Nursing school weight gain

Published

A bunch of my peers and I have gained a lot of weight throughout the past semester due to the lack of eating right and being able to exercise because of the huge commitment nursing school is. Anyone have any suggestions on how to lose it now that it is summer and to keep it off?

Are we the only ones that have had this issue?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

I start NS this fall and am quite worried about this. i hope i manage to keep the weight off. my plan is to pack healthy lunches and snacks to bring to campus (fruit, veggies, sandwiches with no mayo :no:). anyone else have any tips?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

First day of nursing school, the instructor told us to to buy uniforms in the size we are now and another in the next size up... because everyone gains weight during school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telemetry.

I agained a lot of weight too but now that I am almost done, I am losing the weight slowly. Nursing school makes you pack on the pounds quickly. It is so hard to watch what you eat when you are being under this pressure.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in E.R..

I also gained weight, we are graduating in August, and I am currently trying to lose some before pinning. All I can say, is pack your lunch or dinner and some snacks, it will stop u from eating out or eating from the vending machines. Another reason that I ate, was the lack of sleep, so the only way my body could get energy was by eating.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med-Surg/Ortho, Telemetry.

I took exercise classes (yoga, weight training) for the last 3 quarters of my nursing school (for no credit since I ended up missing a few classes to study or ATI.) I knew I wouldn't go out and exercise on my own. I tried to maintain my weight but I wasn't eating healthy at all! Some days, the only meal I got was if I got fast food. I tried to stick with salads, but there were some days, a good hamburger was like heaven. Studying for NCLEX was horrible for me. I didn't notice it at first but I was snacking like crazy because of the stress and not exercising. My uniform still fit by the end of nursing school.. although now I'm scared to try it on now! lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in med/surg, telemetry, IV therapy, mgmt.

If it is a group of you, stay together and do Weight Watchers. You are more likely to be successful if you do it as a group.

PM me or go on line if you do a monthly pass, I use my same name on their forum.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Geez, no, you are not alone! It is not only the lack of exercise and snacking but for me, it is the stress. Stress increases cortisol, which makes you store fat. We are finishing first year, and we all notice how heavy and stressed out the 2nd year students are. Thats where we are headed. :( But the good news is that once you graduate, you can lose the weight. I know one gal who graduated a year ago and she has lost 75 pounds since then.

Give yourself a break, let yourself gain a few pounds, and just get through school. Don't increase your stress by worrying about your weight on top of everything else. Just know that you will more easily lose it afterwards.

If anything, try and find coping strategies for your stress. Yoga is great, and if exercising helps you relive stress, all the better. But we find its tough to read while on the treadmill!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

read this carefully. write it down. lock in into your longterm memory bank. EAT LESS, MOVE MORE.

the cortisol comment above my post made me giggle. the reason you've gained weight is because you've been eating more and moving less. don't blame it on the cortisol!

I have to exercise and eat healthy or else I'll blow up into a blimp. it's hard, but it's completely in my own hands.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Community Health & MedSurg.

I got addicted to pretzels and choc milk while studying. Anybody know how to turn a stack of 33x36 501's into a quilt?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I start NS in the fall - and im so worried about this! I gained weight just in prereqs! Ahhh! Anyway my solution for now is working out like crazy and eating really good BEFORE i start NS and hopefully getting into this good habit will help me relieve stress in nursing school , or plan B is that i will have a little bit of lee-way! hehehe - lose some, and gain it back i guess ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm glad someone brought this up. When and if I do get into NS, I do not plan on giving up my workouts in any way. I'll simply have to make the time to take care of my body. Not an easy task in NS.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion