Nursing school = weight gain?

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I am getting so upset about the weight I have gained in the past year during nursing school its depressing. I have never had problem with my weight before. I actually had a problem gaining weight my freshman and sophomore year of college. I was about 110-115. This past semester I weighed myself and I weighed 125. A whole whooping 10 lbs or more!! My diet habits have not changed either!! I am actually not a big eater at all, so I do not know where this is all coming from? Age maybe? I am 23. During this past semester, I had a personal trainer and worked out. I lost nothing. Now I am up to 132? I am just totally confused as to why I am gaining so much weight so fast. Also, I have insomnia really bad.. Could it possibly be due to that to? I have nights where I go 3 days without sleep. Should I be concerned about my thyroid? It runs in my family. I was tested for it when I was younger and nothing was wrong then.. Oh yeah and one more thing.. I had the implanon for about a year... I just got it taken out..

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If you are gaining weight and have not changed your eating or exercise habits you should go see your dr. to rule out any possible medical reasons, especially if the insomnia is something relatively new. 23 is still very young, so I doubt it is age related :)

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Insomnia has been going for like 3 or 4 years now. It has gotten worse, sadly. Stress makes it worse of course. I know I probably need to be on some type of anxiety meds but yea... It's all contradicting. Hey put me on some meds to make me feel better but make me gain weight too! Boooo

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It is the birth control!!!! I have had my mirena for almost 5 years. The first year I had it in. High school age, I gained 30lbs. In a year! Tell me that wasn't the birth control and I will laugh in your face. I can not handle hormones well, but did not want to waste the $800 dollars I paid to have it put in. I am getting mine out this month and I am looking forward to losing some of this weight. I have tried all sorts of diets and exercise plans. Nothing seems to budge the weight. Good luck!

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I gained 20 pounds the first year. The last semester I overloaded myself and I gained another 20 pounds. I am cutting back on working so that may help. I don't have high hopes for dropping the weight. I think some of it was me switcing birth control as my blood pressure went nuts, but a lot of it is working 48 hours a week plus doing two clinical classes on top of doing microbiology. People who saw my schedule asked how I passed everything. It was tough. Not to mention the cafeteria opens up at night so I was pigging out several times a week.

I am cutting back on pop and watching what I eat now, but it is hard.

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Specializes in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation.

Complete opposite for me. I'm not losing a ton of weight, probably only like 2 or 3 lbs this past semester. I tend to not eat when I get stressed/anxious. Even at clinicals, I'm so busy I don't really feel hungry till I get home at dinner. Of course I try to snack on something throughout the day.

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Specializes in Public Health.

Ugh I lost 20lbs first semester and gained 25 the second semester...-__-

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I gained about 20lbs and im loving it. I lost so much weight after breastfeeding my daughter and wanted my weight back so bad.

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Is there any possible way that you could have PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome)? The reason that I ask is because I was in the same boat, except I gained an enormous amount of weight in the matter of about 2 months. I was about 115 before and then I gained about 50 pounds in 2 months, even though I was actually eating less. I was a track runner for many years so I am very conscious about what I eat. I also have thyroid issues, and did some research and found that they often go hand in hand. I certainly don't want to alarm you, but I thought I'd throw it out there just in case because then you can manage it a lot easier if you find out early on. Of course, it very well could be the birth control. I was using the Nuva-Ring, took it out, and then found out about 6 months later that I had PCOS.

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Specializes in Adult Nurse Practitioner.

Let's not forget stress!!!! Elevated cortisol will add weight quickly. I too am going through this with school. I do find that I was munching more than I thought because I was stressed. I have learned to choose better "munchies"...carrot sticks, peanut butter, plain popcorn, etc. The weight gain stopped, I was able to lose 7 pounds, but still have 15 to go before I'm back where I want to be. I am also having acupuncture to help with the stress and I am beginning to feel calmer and more focused.

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

It could be a number of things. Are you drinking a lot of sugary beverages since you aren't sleeping? Are you sitting a lot more than you used to? It isn't going to be age related at 23. Are you putting on some muscle since you now have a trainer? I would think about getting your TSH T3 and T4 levels checked out for thyroid disease, but it could be something totally unrelated.

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Specializes in ED, trauma.

Layla - I sent you a PM.

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