Published Aug 24, 2006
JoeyDog
102 Posts
Hey, is anyone else gaining weight while they are in school? I have gained about 10-15lbs in the last year. I am eating alot of fast food though, r/t my goofy schedule and studying late into the evening. Just wondering how others are fairing and what you do to combat weight gain. Thanks!
Nurse-To-Be-Joy
401 Posts
In the beginning, I gained weight (about 10 pounds). But now, I barely have time to eat anymore and I'm so active (running around college, after a toddler, etc.) that I'm starting to lose that weight. And it also helps that I'm trying to eat better (or at least drink diet instead of regular soda, lol).
stpauligirl
2,327 Posts
I do a variety of exercises including weight training either at home or at a gym and part of my exercise routine is to ride a stationary bike. I usually read or study while on the bike (I take my notes/book with me to the gym)... it's like killing two birds with one stone + it makes the time on the bike go faster. You could also read while walking on a treadmill. Try to munch on veggies/fruits while studying, like carrots and apples and pack meal-on-the go bars so you can stay away from those fast food places.
It will be hard for me to maintain my wonderful weight loss of 15 pds once my semester starts again next week....I am afraid I will gain some of it back because it is sooooo hard to find time to exercise ENOUGH to have results. Luckily I had the time over the summer.
Good luck. :pumpiron:
sunnyjohn
2,450 Posts
I cook all my meals on sunday (or a free day) and freeze them. While I am doing the laundry and cleaning the house, I am "power cooking"!
Spaghetti, beef, chicken, soup, grilled burger patties.... It all frezzes and tastes yummy.
I even cook up my veggies and rice and place them in individual packets. They last in the frezzer if you squeeze all the air out before you zip up the plastic baggie. One trick is to place all the seperate food boogaie into another Ziploc bag and you ahve double protection.
I have food this is much more convenient than fast food. I don't have to stop at the drive thru when I just want to go home, packing my lunch takes two secs and I can throw my dinner in the micorwave while I am doing other things.
If you can't cook buy yourself a wide variety of frozen dinners. Stoffers makes the BEST chicken Lasgna. They even have "healty" microwave dinners (but I think all of them have too much salt). Some of them even kids will like.
Frozen dinners, milk, instant oatmeal, fresh fruit, coffee... Your shopping list is complete!
staygold
50 Posts
If you have an ipod i sugest getting a voice recorder with a usb port so you can record your lectures and put them on your ipod.I started running to my lectures and my grades improved all while staying in shape. Just a suggestion. Good Luck!
JaxiaKiley
1,782 Posts
I've gained 15 pounds since I started going back to school. Eeps!
live4rachael
134 Posts
sunnyjohn - What a great idea! Can you elaborate on the kinds of foods you do and freeze? I work FT and am in school PT; hubby is in school FT, so we're both running around, eating unhealthy, and I just found out my cholesterol screening results and they're high. So I love this idea of cooking on Sundays and freezing. Is there anything you've found that doesn't work?
That is an EXCELLENT suggestion!
If I'm up late at night studying, I will prop my text book or notes on the console of my treadmill and go for a walk. I don't walk fast enough to break a sweat, just a stroll really...But the movement keeps me awake and out of the fridge. My treadmill is a cheap one, but it gets the job done.
I wish I could find my textbooks read to me on CD. I know subliminal messaging desn't REALLY work, but I sure would have my "Spoken textbook" on all the time (in the shower, while I was puttering around the house, in the car, at night while I was sleeping...) :chuckle
You name it, I've frozen it! I discovered a few years ago that I like grilled fish and all grilled meats, but there is NO WAY I can light up the grill erey night. Instead I will fire up the BBQ every now and again and have at it.
Pre-grilled burgers freeze well. So does salmon and most fish. Grilled Chicken is MUCH better than the rubber stuff. You can defrost your grilled breast, cut it up and make chicken salad or throw it in a bunch of other dishes
I freeze my prepared meats in individual meal sided baggies just so. Sometimes I soak them in a little Worchester sauce and H2O and frezze that. MOIST!!!!!
Lasagna frezzes better than spaghetti, I cut up the lasgana before I put it up.
I get the fresh veggies (green beans, corn, carrots, beets) on sale and parch them for a few minutes or so in boiling water. I like mine cooked but cruchnny. Drain them and then bag them. I even buy lots of tomatoes, red/green peppers, onions and celery, chop them up and freeze them! It makes it easy to make soup or use them in a dish.
Rice can freeze, but it work better if you cook it a teeney bit soggy or just make enough to refrigerate for a few days. My favorite is my pre-cooked black beans and pre-cooked rice.
Sometimes for a twist I will make a meal packet using aluminum foil. This will work if you don't want to pre-cook a whole bunch. I put in my meat, veggies and seasoning and put it up. As soon as I walk in the door I throw it in the oven. In less than an hour dinner is done.
I like to cook, but don't always have time. I REFUSED to give the fast food folks all my money, so I got creative. This has worked for me for 3 years now.
Wow, I also like that idea! I jogg 3 miles a couple times a week.
casi, ASN, RN
2,063 Posts
That is an EXCELLENT suggestion!If I'm up late at night studying, I will prop my text book or notes on the console of my treadmill and go for a walk. I don't walk fast enough to break a sweat, just a stroll really...But the movement keeps me awake and out of the fridge. My treadmill is a cheap one, but it gets the job done.
I've done that a couple of times, but something about reading and walking is a bit hard for me.
I've been wantting to see if I can find a way to prop my laptop on top of the tredmill...
I've done that a couple of times, but something about reading and walking is a bit hard for me. I've been wantting to see if I can find a way to prop my laptop on top of the tredmill...
I saw this scientist on TV do that once. He was working on getting office workers to get more exercise and came up with a computer on a treadmill. He was going very SLOWWWWWWWW, but he was moving. :chuckle
Much better than sitting down I say.