Getting in shape/Losing weight in pre-nursing/NS support thread

Piglet68 · Apr 3, 2008

Count me in. Support is always a plus!

I am with you a few years ago I lost about 40 pounds and was doing really well, until we decided to move back to Pennsylvania from Georiga in a housing market that is not the best. I have managed to put all the weight back on and now it's coming off again. Slowly but hopefully for good this time.

I am hoping to get ideas on healthy snacks, and meals as well as exercise options.

Jen

stillpinay · Apr 3, 2008

Count me in too! I work 36 hrs/week in an ICU, and at the end of the day (a loooong day!) I can woof up anything in sight! Needless to say, I've gained weight. It's become very difficult now, thought, to take off the weight (and to control the emotional binging). So, a good support group is "deemed necessary."

Does anyone have any suggestions besides a low carb, high protein, (and of course: low fat) diet, daily 30 min exercise (walks), and freq small meals? Has anyone watched "I can make you thin" by Paul McKenna? It's based on tapping techniques (requires a lot of practice) and self talk/encouragement.

fuuchan · Apr 3, 2008

Maybe I should change my name to 'fluffychan'....anyway count me in. Some things that have helped me:

1. Acutally eating more. Yes, I know but instead of gorging myself for dinner I've been eating sensible snacks (gotta love the special K bars) and a decent breakfast, lunch, and dinner. That's not to say I don't enjoy an occasional Snickers, or I always put back that extra drum stick, but hey I'm working on it.

2. Water water water water. Seriously, water. I haven't had a soda in about 6 months

3. Well, I've been going to the gym 3 nights a week but I know that's going to change when I go to nursing school, but on the flip side - I found this calorie burned estimator and I was wondering if you could guesstimate what nursing school would burn (they have a section for how many minutes a day you read and study, could you imagine the calorie burning potential ) Anywho, here's the link for that.

http://www.healthstatus.com/calculate/cbc

beck_79 · Apr 3, 2008

I'll join. I definitely need some support- I'm in the midst of hell week at school right now (test in every class, papers due, presentations, etc) so I've fallen off the wagon. The mac and cheese box has been my source of comfort, along with M&Ms and anything crispy, salty and fried. Man has it been delicious. And forget the gym- I had absolutely no time this week.But I need to get back on track.

I decided to start losing weight last November, and so far I've lost 10 pounds.Went from 145 to 135. My pants are starting to fit again. I jump- started it with the South Beach Diet, but now I'm just trying to eat sensibly. I was doing great for a while: No junk or refined carbs. Lots of whole grains, veggies, fruits, and veggie sources of protein (I'm a vegetarian). Tons of water. And I forced myself to go to the gym. Here's a tip: go to school in your work-out clothes and you're more likely to hit the gym on the way home from school. At least, it has worked for me. And I bring my notes to the gym so I can study while doing cardio or in between weight sets. Also, I'm really focusing on strength training to build some muscle, because that's more effective with weight loss then cardio alone. And I really do feel better after I work out- it helps alot with stress.

Finally, I made a rule of no eating after 8:30 (except on the nights I work, then I bring a couple healthy snacks). The weight has come right off.

Like I said before, though, this past week was really bad, and I turned to junk food to cope. If anyone has tips for keeping up the healthy habits during extreme stress, I'd love to see them.

AlishiaRN77 · Apr 3, 2008

I would definitely like to join. I will be applying to NS in August and would love to lose my "fluff" while i'm on the waiting list! Thank you for making this thread!!

=o)

Piglet68 · Apr 3, 2008

I've done South Beach and it works. You will lose the weight and you will lose it quickly. I managed to keep it off for a few years but then I just wanted a piece of freakin' bread and couldn't do anymore.

This time I am doing weight watchers. There is nothing that is a no, which makes me feel as though I am not being punished for being fat. It also has taught me to read labels better, understand portion size (I have a scale for food now) and make better choices.

I started on March 1 and as of today I have lost 8.75 pounds. I have also kicked up the exercise. I do at least 30 minutes of cardio a day. I have a treadmill at home and I do go to the gym, plus walking outside with the hubby. It's the one time in a day that we get to talk without the kids being right there.

