Working Out in Dental school?

[garcia10]

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Hey guys...just wondering...ive always worked out all my life..(lifting, running,sports...etc) is there enough time to do these things in dental school? They have always helped me to just clear my mind from studying and helped blow off some steam and stress..if so, do u work out before school or after school?....i just dont want to be a fat dentist during school next year.....any input would be appreciated...👍

 

[Turnerjo13]

There is time to work out in dental school. There are times that I wish I had more time to work out but I always seem to find enough time to stay in shape. My class is great in that we have several intramural basketball teams and we play a lot of pick up games too. If you want to work out you can find a way to make it happen.

 

[DentPursuer88]

hey garcia, I am not a dental student but I think I can help you out just a little bit. I work out as well, and have a pretty rough schedule even though I am not in dental school yet. However, the most important thing I believe is time management, and I am sure you know that. I have a couple of exercises you can use to fit a HECTIC schedule. Full body workouts for 3 days a week, or even 2 days a week for at least 45 minutes each day (this includes your conditioning, weightlifting all in one). Try to maintain a healthy diet and rest well, even though this might sound like while going to dental school. Meditation can definitely be an excellent stress reliever.

Another important thing you have to pay close attention to is adaptation. You have to learn to adapt to certain situations, even if this is out of the norm for you. It usually takes me about a week to get a new schedule going, but once it keeps going, then you are set.

BTW, I know a couple of medical/dental students who still work out, and they are doing great, so keep your head up. WORK HARD, EAT WELL, AND REST A LOT!

 

[bodiddely]

I've been curious about this as well. I don't doubt that one can find the time to lift weights as a professional student, but my concern is more with diet. Currently, I eat a small meal (30-40g's of protein plus a source of complex carbs) every 3-4 hours, and it has been my experience that a diet such as this is necessary to maintain/grow my skeletal muscle mass. Is it possible to eat this frequently in dental school?

 

[Yang]

I've been curious about this as well. I don't doubt that one can find the time to lift weights as a professional student, but my concern is more with diet. Currently, I eat a small meal (30-40g's of protein plus a source of complex carbs) every 3-4 hours, and it has been my experience that a diet such as this is necessary to maintain/grow my skeletal muscle mass. Is it possible to eat this frequently in dental school?

Yes, my classmates eat as frequently as they need to. Most of the students rely heavily on cafeteria foods. If you want to eat healthy and not to waste money you can try to prepare your own foods and snacks to bring to school. Sometimes it gets hard when one has to study a lot and facing several big exams. As others have mentioned earlier it is all about time management and stay focused.

 

[canthacklt]

Eating every 3 hours is definitely possible when you have class/lab because you can just grab your food during a break and eat in class. It gets a little harder to keep it up when you get into clinic though. What I usually do is give my injections, then run down to the cafeteria while my patient gets numb, and bring the food back up to clinic. Also, a little trick I learned for simplicity's sake, you can just put your plate right on the patients bib with the rest of your tools and take a bite when there's a lull in the action. 👍

 

[ElectraOnAzalea]

Hey guys...just wondering...ive always worked out all my life..(lifting, running,sports...etc) is there enough time to do these things in dental school? They have always helped me to just clear my mind from studying and helped blow off some steam and stress..if so, do u work out before school or after school?....i just dont want to be a fat dentist during school next year.....any input would be appreciated...👍

hey! I work out regularly as well, and I don't plan on stopping because of dental school. It really helps relieve stress, and I think that will be vital! Maybe we can be workout partners!

 

[jackbauer!]

There is time, but you need to make room for it. A couple of my classmates and I go to the gym at 6:30 am a few days a week and do a pretty intense cardio/resistance training workout. Then the other days we go out for a 4-5 mile run 👍

Don't let dental school ruin your physical fitness!!

jb!🙂

 

[garcia10]

thanks guys...i know im gonnna give it a shot and keep going with it...maybe be alittle more hardcore with my diet too....elcetra im sure we can be workout buddies 👍😀

 

[Joe70h8]

Definitely plenty of time. When school isn't hectic, I'll lift 4 days a week and go swimming or hop on the treadmill 3 days a week. If I'm really busy, I'll cut out the cardio because it's not that important to me. I just go there those extra three days to get away from class/classmates and blast some music and clear my mind.

