What is a good study snack?

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What snacks do you eat while studying that help you stay focused.

Thanks

There's nothing that I can eat that will help me stay focused. I drink coffee sometimes, but its a fine line between getting energy, and not drinking so much I am over hyper and unable to concentrate anyway. I have never been able to take any kind of caffeine pills (nodoz, viverine) etc. Tried that when I was younger and it always made me sick to my stomach, sometimes made me vomit, and gave me a headache which I had to go to sleep to relieve.

Here's what I have found helps concentration for me. Take mini breaks every half hour to an hour or so to just get up and walk around. I have a treadmill and sometimes hop on that to get my blood pumping in between. I have also been known to take a page I needed to memorize and do it while walking around the block. I think it's easier to learn when you have blood moving to the brain. Another trick if your getting tired is to stick your feet under cold water (just your feet). I actually read this somewhere a few semesters ago along with the physiological reason it works (and it does).

I also try to always get a study group together when class starts which helps. Even when we studied separate it was motivating. The night before a big test we were constantly calling each other and checking up, asking questions, discussing important concepts and it makes you stay on your toes. In addition, we usually took a pool of $3 each before a test. There were 6 of us in the group so the one with the highest grade got $15. Even though it was only $15 the concept and competition really help everyone's motivation.

Thanks that was all really good advice.

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I've gained so much weight since being in school I:madface: I definetly need to start snacking on more healthy snacks. I think nurses should be in good shape in order to be a good role model for patients.

Most of nursing school is sitting on your butt hitting the books. Also, take out food becomes a regular food item since students have limited time to prepare a meal. The food at the school cafeteria isn't much better. We did have a gym and about every semester I was able to go regularly for about a month before I got too busy or out of the habit.

My wife was watching a show today (think on TLC) about obese people. Made me want to exercise and start counting calories again.

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My wife was watching a show today (think on TLC) about obese people. Made me want to exercise and start counting calories again.

I was also watching something on TLC last night about obese people...one man eats over 36,000 calories / DAY :eek: yet he only weighed 600-some lbs. he's bedridden and can't even get up to the use the bathroom and using a bedpan is difficult, so he has to wear a pad/diaper which is changed every 4 hours or so.

how can someone eat that much???? :no: that's just ridiculous.

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I was also watching something on TLC last night about obese people...one man eats over 36,000 calories / DAY :eek: yet he only weighed 600-some lbs. he's bedridden and can't even get up to the use the bathroom and using a bedpan is difficult, so he has to wear a pad/diaper which is changed every 4 hours or so.

how can someone eat that much???? :no: that's just ridiculous.

Yes, that was the program. It was so sad. I know those people don't want to live that way. It must be an addiction or medical problem of some sort. It is hard not to judge, because we are conditioned as a society to think negatively about overweight people. Still, nobody would choose to live like that if they had a choice. I hope they are successful in overcoming their weight problem. We all have our crosses to bear.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Education.

I used to eat fruit, here is my favorite recipe, it's called fruit salsa, but it's not spicy, just a fruit salad in disguise, lol.

On allrecipes.com, I use the recipe for Annie's fruit salsa!

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Yes, that was the program. It was so sad. I know those people don't want to live that way. It must be an addiction or medical problem of some sort. It is hard not to judge, because we are conditioned as a society to think negatively about overweight people. Still, nobody would choose to live like that if they had a choice. I hope they are successful in overcoming their weight problem. We all have our crosses to bear.

overeating often times is an addiction just like drugs or alcohol is in addiction. There are AA based groups for it and everything. Many people do not eat because they want to, but because they use food or their weight as a way to hide or ignore their problems. Its not like that for everyone perhaps, but I think most of us have SOME sort of emotional relationship with food.

I think that understanding the real reasons why many people are overweight, and even understanding why we eat ourselves (overweight or not) can go a long way towards understanding and helping our patients when the time comes.

It may sound far fetched, but don't we see sugary foods as "treats"? What if someone felt they had no joy in other areas of their life, or wanted a quick pick me up after a rough morning? The taste and the sugar high from a "sweet treat" would be just the thing, right? The problem, as I see it, is when people don't diversify their relief strategies. After a long week, some pizza and a few beers sounds great to relax and unwind. But if i had that every time I had a bad day, I'd be an overweight alcoholic. What about holidays? we associate turkey with Thanksgiving, which we may associate with family and fond memories, or Christmas with cookies (for santa). So if you eat something similar during the year, or if you even smell gingerbread for instance, you're automatically brought back to that time. I think people get in a rut of starting to rely on food for those memories and good feelings and forget about all the other ways that they can feel good, like exercise/sports/hobbies/etc and where one day it was "just a sweet treat" suddenly it becomes a daily part of life, and maybe eventually becomes a replacement for healthier foods. They don't call them "comfort foods" for nothing. :nuke:

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one of my favorites... cold edamame with sea salt... delicious, salty, and protein too...

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Specializes in medical.

I put on so much weight during my final project. I used to eat microwave popcorn by the bag, and chew fruit gums until i got a headache. Worse than that I used to bake as a way of ditraction...leaving me with brownies and cupcakes galore! Now I normally snack on dry cereal now and raisens. And LOTS of cups of tea.

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Specializes in Neuro.

Everyone in my program last semester used to tease me about my caffeine problem. I would start the day with 3 cups, get a drink from starbucks on my way to campus, get another cup or two on campus, and then switch to green tea to finish out the day.

I only have coffee in the morning during the summer though....

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Specializes in medical.

haha ErinJane, you sound just like me. I'm often tempted to just chew on a tea bag on shift....

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As a former caffeine addict I just want to say be careful. My body violently revolted because of my caffeine consumption being so over the top. A 2 liter of diet mt dew was the absolute norm for me and then all of a sudden I got so violently ill every time I had even a sip that I spent half the day practically, doubled over in pain.

I sure do miss my double espresso cafe mochas though.

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...a soy upside-down caramel macchiato, yum! :smilecoffeecup:

Doesn't it spill?:lol2::lol2::lol2::rolleyes:jk! I'm sorry...I'm tired; everything is funny when your tired!

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