(no subject)
x-posted to runners
Hello Friends!
About 2.5 months ago, I began working full-time as a CENA (in MI, that is a certified, evaluated nurse's aide). This basically means that I take care of adorable old peeps all day. I wipe butt, get people in and out of bed, rotate those who stay in bed, feed, shower, clothe and shave. Everything that we all take for granted everyday. As you can guess, my job is extremely physical. I am WORKING for 8 hours straight--heavy lifting, running from room to room, I SWEAT.
Anyway--since I started this job, my running has started a slow-decline toward death. I went from about 25 miles a week to about ten. My body ACHES every morning I wake up (specifically my back, I am too young for this!), I am exhausted and I have to run before work (shift: 3-11PM-exhausted and smelly after). I can barely get out of bed, let alone RUN. I miss running many miles so much, but I have literally no energy to keep it up. My body is so confused. One of the only things I can sweat through is power yoga--which has begun to serve as a VERY necessary long ass stretch for my sore work muscles.
Now, this job is temporary, kinda. I start medical school in August, and I am pretty sure it won't be as labor intensive. My brain might explode, but my muscles won't die.
Also, I suppose diet info is pertinent. I am a strict veggie. I eat drink organic skim milk and the occasional piece of cheese (generally only feta, swiss or goat), but rarely have eggs or other dairy products. I make sure to get my protein via LOTS of legumes. I also eat more than my fair share of veggies (probably about 1.5X the recommended amount), same with fruit. My weakness: portion control and SWEETS--I gorge and I can't stop at a coffee shop without a biscotti or scone. I have PCOS which makes weight loss excessively difficult--it also gives me a pre-disposition toward carbs (due to metabolic and hormonal effects). I am not necessarily out to lose weight, but I do exercise in part to keep my PCOS under control.
How do I alter my running schedule so that I can keep up my aerobic fitness? I am willing to run less (around 15-20 miles) and perhaps change the distribution; I am also willing to incorporate other forms of cardio with less impact (I was a competitive swimmer for 10 years, I GUESS I could get back in the pool). I have every other weekend off, and since I am not training for anything specific, I was thinking I could do some long runs on those weekends, after a full day's rest (rest Sat, run 8 or so Sun). I think what does me in daily is the run, grueling work, sleep combo. It might actually be "too much." Keep in mind, there is emotional weight here as well--which can be exhausting in its own right.
IN a nutshell:
1. What can I do to make sure I keep up my aerobic fitness so that come August I am not starting from scratch?
2. How should I change my diet? Timing of meals, portion of protein/carbs, etc.
3. Does anyone else do this job and still run? All of my co-workers go home and collapse or take care of their families. Literally none of them exercise. :(
4. Med Students: Please tell me you still run!
Hello Friends!
About 2.5 months ago, I began working full-time as a CENA (in MI, that is a certified, evaluated nurse's aide). This basically means that I take care of adorable old peeps all day. I wipe butt, get people in and out of bed, rotate those who stay in bed, feed, shower, clothe and shave. Everything that we all take for granted everyday. As you can guess, my job is extremely physical. I am WORKING for 8 hours straight--heavy lifting, running from room to room, I SWEAT.
Anyway--since I started this job, my running has started a slow-decline toward death. I went from about 25 miles a week to about ten. My body ACHES every morning I wake up (specifically my back, I am too young for this!), I am exhausted and I have to run before work (shift: 3-11PM-exhausted and smelly after). I can barely get out of bed, let alone RUN. I miss running many miles so much, but I have literally no energy to keep it up. My body is so confused. One of the only things I can sweat through is power yoga--which has begun to serve as a VERY necessary long ass stretch for my sore work muscles.
Now, this job is temporary, kinda. I start medical school in August, and I am pretty sure it won't be as labor intensive. My brain might explode, but my muscles won't die.
Also, I suppose diet info is pertinent. I am a strict veggie. I eat drink organic skim milk and the occasional piece of cheese (generally only feta, swiss or goat), but rarely have eggs or other dairy products. I make sure to get my protein via LOTS of legumes. I also eat more than my fair share of veggies (probably about 1.5X the recommended amount), same with fruit. My weakness: portion control and SWEETS--I gorge and I can't stop at a coffee shop without a biscotti or scone. I have PCOS which makes weight loss excessively difficult--it also gives me a pre-disposition toward carbs (due to metabolic and hormonal effects). I am not necessarily out to lose weight, but I do exercise in part to keep my PCOS under control.
How do I alter my running schedule so that I can keep up my aerobic fitness? I am willing to run less (around 15-20 miles) and perhaps change the distribution; I am also willing to incorporate other forms of cardio with less impact (I was a competitive swimmer for 10 years, I GUESS I could get back in the pool). I have every other weekend off, and since I am not training for anything specific, I was thinking I could do some long runs on those weekends, after a full day's rest (rest Sat, run 8 or so Sun). I think what does me in daily is the run, grueling work, sleep combo. It might actually be "too much." Keep in mind, there is emotional weight here as well--which can be exhausting in its own right.
IN a nutshell:
1. What can I do to make sure I keep up my aerobic fitness so that come August I am not starting from scratch?
2. How should I change my diet? Timing of meals, portion of protein/carbs, etc.
3. Does anyone else do this job and still run? All of my co-workers go home and collapse or take care of their families. Literally none of them exercise. :(
4. Med Students: Please tell me you still run!