As far as diet goes, some days are easier than others to eat well. If you're really pressed for time, put some protein in a plastic bags and mix up a shake. I usually prepare 2-3 days worth of food at a time and lug that with me where ever I go. I'm in the library right now and I have two tupppeware dishes filled with lean ground turkey and veggies and 3 baggies filled with protein. I probably won't use the protein today, but it's there if I get hungry. It's all about being prepared.

Prepping your own food is also a great way to cut down on spending. A sandwich or salad will cost you $7 at the NYU cafeteria. For $7, you can buy ingredients to make 3-4 salads or sandwiches (probably not, but you get my point).

 

[UtahDent]

I am naturally ripped and I don't do anything for working out. It just comes easy. Like school. That's why I'm going to be #1.

 

[JMJRDH1]

I am naturally ripped and I don't do anything for working out. It just comes easy. Like school. That's why I'm going to be #1.

You totally rock!

 

[dr.rex]

finding time to work out is easy if you make it a priority. i think a lot of people have other priorities and school doesnt even enter into their top three and those are the people that say dental school is really hard....i personally study a lot but it makes it less stressful....i work out more than i ever have because i find it a priority. studying and working out are up there and having that mind set helps out alot.

 

[youngmc27]

You will have time for things if you make them a priority in school. As a student you will want to have things like woeking out to keep you from going nuts from all the studying. I try to get to the gym at least three times a week and I seem to have plenty of time to do so. You may have to give up a little sleep to do it but it can be done.

 

[dentheartthrob]

yeah like what previous posters have said, its just priorizing your time. When I was in school, I wanted to do well in class, and not just settle for passing, so the time I'd normally spend in the gym during undergrad I sacrificed with time sitting in front of a book. I was contented with 4 days a week of just doing cardio on the threadmill for about 30 minutes.

 

[Typo]

Also, a little trick I learned for simplicity's sake, you can just put your plate right on the patients bib with the rest of your tools and take a bite when there's a lull in the action. 👍

Great idea, I haven't tried that yet. Here's another tip: set your laptop on a table next to your dental chair, open up the CD drive, and wallah, you've got a cup holder for your protein shakes. I usually take a few quick sips during those 30 seconds of enamel etching.

 

[futuredds08]

During undergrad, I would sometimes take a book with me to read while on the treadmill. Granted, I couldn't get THAT much done while I was concentrating on my breathing, and I wasn't able to train for any marathons that day. However, if it is going to be a light cardio day and you are just reviewing material, it at least made me feel like I was making good use of my time.

 

[airwolfrocks999]

Hey guys...just wondering...ive always worked out all my life..(lifting, running,sports...etc) is there enough time to do these things in dental school? They have always helped me to just clear my mind from studying and helped blow off some steam and stress..if so, do u work out before school or after school?....i just dont want to be a fat dentist during school next year.....any input would be appreciated...👍

Doesn't sound unreasonable.

I myself never worked out in dental school. But I was able to work part-time 10-20 hrs/week. I wasn't at the top of my class but I managed to graduate on time and get into a gpr residency alright.

 

[Adam_W]

Hey guys...just wondering...ive always worked out all my life..(lifting, running,sports...etc) is there enough time to do these things in dental school? They have always helped me to just clear my mind from studying and helped blow off some steam and stress..if so, do u work out before school or after school?....i just dont want to be a fat dentist during school next year.....any input would be appreciated...👍

You will always make time for what is important to you. You probably knew people who "didn't have time" to work out in undergrad, but you always made the time. Dental school is no different.