I just am looking for some motivation on the weights and toning. I'd rather run 5K then push a leg press. Any suggestions on how to get motivated with weights would be great! Also how to get motivated with Pilates (I hated that class and yoga....YUCK!!!!)

Jen

wishNhopeNdreamN · Apr 3, 2008

I am so happy that you have joined me

:clpty:

The other board I was on, we kept track of our losses and goals. We could also keep track of work out minutes. We could then post each week as our group loss and minutes exercised.

Does this sound ok or does someone have a better idea?

Thanks for joining me. I know it will make it eaier for us all to have this support.

fuuchan · Apr 3, 2008

I just am looking for some motivation on the weights and toning. I'd rather run 5K then push a leg press. Any suggestions on how to get motivated with weights would be great! Also how to get motivated with Pilates (I hated that class and yoga....YUCK!!!!)
Jen

I went to a trainer about this and she said (for females) unless you're trying to build mass (like a man) you should concentrate on sculpting and shaping. Start with maybe 50 lbs on the leg press and push out - hold for 2 secs, let in (no all the way) hold for 2 secs and repeat for a set of 15. I usually only do one set of everything (except the Abs, that's where all the fluff lives) and you would be surprised how it's helped with the weight loss and I can see stuff getting tighter. :yeah:

tullosrn2010 · Apr 3, 2008

I am definitely in....im so tired of the "more to love"...i joined weight watchers last year for about 5 months and managed to lose 30lbs i was so excited but when i started school in the fall it was hard to make the meetings with my babysitter waiting for me to get home as soon as school lets out..i have applied for ns in the fall and im pretty sure i will get in but you never know. im still waiting on my letter. i absolutely want to lose some weight before i have ppl practicing sponge baths on me!!!! lol

MaineEMT2RN · Apr 4, 2008

i absolutely want to lose some weight before i have ppl practicing sponge baths on me!!!! lol

That's too funny. We actually DID practice sponge baths on each other yesterday in my CNA class! I was all too aware of my 'fluffiness'. Here's the deal - I HATE being 'fluffy'!! I'm absolutely disgusted about my weight gain, and have been telling myself for months that it's time to do something about it.

I lost about 60 pounds years ago when my baby was 3 (someone asked when I was due - that will jolt you into reality!). I had kept it off well for 17 years.....until I went back to school. I just couldn't figure out when/how to fit in exercise. I've been a runner for many years, but I just couldn't manage to do that, and work and go to school and have meaningful relationships with my family. You all know! Anyway, I gained about 16 pounds last winter because I felt that my chemistry course required the application of cookies. I lost it all in the spring, but still wasn't exercising, so while I was thinner, I wasn't the kind of strong and healthy I want to be. This past November, my Dad fell and was in ICU in SC. I was with him for weeks until he passed away which was important, but also created a situation where I ate whatever whenever. Since then, I've dealt with a lot of my grief with the application of cookies. (There seems to be a theme here!) AND STILL NO EXERCISE!

Just last night, driving home from class, I was thinking that I really have to get my priorities back in line before I become one of the patients at the hospital. We see so much evidence of the effect of poor lifestyle choices. How can we do this to ourselves? Time to find my way out of denial and back to strength.

I'm in and I'm bringing pompoms! This is a great idea! What's the game plan? Can we all agree to post our efforts on a particular day of the week? Monday or Friday or something like that? Personally, I like Monday. It will keep me honest on the weekends if I have to report in to all of you on Monday! I'll volunteer to compile the stats and post once a week with our totals of pounds or inches lost that week and also our grand total. Should we do a countdown to September, so we're all lean and mean in time for clinicals?? That would be SO awesome!!

I'm particularly motivated to lose as close to 20 pounds as possible by the end of May when I finish my CNA clinicals and have to buy new scrubs on whichever floor I end up working on. That's my mission - skinny scrubs on June 1!! (I could still stand to lose another 15 beyond that, this is just my immediate need).

I have the Body for Life For Women book. Has anyone else read it? Is anyone else interested in following the program?

Piglet68 · Apr 4, 2008

Hi All,

I am cool with getting the status to MaineEMT2RN on Monday and then having her post them after she gets everyone's stats.

Do you want us to give you the goal amount of weight we plan to lose from here and then what we lose every week and how about a fitness goal?

Thoughts anyone?