencies don't have the bad hours that surgery/OB residencies do. Most days I am out of the hospital by 4:30-5:00. Leaves plenty of time to go to my gym that closes at 9:30. I usually make it 3-4 times/week.

thanks for all your replies, y'all! as doctors, we gotta "practice what we preach"! being physically active during residency i think is very important. (you got it, DOtobe, im starting in a FP residency program end of June). Good luck to everyone else starting their training, too.
yea, if there's anymore input on this topic of exercising, i'd appreciate it. it's been real easy for me to find the time to work out now, since i've been off med school. im just trying to prepare my time for working out once residency begins. thanks, guys!!!

 

[Blade28]

You'll definitely have time. I worked like a dog during my internship (just one more month!), but still have time every day that I'm not on-call.

BTW, sometimes a quick workout and run is the best thing once you get home post-call, before your nap. (I'm lucky because I have a gym in my apartment complex.)

 

[EctopicFetus]

That sounds good. I hope I can get my excercise on. Also if you live in a place with nice weather a quick little jog is the best thing prior to hopping in the shower!

 

[OUsooner]

Doing transitional year internship at Swedish Covenant in Chicago. I think the chief resident told me I would average around 60 hours a week including call nights. 😀

Should leave me plenty of time to work out in the state of the art gym they have on the hospital's campus. I think membership is 90 bucks a month for outsiders.

Essentially I have no excuse not to continue my routine of going 4-6x a week.

 

[fomites]

your free time depends on which residency you choose. but you can always try run up and down the stairs in the hospital a few times when you're on call. Works really well! And, if your pager goes off, you can sprint to a phone!!

also, it's mandatory to cut back on the free food binge-a-thon that most residents fall for. Quit stacking up your plate and eating ice cream every time you go in the cafeteria! Bulemia helps too. 😀

 

[ChocolateKiss]

Do most hospitals have gyms that you can use durring your down time when you're on call? Can docs use the physcial rehab equipment?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Do most hospitals have gyms that you can use durring your down time when you're on call? Can docs use the physcial rehab equipment?

Not sure about "most hospitals" but many do, however, they generally are not open 24 hrs. I've also never found a hospital that will allow you to use the Rehab equipment (I've gotten kicked off before).

If you have the time when you are on call there's always stair climbing for exercise.

 

[GammaRay]

I'm a 4th year medical student. I've tried my best to find innovative ways of exercising in the hospital. Of course, I take the stairs everywhere. I also wear ankle weights all day (they hide quite well under my pants or scrubs); and when I have some spare time, I take the ankle weights off of my legs and strap them to one arm to do bicep/tricep curls and shoulder exercises. Then I repeat on the other arm. I also carry around a tension grip bar in my back-pack to exercise my hand and wrist muscles during the day. I like to hold this in my hand during rounds and just squeeze away. On days when I'm in scrubs, I try to do a few sets of push-ups and sit-ups in a locker room or some other out-of-the way place (usually right before I eat).

 

[Blade28]

I've also never found a hospital that will allow you to use the Rehab equipment (I've gotten kicked off before).

That's hilarious that you tried, though! 👍

 

[OUsooner]

I'm a 4th year medical student. I've tried my best to find innovative ways of exercising in the hospital. Of course, I take the stairs everywhere. I also wear ankle weights all day (they hide quite well under my pants or scrubs); and when I have some spare time, I take the ankle weights off of my legs and strap them to one arm to do bicep/tricep curls and shoulder exercises. Then I repeat on the other arm. I also carry around a tension grip bar in my back-pack to exercise my hand and wrist muscles during the day. I like to hold this in my hand during rounds and just squeeze away. On days when I'm in scrubs, I try to do a few sets of push-ups and sit-ups in a locker room or some other out-of-the way place (usually right before I eat).

u can't be serious, or can u?

 

[Gauss]

I've also never found a hospital that will allow you to use the Rehab equipment (I've gotten kicked off before).

It helps if you self-prescribe some PT. I'm booking time in the therapy pool to get some laps in

 

[kungfufishing]

If you really want to stay in condition, you'll make time.

 

[Jalopycat]

I'm a 4th year medical student. I've tried my best to find innovative ways of exercising in the hospital. Of course, I take the stairs everywhere. I also wear ankle weights all day (they hide quite well under my pants or scrubs); and when I have some spare time, I take the ankle weights off of my legs and strap them to one arm to do bicep/tricep curls and shoulder exercises. Then I repeat on the other arm. I also carry around a tension grip bar in my back-pack to exercise my hand and wrist muscles during the day. I like to hold this in my hand during rounds and just squeeze away. On days when I'm in scrubs, I try to do a few sets of push-ups and sit-ups in a locker room or some other out-of-the way place (usually right before I eat).

Do you wear wife-beater scrubs like Dr. Rey does?

I'm just teasing. More power to you if you do all that.

 

[njbmd]

Hey guys,
wondering how you find the time to work out and exercise during residency. with all that cafe food, drug rep. lunches, and the stress, there's gotta be time to physically "vent". just wanted to get some input especially from current residents. (i'm worried all that cortisol build up will have negative consequences down the road!!)
sorry, if this thread have been talked before....thanks in advance for your time.

