Nursing School Bulge? Is it just me...........

sarita279 · May 1, 2005

I had a real scare about my weight a week ago. I've only put on 10 lbs in the last year, but I went to a health fair and had a skin fold test. I know those things are not very accurate, but I was horrified when they said I had 32.2% body fat and that put me in the poor range for my age!! I'm 5'2" 124lbs, so I'm just not sure how that can be right.

Anyways, it sure got my butt moving and into eating right. I've taken up biking and I have cut out absolutely ALL sweets. Today I had some birthday cake, and I didn't like it...I guess that I've lost my sweet tooth, Hopefully I can stay that way!

LilRedRN1973 · May 4, 2005

I started nursing school as a size 6 and will be graduating in a few weeks as a size 12!!!! Sigh.......

But when I tried to keep up the regimen I had before nursing school (gym 6 days a week, eating 6 meals a day, and planning, planning, planning my food and workouts), I was completely stressed out. Once I just threw my hands up and said "what the hell", I relaxed a lot.

So one of the first "gifts" I will be giving myself when I start my new job on June 6 is a personal trainer for at least 3 months. I am determined that the weight put on with school will come off by Christmas. I'm tired of wearing my scrubs all the time (they are the ONLY clothes I have that fit!!!).

Melanie = )

RavenAngel · May 4, 2005

:) It's nice to know I'm not alone. I have stopped buying soda (which is really hard for me), and I actually went to the gym yesterday and had a great time working out.

Maybe we should all start a Nursing school survivor weight loss program (Then we could sell it on infomercials -Make a video of us all dancing in our scrubs and waving bedpans in the air. Transferring each other in and out of wheelchairs for added arm and back workouts.) :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle

OK, sorry, back to reality now.

Have a great day !

jenrninmi, MSN, RN · May 4, 2005

Maybe we should all start a Nursing school survivor weight loss program
OK, sorry, back to reality now.
Have a great day !

I was actually thinking the same thing.

I've been eating better, and I'm really sore from the workouts from the last two days. How is everyone else doing.

babynursewannab · May 4, 2005

Mind if I join?

I gained some during school on my own, but then I also got pregnant half way through. Then, after graduation this past Dec, I came down with a super-bug and basically had the flu for 3 months.

I feel like I'm made out of pudding. Very Heavy Pudding.

I joined a gym this week and have gone twice. Today I tried a kickboxing class. I've done it at home before, but never at this pace. I thought I was going to die! The sad part is I used to be a competition dancer!!!

I've got the nursing school 20 to lose.

Stay motivated!

-Alyssa, RN

perfectbluebuildings, BSN, RN · May 4, 2005

I have heard it is SOOO common to gain 20 lbs or so in nursing school- it's so stressful and it's easy to eat just junk and never do anything since you get so tired. For me it helped to take a college gym class every semester that I could fit it in, then I am FORCED to work out at least 2-3 times per week! I gained AT LEAST 10 lbs my freshman year but then I lost it over the summer somehow, took a gym class and got toned even more, and it has really motivated me to stay in shape to be in those kind of classes. I know that isn't feasible for everyone to do, but if you can do it one or two semesters anyhow, it really does help a lot!! And then once we start working I think it will be easier to have a realistic schedule that has more time to work out and cook/make healthy foods.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · May 5, 2005

I was actually thinking the same thing.
I've been eating better, and I'm really sore from the workouts from the last two days. How is everyone else doing.

YES!! I third that motion

Happy-ER-RN, RN · May 6, 2005

I think nursing school causes you to gain weight just because you are always sitting on your A**. You sit all day long in classes and then go home and sit and study. I have never spent so much time sitting in my life as I have in nursing school. I didn't gain a lot of weight, but my butt is huge--I never had cellulite on my butt before nursing school and now it's discusting. It has to be because I sit on it all day long. I have tried to do kickboxing and yoga, but I can't keep doing it, it's just so much easier to sit on the couch all day and eat chocolate brownie ice cream. ummmmm, chocolate.

grinnurse, RN · May 6, 2005

:) It's nice to know I'm not alone. I have stopped buying soda (which is really hard for me), and I actually went to the gym yesterday and had a great time working out.
Maybe we should all start a Nursing school survivor weight loss program (Then we could sell it on infomercials -Make a video of us all dancing in our scrubs and waving bedpans in the air. Transferring each other in and out of wheelchairs for added arm and back workouts.) :chuckle :chuckle :chuckle
OK, sorry, back to reality now.
Have a great day !

Then as an added bonus, we could send them two male urinals to fill and use for weights. They could adjust the "weights" to consistently fit the routine workout they want on any given day!!!!!!!!! LOL I am IN baby!! Let's do it.

I have no clue how much I have gained in nursing school but I will tell ya that I think alot of it is going to come off when we start working and rather quickly I hope. I am going to get one of those pedometers that I keep seeing at Wally World and clock how much I walk at work.

GrnHonu99, RN · May 9, 2005

Hi There,
Almost RN grad (June 05)
I am so frustrated with things in general, but I have really gained weight lately. I keep hearing that *Everyone* gains at least 20 lbs in nursing school. Now I am in the final stretch of nursing school, and I am so glad scrubs baggy.
Is it true?? I have (more like 30), and I can't seem to lose it. (I know I should be eating better and exercising more, but Ack!) . I am the heaviest I have ever been in my entire life. (Including having three children).
Any advice totally welcome. Thanks for your response

OMG did I write this post and forget?? LOL...i dont have any kids so I cant contribute my fat to baby weight...darn..lol...I contribute my fat to studying...LOL...here is my reasoning...i have never had to study this hard in my life (currently in nursing school) i dont have time to do anything else these days except sit or lay around studying, no kidding i fall asleep with my laptop and books everynight...plus im so poor bc i dont have time to work that i eat whatevers the cheapest and usually the quickest...When I was at OSU getting my BA I had to walk sooo much to get to campus, to get around campus and trust me my studying time there...well I didnt study very much lol...but in nursing school..oh yeah...point is i dont get much excersize these days...im sure when i start working some of it will come off...i just like all of you have never been this heavy in my life! Its so depressing!!! ah well...here in a week ill be starting my MN program and i'll be going to school 10 hours a day so i figure i wont have time to eat lol!!!! I have done a few things but they dont seem to be helping me lose weight, ive stopped drinking regualr pop, only diet or water for me now...i stopped buying junk food (although that doesnt stop me from swinging by mcdonalds when im tooo tired to cook)...its hard because i tend to reward myself with food...ie I got an A on a test lets go out for ice cream...such bad behavior....lol...it also doesnt help that my fiancee is super skinny and CANT gain weight no matter what he eats..hes even been on weight gainers and cant gain weight...doesnt that make you sick?? its sooo not fair! I look at food and i gain 20 lbs...! Good thing about nursing is that we get to wear scrubs! LOL...