The nursing field (or anything related) obviously is quite stressful. I find myself allowing that stress to make me eat just about anything or everything...especially if it's quick. Why? I don't cook! Why not? I feel like I have no time or energy...and this is coming from someone who LOVED/LOVES to cook.
However, I'm quite worried. Why do I crave such bad food now? How can I keep myself from gaining weight in nursing school and as a nurse? I'm already 5'3 and 175. While I am proud of myself and who I am, I am also smart enough to realize that 175 generally is not a healthy weight for someone who is 5'3. At the same time, I refuse to adhere to the 110-115 "guidelines" set out there. I have a very curvy body, so 130 actually goes quite well with me. Anyhoo, I know it's not so much that--but how healthy you actually are.
I'm afraid my food choices are starting to slip--and quickly! What kind of things can you eat when you have absolutely no time to cook, wash dishes, prepare, etc? Ok- I know there IS technically time...but have mercy on me and give me some really good ideas. I feel funny asking this question--considering I prepared gourmet meals from scratch just about everyday up until this point. What in the world can I do to make myself a 3 minute lunch to take with me? I noticed that packing lunch helps.
I don't think it's so much what you eat as opposed to how much you exercise.
It is most definitely what you eat. The only benefit to exercise is being healthier -- improved cardio strength, stronger, more flexible muscles, and so forth.
Thirty minutes on an elliptical expends as many calories as the average Joe takes in during a snack (eg. a granola bar and maybe some chips from the vending machine).
As our success story above has talked about, food intake is important. The first step in losing or preventing weight gain is to keep track of what you're eating. Keep a journal or log your intake on sparkpeople.com (or fitday.com, etc.) I promise you will be absolutely amazed with how much you are taking in versus how much you thought you did!
I don't really have much of a recipe for ham & beans... most cooking I do is somewhat spontaneous.
There are "Ham n' Bean" bean mixes in the dried bean aisle in the grocery store, and some have a seasoning packet in them. All you have to do is go over to the meat counter and find a ham hock or shank or similar piece of ham with the bone in. Sometimes they're vacuum packed individually in the refrigerated shelves. Boil them together according to the timeline on the bean mix's recipe, and add your own seasoning/veggies as you see fit. You do have to be a bit careful, some pieces of ham have a substantial layer of fat on the outside. You can cut that off if you want, but I don't usually.
If you wanted to go leaner I suppose you could buy a fairly lean ham and just dice it and throw it in the pot, but it would be less hearty that way. I remember a few times in school all I had in the fridge was a 1# pack of deli-sliced ham and I used that instead.
I'm only in my pre-reqs right now, but I've been feeling the stress! haha. I've found a really good way to use your time wisely for both exercise and studying is to grab an elliptical machine, treadmill, stationary bike etc and bring your books, notes.. whatever and study while you exercise. I've personally found that it not only helps me keep my weight maintained but it also helps me retain information.
As far as food goes, like other have said, eat more, small low calorie meals instead of 3 huge meals. Drink lots of water to keep you from retaining water weight. I usually cut off my eating at around 6pm... 8pm if I'm working late and afterwords only drink water, or low calorie juice.
If your hunger pangs hit sometime during the day when you can't get something to munch, I chew sugerless gum to keep my mouth busy or fill up on water.
Salads are you friend! And make sure to remember to eat some protiens as well.
justiceforjoy
172 Posts
It is most definitely what you eat. The only benefit to exercise is being healthier -- improved cardio strength, stronger, more flexible muscles, and so forth.
Thirty minutes on an elliptical expends as many calories as the average Joe takes in during a snack (eg. a granola bar and maybe some chips from the vending machine).
As our success story above has talked about, food intake is important. The first step in losing or preventing weight gain is to keep track of what you're eating. Keep a journal or log your intake on sparkpeople.com (or fitday.com, etc.) I promise you will be absolutely amazed with how much you are taking in versus how much you thought you did!