Curious, re nursing and weight loss

anotherone, BSN, RN · Nov 9, 2011

i have worked in med surg for a year. in the beginning iw as so stressed that i never ate. (sometimes we dont get any breaks, but majority of people manage to get some sort of break). the activity level isnt enough to make me lose weight. it is pretty difficult for me to lose weight because there is barely any time for me to do the exercise required to lose weight. i work rotating shifts and find myself sleeping away all my days off .

Leomom · Nov 9, 2011

I have lost weight since starting work as an RN, about 7 pounds so far but I am also trying. As others have said pack your lunch, I do, I don't even take my bank card or $$$ in with me I drink hot tea in the AM when I get to work & after that 1 cup it's ice water when I get the chance for a sip. I have worn my pedometer to work for a week or 3 now & consistently hit around 15,000 steps. Good luck in your endeavors.

all4ofus, ASN, RN · Nov 9, 2011

I went from a desk job to a job as a tech while in nursing school. I thought I would lose weight during the summer when I was on my feet full-time, but didn't lose a pound, either summer. I swear my body auto-adjusts fat storage based on my energy expenditure and caloric intake. I've found it doesn't matter how much I do or don't eat, or how much I do or don't exercise --- my body has decided it wants to be exactly the weight it is now, which is the same as it was 8 years ago. I jog for one hour 3 days per week (I work and am in school, so I can't jog on the days that I have worked for 13 hours on my feet already). I frequently wonder why I bother.

mindlor · Nov 9, 2011

It infuriates me everytime I see folks mention that they dont get their breaks. You need those breaks. Physically and psychologically. Everyone needs to band together and insist they get their breaks. Breaks are part of federal and state labor laws. it is managements responsibility to staff at levels that can accomodate breaks, PTO, etc.....Maybe the increased staffing demand will require places to hire more nurses? Just sayin.....For an 8 hour shift in my state, you are entitled to a 30 minute unpaid lunch break and two 1o minute mini breaks....

tokyoROSE, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2011

Pack your lunch and avoid the cafeteria.
Leave your money at home and it's easier to lose weight.

This is how I maintain my 100 lb frame. I have never eaten cafeteria food, just as I refuse to eat fast food. Don't pack bad foods either. My lunches always consist of rice, some type of veggies and a bit of meat or tofu for protein. Balanced and healthy.

MN-Nurse, ASN, RN · Nov 11, 2011

I'm going to be starting a med surg job soon. I'm a new grad and all my previous employments have been very sedentary. I'm curious, did any of you lose weight when you started nursing from all the walking around? Do new nurses tend to gain or lose weight? I've been wanting to lose 15 pounds for a while now. Any diet tips you can recommend for when I start working? How much time do nurses typically take for lunch?? 20 min?? Thanks!!

No new diet tips. Eat a healthy diet of lean meats, fruits and veggies. Lay off the processed foods. Drink a LOT of water and don't drink any soda, even diet.

Combine that with the steps you take in med surg and you will lose weight. If you don't pay attention to your diet, your intake can easily overcome what you expend no matter where you work.

I was losing weight steadily until I started working on a Med/Surg floor. I lost my focus on my diet and exercise program and stopped losing weight completely. I didn't gain any, but undisciplined habits (fast food, mochas, processed foods) started creeping back into my diet.

Now that I'm settled a little on my floor I'm getting back on track.

Lunch times can vary. On days and eves, I can usually get a 1/2 hour because there is a lot of staff around. Nights I get like 10 minutes maybe and bring it back to the floor to eat it.

canesdukegirl, BSN, RN · Nov 11, 2011

When I first started in med/surg, I weighed 122 lbs. I didn't eat during the day because my lunch time was constantly interrupted by the nurse who was supposed to be covering for me, so I shoveled in what protein I could. The downside is that by the time I got home, I was FAMISHED and TIRED, so I ate and then went right to bed. Oh yeah, I gained weight. I went up to 130 lbs.

Then I was put on rotating shifts. It wreaked havoc on my body and I gained another 10 lbs.

I started to pay attention to what I was eating and stayed away from sugar, processed foods, and caffeine. I lost 15 lbs.

Now I stick to mostly proteins. I boil some eggs the night before my shift and stick them in a ziploc bag (liberally sprinkled with salt!) so I can just grab it and eat on my way to work. Yeah, the car smells like a big fart, but I am not famished when lunch time rolls around.

I also keep peanut butter in my locker so that I can down a spoonful in between cases-you wouldn't believe how well this works to stave off hunger.

I don't know about y'all, but my body tends to have a 'happy weight', for lack of a better term. When I am below 120, I look like I have some horrid illness. I feel like it too! When I am over 135, I feel sluggish and secretly depressed that I gained weight. My body's happy weight is 130. Do any of you experience this kind of 'happy weight' as well?