Dieting and nursing school

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I'll be the first to admit that I have put on a few pounds while in nursing school but I don't think loosing those pounds through dieting while in school is the best of ideas. I have several friends in school who are dieting and are getting by but I want to know your thoughts.

I feel that dieting will place more pressure than is needed and you will constantly be distracted by thinking of food, the fact that you're starved and/or not being able to stay focused.

Do any of you diet? If so how do you cope and is it working?

Thanks for the replies and good luck!!!

I've gained 20 pounds since the beginning of nursing school. Apparently, I'm a stress eater. Now my uniform doesn't fit. I have no choice but to diet at this point.

Ive gained loads since starting in september! And thats with me joining the uni gym! Im going to start trying to make healthier choices, maybe not dieting as such but if im grabbing something from the uni shop... Choose the better option(although it wouldnt be as good as making my own stuff)

Specializes in HIV, Psych, GI, Hepatology, Research.
I'm counting calories on MyFitnessPal.com and it's free. You can download an app on your phone. Then you can scan the foods you are eating. It seems to be helping keep in calories in check. I just started so I'll update you on any weight loss later.

I like the MyFitnessPal app as well. I have it on my iphone and it's convenient to track all foods on it. I do try to stick to weight watchers. I don't go and pay for meetings but know the basics (used to go) so I just try to continue to follow the points system and keep my calories down.

I'm a snacker so it helps me that fruits and veggies are free. I also need to keep bad foods out of the home so I'm not tempted. I have 2 kids and they don't need the bad stuff either. I need to get back to it so that I snack on those healthy foods instead of chips, etc. I snack a lot when studying too, mindlessly...so that worries me. I start my LPN to RN bridge program January 22nd and I worry about gaining weight. I already need to lose weight and I don't need to add more to it. :-)

Specializes in Neuroscience.
Dieting is the most useless American pasttime there ever was. It doesn't work and the vast majority of "dieters" regain all their weight.

LOL, yes. It's amazing that a business with a 99% failure rate (I have yet to meet even one person who hasn't gained all of the weight back, plus more within 5-7 years, and has not been on 5 or more diets) is still going so strong! Unbelievable. It's the greatest long-term way to get fat, ever!

Specializes in Med/surg, Onc.

Well I lost 80lbs before starting the program during my pre-reqs. I gained 30 back. I'm losing that now LOL. It's a process. The most important part is to be realistic and plan to lose only 1/2-1lbs a week and allow yourself the time to actually DO that.

I use myfitnesspal.com to track my calories and exercise. I give myself 30 min 4-5 times a week just for ME to workout! I just must do it. Sometimes it is just walking laps during lunch at school but I do what I can and that 30lbs I gained is slowly coming off. I eat sensibly, nothing completely restricted. Calories in VS calories out is all it comes down to.

Simply buy yourself a treadmill and run 30 minutes to an hour each day. If you can study for some odd numbers of hours and go to practicum for 8 or 12 hours a day. You can run 30 minutes a day. I run with minimal sleep after a busy 8 hour shift. I feel great! It's just another excuse if you can't make it to the gym each day. If you're online on facebook or making a discussion then you have time to go to the gym.

dieting and working out work together. If you're not eating right, you wont' get your results from working out. If you're not working out, you won't get the results from dieting alone. Sure cutting back on bad foods can help but, the two go hand in hand. Since nursing school I've actually lost weight. I've gone from 215 pounds to 165 pounds. Best way to workout is to do all your weight training first because you muscles burn all the glucose and then when you hit the cardio you burn more calories. Do light cardio where you can pace yourself and carry out a conversation.

Plus you need to workout. Who wants to be a fat nurse. If you cant take of yourself how can you take care of a patient? You're more attractive and employers to look at your physical appearance. How can you move those heavy patients around with an out of shape body? The girls or guys come chasing!!!!!!!

I have put about 25lbs this past year of nursing school. I am starting a "diet" because I want to be proud of not only my accomplishment at pinning of not only finishing nursing school but also gaining my health also.

I'd love if some of us could maybe pm each other or something for motivation during this stressful time. Any takers?

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I'd love if some of us could maybe pm each other or something for motivation during this stressful time. Any takers?

That's a great idea! Sometimes it's hard to stay focused and achieve our goals alone. The small support from each other could be the push we need to get to the gym or skip the cheeseburger:up:

I start nursing school on the 11th but I'm losing right now. I don't feel hungry so its going well. I really just decreased my pop intake (cut it out completely), decreased fast food(haven't had any in 19 days) and increased veggies. I'm down 13lbs so far. I think it will be doable in school as well.

I say schedule at least 30 minutes a day of exercise. Go for a jog, take the dog for a walk, pop in a work out video. Drink a lot of water, use smaller plates & portions, eat fruits,veggies, yogurt, nuts for snacks. Prepare freezer meals so during the week you don't have stop by McDonalds (because it's convenient). Really start with small goals and cut out specific foods a little at a time (such as soda). It's important to keep yourself healthy too!

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