 

[Lodo]

It gets a little harder to keep it up when you get into clinic though. What I usually do is give my injections, then run down to the cafeteria while my patient gets numb, and bring the food back up to clinic. Also, a little trick I learned for simplicity's sake, you can just put your plate right on the patients bib with the rest of your tools and take a bite when there's a lull in the action. 👍

You might consider mixing your workout in there as well by hoisting the patient up onto your shoulder and carrying him/her down to the cafeteria along with you. Then upon getting your order, fit in a set of shoulder press with the patient overhead as you return to the clinic. Never EVER forsake your workout routine!

 

[Wayne Coronado]

Exercising your body is just as important as exercising your brain, IMO. I have been consistently working out since high school and feel that making time for workouts contributed to my stamina when I needed to study. It helps when you have friends in school who think the same way and then you can get a kick in the a$$ when you're not feeling up to it. I could never motivate myself to get up early in the morning to go, but if I ever anticipated a gap in my schedule I would hit the gym. Grant it, it is more difficult to get going late in the day when all you want to do is go home and crash; however, I feel that once you get in there you get a burst and can get a good one. Our gym was conveniently located right next to the parking garage, so I had to walk by it every time I left school which made it easy to hit when the day was over. I also went during lunchtime as well which was great (less congested so you could get to the equipment without hassle). For those who don't go regularly, it will take some time to get into a routine, but stick with it. After a while, it will become ingrained into your lifestyle and you'll start to make it a priority. Making time for the weights wasn't tough while in d-school, but sometimes I couldn't devote enough time for cardio. I actually have a Precor Elliptical (bought refurbished) at home and it was one of the best investments I ever made. There is no easier way to burn 300 cals in a half-hour 👍.

 

[gym.addict]

I think I'd die if I couldn't work out in dental school. Hopefully when I start in the Fall it won't be too tough to make time for it. Getting the workouts in probably won't be the hard part (I just got back from the gym right now and its 4:20 AM) since Ill sacrifice sleep for it, but eating 6 meals a day doesn't seem feasible in Dschool. I'm planning on having a butt load of protein shakes around 😀.

 

[Wayne Coronado]

I think I'd die if I couldn't work out in dental school. Hopefully when I start in the Fall it won't be too tough to make time for it. Getting the workouts in probably won't be the hard part (I just got back from the gym right now and its 4:20 AM) since Ill sacrifice sleep for it, but eating 6 meals a day doesn't seem feasible in Dschool. I'm planning on having a butt load of protein shakes around 😀.

I recommend (for taste) the Atkins Chocolate Royal RTD shakes for an in-between meal (or sometimes lunch when I'm real busy). They've also got some pretty good bars (chocolate chip granola and peanut granola are my favs) that are awesome on-the-go. I always pack these for the long days...

 

[La Miraflorina]

There definitely isn't as much time to work out in dental school - not the first 2 years anyway. For me, it's not just a time factor as much as it is a fatigue factor. Sometimes I do have time to go but I'm too exhausted and hungry. That's just me, though 🙂

 

[dantheman2007]

if any of you have seen Pittsburgh's gym no one would be complaining of no time to work out. I've seen it and I'm gonna use it every day.

 

[Nefarious14]

you are going to gain a little weight in your first year, that's almost a given. It will take you a while to figure out what kind of schedule works for you, and eventually youare going ot have to accept that on full weeks, you may not even get to work out once.
on the plus side, i''m told that third and fourth year, you are going to lose weight because u will sacrifice eating time to set up and prep in between patients 😉 so it all balances out in the end

 

[beannaithe]

if any of you have seen Pittsburgh's gym no one would be complaining of no time to work out. I've seen it and I'm gonna use it every day.

haha, we do have a pretty snazzy gym here, but try getting near it during the day. 🙁

to the op - you can make time to work out as muhc or as little as you want to. if you want something, you just learn how to make time for it and you adjust your schedule accordingly. i didn't start working out until a few weeks ago (second half of second year) and i'm really glad i did. though i work out at night after school's over and i've had a chance to study a little bit. mainly because i'm lazy and hate to wake up early