Working out during Sub-I

[doctagadget]

Unlike probably most of you, I really don't love working out, but I have kind of gotten into a nice routine lately. From hearing the serious hours that you normally put in during an away elective, how many of you actually found time to do cardio or weight lifting? Or did you basically stay fit by watching your diet b/c working out was impossible during that time?

[OrthoTiger88]

Well personally i ate like sh#& and didnt lift for three straight months. Gained a ton of weight. But your AI is going to be similar to residency. You just have to make the time. Get into a routine and stick to it. Its harder when your away since your living in a different place. But its not a problem that will go away during residency.

[brn2drill]

You can get a decent workout with the DVD series p90X. I've been doing it off and on since the beginning of this year with good results. It's something you can do all within your own home, with just a few items such as resistance bands and pull-up bar.

[calvinNhobbes]

I actually lost weight during my ortho months because I ate a lot less purely from working so much. Often missed lunch and was some times too tired to eat dinner.

[netminder]

You can get a decent workout with the DVD series p90X.

Really? This is kind of interesting. I've been thinking about p90X. Is it hard to do the diet part of this program?

[calvinNhobbes]

Is it hard to do the diet part of this program?

Isn't the diet part of every program hard!

[capneedle]

What a "diet" part of a program??

[Iliizarovian]

p90x is hardcore.. and will build your mass significantly. I would not recommend that until you diet or what have you.

Dieting/exercising during residency is an interesting thing.. on one hand, you have very little time, so you want to spend it doing something you enjoy (like hanging out with the family). However, if you do that, you can't goto the gym, so you become more sluggish. And of course, if you start exercising.. you'll have more energy, so you'll be able to goto the gym.. so what do you do? hah

I'm actually really freaked out about the whole residency / dieting issue, personally.

After doing my sub-i's, and then not matching, life was.. well, more bearable with food, I guess I gained like 25 pounds or so. Granted, I'm an orthopod, so I carry the weight well , but, I felt like ass. I almost had to buy new suits for the second interview season.. that would have been awful.

Anyway, I definitely have a hypoglycemic issue where I get aggitated, or worse, get a splitting migraine when I don't eat.. the problem is getting up so early in the morning.. I'm hungry, and then I eat, and then at 9am, I'm ready for lunch?.. and then of course, at 12pm I'm reading for lunch again.. and dinner at 5. This is obviously a huge problem.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do about that as far as controlling it during residency.. but I'm curious to see if anyone has the same issue.

[doctagadget]

That's interesting man cause I have similar fears. Just the other day I was in the ortho residents lounge and he was talking with another reisdent about how he hasn't eaten all day (it was like 6pm at the time). Comments like that scare me because I enjoy my meals. But hopefully I will be so busy as a resident that I won't remember my hunger.

As for staying in shape I know a resident that lost alot of weight by basically having protein bars for breakfast, salad for lunch, and chicken with rice for dinner. He also told me that exercised for at least 30min a day. I'm not sure if I can be that dedicated but it is inspiring

[Iliizarovian]

People who talk like that usually can go without eating b/c it doesn't bother them, in my experience. They're not effected by not eating.. so they don't make it a priority.

Sometimes those people are also bragging, like it's cool that they're so busy, or something

My experience has been that there is always 5 minutes here or there for food. Sure, you can't go down to the cafe, sit down, chat, have a 3 course meal, etc.. I guess, it's akin to going to the bathroom in these cases The only time that would suck would probably be during long onc cases. In those cases, I guess you should prepare by having a nice protein bar or something right before the case.

However, I feel gross after eating protein bars, so I'll have to figure something out

[orthoCali]

Which hospital has the best gym for housestaff?

[Iliizarovian]

that was definitely my # 1 concern when choosing my residency hehe

[DoubleRow11]

Which hospital has the best gym for housestaff?

Vanderbilt

[Ti2]

I would definitely agree with Vanderbilt having the nicest gym I saw out of all the places at which I interviewed. With that being said, something such as "nicest gym" didn't have any impact on my decision and I don't think should impact anyone's decision on where to do their residency, but it is a nice perk.

[kdburton]

Does p90x really kick your ass that much? My roommate bought it MONTHS ago and I was waiting to see how it worked out for him, but it turns out its just been sitting unopened in the corner of his room since the day it showed up at our apartment and he's gained double-digits throughout 3rd year haha. I, on the other hand, have been going to the gym religiously this year and I'm probably in the best shape of my life right now. I have a feeling thats going to be coming to a screeching halt when I've got 3 sub-i's lined up for the first half of 4th year though