Gain or Lose Weight?

kvdlr · Dec 11, 2009

I think based on my experience, I actually gained more weight -not too much tho. The reason for this is because, you read a lot in your theory part and the more you read/study the more likely you'll end up munching onto something. And by the time you are done studying, you need to get some sleep or will end up falling asleep while studying lol. But this is individualized tho, depends on your lifestyle habits and your metabolism.

gams77 · Dec 11, 2009

Oh boy. Yeah, well I have NO metabolism. I have to eat strictly low-carb and get tons of exercise to look decent. Jobs that I have worked on my feet, I lost weight, so I had hoped clinicals would help. I am one of those that I will munch while studying or up late.

I keep saying I am going to get back to the low-carb (I did feel so much better and more energy) and find a way to exercise even with the demands once I am in nursing school. Its hard to get back to it once you have been off of it all for months.

My fault though!

Thanks for the reply!

Sand_Dollar, BSN · Dec 11, 2009

I'm doing the last of my pre-reqs this spring and I have the opposite effect, I tend to lose weight because I forget to eat.It will totally depend on your metabolism and habits. My problem is that I need to get up and about, I've spent way too much time in front of my computer and I'm out of shape. I'm hoping clinicals will be beneficial to me in that sense.

K nurse-one-day · Dec 11, 2009

When I am nervous I get nauseated and don't eat. I lost 2 lbs stressing over an anatomy test, when I start actually nursing school I'll be as thin as a rail!

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Dec 11, 2009

Depends, when you are stressed, do you eat or do you skip meals? I definately defalt to eating when stressed/busy and make excuses for not exercising even though it would make me feel better. My first semester only included four 6-hour clinical rotations which did not equate to much more exercise than I would have gotten on a normal day anyways.

I've actually managed to loose weight this semester but only because I had strep throat and barely ate for several days. Since then, I've been doing my best to keep the weight off through exercise and (somewhat) better eating habits. I'm still about 20lbs overweight and the holidays don't exactly equal weight loss for me

gibson0726 · Dec 11, 2009

I just graduated yesterday (yay!) and I gained A TON of weight since starting nursing school. Part of it was getting into an accident that left me on the couch for 3 1/2 months and the rest was stress eating, munching while studying, and getting zero exercise. I gained 60lbs. :eek:

I got off the BCP and stopped eating out so much and I've lost about 12 lbs, but I still have a long way to go. The key is eating healthy snacks, but when I am studying I want chips, not carrot sticks. I had 12 hour clinical days, so I got a lot of walking in on those days, but the rest of my time was spent sitting on my butt. A lot of girls in my class that gain weight easily also struggled with several extra lbs by the end.

gams77 · Dec 11, 2009

I'm doing the last of my pre-reqs this spring and I have the opposite effect, I tend to lose weight because I forget to eat.It will totally depend on your metabolism and habits. My problem is that I need to get up and about, I've spent way too much time in front of my computer and I'm out of shape. I'm hoping clinicals will be beneficial to me in that sense.

When I am busy, I do forget to eat but it seems I gain weight when I do not eat. I have to eat several meals through the day. I was just hoping the activity of clinicals would help.

Then again, I gain if I eat too much...so either way, haha!

gams77 · Dec 11, 2009

Depends, when you are stressed, do you eat or do you skip meals? I definately defalt to eating when stressed/busy and make excuses for not exercising even though it would make me feel better. My first semester only included four 6-hour clinical rotations which did not equate to much more exercise than I would have gotten on a normal day anyways.
I've actually managed to loose weight this semester but only because I had strep throat and barely ate for several days. Since then, I've been doing my best to keep the weight off through exercise and (somewhat) better eating habits. I'm still about 20lbs overweight and the holidays don't exactly equal weight loss for me

I guess it depends on the stress. With "personal" issues, I tend to not eat, which I will either gain or lose, depending on how long it goes on. The stress of studying, I EAT! I am trying to get back to the low carb thing but you know...not many good snacks for that! Meat, eggs, celery sticks, cauliflower, etc gets old and the chips call you! Honestly, most of the snacks I would make in the past or meals, took so much MORE time to prepare if high-protein. I don't see having that time during nursing school.

Oh well, so what if I stay fat. I am engaged to be married and he still loves me! Haha have to think of it that way. Its just that I do not feel comfortable overweight...

gams77 · Dec 11, 2009

I just graduated yesterday (yay!) and I gained A TON of weight since starting nursing school. Part of it was getting into an accident that left me on the couch for 3 1/2 months and the rest was stress eating, munching while studying, and getting zero exercise. I gained 60lbs.
I got off the BCP and stopped eating out so much and I've lost about 12 lbs, but I still have a long way to go. The key is eating healthy snacks, but when I am studying I want chips, not carrot sticks. I had 12 hour clinical days, so I got a lot of walking in on those days, but the rest of my time was spent sitting on my butt. A lot of girls in my class that gain weight easily also struggled with several extra lbs by the end.

Yes, I have to walk and work out and when I do, I honestly feel so much better. I just cannot see fitting in the time but I guess I will have to. I have never been one of those that can just "diet", I have to have exercise.

Thanks to everyone, good advice and keep it coming! Its nice to hear what others go through!

mmaxim · Dec 12, 2009

okay, i have gained so much weight this past semester while finishing up prereqs. i will be starting an rn program in january (yay!) and was curious as to whether anyone has had issues with gaining weight during school or if perhaps its easier to lose once in nursing school? i would think with clinicals and moving around more, it would be easier to lose.
just curious as to others' experiences. i am frustrated right now, lol.

it's hard to lose weight in nursing school.

you are only in clinicals for one or two days a week, and more likely to eat an unhealthy meal at the hospital. you are often busy with school work and need to study a lot, and may not have a lot of time to cook a healthy meal. also, you may not have time to work a lot and it's expensive to eat healthy. you have to be disciplined enough to make yourself go to the gym despite the heavy workload. it can be done though. good luck.

Lennonninja, MSN, APRN, NP · Dec 12, 2009

I don't have a scale but I've probably gained 2-4 pounds or so. I don't really eat while studying, it's more that I've been too tired to cook, so there's been a lot of fast food for dinner. And I can't drink coffee without sugar and creamer and I've drank A LOT of coffee this semester! I stopped having time to run after about the first four weeks, but I'm hoping to get back to running over break and continue next semester when all of my lectures, clinical, and work is crammed into three days. That will leave me 4 days per week with nothing to do but study and work out *cross fingers*