Hi I am starting LPN nursing school in Oct this fall and I am overweight, My question

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is will the weight come off during my praticums in the hospital? On clinicals? Any advice for me?

Specializes in Acute Rehab, LTC.

Hello!

I have battled against weight all my life. So I know where you're coming from. I managed to loose a whole bunch of weight when I was in my early teens... but since have put over half of it back on. Unfortunately nursing school didn't help, I actually put on about 20 lbs in nursing school. Everything others are saying is unfortunately true.. the eating on the run, eating when you study... and if you are part of a study group like mine.... there's always cookies, pop, chips and dip, candy.... oh man. We were bad! But don't let that discourage you, one of my friends actually managed to loose weight by going for a walk every night. In any regaurd, best of luck to you!!!

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Yep, I agree with everyone else. First semester (last year), I gained about 30 lbs. Partly because of stress, partly because of poor planning. When you are studying SO hard, sometimes everything else falls to the wayside, and in my case cooking was a rarity. We were frequenting fast food joints for meals because it took less time and effort on my part to feed the family. Thankfully I've gotten back on track through the summer and lost 25lbs of it and now I know that I have to plan, plan, plan this next semester so that this doesn't happen again.

I think if you go into the school semester with a solid plan you will be fine. In my case I failed to do that and have had to pay the price.

Good luck.

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I don't see how school has anything to do with weight. Why do you want to lose weight? If you do, it should be eating less and more activity.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, Heme/Onc.
is will the weight come off during my praticums in the hospital? On clinicals? Any advice for me?

Not if you eat from the hospital cafeteria or take out food, and depend on your activity level during clinicals to be your sole form of exercise. If anything, that's how the pounds will creep on.

I lost all of my post-babies weight while in the middle of nursing school by joining a gym and dieting. The 20 pound loss was slow and steady and I've kept it off for 4 years.

I think that aerobic exercise is the key to weight loss, and clinicals do not give you the intense period of elevated heart rate that you need. Heavy lifting? Absolutely. You will have very strong arms by the time you are done with school!

Blee

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Specializes in Neuro.

Hi Tifany,

I too heard about the weight gain when starting school and I had just lost weight before I started. Unfortunately, working full time and going to school full time put it all back on :o

Someone posted on here that if you want to lose weight, you need to do more than just walk. NOT TRUE. That is how I lost all my 40 lbs. I did originally give up my Dr. Peppers, but I slowly started back drinking them, and still lost weight, doing only walking. I would walk about 2 miles a day at least 4 days a week, and the weight just poured off. I lost all 40 lbs after about 3 months. That and not eating after 7:00.

But...fast forward 3 years and having 2 years of school behind me...the weight is back on. And I haven't even stared NS yet!! So that is one thing I plan on doing, walking again, and not eating too late. I know that will be the hardest thing, since I will be on the go so much, and staying up late studying. I will have clinicals from 5:30a-5:30p, so that doesn't leave much time to fix dinner and eat before it gets too late. But, eating healthy during the day and staying away from the junk food and candy during classes will definitely help!

Good luck with school and the weight loss.

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When I started & found that all I did was study, go to school, & sleep, I figured that I'd lose weight. Well, far from it. I have actually gained about 20 lbs. I attribute it to not getting the exercise I need. It seems the only time I have to exercise is before I go for my clinicals & I'm afraid that I'd not make it through clinical that night if I am more tired from exercising or, God forbid, get hurt doing it.

Most of my classmates have gained some weight.

I wish I had better news.

Dixie

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Specializes in None yet - looking for a job.

I gained 20 pounds while doing pre-req's last two semesters. I went back to work this summer and have lost it (and then some). What has helped me is I downloaded calorie counting/fitness software from cnet's download(dot)com. They were just free trials, now I have to decide if I want to buy one, because the last free trial is almost up. They help you understand how many calories you can eat. you can set goals etc. if your goal is a pound a week, you really don't eat much less than what you usually do. It's fairly easy that way I think.

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Specializes in Medical/Surgical, L&D, Postpartum.

Hello there!! Unfortunately what everyone here is saying is true!! I just finished my first year of nursing school and have gained about 10 lbs. During that first year I wasnt exercising like I normally would and would munch a lot while studying. Also, fast food was a good option for me because it was quick and easy!!

This summer I have been trying to lose those 10 lbs. by working out and eating right. But with so many BBQ's and parties to go to it is not that easy!! LOL I would just suggest to eat a lot of fruits and veggies and try to work out as much as you can!! Good luck while in school!! And keep us posted!!!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

I gained 25-30 ls in nursing school! Yikes. I know that some girls lost, but the majority of us gained. I think for me it was because I sat A LOT more than I did before school. I graduated last September and I am still having a hard time losing it.

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Specializes in Travel Nursing, ICU, tele, etc.

Doesn't it suck that we as women are so focused on our weight? You are going to be starting a very stressful time in your life and what your body is going to need is good nutrition. Throw away your scale. Eat a balanced diet with as many natural unprocessed foods as you can. Try to get that 2 mile walk in 3 times a week. Get enough sleep. Take a multi vitamin. Reduce sodas. Take very good care of yourself and don't rely what a scale says to determine if you are healthy or worthy or happy. (I'm serious, throw it out! That number on that scale plays with our minds and it is not good!)

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If there's any way that you can make yourself, cook real food, complete with vegetables. Invest in some of those gladware type containers, make leftovers on purpose, and take lunch in to school/clinical each day. Do you have a significant other that you can press into service a night or two at least each week? Almost any homemade meal is better for you than fast food or pizza, even if it has a few calories it's going to also provide some nutrition, which you'll need to get through school. Last semester I always kept little containers of dried fruit and nuts or occasionally pretzels in my bookbag for munching during class, since again it was better than a candy bar from the machine. I also drank black coffee - 0 calories - and water only while I was there. So far my weight hasn't changed.

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Woo Hoo I'm the exception to the rule!(LOL) I've lost 56lbs since starting nursing school one year ago....but I made the decision to lose weight, made a plan & have stuck with it. It's been hard sometimes, but I:

(1)Record all lectures, listen to them while I work out 3x a week and walk an hour a day(5 days a week).

(2)Joined Weight Watchers on-line and record and plan the food I eat each day.

(3)On long days & clinicals...bring my own healthy food!

(4)Havent let myself get frustrated...it's only been about a pound a week, but over a year it has really added up. AND no one seems to have noticed(at least they don't comment on it)(Guess I should add that I don't "talk diet", no one knows from me that I'm doing this). Or it could be that when I started nursing school, weighing in at 296 lbs, now having lost 56, I'm still pretty heavy so to most folks I guess it doesnt seem as if I've lost much. I still have at least 70 lbs to go, so I'm not even half way yet.

So yes, it is possible to lose weight in nursing school. Just as it is possible to make A's. You just have to have a plan, stick with it, take it a day at a time, etc.

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