gained alot of weight as a nurse

Nurses General Nursing

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I have been a nurse 4 years. I have been a nurse in Labor and Delivery a little over a year....in that year I have gained 22 pounds. I started out at 135 and now weigh 157. I am so upset about this and am feeling really disappointed in myself for letting this happen. In the past I have gained 5 or 10 pounds in the past and lost it easily, this time I am having a tough time. I am only 5 ft. tall so I feel huge at this weight! I have always had a butt and thighs but this weight is in my stomach and I am so embarrassed! Every day I hate having to pick out an outfit because I feel like I look awful in anything. I am wondering if anyone else has gone through this and if anyone has any advice?

Specializes in wound care.

lol, hard hard work is the only was to lose it ,no short cuts

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
If you're working nights, get off as soon as possible.

Your body is trying to tell you something.

People might tell you, nights'll get better, you'll get used to it eventually - well, I did nights for years, and looking back, I don't know how I did it. It was like being in hell. Of all those years, I can remember a bare handful that was not a torturous struggle to stay awake. I gained weight, I was depressed and irritable all the time. I'll never work another night shift, I don't care how much they offer me.

Of course, if you're not working nights,disregard everything I've said. Just stop eating so much.

Working nights is not the end all and not everyone does bad working on nights. Every ones experiences are different.

Wight loss comes down to one basic principle. Calories in and calories out.

I gained a lot of weight after my lost pregnancy from medical issues I was having that left me pretty inactive. Add to that a depression from being so inactive and I gained weight, added to the depression and well it became a circle.

I finally made a choice to stop complaining and get through the pain. It was always bitter-sweet. Exercise hurt because of the pain, but I knew that if I lost weight that it would also help ease some of the pain.

I changed my thinking and my eating and my habits and I lost 65 lbs. I have been stagnant though for the past probably 6 months. Haven't gained or lost so I have maintained which gives me hope when I get to my goal. I have maintained that weight loss through nursing school (which is when I first lost it even though everyone says you will gain) and through night shift. I have no problems working night shift.

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Specializes in PICU, ICU, Hospice, Mgmt, DON.
If you're working nights, get off as soon as possible.

Your body is trying to tell you something.

People might tell you, nights'll get better, you'll get used to it eventually - well, I did nights for years, and looking back, I don't know how I did it. It was like being in hell. Of all those years, I can remember a bare handful that was not a torturous struggle to stay awake. I gained weight, I was depressed and irritable all the time. I'll never work another night shift, I don't care how much they offer me.

Of course, if you're not working nights,disregard everything I've said. Just stop eating so much.

Sorry...but to each his own...I worked 12 hour nights for many years (12+) and LOVED it and never ever had a problem....now that I have to work a regular schedule of 8 hour days I HATE it and in 2 years I have gained about 50lbs....my body is trying to tell me to go back to NIGHTS....so you really can't make assumptions about everyone.

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Sorry...but to each his own...I worked 12 hour nights for many years (12+) and LOVED it and never ever had a problem....now that I have to work a regular schedule of 8 hour days I HATE it and in 2 years I have gained about 50lbs....my body is trying to tell me to go back to NIGHTS....so you really can't make assumptions about everyone.

Well, in that case you should get off days and go back to nights.

Some people do better on nights, almost everyone else does better on days. If the OP has gained a drastic amount of weight in her first year of work, and that work includes a different shift than she's used to, then one can conclude that the shiftwork had something to do with it. The day/night part of the shift is really irrelevant.

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I should probably mention to the OP that if you haven't changed shifts or had any other major life changes -divorce, marriage, whatever - you should go for a physical. I don't know if you've hit menopause or if your thyroid is out of whack, but it's worth checking out.

If you conclude it's pure and simple overeating that's causing your weight gain, the first thing you do, is quit drinking your calories. If you're a big pepsi/coke drinker, you'll be surprised at how many calories alone that habit will give you. I quit drinking sugar and lost ten pounds practically instantly.

I wish you the best. Losing weight is very difficult.

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Specializes in Med/Surg, DSU, Ortho, Onc, Psych.

Posted a heap of stuff which didn't save for some reason....grrr!

Anyways, keep a journal - you can write down all the crappy stuff that happens to u during your shift. De-stress with yoga & pilates. Even just doing a few stretches after work can help. Walking is good, I try to fit that in when it isn't too hot. A treadmill is great for jogging - the weight fell off me when I used to jog (my knee buggered up though) - but some people buy one then don't use it.

Do not diet. Just eat small, good meals on smaller plates - that actually works! I also have mineral water in the fridge & mix lime juice etc with it, instead of drinking soft drinks - even diet ones make u insulin resistant apparently, which = fat.

And don't see any food as bad. If u want mudcake have it. Just have everything in moderation. If I have cake - not often as I'm not a cake person - I don't have lunch as I usually find the suagar buzz is enough. And I try to walk it off the next day. Just have everything in moderation, as my Dad says.

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Specializes in LTC, OB/GYN, Primary Care.

I gained 30lbs in my first yr of nursing. I credit this to weird hrs (3 to 11s) and being to tired to get anything but fast food and scarf it down on my way home then go to bed. and of course...stress!!!! I've been slowly losing over the past couple months (16lbs so far!). I count calories and go to the gym when I can. I love the Myfitnesspal app. Don't know if you have a smartphone but its free and counts all your calories ate and burned and tells you how many you need depending on your goals and lifestyle.

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Just remember to carry health snacks in case you don't uave time to eat properly at work. Fast food is not our friend

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Wow! Your weight loss is amazing! I need to lose around 60lbs. I need you as my mentor!

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Specializes in Mental Health, Medical Research, Periop.
Esme said it..I think we should start a weght loss forum. That way we can support each other! Good luck though.

HEY! ESME is not here, that was my idea to start a weight loss forum. LOL! Gotta toot my own horn for a minute, LOL!

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Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.

Look in Allnurses Central. There is a WL forum there.

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