Hi there,
Contrary to popular belief, entering residency is not the equivalent of entering the monastery. You can make time for anything that is important to you. The is enough downtime to get your workout in within reason.

One of the great peaks in the condo complex where I live is that the fitness center, complete with whirlpool is open 24 hours. I can wake up at 3AM and get in a workout and sometimes I NEED a workout at 3AM.

I found that working out when I am on call is not good. I hate to be pumping iron and have to run to a trauma sweaty and smelly. My workout time is my private time and my recreation. I hate to be interrupted. I will walk flights of steps when I am on call for the burn but other than that, I love to come home after a long call and do 30 minutes of the elliptical trainer and hit the whirlpool. After that, I slip into REM sleep in seconds and wake up refreshed.

I called one of my attendings who was running and had him on speaker phone. One of the nurses walked into the station and said, " Ah, I can see that Dr. X is either exercising or having sex". Talk about being embarassed on the other end and I told him that I had placed him on speaker as we chatted. Don't talk to your resident while you are exercising. 😳

njbmd 🙂

 

[GammaRay]

u can't be serious, or can u?

Very serious 🙂

And I *do not* wear wife beater scrubs like Dr. Rey, Jalopycat... I prefer going shirtless (saves a lot on dry cleaning!). 😀

 

[100YardDash]

This thread answered my questions. Thanks

L8DYV... that barrel in your avatar is heaven! Have you ever surfed the Puerto Rico west coast? We have sets here that throw barrels like that almost year round! Plus, there aren't any big fish looking for you to fill their appetite like california does 😉 wow, nevermind... didnt notice your post was from 2006. ha

 

[Ronin786]

I've got a weird question, is inquiring about on site gyms during your interview a positive or negative thing?

I mean I get that you can probably find that out during orientation or through your own research, but would bringing that topic up during the interview be considered "superficial" or would they be happy that you care about your health?

 

[DrBowtie]

I've got a weird question, is inquiring about on site gyms during your interview a positive or negative thing?

I mean I get that you can probably find that out during orientation or through your own research, but would bringing that topic up during the interview be considered "superficial" or would they be happy that you care about your health?

Just ask one of the residents at the pre-interview dinner or interview day lunch.

 

[mlw03]

I've got a weird question, is inquiring about on site gyms during your interview a positive or negative thing?

I mean I get that you can probably find that out during orientation or through your own research, but would bringing that topic up during the interview be considered "superficial" or would they be happy that you care about your health?

Neither positive or negative. But certainly a reasonable question to ask, and shows you're interested about what your life would be like there, so in that sense, a positive thing.

 

[Law2Doc]

Just ask one of the residents at the pre-interview dinner or interview day lunch.

This. You would never want to ask it of an PD or faculty interviewer, but when in a more casual setting with residents, it's fine.

 

[Buzz Me]

Wow, 6-year bump!

 

[Neuronix]

I've got a weird question, is inquiring about on site gyms during your interview a positive or negative thing?

I don't feel like it's a negative, and it's something I did often inquire about. Unfortunately, the answer is very often no. Though many University based places do have gyms nearby, and the private places often have private gyms that are close.

I wouldn't ask the faculty because most faculty probably don't work out and wouldn't know the answer .

 

[druggeek]

Any of you guys bodybuilders? Stil able to maintain all your muscle/strength?

 

[druggeek]

The number of body builders in this profession is disproportionately high to the general population. No surprise I guess given that the profession attracts and rewards people obsessed with image. We had at least one guy in our class who used anabolic steroids during school (he was the only one who admitted to it -- I feel certain there were others). Its easy enough to buy a home gym/bowflex type of system and set it up in a spare bedroom or your basement.

The biggest problem facing your health is being stuck in the hospital for days at a time and being forced to eat the horrible tasting and fatty hospital food. You can pack your own food, but after 30 hours, it's probably contaminated with the best the hospital has to offer. Oh, and the lack of sleep. This is not a healthy profession.

Ya I see. Well personally when time is limited for anything I do life, I just take in whatever calories I can get. More calories = keeping muscle. I let my metabolism keep the fat away.

 

[Winged Scapula]

Ya I see. Well personally when time is limited for anything I do life, I just take in whatever calories I can get. More calories = keeping muscle. I let my metabolism keep the fat away.

Just you wait sonny, just you wait.

 

[druggeek]

Just you wait sonny, just you wait.

lol every male in my family has had a decent to great physique and has ate really crappy :S and im talking males in their 40s/50s.

 

[Winged Scapula]

LOL old guys eh in their 40s and 50s?
What happens after that?

Well you may be one of the few lucky who can eat crappily and not exercise and still stay thin ( but let's not forget about staying healthy as well which that lifestyle is not).

 

[kitsunepixie]

One place where I interviewed bragged nonstop about the campus gym. It was very nice...far nicer than the program itself.

I do yoga for 15 minutes every day, except when I'm on call (and sometimes even then I can sneak in a few minutes). I get asked all the time how I stay in shape and that's pretty much it...plus I always eat two high protein breakfasts (one when I wake up, and the other before my first OR case). 👍 I hate going to the gym, though. I have a treadmill and some home gym equipment that I inherited that I use sometimes, but I don't enjoy it as much as I do yoga.

 

[CerealBox]

Maybe you can just do push-up between posts 🙂