trouble stayng slim when in nursing school

luvmypatients · Dec 31, 2004

I have put on 25 pounds since last Christmas. This totally stresses me out. I am weight obsessed. Besides starting school and I quit smoking. I think my metabolism is on vacation. :angryfire January 2nd is the day. No more bags of Doritos while studying. Maybe just a nice Apple:) .

Good luck to all. Happy New Year.

Jenn

Pammie · Dec 31, 2004

Well, my game plan for this semester (until I start clinicals, anyway) is this: I live 15 miles from school and my kiddos go to school 3 miles from campus, so I will be there all day until they are out of school. I am going to eat a balance breakfast and take my lunch with me. I am not going to take any money to school with me, nor my debit card. My kids are dropping me off at school and picking me up when they get out (3:15 PM); I won't be able to leave the campus. I will study in the library where no one else is eating. There will be NO FOOD! I can't eat what is not there. Now when I get home, that will be a different story. Got to come up with something there.

hoppermom3 · Dec 31, 2004

I have gained a few pounds since starting school. Well-meaning family members assure me that I look "healthier" now, but I feel awful--sluggish, grumpy, ect...

The vending machines and coffee pot are my downfall. I get to drinking coffee all day and forget that my body needs plain old water.

NurseBunky · Dec 31, 2004

I'm just to opposite. I lost 10lbs in 2 months by being too stressed out to eat or studying so much forgetting to eat. I remember going to McDonald's after school one day an ordering a big mac, large fries and a coke. I took two bites of the big mac and threw the entire meal away due to sudden loss of appetite. I just didn't want to eat, especially if I started thinking about an exam I had to study for or if I had clinicals the next day. It's weird b/c I use to be an emotional eater. Whenever I'd get stressed I could eat a gallon of ice cream with no problem. I don't understand why I would pick now to become anorexic. I guess I have bad timing. It feels good to be loosing weight though but being a nursing student I realize it's not healthy not to eat.

After finals I ate so much I gained about 5 lbs in two weeks. I've decided when school starts on the Jan 10 I'll start taking vitamins, working out and try to at least eat twice a day and have healthy snacks throughout the day. I might as well be healthy if I'm gonna loose weight. Spring Break and Summer is coming!!!!:)

suzanne4, RN · Dec 31, 2004

Well, my game plan for this semester (until I start clinicals, anyway) is this: I live 15 miles from school and my kiddos go to school 3 miles from campus, so I will be there all day until they are out of school. I am going to eat a balance breakfast and take my lunch with me. I am not going to take any money to school with me, nor my debit card. My kids are dropping me off at school and picking me up when they get out (3:15 PM); I won't be able to leave the campus. I will study in the library where no one else is eating. There will be NO FOOD! I can't eat what is not there. Now when I get home, that will be a different story. Got to come up with something there.

Definitely the wrong way to approach it. You will find yourself actually gaining weight, as you will be putting your body into a starvation mode. You should try taking healthy snacks with you and eating several times during the day. Just make wise decisions...........you will find that you will lose weight this way, because your body thinks that it will get something everyt few hours so it won't mind burning the calories for you. There are many things for you to take with you............if you do not eat until you get hoem, you will be so hungry that you will anyhting that you can find around, and definitely will not be making wise choices.

Good luck............... :balloons:

wonderbee, BSN, RN · Dec 31, 2004

Since I started school in January 2002, I've gained 40 lbs. With a year to go, it scares me to think I might gain another 20. I've got to get a handle on it right quick and now.

RedSox33RN · Dec 31, 2004

I've had the opposite effect - I've lost more than 15 lbs., and well on my way to more. I just don't eat when studying or unless "forced" to take lunch or break, like at clinical. Plus with all the stress of a seperation and reconciliation, I've not eaten much. I think I have to order new scrub pants now because of it.

