One of the favorite things I have heard from a patient is: you’re a doctor, you don’t have to worry about blood pressure. Implying, of course, that doctor’s don’t struggle with their health.
I most certainly do struggle with fitness and health, like many other Americans with sedentary jobs and a proclivity to eat treats. One of my goals is to make sure that I get my 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise (or 75 minutes of high intensity exercise, which probably won’t happen). I will see for how long I am willing to document my progress Saturday to Friday.
This week I was back working in the hospital, with lots of responsibilities: sick patients to care for, medical students to teach, residents to supervise. Not to mention office patients to see.
- Saturday: Went for a walk to the business district, running some errands and also window shopping. Met a friend for coffee (and post-hospital therapy for her). Walked 39 minutes by my Fitbit.
- Sunday: Started my hospital rotation. I walked back and forth to my favorite coffee station twice, but apparently not fast enough to trigger my Fitbit, which reads 0 minutes walked.
- Monday: Worked a very long day, no exercise for me.
- Tuesday: I was able to leave not too late. I walked part way home for 16 minutes of exercise.
- Wednesday: I needed coffee and logged 10 minutes of walking (back and forth to the coffee station).
- Thursday: A very long day. Patients came late for their appointments, medical students had to present patients. Hospital patients hit the floor at the end of the day. I logged 8 minutes going for coffee.
- Friday: Also a long day. More patients were late for office appointments, and the students had more patients to present. I didn’t even get coffee (maybe that’s why the day was so long).
Total: 73 minutes walking and no minutes doing yoga. I feel very stiff and sad just looking at these numbers. I totally failed to meet my 150 minute goal. Must. Try. Harder. Next week.