Gain or Lose Weight?

CraftyStarr · Dec 14, 2009

I have gained about 10 lbs since starting school. Most often, I have no time to cook. When I do have time to cook, I don't have the energy. Same goes with exercise. I try to stay on my feet during clinicals to balance everything out, but I am eating WAY more fast food than I ever have in my entire life. Fast food = packing on the pounds! I am trying like crazy to get in to a good workout pattern over this winter break to hopefully shed some weight, but all those good habits seem to fly out the window during the regular semester. Don't be too hard on yourself. I have learned that much of nursing school is just getting through it alive...no need to put added pressure on yourself to lose weight. :)

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 14, 2009

The first couple of classes, I actually lost a little weight because I packed my own lunches. Then I made a few friends...and we began eating lunch out a lot :) Overall, I graduated about 5 lb up from when I started.

It was studying for the NCLEX that really put the weight on me: an additional 10lb or so more when all was said and done. It was so much stress, so much sitting and reading...and so much nervous eating!

Since working, I've dropped 11lb. I need to lose another 30 or so to be my ideal weight (150)...which I was, once :)

tfleuter, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2009

Maybe we should start a new thread with ideas on how to manage weight during nursing school :) For those who've had success (even just a little) could pass on what things they did to loose the stress weight or at least keep it a bay

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Dec 14, 2009

I attended an LVN program in California from October 2004 to October 2005, and gained 40 pounds during this 12 month time period. The culprits included my sedentary lifestyle, a diet filled with fatty fast foods, and responding to my stress by overeating. I had to work hard to lose 50 pounds.

Fast forward to January 2009, which is when I started attending an RN program. I have gained 30 pounds in an 11 month period. Again, the culprits are the same. I should add that I have always had issues with food.

mammac5 · Dec 15, 2009

I'm just finishing my first semester of NS and I'm up about 3 lbs from when I started. When I went home at T'giving, I lost all that plus a few pounds even though it was over the holiday! So I think it has more to do with my stress (read: cortisol) level than it does what I actually eat.

That said, I lost about 90 lbs a few years ago and I am QUITE determined not to go anywhere near there again.

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Dec 15, 2009

yeah...I've gained about 10lbs since this time last year. Not only did I start nursing school, but I was also a newlywed and you know what they say about the first year of marriage!

I'm not at an unhealthy weight though, which is good. And I still go to the gym 3-4 days a week and get my cardio and weights in. But darn it, I looked smokin' at my wedding, and would love to be at that weight again!

My biggest vice though is a beer after class with some classmates, or wine with my husband on the weekends. if I cut that out, I could easily drop the weight. But...it keeps me sane and is my stress relief, and we all know how stressful school can be!

Mineee45 · Dec 23, 2009

I gained weight when I first start, but now since im almost done I'm losing all the weight plus more. It seemed like to me as if most of the class gained weight.

cmonkey · Dec 24, 2009

Since I'm only going to have to take core classes, I'm going to use the "spare" time by also taking a phys ed class of some sort. I'll only get that exercise if there's a grade at stake.

tinybabynurse · Dec 24, 2009

I lost 20 pounds the first 15 weeks of nursing school. I had heard about people gaining a lot of weight and it scared me to death because I needed to lose some from having a baby anyway. So I committed to myself to working out 1-1.5 hours 5 times a week. It REALLY helped with my stress level to work out. I brought my flashcards/textbooks a lot of the time to multitask while on the eliptical.

If I could do it, anyone can. I am a big time stress eater.

ClassyChristina · Dec 24, 2009

This past semester with three nursing classes and chemistry I lost weight. I also was sick for a month...and had about the most stressful relationship problems I have ever had! Haha...I do not want to repeat this semester...but the weight loss was a plus.

sophie<3 · Dec 24, 2009

i have gained about 5-10 lbs this year mainly due to stress...when studying i eat, when i am bored sitting around the house i eat, and my boyfriend and i are notorious for late night dinners. i haven't always had issues with food..i could eat as much as i wanted to in high school and never gained a pound and i think a lot of it is just creating bad habits and not being able to break them now. i think if i could cut back on some unhealthy foods..like packing my lunch or bringing healthy snacks to class i won't be so tempted to overindulge on fast food after class then these love handles would eventually come off! also this semester i am going to try to start some sort of exercise program..even if it is just 2 days a week that is better than no days!

tokyoROSE, BSN, RN · Dec 24, 2009

I've steadily gained some weight as I'm growing older, but I don't think nursing school is a factor in it. I just hate not being able to work out. Between classes, studying and 25 hrs/week working, my boyfriend, my social life, there is literally no time. I can't wait for the summer when I'll be working out 5x a week like normal. I've never had to watch my weight before but as the holidays are in full swing, I realized how much all those cookies and sweets affect me. Ha! So I'm cutting out all sugars. I've read tons of articles saying that just dieting alone helps. :idea:So I'm slowly modifying my diet....starting with the hardest, the sugar. Luckily no one has noticed the weight gain but me! Everyone guesses that I'm under 100 lbs lol, not a bad thing I guess.