I did gain weight last year in college though. The courses weren't NEARLY as tough, not nearly as much commuting, and those Wendy's burgers tasted ohsogood before class to tide my tummy over! LOL

RedSox33RN · Dec 31, 2004

I'm just to opposite. I lost 10lbs in 2 months by being too stressed out to eat or studying so much forgetting to eat. I remember going to McDonald's after school one day an ordering a big mac, large fries and a coke. I took two bites of the big mac and threw the entire meal away due to sudden loss of appetite. I just didn't want to eat, especially if I started thinking about an exam I had to study for or if I had clinicals the next day. It's weird b/c I use to be an emotional eater. Whenever I'd get stressed I could eat a gallon of ice cream with no problem. I don't understand why I would pick now to become anorexic. I guess I have bad timing. It feels good to be loosing weight though but being a nursing student I realize it's not healthy not to eat.
After finals I ate so much I gained about 5 lbs in two weeks. I've decided when school starts on the Jan 10 I'll start taking vitamins, working out and try to at least eat twice a day and have healthy snacks throughout the day. I might as well be healthy if I'm gonna loose weight. Spring Break and Summer is coming!!!!:)

I plan on starting vitamins also. I'm diabetec and know I'm not getting enough nutrients. It's wayyyyyyy easier to talk to patients about how they should eat than to do it myself!

Pammie · Dec 31, 2004

Thanks. You are right. I probably DO need to include a couple of healthy snacks. It will keep my energy up and maybe help me not to overdo when I get home.

Definitely the wrong way to approach it. You will find yourself actually gaining weight, as you will be putting your body into a starvation mode. You should try taking healthy snacks with you and eating several times during the day. Just make wise decisions...........you will find that you will lose weight this way, because your body thinks that it will get something everyt few hours so it won't mind burning the calories for you. There are many things for you to take with you............if you do not eat until you get hoem, you will be so hungry that you will anyhting that you can find around, and definitely will not be making wise choices.
Good luck............... :balloons:

mjbsn2006 · Jan 1, 2005

I gained 15 lbs this semester. We ate out between classes just to get away from campus. I didn't have time to exercise, so I ate when I got home sat down and studied. I have to break this cycle, cause I'll pack on 15 more this semester. I started cutting back this week already, and I'm going to take my lunch q day so I can't go out to eat. I don't know how this exercise thing is going to fit into my already busy schedule. I wish everyone luck w/ this challenge. For those of you who have packed on the extra pounds, does this make you extremely sleepy 24/7? I'm not to hooked on sweets, so I don't think I'm having a sugar attack. I want to sleep all the time, no matter how much sleep I get at night. I wasn't like this before I was overweight. Has anyone else had this happen??

Well, my game plan for this semester (until I start clinicals, anyway) is this: I live 15 miles from school and my kiddos go to school 3 miles from campus, so I will be there all day until they are out of school. I am going to eat a balance breakfast and take my lunch with me. I am not going to take any money to school with me, nor my debit card. My kids are dropping me off at school and picking me up when they get out (3:15 PM); I won't be able to leave the campus. I will study in the library where no one else is eating. There will be NO FOOD! I can't eat what is not there. Now when I get home, that will be a different story. Got to come up with something there.

sabrn2006 · Jan 1, 2005

I maintained my weight for the first half of this last semester by working out during my lunch hours. Then the work load got crazy and exercise time became study time. I put on only 3 lbs but I feel like it is more. Everything is tight. Blah. I lost 40 lbs in 2003, and I just don't want to balloon up ever again! I am taking a weight training class 3x a week this semester. I need to add cardio to that and strategize for better eating habits. I know what's right but just have to follow it. My budget is limited, so eating out is not my downfall. My problem is with unhealthy stress-induced snacking.

So should we have a healthy eating for nursing students support thread? I want to lose about 20 lbs over the next year. (About 10 this semester)

Pammie · Jan 1, 2005

Support would be wonderful.

I maintained my weight for the first half of this last semester by working out during my lunch hours. Then the work load got crazy and exercise time became study time. I put on only 3 lbs but I feel like it is more. Everything is tight. Blah. I lost 40 lbs in 2003, and I just don't want to balloon up ever again! I am taking a weight training class 3x a week this semester. I need to add cardio to that and strategize for better eating habits. I know what's right but just have to follow it. My budget is limited, so eating out is not my downfall. My problem is with unhealthy stress-induced snacking.
So should we have a healthy eating for nursing students support thread? I want to lose about 20 lbs over the next year. (About 10 this semester)

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